Suzanne Vega Appreciation Thread

Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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I posted something about here in the general section, but I thought she needed an Appreciation thread. She has a new album coming out called Realm of the Queen of Pentacles on 3 February.

I was looking at the BBC 2 playlist and her song Fool's Complaint is now on the B list there. I haven't heard it on the radio yet, but here's a live version. Sounds great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQuBd9BxMZ4

Comments

  • Pele-thefiregoddessPele-thefiregoddess Posts: 6,170
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    very excited for a new album.... and I can't wait to see her live for the first time in Feb :)
  • Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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    You can here the new song here around 1:49
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03m83mt

    It sounds great! Very tuneful and radio friendly.
  • Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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    Here's another song from the album, I Never Wear White. It's a very electric guitar heavy rock song. It's one of the most rocking songs she's ever done. Just what I was wanting from her. I love how she experiments and doesn't do just the stereotypical folk sound. I like it more than Fool's Complaint, but I guess it would be too hard for BBC2. And I love to wear black so I relate! The guitar riff reminds me a little of Madonna's song Candy Perfume Girl from Ray of Light.


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq7CLAkRquc
  • Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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    Here's another song from the album which is the single in the US called Don't Uncork What You Can't Contain. This is the one with the 50 cent Candy Shop sample.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq7CLAkRquc

    I"m so loving every song from this album so far. It's very poppy and very accessible with instantly catchy hooks but still retaining Suzanne's uniqueness.
  • crazymonkcrazymonk Posts: 1,566
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    Love Suzanne, excited for this even though I've not been sold on anything I've heard from it yet.
  • VeriVeri Posts: 96,996
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    I'm glad this thread has appeared, and the new album sounds like it could be good.

    I'd kinda forgotten about Susanne Vega, even though I used to like her a lot. (She may be the only person I've seen in concert more than once.) But ... I don't know. I didn't stop liking her, but somehow I stopped paying attention to her music, and I haven't even listened to any of her songs in years.
  • Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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    Veri wrote: »
    I'm glad this thread has appeared, and the new album sounds like it could be good.

    I'd kinda forgotten about Susanne Vega, even though I used to like her a lot. (She may be the only person I've seen in concert more than once.) But ... I don't know. I didn't stop liking her, but somehow I stopped paying attention to her music, and I haven't even listened to any of her songs in years.

    Yes, I have to admit I don't listen to her on a daily basis. I only got interested in here again when I heard about the new record. She has been away from releasing new music for awhile so perhaps that's why. I've also seen her live several times. She's quite an engaging live performer, very chatty.
  • Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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    First review of the new album.
    http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/suzanne-vega-tales-realm-queen-pentacles

    It's also been confirmed that she will perform at Glastonbury this year.
  • Pele-thefiregoddessPele-thefiregoddess Posts: 6,170
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    I like the concept, the title of the album and the first song 'fools complaint 's growing on me .... I loved her recent acoustic stripped back version of songs for her 'close-up' albums. That was a brave move, especially knowing that sales and attention wouldn't be high ...but the true fans would adore an alternative collection and retrospective. I still believe that Suzanne Vega is one of the best lyricists ever and she an wonderful tone. Her lyrics are sharp, deep and layered with storytelling. She is truly underrated. I have preordered the album and I like the download now song too. I can't believe that I am seeing her live for the first time soon, in such an unusual venue...never been there.

    My fave songs:
    The Queen and the Soldier
    Small Blue Thing
    I'll Never be your Maggie May
    99.9F
    Book Of Dreams
    No Cheap Thrill
    Blood Makes Noise
    Bound
    Left of Centre
  • Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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    Here's an interview with her on BBC Breakfast

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR0Bj1dp-3w

    She's a little introverted and shy so she doesn't come across as the best talk show guest. She's really warm and funny at her concerts, but she does come across a little chilly on tv. But it's nice to see her getting press.
  • Pele-thefiregoddessPele-thefiregoddess Posts: 6,170
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    Suzanne Vega - Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles

    Crack in the Wall
    Fool's Complaint
    I Never Wear White
    Portrait of the Knight of Wands
    Don’t Uncork What You Can’t Contain
    Jacob and The Angel
    Silver Bridge
    Song of the Stoic
    Laying of Hands
    Horizon



    for me this is Suzanne Vegas’ re-exertion of her mystique, spirituality and humanity …. a very strong album …she story tells the songs of love, greed and deliverance.

