This was important song at the time, got lots if airplay and MTV time. For a good reason too. Song you never forget.

I'm an adult survivor of a pair of horrifically abusive parents. By the time I was 17 or 18, the physical abuse stopped and it was only emotional. I fled the house as soon as I was legally able, but I never talked about it. Never once talked about it. And then I heard this song. Listening to it for the first time back in the day, I felt like I was drowning, and I simply *had* to talk about it to someone. So I took aside my best friend at the time, told her all about my childhood and the violence and pain and hatred I'd endured, and finally began to heal. This song is thus very, very important to me. 40 years later, I'm still working on it, but one thing I can proudly say: I never once raised my hand to my own kids, nor ever treated them with anything but compassion and kindness and respect. Basically as a parent I became everything my parents weren't. And I married my friend. We were together for 27 years before I lost her to cancer, and I still miss her all these years later.

@JustJP

3 жыл бұрын

I'm sorry to hear about the things you've gone through and your loss, but am happy to hear about the happiness you found and the stance you took with your children

I love this song! Now, my suggestion is Tracy Chapman, Fast Car.

@rk41gator

3 жыл бұрын

Great Idea.

@atticustay1

Жыл бұрын

He’s probably already heard it

@hoyageorge

10 ай бұрын

And Tracy's sublime and stirring "The Promise," too.

Purest voice on the planet, positively angelic.

That song was on the radio every other minute in 1987! It was inescapable. Another artist I associate with this one for the simple reason that I bought both CDs at the same time, is Tracy Chapman. You should listen to "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman.

@HalkerVeil

3 жыл бұрын

And that's why we did drugs.

@robertcartier5088

3 жыл бұрын

@Rob Maynard Yes. As did the album, "The Hurting" by Tears for Fears, a few years earlier.

this song always reminds me of the Tom Waits quote "I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things"

Her video is amazing and devastating in its stark simplicity. Just like that song.

Suzanne has said in interviews that Luka was a real boy who did live upstairs from her, but who wasn't abused (that she could tell). Years after she'd moved from the apartment, there was a knock at the door of it and her former roommate answered. It was Luka, with his girlfriend in tow, saying "Please tell her that Suzanne Vega really did live here!" I play classical to punk, and Suzanne's my all time favorite. Thanks for the reaction!

This is in the Top 10 songs of all time for me. It's on my playlist at the gym when I want to just let my mind take me somewhere else entirely. I encourage you to listen to it a few more times. It's actually very interesting and catchy musically on repeat listens. It's an epic folk song.

Very nice song and played on radio stations back in the day!

The juxtaposition of the upbeat musicality supporting such a desperately sad story is so well done

I love Suzanne and how she tells her stories. Also her voice... The real gem on this album is the title track. Definitely go for it.

Song of the 80's 100%

Side note, Irish singer songwriter Luka Bloom (real name Barry Moore) chose his stage name after hearing this song. He may have partly related to the child in the song, and also wanted to get out of the shadow of his more famous older brother Christy Moore, one of the great Irish folk singers. I strongly recommend you checkout some of Luka Bloom's work as well.

One of the deepest messages ever put in a song.

Nice choice. A beautiful song with a difficult subject. If you'd like a good example of how another folk-pop artist approached this subject try "What's The Matter Here" by 10,000 Maniacs. That song is from the point of view of someone who is aware that abuse is occurring and struggling to decide what to do or say about it, Like "Luka", it has generally upbeat music and the ugliness of the story it tells stands in sharp contrast. Keep up the good work.

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Ty WD!

@cherylbohlender7341

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah...What's the Matter Here is a great tune. Took a while for me to really listen to the lyrics and I was floored

Great song. The video was huge on the early days of mtv. Background singer Shawn Colvin went on to have multiple hits of her own winning grammy's (not that that means much). One of the producers Lenny Kaye (also of the Patti Smith group) on this album also produced my band in the 80's Great Guy!!!! Also......I saw Steve Hackett last night!!!

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Nice! Had a good time?

@justintime42000

4 жыл бұрын

Robert Messing Me too! At BergenPAC in NJ and last night in Westbury. The BergenPAC show was the better of the two. I loved it! I got several rushes of euphoria. Hope you did too!

Similar topic and more powerful is 10,000 Maniacs “What’s the Matter Here.” Great song, great band. I still can listen to that song without tearing up. Love Luka too

This song always make me cry

She's really pretty amazing. "Blood Makes Noise," "Cracking," "Marlene On The Wall," "Left Of Center," "Tom's Diner" are all fantastic tunes worth visiting. (and there's a lot of variety in there, too!)

