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    Two-Hit Wonders: Suzanne Vega

    • Posted   by Spinner Staff
    • Comments (44)
    Print |  Email More

    'Luka' (No. 3, 1987)
    'Tom's Diner' (No. 5, 1990)

    This New Yorker's poignant tale of an abused child brought a dose of social awareness to the upper reaches of the pop charts. Vega made her second and final chart visit thanks to an initially unauthorized remix of a three-year-old song about her favorite Manhattan greasy-spoon eatery, a place soon to be even better known from being featured in 'Seinfeld' episodes.
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    Reader Comments(1 of 3)

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Marcat 6-01-2008

    This is incorrect. Suzanne Vega also had a big hit with "Left of Center" making her a THREE hit wonder.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Dreolinat 6-01-2008

    I am a Huge Suzanne Vega fan and I am pretty sure Left of Center was never a "big hit" at least not in the US.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    MusicMom123at 6-01-2008

    YEP ! Left of Center was what first popped into my mind too ! :D That was from Pretty in Pink. YAY !

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    JustSomeLadyat 6-01-2008

    I was thinking of her song from The Truth About Cats and Dogs, "Caramel."

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Boat 6-01-2008

    The Tom's Diner of the song is NOT the one on the Seinfeld show, but rather the one on Washington Avenue in Prospect Heights, two blocks from the Brooklyn Museum. Famously protected by the neighbors when the neighborhood erupted after the assassination of MLK, this is the real true Tom's Diner of Ms. Vega's song.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Mason younGat 6-01-2008

    That particular album ,"Solitude Standing" , is superb...even 20 years later it holds up...she's the difference between a pop-musician and an artist. She being the latter.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    stephjtat 6-01-2008

    I thought the pic was of Macaulay Culkin!

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    cardvldg1986at 5-08-2009

    who the hell is Suzanne Vega anyway, she musta been playing and singing while I was sleeping.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Deanwrdat 7-22-2009

    LOL @ Macaulay Culkin. Too funny.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    RoWyNat 6-01-2008

    Mason Young, I agree with u 100%. That album remains a classic. She was the equivalent of Tori Amos or Aimee Mann during her era.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    amyat 6-01-2008

    I love Suzanne Vega. She is a wonderful poet! Solitude Standing and 99.9 degrees are my two favorite albums of hers. She is one of my top 5 favorite songwriters/performers of all time!

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    melat 6-01-2008

    Tom's Diner is my least favorite song of all-time.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    jamesat 6-01-2008

    Uhm I just looked at the lyrics of Tom's diner how the hell is that story about an abused girl???? It talks about her drinking coffe

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    tonyat 2-02-2010

    Luka, you retard

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    ericm61635at 6-01-2008

    I saw her in a club show in support of her first album. Her rendition of Gypsy was forever burned in my memory during that show. Too bad radio is still under the payola game that we never really get to hear everyones efforts.

    Eric

    Reply
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    Kelso Horrorat 6-01-2008

    What about "Blood Makes Noise"?

    Reply
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    Lisaat 6-01-2008

    I have loved 'Tom's Diner' since I was 4 years old.... Suzanne Vega is amazing, and JustSomeLady, you're right, the fact that that song is still such a 'classic' is a testament to her artistic force.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Marcat 6-01-2008

    Left of Center wasn't just a hit....making 3....it was also her 1st hit. Whomever wrote this article messed this one up twice :-)

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    qapla5at 8-14-2008

    Nope. Suzanne Vega never hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
    Her song "Blood Makes Noise" went to #1 on the Modern Rock tracks chart, but I believe the writers of this "Two-Hit Wonders" entry were only including songs that reached the Top 40 section of the Hot 100.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    kgkolpaskyat 6-01-2008

    if you like the music from the 1980' check out this website www.earlyxer.com It has some really cool photos of stuff from the 70's and 80's!

    Reply
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