    it has everything you would want on a Suzanne Vega album…a mix of previous styles harmoniously portrayed … her vocal tone and character are as strong as ever…her wit and intelligence are as sharp as they have always been…. alternative acoustic folk rock pop at its very best …

    the underrated lyricist and songwriter delivers an album that should be recognised

    4.5/5
  • Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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    Suzanne Vega - Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles

    Crack in the Wall
    Fool's Complaint
    I Never Wear White
    Portrait of the Knight of Wands
    Don’t Uncork What You Can’t Contain
    Jacob and The Angel
    Silver Bridge
    Song of the Stoic
    Laying of Hands
    Horizon



    for me this is Suzanne Vegas’ re-exertion of her mystique, spirituality and humanity …. a very strong album …she story tells the songs of love, greed and deliverance.

    it has everything you would want on a Suzanne Vega album…a mix of previous styles harmoniously portrayed … her vocal tone and character are as strong as ever…her wit and intelligence are as sharp as they have always been…. alternative acoustic folk rock pop at its very best …

    the underrated lyricist and songwriter delivers an album that should be recognised

    4.5/5

    Thanks for your review! I haven't heard all of it yet, but the songs I've heard from it I love. It does seem like a mix of all her previous styles. I like almost all her previous records so I'm sure I will love this one too. I love that her voice sounds pretty much the same as her older recordings. I know that people age and voices change, but I can't help be disappointed when I hear records by older artists and their voices have changed so much and don't have the tone I once loved. She's the kind of singer I like with a lovely appealing clear tone, but no bizarre vocal gymnastics and screaming, which has become the rage lately.
  • Pele-thefiregoddessPele-thefiregoddess Posts: 6,170
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    I completely agree...Gigi...as a singer/songwriter myself ... i don't understand the preoccupation with 'Mariah' vocals deemed as a standard of singing ...don't get me wrong Mariah is excellent but that is not what singing is solely about at all ... it is about much more: - tone -pitch -character -style - dynamic

    the new album is a surprise .... a return to just a great brilliant album ....
    I see her tomorrow ... i am now very excited... :)
  • Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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    Here's another review of the album. This one is unfortunately a little bit negative.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-reviews-bombay-bicycle-club-broken-bells-suzanne-vega-breton-9099131.html

    I definitely agree with you she doesn't get the critical respect she deserves like other indie/alternative leaning artists such as PJ Harvey or someone which I think is unfair.

    I guess she's kind of caught in the middle. She's not mainstream enough for current radio, but she's not bizarre and atonal like a lot of acclaimed indie artists. But actually my favourite records tend to be stuff that's not totally mainstream and manufactured, but not totally avant garde either. I still like melody and conventional songcraft although done with a more artistic sensibility which is what I think her records have which l love.
  • Pele-thefiregoddessPele-thefiregoddess Posts: 6,170
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    Ooo Gigi, [independent] that's a review based on little listening, understanding and closed minded assumptions sadly. To prelude how Suzanne writes a song is ludicrously biased in negativity and ignorance. I am more surpassed by the 3 stars out of 5 for what appears as a mostly cynical negative ignorant schmaltz of a review.
  • Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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    Ooo Gigi, [independent] that's a review based on little listening, understanding and closed minded assumptions sadly. To prelude how Suzanne writes a song is ludicrously biased in negativity and ignorance. I am more surpassed by the 3 stars out of 5 for what appears as a mostly cynical negative ignorant schmaltz of a review.

    I don't care about reviews or pay much attention to them, in relation to established artists. I feel like with artists that have been around awhile, critics have already made up their mind about them and they don't actually listen to the new material. It works the other way too. Certain artists are critical darlings, and they can put out any old crap and some critics will hail it as a work of genius. With older artists, most critics have too many preconceived assumptions.
    The only time find reviews interesting or helpful are with new artists just starting out. Reviews have turned me on to new artists I otherwise wouldn't have known about.
  • crazymonkcrazymonk Posts: 1,566
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    I'm listening now...
  • Pele-thefiregoddessPele-thefiregoddess Posts: 6,170
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    I finally got to see her live and to my surprise the venue was lovely... and i was only in the second row and central...it was if SV was standing above me... (well she was). Anyhow - she was superb. I would call her 'majestic' after seeing her live. She sounded great throughout and genuinely surprised by the crowd response. She even took a suggestion for additional songs as she played her cover of 'walk on the wild side' by Lou Reed for the first time prior to a Jools Holland recording. Which suited very well. She played some of my favourites along with lots of the new songs which sounded glorious. Her fan suggestion 'cracking' was stunning. Her guitarist was superb too.