Been waiting for someone to react to this song for ages, thankyou, I really enjoyed watching !

suzanne vega is awesome, i love her songs , Oh and Jewel both great folk artists

I never noticed the contrast btw the music and lyrics, but I remember that I enjoyed the song (the music) long before I realized the story in the lyrics.

I could see in your face that you understand. Thank you. I do too. Love.

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Ty!😄

This was a heartbreaking song for me. I worked in an after-school care/ youth club when it was released, and we had a kid who frequently showed up with bruises...

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Its a very sad reality. Ty Frands

Love Suzanne Vega, I discovered her music early by buying her first album without even knowing who she was or what kind of music it was. Something I used to do, just buy stuff from artists I had never heard of. Almost always discovered something good or at least interesting. I have everything she's ever recorded and have seen her Live. Excellent songwriter and musician and she was great in concert, she's an amazing storyteller. In addition to those you listed, I would recommend The Queen and the Soldier, 99.9 Fahrenheit Degrees. Cheers!

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Ty Alden; I used to do the same thing, buying albums I didnt recognize (then I grew up and had bills!)

@BrianR.

4 жыл бұрын

@@JustJP haha, same for me!

@grapeman63

3 жыл бұрын

To the list of Suzanne's songs already requested, I would add "Gypsy" and my own personal favourite "Penitent".

Check out Michelle Shocked, Tanita Tikaram and Tracey Chapman.

A simple and beatiful song, that reached the top of the charts because of the matter on lyrics and the sensitive way to approach the subject. Many people who suffered in silence - in those days when child abuse hasn't the light of the day - must be touched to this song and even got the courage to face it.

Suzanne has many great songs: 'Marlena on the Wall, 'Freeze Tag' , 'Small Blue Thing' are some of my favs....'Regina Spektor is also amazing, I think you'll like her style (s)- kind of free form/ avant- garde at times. Another is Rikki Lee Jones- 'Danny's All Star Joint', several others from that album.

Brilliant and timeless

Oh you have to do Marlene on the wall next please so so good love you

My favorite song of hers is Small Blue Thing, which is wide open to interpretation. Also love Queen And The Soldier and Gypsy.

I love the guitar and madolines as a group solo/background sell of sound. So reminiscent of that era, 1986 to 1992 or so, of the string acoustics as dominant forefront tracks.

Amazing artist that's never afraid to tackle any subject.

"Tom's Diner" stood out from other songs @ the time. Then "Luka" came out and blew myself & others away. Suzanne is great songwriter. In folk the music usually (there are exceptions) carries the vocals which are the crux. I would recommend Paty Larkin "Metal Drums - Live" from "In the Square (Live)" album on spotify:track:5ZJR9WkATjYHykfSCv5Sse or open.spotify.com/track/5ZJR9WkATjYHykfSCv5Sse?si=9jKLtWu4QzeqbM2hC62pdA for a true story, the sweet spot of both Folk & Country is story telling.

Brilliant song. This brings up the subject of child abuse.

Great reaction to the music and the lyrics.

@JustJP

3 жыл бұрын

Ty Ralph!

God, this one brings back memories! (Showing my age😆) Folk is definitely not a turn-off for me. I love it.

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

😁

@lindaeasley5606

3 жыл бұрын

Some of the most important messages are found in folk songs unlike the typical drivel of standard hip hop and country which is mainly about money,and sex

She has a history of great songs including "Left of Center" (with Joe Jackson), "In Liverpool" (my favorite), and "Fat Man and Dancing Girl".

@ddarien951

4 жыл бұрын

@@CJK71 Definitely in liverpool should be next. Though anything froom 99.9f is amazing

@wysiwyg2489

11 ай бұрын

The queen and the soldier.

This was my first ever favorite song when it was new. I was only like 4 years old, but I was so drawn to it and would run to hear it whenever my older brothers watched MTV and it came on. Loved your commentary on the lyrics and the contrast between the upbeat music and darker subject matter. Two of my other faves with that contrast are “Veronica” by Elvis Costello and “Runaway Train” by Soul Asylum. I’ve never thought of the music as boring or bland, it’s simple and straightforward but I think there’s a lot of power in simplicity, and the production on this record gives me feels. Her 4th album, 99.9F, actually has a more experimental sound to it.

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Ty Franko!

Great choice to analyze. Interesting song.

Great reaction and info Another classic song 👍

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Iain!

Some other songs by her that you may find more musically interesting: In Liverpool, Penitent, World Before Columbus, Blood Makes Noise, Small Blue Thing.

