Suzanne Vega
Message Boards
- First Experiences (3) -
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Please send your replies to VegaNet@AOL.COM
To: undertow@law.emory.edu
Cc: strauss@spock.klautern.fh-rpl.de
Subject: Hello?!
Hello to you all!
I'm new in this mailinglist and i joined it because i found many interesting aspects to the songs of Suzanne at her site in the WWW.
Some of them matched my own interpretation of the lyrics while others were diffrent but none the less interesting.
I'm not a bonehard fan for suzanne but i like many of her songs! (BTW I'm not a fan for anyone, i don't want to be fanatic.)
I've five CD's of her: SV,SS,DOTOH and 99.9F. I think of the DOTOH as the best one but the others aren't bad at all and well worth listening and buying. I didn't liked 99.9F at first. It was a cut to the style she performed earlier but after three or four times listening to the songs i found that they are simply an evolution of her way to make music.
In all the messages in this list i've missed a song that i like very much and wich is one of my favorite SuzyV songs "Gypsy". So i'm asking you real fans, how do you like it? Is it one of the songs you prefer or do think it's rubbish?
I've seen that Suzanne herself posts time after time to this list. It is great to see that she acts here not as the big Star that she propably is but as a human beeing wich we all are. So i have one question to her: Did you ever think that your line in that particular song,
"We strangers know each other now as part of the whole design" could come true in such a nice way?
So i don't want to bother you anyfurther with my scribled lines
Manfred Strauss
"The time has gone the song is over, thought i'd something more to say"
From: arel@pc.jaring.my (Khairyl Yassin)
To: VegaNet@aol.com
Date: 96-02-28 01:16:02 EST
Subject: Introduction
Dear Suzanne and all Webmates,
I have been a big Suzanne Vega fan since the mid-80's. An unapologetic pop fan, I must confess that the source of my introduction to Suzanne was the soundtrack to Pretty in Pink. Since then, I have not failed to get all the albums available in Malaysia, where I am from, and the U.S. I have just subscribed to the Internet a few weeks ago. Imagine my delight and thrill (i.e. the tickling and the trembling) to find a lovely web page devoted to her!
Suzanne's lyrics has always touched me. I find her writing very incisive; emotional without being frilly or sentimental. The music, shaped by Suzanne, and the people she works with, beautifully complements her lyrics -- most astonishingly on her last release 99.9F, where the razor-sharp lyrics met its sonic counterpart in Mitchell Froom's production. The lyrics most close to my heart are the ones in which Suzanne deals with a recurring theme of communication, and creative breakdown (Rusted Pipe, Language). As someone who is worried about words as she is, and having English as my second language, I find that I always have a difficulty in communicating what I feel, resulting in mis- or non-communication. The frustration of a creative block is documented so well in Rusted Pipe.
My favorite Vega album is Suzanne Vega. Songs like Cracking, Freeze Tag, Marlene on the Wall, and Small Blue Thing resonates with a raw innocence and urban wit. The underappreciated Days of Open Hand is also full of haunting and melodic gems like the darkly sensual Room Off the Street and the XTC-inspired Book of Dreams. The music on Days is careful and controlled, much like Suzanne's newly polished, sophisticated lyrics. Solitude Standing as a whole album is a musically less successful attempt at pop-rock (the sales will indicate otherwise), although no self-respecting music fan can deny the power of Luka, or the lyrical masterpieces of Wooden Horse and Ironbound/Fancy Poultry. The upwardly-immobile Portuguese ghetto is expressed magnificently in images of fences,iron, blood and feathers, grass growing in cracks. Who has ever compared prostitution with chicken before this?
Suzanne, your work is very much appreciated by all of us. We continue to wait for Slice of Life with bated breath. And of course check out Caramel and Woman on the Tier. Thanks for sharing your writing and vision.
