Talk:Suzanne Vega

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Birthday[edit]

Does anyone know why about half the pages turned up on Google list Vega's birthday as August 12 and the other half list it as July 11? I'm leaving the text as it is, since I'm taking the author at his/her word that vega.net is the official Suzanne Vega site (could be anyone at that site, really--an overzealous fan, a cybersquatter, or suzanne vega). I'm just curious about the date though. That's disorienting. --KQ

Don't know the reason, but I can confirm its July 11th. See http://www.vega.net/co98.htm for a v. old email from Vega herself that mentions the date. -- GWO

Ok, thanks. I see it about halfway down. Apparently she's been dogged by this misinfo for some time: "I want to thank everybody for the wonderful birthday greetings - yes, it is July 11!! Not in August!!" Odd. --Koyaanis Qatsi

Link above not working. One working is http://www.suzannevega.com/about/detailedBio.htm abelson 14:13, September 6, 2005 (UTC)

Performing arts school[edit]

If anyone decides to write up the New York Performing Arts school, please note that there are several references to this in the wikipedia, all pointing to slightly different names (search "performing arts school") none exist as articles yet. They may of course be different places! -- SGBailey 21:58 Jan 1, 2003 (UTC)

Luka is a child?[edit]

I was surprised to read that Luka is a child. I always thought of her as a housewife who gets beaten. Having read the lyrics[1], I'd like to know how you know it's a child. EnSamulili 09:10, 10 July 2005 (UTC)[reply]

[Suzanne Has said that is about a child, but I guess the lyrics don't make it plainly obvious (which is a very good thing)]

Obviously the song can also be about a husband whose wife beats him. Luka can be the name of both a man and a woman (boy or girl). But from what I remember when the song was popular in the 80s, it was always talked about as being about child abuse. To me the phrase They only hit until you cry suggests a child being hit by her/his parents. abelson 14:08, September 6, 2005 (UTC)


Only a writer as skillful and subtle as Vega could write a potent song about child abuse that gets your feet tapping while putting across its point.
 (David Browne, Rolling Stone Magazine) http://www.suzannevega.com/about/detailedBio.htm

abelson 14:13, September 6, 2005 (UTC)

Also, if you watch the music-video the fact that Luka is a small boy is made explicitly clear, IIRC. Ruthfulbarbarity 03:47, 22 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Ruby Vroom[edit]

The article says that the band Ruby Vroom takes its name from her, but when one follows the link it transpires that the artist Soul Coughing named an album after her. Which is correct? --Plumbago 09:53, 16 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]


Trivia Section needs references[edit]

I feel that references need to be supplied for the statements made in the trivia section. TheRingess 05:56, 4 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Trivial[edit]

On their album Metaphysical Graffiti, the Dead Milkmen attribute "the urge to buy a Suzanne Vega album" as a sign that you are left-handed. Nice to see the southpaws catch a break for once.

The song 'Small blue thing' seems to be a kind of riddle. The small blue thing is......

actually I'm not telling, it would ruin it. Take a holiday in the Mediterranean and figure it out :-)Pignut (talk) 08:43, 13 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Categories[edit]

Does anyone know why the category "Mexican Americans" is listed here? The article states that her father was of Puerto Rican origin - quite a different nationality. If nobody objects, I'm going to change this or delete it. In addition, I've read in a couple places that Suzanne's birth father wasn't Puerto Rican, it was her mother's second husband (Mr. Vega), who adopted Suzanne when she was quite small and gave her his surname. I will research that, and if it's accurate, I'll make a change there too. CassieBlue 05:38, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

About the edit that hasn't clarified her family roots (I had to add an edit or two): <<<Suzanne Vega was born in Santa Monica, California. Her mother was a computer systems analyst of German-Swedish extraction. Her father was an office worker of Mexican descent, but her step-father was a writer from Puerto Rico. >>>

You are right! Suzanne Vega's web pages discuss the confusion. Her mother and two fathers are considered Latinos anyway (Vega isn't simply a Spanish name). Many Germans, Swedes and Poles went to Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Brazil, so she can have more ethnic origins than the article claims. Same thing is going on whether or not Shania Twain is Native American, because her step-father is a member of the Chippewa/ Obijwa nation and her mother is white (Irish/English) in Northern Ontario, Canada. I read the metis of Canada are a subculture of French-European and native Canadian heritage, and Shania's father may be mixed white/native in a region known to have that combination. I don't see why biographers make an issue of race and ethnicity, but Hollywood (the music industry and other celebrities) is a racially diverse lot. Vega hasn't emphasized her Latin roots, unlike two folk music stars Joan Baez and Linda Ronstadt, both are Mexican Americans (one parent each) had included Hispanic/ Spanish rhythms on some of their songs. Vega is much more an American, same goes to Madonna and Christina Aguilera both have Hispanic roots (Aguilera's father from Ecuador and Madonna's mother is either Spanish or cuban, don't know which, maybe check her article). To be a Latina don't mean to play only chicano rock, cumbia, jazz latino, merengue, reggaeton, rock en espanol, salsa or tejano...Latino music artists (includes Vega) played rock, blues, rap, hip-hop, easy, jazz, disco, soul and alternative. Just like Hootie and the Blowfish was an alternative band that shown both "white" country rock and "black" gospel/blues, both are American music of the Southern states. + 207.200.116.9 16:17, 10 November 2006 (UTC)[reply]


Hi. This is Suzanne. My mother and two fathers are not considered Latino. My mother, as the page states, is German-Swedish, my birth father is English-Scottish-Irish. My step-father Ed Vega is Puerto Rican and definitely Latino. Definitely not Mexican. I haven't emphasized my Latin roots because I am actually "white", although I was raised speaking Spanish, love my Abuelita, and still see my Puerto Rican relatives. I don't know if I did the wrong thing by correcting these things myself, but these are facts that should be corrected and not opinions. Hope this helps. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Nycpoetgrrl (talk • contribs) 2006-11-20T03:19:20.

