Suzanne Vega: A Vivid and Vibrant New York Songwriter
Millions know Suzanne Vega’s hits, like “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner.” Since her debut album in 1985, she has been one of America’s leading songwriters; but her new album recorded last year at the Café Carlyle, An Evening of New York Songs and Stories, shows that she is even more specifically one of the great New York City songwriters. She has written a lot of songs about New York with the city as both the subject and the setting, and "she mixes the past and present, the public with the private, and familiar sounds with the utterly new—just like the city itself" (SacksandCo. on Beauty and Crime.) Vega’s love for New York City is vivid, so much that whenever she leaves for tour and comes back, she describes the feeling of relief upon seeing the skyline on her way back into town.
For this podcast, she recounts her experiences with days-long parties, describes how Lou Reed threw doors open for her lyrically as a songwriter when she was a student, and clarifies that while she might have been influenced by him, they both occupied different corners of the same city. Suzanne Vega plays some of these New York songs live at home and discusses her long career.
Set List: "Cracking," "Freeze Tag," "Frank and Ava"
"Cracking":
"Freeze Tag":
"Frank and Ava"