Love,
Khairyl (pronounced Hi-Rail)
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 21:21:58 -0500
To: undertow@serv1.law.emory.edu
From: albert@teracorp.com (Albert J. Horst)
Subject: INtroduction
Dear Undertow,
This is my first letter to Undertow, so I thought I'd reveal my first impressions of Suzanne Vega. I became a fan in 1987 as a result of being captured by the song "luka" - a song that cited my childhood with haunting accuracy. It wasn't long before I was enthralled with the full body of her work: Cracking, Small blue thing, Wooden horse. How does this woman know so much about me?
As a musician myself, I acknowledged her musical talent as being unique and competent. As a person who failed English, how- ever, I was shocked that words and poetry could be so meaningful and cool! I quickly began to write my own verse. Unfortunately, the ugly characteristics of my voice prevents me from expressing myself vocally and utilizing my musical talent. So I'm confined to the printed page.
I will at some point post some of my poetry on Undertow. It is dark and tragic but accurately reflects my existence - a state that dangles by an ever fraying thread. That, however, is beyond the scope of this introductory note.
A new Undertow friend, Albert.
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 12:17:14 -0600 (CST)
Well, everyone seems to write for the first time and tell about the first
time they heard Suzanne, so it's my turn.
It was kind of strange. I'm mexican (BTW, are there any other mexicans in the
newsgroup?), born in Mexico City but lived in Tampico (just north of Veracruz
State) for 12 or 13 years, then moved to Mexico City again, just about a year
and a half ago. (Now I'm 18)
6 or 7 years ago I was in Tampico, accompanying my mother for shopping. It
was night, hot -all the coastal stuff. We stopped to buy something in a lone
street when I heard something strange: a woman -singing?- without music. It
came from a shop 150 mts. afar, and I liked it, though I couldn't even hear
clearly, less understand the lyrics (I was even less knowledgeable in English
those days) and I didn't tought of going and asking, so I literally made up
some verses that resembled the tune so I wouldn't forget it. I never heard
the song again, and no one could tell what it was -it seems Suzanne doesn't
have many fans here-.
About two years ago, just before I moved again, I went to vacation in Mexico
to see my family. I visited a cousin, and I found him complaining about a CD
he just got as pay for a debt. It was a selection, and I grabbed it. My
musical tastes are restrictive -I have about 40 CD's for the same four o five
people, including Suzanne- but he asked me if I wanted to hear something. I
perused the CD -being a selection it would be easier to find something known
to me- and ran across a Suzanne Vega, singing Tom's Diner. Both the name and
the title sounded interesting; I specially liked "Suzanne Vega", though I
never heard of her or the song. So we heard it. It was a remix, but I
recognized it inmediately: 15 minutes later I was hearing Solitude Standing,
and it took me a year to stop -just after buying "Suzanne Vega".
(It took me so long because I had to go to Tampico again and there
wasn't a single CD of Suzanne.)
My favorite song: There are about 10 draws, but if forced, I would choose
"In Liverpool".
The only song I DON'T like: Institution Green. Don't like the singing,
lyrics and music. I still wonder why.
Thanks for your attention.
Subj: my suzanne first
i suppose in a way i don't belong with all the rest of you, as i just
recently became a suzanne fanne, but please forgive me...i was four when
her first album came out in '85. so anyway...
the first time i heard suzanne was when a friend of mine copied the "dead
man walking" soundtrack for me because she thought i would be interested
in the eddie vedder/nusrat fateh ali khan duet. i did like it, but what
really caught me was suzanne vega (woman on the tier [i'll see you
through]). absolutely honestly, the main reason i liked her right away was
the industrial beat that reminded me of nine inch nails, one of my other
favorite artists. her voice was amazing to me, as i'm used to singers who
have to scream to get the point across. with suzanne.....i don't
know...it's just very new and different to me. i looked around a little
for her CD, but i live in a town of 2500 people in the deep south where
the majority of the people voted alan jackson "artist of the year".
anyway...couldn't find much. so....i went online to look around and by
god, turns out suzanne isn't the beginning musician i thought her to be.
i'm just sorry i didn't get to know her earlier. but no regrets...i'll
just accept the situation and get her new CD asap... nice talking with
(at?) you.