New Album[edit]

I went to see Ms. Vega when she was playing in Tampere, Finland, last summer. She announced that she'd be putting out a new album during 2007, but I can't find any info on the 'net about this. Anyone know? Viciouspiggy 11:15, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yesterday I went to see the first show of her tour to promote the new album (Utrecht, Netherlands). So yes, there's a new album... She mentioned that it is still to be released. The info about it can by now be found on the page. On a related note and maybe a stupid question: how is it possible to have all these chart positions in all these countries for an album that is not released yet? Gidi70 13:44, 27 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Because it has been released in the rest of the world, but not in the USA.--Oneiros 14:25, 27 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Removed Reference[edit]

I've removed a couple of Trivia points. Firstly the one regarding Pulp Fiction is incorrect. There IS a character is that show called Vega, and he mentions that his cousin is "Suzanne Vega" but from the context its almost certain that is just someone else, who happens to be called Suzanne Vega.

From the Official Script book:

Mia: ... Are you any relation to Suzanne Vega? Vincent Vega: Yeah, she's my cousin. Mia: Suzanne Vega the folk singer is your cousin? Vincent Vega: Suzanne Vega's my cousin. If she's become as folk singer I sure as hell don't know nothin about it. But then I havn't been to too many Thanksgivings lately.

From this, it seems pretty clear that his cousin ISN'T the singer.


I've also removed the comment about homer singing "Luca." It was an incindental reference , that had no relation to the plot of that episode.Wizlop (talk) 19:24, 28 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Better picture?[edit]

Can anyone find a better picture that meets all the fair use guidelines? I know the rules can be pretty strict when it comes to finding an appropriate picture, but sometimes I think we'd be better off not using a picture at all than one where the person looks really caught off guard or is making an odd face. I vote for removing this particular picture. Does anyone agree? - Stacy 97.116.22.178 (talk) 11:18, 29 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I agree that it's not the best picture in the world, but it looks like she was in a press conference so I wouldn't say she was off guard. One with out a mic blocking a good part of her face would be an improvement. My (week) preference is to keep the picture until we find a better one. Stormcloud (talk) 13:45, 29 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Personal Abuse?[edit]

On the 4/25/10 Episode of CBS Sunday Morning, while discussing Luca, Vega is asked she was ever abused as a child. She replies that she prefers to just say that Luka was a boy in her building, but he was not abused. She then states that the only other person to ask her straight out about any personal abuse was Howard Stern. Does anyone recall the content of her Stern interview, or have a link to any information on it? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.176.173.237 (talk • contribs) 02:48, 30 April 2010 Actually Ms Vega's/Mrs Mills' memory fails her slightly there: When Luka was a major hit, I remember her being interviewed in a Swedish kids news show, nicely and slowly answering prepared questions from an approximately 12yo interviewer practicing her best school English. The fourth or fifth question was 'Could Luka be you?' Suzanne Vega appeared completely shocked, exclaimed 'That's a very straightforward question!', and got up to cut the interview short and leave the surprised little journalist. Let's just say that ironically, she seems to be best known for a personally very sensitive subject matter. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Yammayamma (talk • contribs) 13:14, 8 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Suzanne Vega's real name[edit]

Is Suzanne Vega the "Bonnie S. Peck" listed in the California Birth Index, born on July 11, 1959 in Los Angeles County, mother Schumacher?75.142.54.211 (talk) 03:11, 28 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Edison cylinder recording[edit]

Interesting article. Might be useful. Binksternet (talk) 20:54, 24 February 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Early Life[edit]

"Her mother, Pat Vega, is a computer systems analyst"

Really? Surely her mother would be at least 74 or so- where's the citation to support that claim about her current employment (if indeed any at that age)? 70.238.220.31 (talk) 17:17, 14 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, she is now retired. See this article: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/toms-essay/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0 Karst 11:25, 4 February 2014 (UTC)

Other albums[edit]

On 16th October 2012, Suzanne Vega played a concert at the Barbican Theatre in London, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the release of Solitude Standing. A limited edition live double CD of the concert was released through Concert Live, titled "Solitude Standing Live at the Barbican" [1]

CD1: Tom's Diner Luka Ironbound / Fancy Poultry In the Eye Night Vision Solitude Standing Calypso Language Gypsy Wooden Horse / Casper Hauser's Song

CD2: Marlene on the Wall Left of Center Tombstone Blood Makes Noise The Queen and the Soldier Some Journey Tom's Diner (Reprise) Caramel In Liverpool Rosemary RCFoale (talk) 12:14, 2 February 2014 (UTC)[reply]

References

  1. ^ https://www.concertlive.co.uk

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Song[edit]

Should this article mention that Ms Vega is the subject of the song "Suzanne Vega" by Felt? DS (talk) 22:04, 29 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Done under 2000s section. --kocio (talk) 00:10, 2 November 2016 (UTC)[reply]

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