You got it...awesome

@JustJP

3 жыл бұрын

Ty 🙃

Her 99.9 Fahrenheit album was brilliant. It was my personal album of the year in 1992.

@joepegel

4 жыл бұрын

Yes. It's a unique mixture of folk and techno. Her "Solitude Standing" album opened with an a capella song "Tom's Diner". Some DJ (I forget who) remixed it with a techno backing track and it became a club hit. This got her interested in the techno genre and 99.9F was born. Then she went back to more straight up folk. The whole album is brilliant, but for my money the best song is "Blood Makes Noise".

Got it in one, bravo!

@JustJP

3 жыл бұрын

Ty!

If you should decide to react to Tom’s Diner, know that it is an earworm that will never fully fade away. You’ll find yourself humming it at the most inane moments. You’ve been warned. Also, it’s the first song to be encoded into an MP3 file by the German scientist who created the format. That’s why people sometimes call Suzanne Vega the “mother of the MP3”.

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Haha, that just makes me look forward to it even more!

@smudgyguide8255

4 жыл бұрын

But which version of Tom's Diner. Either the long version on the 1987 album Solitude Standing or the more popularly known 1990 remix version by DNA. I'd go for both. Original then remix. Both fantastic in their own right. In friendship, Smudge - A British Quaker

@smudgyguide8255

4 жыл бұрын

Do original then remix in one video. I reckon fans of your channel would find that awesome in a fan dabby dozy kinda way!

@tomski120

3 жыл бұрын

An earworm ha ha thats so stupid duh! , doo, doo, doo, doo, doodoo, doo 😁

I remember this song really standing out when it came out and it grabbed my attention. I like Suzanne Vega as an artist and if you listen to more I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Love the song. Suzanne wrote it in 2 hours one afternoon, first draft was the final, about one of her neighbors named Luka. There's an allure to her voice, its crystal clear and refreshing.

Man, yours is really a feedback video! Seen so many others who watch in silence, doing nothing and after the music stops just beg their viewers to subscribe to the channel and like their video. For what? Your feedback is well thought out and equally well presented. Thanks for that. Keep it up.

@JustJP

3 жыл бұрын

Ty so much!

I was 20 when it came out. I was a metal head/head banger but still loved the message and feel of this song and maybe because I related to it because I went through this growing up myself.

I like it! I may keep her in mind to try some others songs of hers. Good points you make about the lyrics. And thank /you/ for trying out and giving exposure to lesser-known artists!

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks much Nick!

Comment before watching: Suzanne Vega is one of my favourite artists, brilliant singer and lyricist. I urge you to check out Pilgrimage and Wooden Horse - her most "progressive" songs.

You say you are open to Folk. You should try Fairport Convention's Liege and Lief. This is regarded as the ultimate Folk/Rock album, and one of the first to use electric instruments with traditional styles. It still holds it's weight after 51 years!

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Ty Lemming! Any specific songs off the album?

@RGRG3232

4 жыл бұрын

"Matty Groves" would be my choice. Any track with Sandy Denny singing are the best tracks from each album.

@lemming9984

4 жыл бұрын

@@JustJP Tam Lin, Crazy Man Michael or Matty Groves are my favourites

Dope reaction

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

Ty!

Good, thorough reaction. It helped that you read and focused on the lyrics since that message is central to appreciating the song.

@JustJP

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Carol!

from the same time period of this song is one of my favourite songs: Sea of time by the Rainbirds. Back in the late 1980's this band was one of the favourites of an M-tv VJ and through her I got hooked on them as well. As with Suzanne Vega, there aren't any reaction video's on The Rainbirds... actually, there isn't even a wikipedia page on them. But when listening to the music I distinctively hear the common links to folk-pop. If you do try this song, go for the 9:50 minute album version.

This is actually kinda crazy. I think this song is still being played on Swedish pop radio stations at least every other hour lol. (We don't have much) Cheers!

I don’t think it’s bland and boring at all! Catchy and clever.

It’s funny how you mentioned the tonal contrast in this song. By design, it was intended to show that many abuse victims quickly become sheepish, then start to withdraw and, finally, become defensive when confronted. Each chorus shows these escalating characteristics, followed by a somewhat abrupt ending. I think that is intended to represent “shutting the door” on outsiders. It’s brilliant!

Thanks for your comments. Maybe the tune is a little bland, but her level of emotion and the message draw such an emotional response from me every time I hear it (tears most of the way through it). For me, that is powerful. Thanks again from your newest fan.

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much oc!

Good choice for you Justin I have a feeling you will like this one love you keep up the good reacting

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks David! :)

I saw the Tracy Chapman Fast Car suggestion and would like to also add her Behind the Wall. Her voice and lyrics are amazing. I get goosebumps.