peace love empathy,
Subj: Introduction
Hi & greetings from Spain
My name is Angel and I've just joined the list. I'm 26, work as a
journalist and live in Valencia, beside the Mediterranian sea. I've been
a fan of Suzanne since 1987, the year when "Luka" was a real big hit
down here. The truth is that, after nearly four years without a single
solitary piece of news about Suzanne, I was glad to find your list & the
impressive veganet site, and to know about her new releases (haven't
heard "Caramel" yet, though)... Anyway, I was leafing through the May
issue of "Rolling Stone" and came accross this little note about
Suzanne, alongside a photograph of her and the actress Janeane Garofalo:
>Motherhood has its ups and downs. Four years have passed since SV made
Y esto es todo, amigos.
Subj: Not a woman, not in the Ironbound section
Hi !
I'm a portuguese Suzanne Vega fan, and I'm delighted that I now have
internet access at home. The S.Vega site was, of course, one of the first to browse
and I was really happy to know about Suze's upcoming album, which I was expecting a long time ago.
I was also please to read the "Impressions of Portugal" article which is an interesting and really acurate
description of Lisbon, the capital of my country.
Well, I just hope you people keep up the good work with this site, and I'm sure I'll visit it often.
Best wishes,
Jose Mendes
Subj: Hello Undertow - 1st post
hi,
as this is my first post here I'd better tell you something about me.
I'm Piers Kent, working in University College London until september when I
change to being a student here.
OK, I'll step back into lurk mode for the mo' and try to get the feel for this
group. Looks like a good mix of countries too... (I see a snowdog@cs.mcgill.ca
... a rush fan by any chance?)
bye for now
p kent
Subj: Well, to provide a little bit of demographics for new subscriber
Well, to provide a little bit of demographics for new subscribers, here's one "lurker's profile"...
I'm a regular middle-cass late-boomer who added SV to my favorites list when I heard "Marlena
on the Wall". I was at that time a member of a pop band that was more or less trying to make a
dent around NYC - our high point was probably the Brian Wilson tribute at Folk City. We got to
share amps with some real popmeisters - smithereens, m. crenshaw, ben vaughan, dBs, etc....
But anyway... II was also trying to go to school and put down roots, so I was soon to be an
ex-musician. But still a pretty serious music listener. At the time I was a major Elvis Costello,
P furs, Police, Pretenders and XTC fan, plus had appreciation for crusty old folkie stuff like L.
cohen, nick drake and Incredible String band.
I was pretty well enchanted by the Suze-waif and have been all along. Personal takes:
I think that the "queen and soldier" tune is a little hokey. Seems awful teenage.
Fave album: Solitude Standing but I like them all.
Fave tunes would be "night vision", "solitude standing", "ironbound" and "in liverpool".
I can tell from "In Liverpool" that Suzanne is a bit of a Chrissie Hynde fan since the feel of that
song is very much in sympathy with "Pretenders II", one of my other fave albums.
All you nonstop music chat junkies, check out Firefly at www.ffly.com - interesting new
"intelligent" musical affinity match-maker and shopping site.
Charles Ross
Subj: Hi!
Date: 96-07-10 07:08:23 EDT
From: pribar@bgumail.bgu.ac.il (Ilan Pribar)
Sender: owner-undertow@law.emory.edu
To: undertow@serv1.law.emory.edu
Hi,
My name is Ruthy and i'm a 15 year old girl from Israel.
i'm kind of new at this mailing list, so how many people are in this?
Iv'e been a fan of Suzan vega only two years, I got "Slitude standing"
from my sister and got hooked :)
i got only 3 cd's of hers cuase I havn't found one of them in stores, but
I'm waiting for her new one.
well if you want yo write me or something, here's my adress:
pribar@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
weirdo (My nick name...)
Subj: Out of the Shadows
Hi, I am not new to the list but I thought it was
time to jump out of the shadows and introduce
myself. I'm 27 years old and I live in
Christchurch New Zealand. I have been a fan
of Suzanne since I heard "Luka" and
consequently purchased "Solitude Standing". I
also have SV, Live in London, Days... and 99.9
and San Juan Capistrano (thanks Paul).
