Suzanne Vega was at the forefront of a new generation of female singer songwriters who came to prominence in the late 80s and early 90s. Her hushed, articulate lyrics won fans and compared to flamboyant female musicians of the era like Madonna and Cyndi Lauper, Vega seemed like she was headed to play in the coffee shop rather than on a big stage. She says she always felt she knew herself pretty well, and did not have to cultivate an image.
Suzanne Vega’s first album in 1985 sold well, especially in the UK and her “Marlena on the Wall” got regular airplay on MTV and VH1. It was her second album that really scored, with “Luka” from the album becoming an international hit. The song tells the story of an abused child from the perspective of the child.
Suzanne Vega’s later work never quite captured the same attention as “Solitude Standing” but she was still — indirectly — involved in one of ’90s most bizarre hit singles. Two British dance producers working under the alias DNA took the acappella “Solitude Standing” track “Tom’s Diner” and set it to an electronic dance beat, releasing the result as a bootleg single called “Oh Suzanne.” When A&M discovered the piracy, Vega decided to allow the single’s official release under its original title, and it became a substantial hit in the U.S., U.K., and elsewhere. The following year, Vega gathered a number of other unsolicited versions of the song and compiled them as Tom’s Album.It is no secret that New York has had a big impact on Vegas’ career. She acknowledges that with her latest record 2020s’ An Evening of New York Songs and Stories. It includes some of her best songs plus a collection of New York City centered covers.
