What is "walk on the wild side"

n. (context idiomatic English) An occasion or incident involving adventurous, risky, or morally questionable behavior. vb. (context idiomatic English) To behave in an adventurous, risky, or morally questionable manner.

"Walk on the Wild Side" is a song by Lou Reed from his second solo album, Transformer (1972). It was produced by David Bowie. The song received wide radio coverage, despite its touching on taboo topics such as transsexuality, drugs, male prostitution and oral sex. In the United States, RCA released the single using an edited version of the song without the reference to oral sex.

The lyrics, describing a series of individuals and their journeys to New York City, refer to several of the regular " superstars" at Andy Warhol's New York studio, the Factory, namely Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, Joe Dallesandro, Jackie Curtis and Joe Campbell (referred to in the song by his nickname Sugar Plum Fairy). Candy Darling was also the subject of Reed's earlier song for The Velvet Underground, "Candy Says".

Walk on the Wild Side may refer to:

• "Walk on the Wild Side" (Lou Reed song)
• "Walk on the Wild Side" (David and Bernstein song)
• Walk on the Wild Side: The Best of Lou Reed, an album
• A Walk on the Wild Side, a novel by Nelson Algren
• Walk on the Wild Side (film), a 1962 film adapted from Algren's novel
• Walk on the Wild Side (TV series), a 2009 UK comedy sketch show
• Walk on the Wild Side, a British TV documentary produced by Daniel Abineri

"Walk on the Wild Side" originated as the title song of the 1962 film as performed by Brook Benton over the film's coda and closing credits. Lyrics were written by Mack David and music was by Elmer Bernstein. The two earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.

The song evokes the jazz and gospel music musical styles of the film's New Orleans setting, and the reputation of its Storyville district. It addresses an unnamed straying Christian — or perhaps all who

…walk on the wild side Away from the promised land

and seems to threaten them in terms understood within their life style:

One day of praying, and six nights of fun. Odds against getting to Heaven: six to one.

The song has had a second life in real-life gospel music.

Walk on the Wild Side is a 1962 film directed by Edward Dmytryk, adapted from the 1956 novel A Walk on the Wild Side by American author Nelson Algren. The film had a star-studded cast, including Laurence Harvey, Capucine, Jane Fonda, Anne Baxter, and Barbara Stanwyck, and was scripted by John Fante. It was not well received at the time; Bosley Crowther of the New York Times described it as a "lurid, tawdry, and sleazy melodrama." While it passed its censors, it was an adult film noir with quite explicit overtones and subject matter. It walks its audience through the lives and relationships between adults (mostly women), engaged in the "business" of commercial prostitution, at a stylish New Orleans brothel. The "boss" is a beautiful, stylish Madam (Stanwyck), whose combination of toughness; and, a motherly?/sisterly? intimate tenderness toward her "girls'" real lives; is as disturbing, as it is entertaining, to watch.

Walk on the Wild Side is a 2009 British comedy sketch show shown on BBC One. It involves the overdubbing of voiceovers to natural history footage, to give the appearance of the animals doing the talking. Celebrity guest voices are also included in each episode, with the exception of the pilot episode.

A second series began airing on BBC One from 18 September 2010.

A third series began on CBBC 2013.

Lou Reed: Walk on the Wild Side is a live album by rock and roll artist Lou Reed. While a relatively new release, the album was actually entirely recorded on 26 December 1972, on a New York radio show. It showcases songs from his time in The Velvet Underground, as well as songs from his first two solo-career albums (the self-titled 'Lou Reed' album, and the critically acclaimed 'Transformer').