My favourite songs (difficult choice) would be
Ironbound, Straight Lines, The Queen and the
Soldier, Luka, Room off the Street (Cuba), and
Blood Makes Noise.
I was originally drawn in by Suzanne's lyrics
and the images she created. I felt compelled to
understand the songs and what was behind
them, to understand Suzanne. The element of
mystery has always been important to me. The
multiple meaning and levels of the lyrics make
them very personal to everyone.
I have always wanted to understand people and
the environment that affects them. Suzanne
seems to give glimpses of herself and other
people in her songs that intrigue me.
Now I have broken my silence hopefully I will
start to participate a little more, OK Rob?
Mike
Subj: I'm New!
hi all!
Subj: Hello Suzanne folk!
Hi everyone...
My name is Jen. This is my first post to this list, so if it's a little
scary, please try to write that off as first-post-jitters. :) I've been
reading Undertow for quite awhile now, but I was reluctant to jump into the
conversation for a few reasons. One being that until yesterday, I didn't
even have all of Ms. Vega's albums (oh, by the way, that reminds me of
something -- I usually call people Ms. and Miss whatever...is that kosher
here? I don't want to offend anyone or anything
This post is getting long, so I'll just cut straight to the real reason I'm
posting (well, the reason besides that I wanted to introduce myself). A
friend of mine -- the one who bought my Days Of Open Hand, acutally -- is
wondering about a Suzanne song called Left Of Center. He heard it played a
LOT on the radio in the early 90s, 1990-1991, and never could find it.
Finally, he looked it up in the little yellow book that every record store
has, and it's listed as being on the album Suzanne Vega -- which it's not, as
far as our copies of it go -- and on the soundtrack for Pretty In Pink. So
he and I were wondering what the deal is. Why would they play a song from
the mid-80s in heavy rotation five or so years after it came out? Is it on
another soundtrack? And why is it listed as being on Suzanne Vega?
Thanks everyone for reading this, and I look forward to hearing from you!
Jen
Subj: Re: Steering back *on* topic
Hi ... I'm new to Undertow. My name is Suzanne. (That's my actual mom-given
name. I'm not a really weird and devoted groupee or anything.) My husband
is in law school and I am a writer, and we're pretty normal, I'd say. The
big excitement around here today was the special Olympic edition of Lucky
Charms we had for breakfast.
I have also often wondered why there don't seem to be any videos available
for purchase of Suzanne performing. I also saw that Austin City Limits and
taped it awhile ago, and she was so very funny and personable, I just loved
it. And while I was working in Poland I saw a concert on t.v. out of England
they televised, where she was playing in an old church that is now a place
for bands (it is probably famous and you all know it, but it was a new thing
to me) but all the speaking was dubbed over in Polish and I was still a
little wobbly in it at that point, so I never really got an idea of what she
was like. It is nice that she doesn't suffer from over-exposure, but since I
have never made it to a live concert, I wouldn't mind being able to get a
video.
Subj: Hello
Hello everyone,
I'm Erik Sinno, and I'm new on this mailing list. In fact, I heard a lot
about all of you, because one of my friend is David Algranti who made me
discover Suzanne Vega and this mailing list (I made him discover the
Internet, but I don't have it at home). As I'm writing from my mum's job
and computer the name "Helena Sinno" may appear on your screen (real user's
namr), it corresponds to me, Erik Sinno (anyway I'll always sign).
Just a little bit about me : I'm a French student in physics, living near
Paris, listening a lot at SV's music. I am a big fan of Mike Oldfield but I
like listening to all sorts of music. I love reading all sorts of books,
especially anglo-saxon literature, and comics like Calvin and Hobbes or Fox
Trot which I have problems to find in France.
I don't know a lot of SV's music, but David Algranti knows a lot and he
told me a lot. So I'll try to follow the conversation, but as I could see
their are lots of off-topic discussion which can be interesting.
Thanks for reading and see you soon.
Erik.
