Spinner

Suzanne Vega Talks 'Close-Up' About Being a Two-Hit Wonder -- Exclusive Video

Suzanne VegaSuzanne Vega recently visited our New York studio for an interview in which she shared news about the release of the first volume of her four-album series, 'Suzanne Vega Close-Up.' This initial disc, 'Love Songs,' features newly recorded acoustic renditions of songs spanning her 25-year career, assembled around the theme of romance. Vega revealed that future volumes will address 'People, Places and Things,' 'States of Being' and 'Songs of Family.' These reworkings of her catalog will include new versions of her two US Top 5 singles, 'Luka' and 'Tom's Diner,' which led Spinner to include her on our list of Two-Hit Wonders.

Vega takes pride in the "two-hit" label, as she does in the pair of songs that most people think of when they hear her name. "Those two hits enabled me to go anywhere in the world, and sing," she said, "and people recognize my voice, they recognize my songs, they recognize my name, so like, what's the problem? Why would I be resentful of that? Should I be angry that it was only two, out of the hundreds of songs that I've written?... I don't really see it that way. I see it that those two songs kind of opened up the world to me, and so they've given me a good, long career. And that's how I see it. "

Watch the full two-part interview after the jump.

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KP

Hey Frank - Im with you on that!!! It used to be that talent was REQUIRED to make it in the music biz, whether it was rock, pop, country, thrash metal or punk!!! Now all you need is a look, a beat box and some stupid rap lyrics, or 2 months of guitar lessons for the obligatory 3 chords, and you can win a grammy!!!! I also have 6 CDs of my own music and I have been gigging for years with my band, the Nightburners (www.nightburners.com if you wanna check it out...)and we actually got a letter back from a record company that said our music was 'too crafty for the masses...' WTF???? Talk about the dumbing down of America!!!! Yes my freind, feed them crap and they will make you rich!!!! Protecting my kids from the slime coming out of the radio has become a full time job....!!!

March 03 2010 at 7:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Marlene On The Wall

Suzanne Vega once replied to a letter my soul-mate and I sent her with a post card hand written. We didn't expect that. This was around the time that 99.9f came out. We were even MORE in love with her music after that! Her songs are ornately crafted in music and lyric. Esoteric, enigmatic. We relate to it. So all the Franks in the world can have their opinions. We don't care if they are bitter sad queens with no soul who are so pitiful their only recourse for attention is to flame out on a blog. Burn bright, burn hard, then burn the ____ out! Buh-bye! Suzanne Vega is one of our all time faves. Rock on, Suzanne! Rock on!!

March 02 2010 at 9:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
arturo

i love and respect this woman a lot, i am a dj and musician and always have tried to include her music in my sets. i saw her long time ago in a visit i was making on mexico city, she rocks.!!!!!

March 01 2010 at 4:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Frank

Hey Gary, I have 10 musical albums and am happy with my music, so shut your talentless mouth, I'm entitled to my opinion and this girl sucks!
And to KP, your talking Keysha? P. Diddy? Crap Crap Crap! There is just NO real talent out there anymore, I don't even listen to most of today's music because the talent is GONE.

March 01 2010 at 4:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
meesh

saw suzanne many years ago....she is a great performer...and her songs are so good to listen to...small blue thing...marlene on the wall...the queen and the soldier....iron bound/fancy poultry....and so many many more!

March 01 2010 at 3:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kathy Ortiz

My daughter Marisa and I have known Suzy since they were in school together. She has a unique sound and sensitivity. A lovely, talented young woman. Go, Suzy! Ahem , Suzanne. It's a beautiful name.

March 01 2010 at 3:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pain in rear

Send tickets !!! My name is Luka

March 01 2010 at 3:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
CAT

What about "Left of Center"? That in my opinion is her best song.

March 01 2010 at 2:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
margaret

Frankly, my fravorite Suzanne Vegta song was "Solitude Standing." But I like all of her songs.

March 01 2010 at 1:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stacie

Suzanne Vega is fantastic. Anyone who only knows "Luka" and "Tom's Diner" is missing out BIG TIME and needs to get to downloading! Great talent there.

March 01 2010 at 1:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply