The Forgotten American Hero

On Sunday, October 27th, Lou Reed died. To some this is just a name, but to other this signifies the loss of a hero. Someone who shaped music as we know it today. The death of this icon is awful in itself, but unfortunately it has farther reaching implications. His death signifies a new generation, and its failure to acknowledge the accomplishments of musicians before it. Lou Reed made perhaps his most profound music as a part of the Velvet Underground, a band that directly influenced the rock, punk, and avant-garde scenes in a huge way, but also indirectly affected almost all American music. The simple tracks, complex lyrics, and undeniable charm has made them one of the most important figures in modern music. But ask most 16 year olds who they are, and you'll get a puzzled look. In today's musical environment of loud pervasive rhythms and computer-made melodies, the Velvet Underground would never stand a chance, and they've been forgotten. To test this, I asked 30 random high schoolers at my school if they'd heard of the Velvet Underground. Out of the 30, only 8 said they'd heard of them, and of those only 5 could name a song by them. To me, these results are shocking. This indicates a lack of musical awareness that I find very troubling. We should use the death of this musical genius, Lou Reed, as a reminder of the amazing musicians before us who have paved the way for the artists we love.