On the same subject you might visit Genesis 'No Son of Mine'. Great video.

Everyone keeps mentioning Tracy Chapman's Fast Car. But I feel that Behind The Wall is somewhat closer to Luka because it's about her hearing domestic abuse and feeling helpless.

@SunShine-qk4rb

3 жыл бұрын

I think that’s a great song to do next

I'm Swedish. In the 90's, we had a radio show where a bunch of now (locally) famous faces made prank calls to various people. One of them called the Royal Tennis Hall in Stockholm and pretended to be Luka from this song. And he used nothing but the lyrics to have a conversation with the woman on the other end! kzread.info/dash/bejne/a5-KpNNxibGYcso.html

Fantastic job on picking up on that dichotomy of musical tone and lyrical theme. Such a powerful song that had a big impact on me when it came out. Honest reaction, so well done there. I don't find the song bland or boring, but that's a personal choice. You might want to check out Marlena On the Wall by Suzanne. Her stuff was always a bit different from other artists, and even if she had songs that didn't speak to me as much as others, I always appreciated her unique "voice". Oh, and if you like folk-influenced singer-songwriters, I suggest checking out Jewel and the Indigo Girls.

@JustJP

3 жыл бұрын

Ty so much Margaret!

Another song to check out by her is "Left of Center".

Thanks for the review on that greate singsong writer, Please do a review on "liverpool" of suzanne vega...

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Ty!

I know this artist mostly from radio play, I never owned any of her albums. This song was popular when it came out in the 80's. I liked the melody but the song never really made an impression on me. However, it does trigger memories of the hodgepodge of music that came out during my teen years. The 70's and 80's were a beautiful time, when it comes to a diversity in music.

Listen to her acoustic performance at the Grammys. It's haunting. And at the end you see one guy in a white suit giving her a standing ovation. That's Prince.

She's the mother of the MP3. Everyone should know her

Suzanne Vega is one of my favourite artists. You should try the very first song (Cracking) on her first album. I was hooked from the very first lines. Last year I saw her perform live and she is still amazing! Some other great songs from that album are "Freeze Tag", "Small Blue Thing", "Some Yourney" and "The Queen and the Soldier", but she has many more.

@JustJP

3 жыл бұрын

Ty!

I love the music. The best exponents of the happy tune/sad lyrics were Carol King & Gerry Goffin. Think of songs such as "It Might As Well Rain Until September.

Suzanne Vega is a brilliant songwriter. You're correct that musically, her songs are simple and light. But her songs are lyrically dense and full of meaning. All her recordings are excellent but I always gravitate to the first album and songs like "Marlene On The Wall" and "The Queen and the Soldier". Her writing is very cinematic - as you observed, she creates scenes. I have always found her brilliant and also challenging as a listener.

Nice choice for a reaction, enjoyed it. Suggestion for more singer-songwriters: Tom McRae: British artist who has a pretty solid career overshadowed by the fact that his debut album got nominated for a Mercury Prize (basically the U.K. version on a Grammy). It is still my fave album of his but his work has been of consistent high quality ever since. Good entry point is his song The Boy With Bubblegun (not a typo).

If you do nothing else, please listen to Suzanne's IRONBOUND/FANCY POULTRY. my very favs by Suzanne. It sets a tone, that has never escaped my imagination from poverty, desperation, to true hunger for what one cannot have, or to settle for what someone is left with.

The comments below are my thoughts exactly. I love this song but toms diner is my favourite. It’s the way she slows and speeds up the time that I really like. In the remix all that is lost. I’m enjoying your reactions, do toms diner please

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Bill!

For some reason the opening of these where you set up reminds me of a kid’s show. I expect you to look up and say “Hey Kids!” 😄

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Lol!! Maybe I should do that sometime😅

I loved this song when it came out. One of the mainstream songs that are just unique and not that mainstream at all, in fact. Just like I liked “Bluejean” by Lana del Rey, or “Sign your Name” by Terence Trent d'Arby. Great songs with soul and complexity, that were very successful.

For a folk song with such a serious subject, it was a still huge hit back then. I'm gonna go with the family and vote for a Tom's Diner reaction. Another suggestion would be Fleetwood Mac with Little Lies and Seven Wonders. Love those song!

@harripalomaki8796

4 жыл бұрын

I will gladly ditto any song from Tango In The Night album but must insist on Isn't It Midnight. That should have been number one all over the world. I am pretty much obsessed with Lindsey's backing vocals ("Face of a pretty girl"). He sounds like a ghost. However, as I've become somewhat familiar with Justin's - Hi, Justin, we're talking about you here! - musical leanings, I'd suggest Sara from the Tusk album. Because it's cosmic, groovy, ATMOSPHERIC and unbearably beautiful.

