Besides her awing stint with the Velvet Underground, Nico, born Christa Paffgen, mostly made slow, dim, devastating music. The Marble Index (1969), Camera Obscura (1973) and The End (1985) are sharp examples of her heedless position towards mainstream acceptance through the years. Former VU member and frequent producer John Cale was also probably instrumental, and likely supportive, of her uncompromising ways.
It’s said that Bob Dylan was one of many famous men (Jackson Browne, Jim Morrison, Serge Gainsbourg and Iggy Pop) who fell for her while their histories converged in the late ‘60s and ‘70s. Whether the story is true or mere myth, Dylan did give Nico a song he wrote, which she sang on her 1967 solo debut LP, Chelsea Girl. The album is sunny compared to her later work, while the song, “I’ll Keep It With Mine”, features Dylan’s words with Nico’s voice, ushered along by dark, vexed violin stabs."I'll Keep It With Mine" is below. Standout line; in typical self-aware, world-aware, Dylan style: “I can’t help it if you might think I’m odd, when I say I’m not loving you for what you are, but for what you’re not.”
Nico’s first recording, “I’m Not Sayin’”. A chipper 45 that omits the corniness of Gordon Lightfoot’s original, while adding her signature gloominess.
Amazingly, there's footage of the video they made for “I’m Not Sayin’”. It’s rough around the edges, but one can see why everyone was so enchanted by the femme fatale. You'd Better Watch Your Step...
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