Subj: Hello and miscellaneous
Back on July 14, 1996, Rob Walters wrote:
> . . . and not to be too negative, but it would be nice if some of those who
Okay, hello all! While I'm new under this e-address, I'd previously posted
under joeys@wellsfargo.com, but was getting too messages at work, so
I subscribed through the ISP I use at home.
Became a fan of SV just before the second album: a friend loved the first
album and played a few tracks, at which point I got hooked. When I took
a look at the album cover I realized I'd seen flyers of this person the first
time I vacationed in New York in the mid-80's. I mentioned before that
I've sung SV's songs for friends and at science fiction conventions, and
her songs have influenced some of my own songwriting. I'm awaiting "Nine
Objects . . ." like everyone else, though a lot of my non-work time of late
has been spent rehearsing with a gay male a cappella quintet I joined
earlier this year (the person who started the group, Aurelio Font, is a former
member of a similar group, The Flirtations). Thanks to everyone who
commented on the "off-topic" family values subject.
Back on July 15, Gero Wedemann wrote:
> . . . At the moment I am singing in a choir and we are
Haven't seen any multiple part versions of any SV songs, but a few
years ago I was working on an SATB version of "Tired of Sleeping" and
a multi-voice arrangement of "Gypsy." Sadly, both have been put aside
for now in favor of other projects.
Later!
Joey Shoji
Subj: What about Suzanne?
Hi I`m Mike(17) and I`ve listened to Suzanne Vega for a month for real
(buying her album) although I loved their songs much before...
I have only Solitude Standing album and I`d like someone to consell
me which to buy next ( I wish I bought 2nd great album,but which).
I think I will buy it during my staying in London because I had
problems with finding Suzanne`s albums here...
The next thing I`d like to know are facts about Suazanne Vega-
how old she is, is she married..etc. And of couse I`d like to
know where to find her pics from I-net`s ftp site..
if anyone has a pic of her scanned I`d veery glad to receive it....
Thanks In Advance
From: kent@lix.intercom.es
HELLO MY NAME IS JORDI AND HAS FOUND THIS WEB FOR CHANCE , ONLY SAY YOU THAT
I AM AN ADMIRER OF YOUR LETTERS AND YOUR CONCEPT OF WRITING, I AM SOLIST LIVE IN BARCELONA SPAIN AND
I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE DISCOGRAFICS , BECAUSE MY MUSIC IS NOT COMMERCIAL.
MY STYLE IS ACUSTIC AND HAS I WEGH THE LETTERS THAT THE MUSIC , ACOMPANIES
AN UNDER KEYBOARDS,DRUMS, 2 GUITARS AND I. THERE IS FINISHED OF MY LAST RECORD CASSETE TITULED " MOMENTS AND WORDS" AND YOU ARE INTERESED FOR MY LETTER FOR CURIOSITY ?
MY NAME ARTISTIC IS JORDI EDO
MY QUESTION IS LIKE I COULD CONVINCE TO A PRODUCER IF MY MUSIC IS NOT IS COMMERCIAL ?
JORDI EDO
I SEAT IT FOUR MY ENGLISH A GREETING
Please send your comments, suggestions, submissions to:
VegaNet
VegaNet@aol.com
From: "Cuevas Vazquez del M. Hector"
To: undertow
Subject: First letter to the newsgroup
Date: 96-05-03 18:37:09 EDT
From: AlisonWonderland@mvtel.net (Alison Michel)
To: undertow@law.emory.edu (undertow@law.emory.edu)
alison wonderland
aalpm@mvtel.net
Date: 96-05-26 05:06:16 EDT
From: salguero@lander.es (Angel Salguero)
Sender: owner-undertow@law.emory.edu
To: undertow@law.emory.edu
>an album (a new one is due out this summer), but she's had more
>pressing concerns. "For a while, singing was the only thing that would
>get Ruby [her toddler] to sleep," says VEga. "I'm a better singer as a
>result." At the North Hollywood video shoot for her song "Caramel", on
>"The Truth About Cats and Dogs" soundtrack, the film's star Janeane
>Garofalo was on hand to welcome her back. Vega returned the favor,
>calling Garofalo "really down-to-earth and sweet".