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Ty Harri! I'll put it on the list🙃

Beautiful song about a grim subject :( I only really know a few songs of hers but it's probably worth checking out "Cracking" and "Small Blue Thing" from her debut album :) On a similar theme .... I assume you are aware of the song "Jeremy" by Peal Jam ??

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Ty John! Yup, Jeremy is a great great song. Especially reading up the story behind it.

Love Suzanne Vega's music, and she's written a wide variety of interesting stuff, but if you want to try something of heres that really different, try Blood Makes Noise of her 99.9 degrees album.

Calypso and Gypsy are, lyrically, two of my very favorites from her.

Anything from her album "nine objects of desire" is great.

Try Joan Armatrading,"love and affection". Absolute masterpiece.

The melody is intentionally cradling/comforting, to soften the impact of the lyrics, but that crates almost an addictive dynamic where the lyrics push the listener into the comforting melody, and that mirrors the trap that Luka is in, in the song.

This song demonstrates how to introduce a difficult theme into a song and still retain great commercial appeal. Compare and contrast to "Daddy" by Korn, which has a similar theme but is too shocking and sonically abrasive to create widespread contemplation of the issue by casual listeners. I like both songs and admire musicians who lyrically deal with emotive and unpleasant concepts. There's a huge palette of emotional and musical colours which can be used to convey the same message.

My personal favourite from Suzanne Vega is Rosemary.

Hi Justin, greetings from México. Have you done Suzanne Vega's "calypso"? It's a very well done song. Enjoy!

Nice one, JP! For a female artist off the beaten path, try Jane Siberry’s song “The White Tent, The Raft” (1988) where - dare I say it - folk meets Peter Gabriel, from her album The Walking.

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Folk meet Gabriel...ok ok, has my attention

Like the way you pronounce the 'l' in folk. Most people here rhyme it with joke. You said you'd like a recommendation for lesser known bands. There was a singer with a beautiful voice in UK called Sandy Denny. She produced some brilliant work with folk band Fairport Convention. ( try Who knows where the time goes, Fotheringay, or Sailors Life. ) She also formed a short lived but talented band called Fotheringa. ( try Nothing more, The way i feel, or Banks of the Nile)

I've only ever heard one song of Suzanne Vega before. That song was Gypsy and I loooove that song. Highly recommend reacting to it.

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Ty Nikolai!

@nikolaiquack8548

4 жыл бұрын

@@JustJP Thank you for the vids :)

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

@@nikolaiquack8548 of course! Appreciate you watching in the first place :)

@nikolaiquack8548

4 жыл бұрын

@@JustJP Well, I found some great new bands and songs through your channel, so we can make this an appreciation contest all day long, but it's pretty late here in Germany and I gotta sleep :D

The reason why this song works so well and why it became such a huge hit (sidenote: I can't believe you've never heard it before!) it's because essentially is not a song about an issue. It's a song about a boy.

Loving his picks lately. Saw Suzanne live for my 27th birthday a few years ago and she is still as good now. He's right though, Luka is a bit bland. In Liverpool or Solitude Standing would be best next... or Bad Wisdom if you want dark and grim

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Ty D!

Folk, you should check out Pentangle and Fairport Convention (only ‘68-‘ 72ish for Fairport). British Folk Rock of the late 60’s with definite progressive and art-rock elements. Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, and others came out of these bands. Personal Fav from Fairport is “Matty Groves” on the album “Liege and Lief” (their opus). It is a traditional British folk tune that goes back at least 200 or 300 years, dealing with adultery and murder.

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Matthew! I'm trying to get some Fairport on soon

@lbd-po7cl

4 жыл бұрын

Would love to see your reaction to Fairport. The album Leige and Leif is a must, ideally each track in sequence.

My thoughts are on your reaction. I think I need to put a sweater on. Maybe turn the furnace up.

Suzanne wrote this about a little boy namec Luka who lived in hee apartment building and who was being abused

Suzanne Vega is great. If you haven’t checked out Tanita Tikaram yet, you should give her a listen, too. “Twist In My Sobriety” and “Poor Cow” are both great songs.

@JustJP

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Mark!

Also, for a song where you have a good juxtaposition try Priscilla Ahn's Lullaby - it's not between the lyrics and music but more a contrast between the thought of a nice gentle lullaby, and she sings it softly, but the lyrics tell the stories of life that is not nice and gentle