    highlights: Queen and the Soldier; Cracking; Rosemary, Gypsy (and the associated story); Walk on the Wild Side, Don't cork what you can't uncork, Jacob and the Angel, Small Blue Thing
  • Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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  • Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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    Apparently Suzanne said something negative about Madonna and praised Lady Gaga in some interview. Some Madonna fans are bent out of shape about that and calling her names which I think is so childish. I'm the biggest Madonna fan in the world, but what Suzanne said or didn't say about her is not going to stop me from enjoying her music. Fans can be so silly sometimes. I don't think Madonna is too bothered by what Suzanne said about her so why should I be? And the tabloid media says far worse things about Madonna on a daily basis than Suzanne does, so why be so personally nasty about Suzanne. Be mad at the tabloid people not her.
  • Pele-thefiregoddessPele-thefiregoddess Posts: 6,170
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    Apparently Gigi, there is history, Suzanne lost the role ofSusan in DSS to Madonna, attended her truth or dare premiere and was quite scathing about her. But the recent quote in the Italian press :


    In 1987 the music scene was very different from what it is today. People like Miley, Rihanna get all the attention. What do you think of this hypersexualisation, of this pornification of pop music?


    I think it's just business as usual. It is not very different from what Madonna was doing at the time. I think Lady Gaga is different, a bit more intellectual and with more artistic ambitions. Some of these girls are also funny at times, but fundamentally I follow my own route. I am definitely more interested in songstresses such as Laura Marling: I've recently listened to her latest record from start to finish, it's not easy to listen to it but it is a very meditated type of music, poetically and musically interesting and she's got a nice voice.

    I also like Lana Del Ray, she's very intriguing. She's playing a character, true, at least not a banal one. It's not about mere sexual imagery but also about story-telling. Taylor Swift is another story-teller with a nice personality. The only substantial difference from the 80s is that there are more women on the music scene.

    So I think Suzanne is just saying that Rihanna, Miley are just copying the sex act of Madonna, whereas Lady Gaga is more ambitious and developing things more artistically. There is no shade on Madonna. The shade is on Miley and Rihanna for not following the artistic side of Madonna like Gaga has.
  • Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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    Apparently Gigi, there is history, Suzanne lost the role ofSusan in DSS to Madonna, attended her truth or dare premiere and was quite scathing about her. But the recent quote in the Italian press :


    In 1987 the music scene was very different from what it is today. People like Miley, Rihanna get all the attention. What do you think of this hypersexualisation, of this pornification of pop music?


    I think it's just business as usual. It is not very different from what Madonna was doing at the time. I think Lady Gaga is different, a bit more intellectual and with more artistic ambitions. Some of these girls are also funny at times, but fundamentally I follow my own route. I am definitely more interested in songstresses such as Laura Marling: I've recently listened to her latest record from start to finish, it's not easy to listen to it but it is a very meditated type of music, poetically and musically interesting and she's got a nice voice.

    I also like Lana Del Ray, she's very intriguing. She's playing a character, true, at least not a banal one. It's not about mere sexual imagery but also about story-telling. Taylor Swift is another story-teller with a nice personality. The only substantial difference from the 80s is that there are more women on the music scene.

    So I think Suzanne is just saying that Rihanna, Miley are just copying the sex act of Madonna, whereas Lady Gaga is more ambitious and developing things more artistically. There is no shade on Madonna. The shade is on Miley and Rihanna for not following the artistic side of Madonna like Gaga has.

    Thanks for the explanation. I didn't know the history and all the details about it. The media does twist people's words sometimes. They like to get one artist to say something negative about another artist even if they didn't mean it that way, especially someone as famous as Madonna because it sells newspapers.
    It's funny because Madonna and Suzanne did come of age around the same time in the East Village. They both studied modern dance before turning to music. There are actually quite a few similiarities between them believe it or not.! So, I guess I would like them to like or admire each other, but I guess they don't.
    My feeling about people criticizing Madonna is it doesn't make me not like their music if I already do because everyone is entitled to their opinion. But if there's an artist whose music or personality I dislike anyway and then they go say something negative about Madonna, it would increase my dislike for them and sort of confirm my opinion I was right to not like them. Not sure if that makes sense, but that's how I look at it.
  • Gigi4Gigi4 Posts: 3,631
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    Her album charted at #37. It's her highest chart position in a long time. I think it's a great showing given that there wasn't a lot of publicity about the album, just that one appearance on BBC Breakfast.0000
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