Date: 96-05-26 14:29:42 EDT
From: josemendes@mail.telepac.pt (Jose Mendes)
To: EricS10332@aol.com
Date: 96-06-10 08:19:25 EDT
From: uczapik@ucl.ac.uk (Piers Kent)
Sender: owner-undertow@law.emory.edu
To: undertow@serv1.law.emory.edu
The first song I heard was Marlene when it was getting some good airplay here
in britain (many years ago now). The first album I got was Solitude Standing,
then Suzanne Vega, next 99.9 and finally Days of Open Hand.
As for live performances... just the one from the 99.9 tour in Cardiff.
--
p.kent@ucl.ac.uk http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~uczapik/home.html E...SL
"just don't ask me what it was"
Date: 96-07-02 09:23:31 EDT
From: rossc@slf.org
Sender: owner-undertow@law.emory.edu
To: undertow@serv1.law.emory.edu
SLFC
rossc@slf.org
Date: 96-07-17 19:05:23 EDT
From: mike_head@MAIL.TAIT.CO.NZ (Mike Head)
Sender: owner-undertow@law.emory.edu
To: undertow@serv4.law.emory.edu
Date: 96-07-12 22:43:20 EDT
From: bs414@freenet.toronto.on.ca (Michelle Emmanuel)
Sender: owner-undertow@law.emory.edu
To: undertow@law.emory.edu
for a while i thought i wasn't subscribed because no one was posting, but
i'm sure of it now. :) well, i first started liking Suzanne's music when
i heard the song Luka on the radio and then on a music video channel. i
just started getting into acoustic guitar and female artists, so this was
good. i was young though. i think maybe 10? or younger? well, i'm 18 now
so if anyone know when it was released..
i never bought one of her albums until i found a vinyl copy of Solitude
Standing. then i bought 99.9F on cd. i still want to get Days... and Book
of Dreams.. but i can't really find them anywhere.
but, Suzanne was (and is) an inspiration in my own music. i'm a singer
songwriter too. it's kind of what i want to do ... for a living. i'm
pursuing it so something should happen!
oh, and why i posted.. i saw a show on the Women's Television Network
here in Canada a while back and the had this whole half hour think on
Suzanne. it was basically her and this other guy.. i don't know his name,
but one of his eyebrows always seemed to be "up". they talked about her
music. does this have anything to do with that D.A. Pennebaker thing?
well, i doubt it, but it could be a mini-documentary.
thanks all for letting me write all this on my first post.
Michelle
Date: 96-07-18 18:43:33 EDT
From: FroggyJen@aol.com
Sender: owner-undertow@law.emory.edu
To: undertow@serv4.law.emory.edu
Date: 96-07-18 21:01:06 EDT
From: BobandSooz@aol.com
Sender: owner-undertow@law.emory.edu
To: moeller@cis.ohio-state.edu, undertow@serv4.law.emory.edu
Date: 96-07-22 01:55:58 EDT
From: hsinno@pasteur.fr (Erik Sinno)
Sender: owner-undertow@law.emory.edu
To: undertow@serv4.law.emory.edu
Date: 96-07-28 07:25:55 EDT
From: joey@creative.net (Joey Shoji)
Sender: owner-undertow@law.emory.edu
To: undertow@serv4.law.emory.edu (undertow@law.emory.edu)
> contribute only to the 'off-topic' discussions would post more often about
> Suzanne, introduce themselves, etc. It's kind of disconcerting when some
> people only post to these threads, yet don't contribute at other times.
> This list is what we make it, folks. So, de-lurk, everyone!
> looking for some songs of SV set for choir. Do you know if somebody has
> done this work, because here in Germany it is impossible to find
> something like this in the music stores.
Date: 96-07-30 06:48:39 EDT
From: ABADOW@golem.umcs.lublin.pl (Anna Badowska)
Sender: owner-undertow@law.emory.edu
To: undertow@serv4.law.emory.edu
Mike
To: veganet@aol.com
Date: 96-08-06 17:13:33 EDT
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