Editing Suzanne Vega (section)

== Career ==
=== 1980s ===
While majoring in [[English literature]] at [[Barnard College]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.suzannevega.com/suzanne/biography/brief.aspx |title=Biography |work=Official Community of Suzanne Vega |access-date=May 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080430145005/http://www.suzannevega.com/suzanne/biography/brief.aspx <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=April 30, 2008}}</ref> she performed in small venues in [[Greenwich Village]], where she was a regular contributor to [[Jack Hardy (singer-songwriter)|Jack Hardy]]'s Monday night songwriters' group at the [[Cornelia Street Cafe]] and had some of her first songs published on ''[[Fast Folk]]'' anthology albums.<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/suzannevega/albums/album/109285] {{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In 1984, she received a major label [[recording contract]], making her one of the first 'Fast Folk' artists to break out on a major label.

Vega's [[Suzanne Vega (album)|self-titled debut studio album]] was released in 1985 and was well received by critics in the U.S.;<ref name=bio/> it reached [[music recording sales certification|platinum]] status in the United Kingdom. Produced by [[Lenny Kaye]] and [[Steve Addabbo]], the songs feature Vega's acoustic guitar in straightforward arrangements. A [[music video|video]] was released for the album's song "Marlene on the Wall", which went into [[MTV]] and [[VH1]]'s rotations. During this period Vega also wrote lyrics for two songs ("Lightning" and "Freezing") on ''[[Songs from Liquid Days]]'' (1986) by composer [[Philip Glass]].<ref name="Holden">{{Cite news |last=Holden |first=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Holden |date=April 20, 1986 |title=Philip Glass Turns to the Song |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/20/arts/philip-glass-turns-to-the-song.html |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York, NY |access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref>

Vega's song "[[Left of Center (Suzanne Vega song)|Left of Center]]" co-written with [[Steve Addabbo]] for the 1986 [[John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]] film ''[[Pretty in Pink]]'' reached No. 32 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] in 1986.<ref>Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 584. {{ISBN|1-904994-10-5}}.</ref>

Her next studio album, ''[[Solitude Standing]]'' (1987), garnered critical and commercial success, selling over one million copies in the U.S.<ref name="riaa.com">{{cite web |url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database |title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – June 23, 2015 |work=Riaa.com |publisher=[[RIAA]]}}</ref>  It includes the international hit single "[[Luka (song)|Luka]]", which is written about, and from the point of view of, an abused child.<ref name="Larkin"/> (Not until many years later did Vega reveal the song dealt with the abuse she herself had suffered from her stepfather.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.njarts.net/suzanne-vega-takes-her-new-york-songs-and-stories-on-the-road/|title=Suzanne Vega takes her 'New York Songs and Stories' on the road|first=Cindy|last=Stagoff|website=Njarts.net|date=August 25, 2021}}</ref>) While continuing a focus on Vega's acoustic guitar, the music of her second album is more strongly pop-oriented and features fuller arrangements. Following the success of the album, in 1989 Vega became the first female artist to headline the [[Glastonbury Festival]].<ref name="glasto">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/6b208267-d9dd-4bf8-b9b4-9f8573c00455 |title=A brief history of female headliners at Glastonbury - BBC Music |date=March 23, 2016 |website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Vega performed her set whilst wearing a [[bulletproof vest]], her band having received death threats from an obsessed fan ahead of the festival.<ref name="glasto" />

The a cappella "[[Tom's Diner]]" from ''Solitude Standing'' became a hit in 1990, having been [[remix]]ed by two British dance producers under the name [[DNA (duo)|DNA]].<ref name="Larkin"/> The track was originally a [[Bootleg recording|bootleg]], until Vega allowed DNA to release it through her record company, and it became her biggest hit.

=== 1990s ===
Vega's third studio album, ''[[Days of Open Hand]]'' (1990), continued in the style of her first two studio albums.

In 1992, she released her fourth studio album {{proper name|''[[99.9F°]]''}}, which mixed [[folk music|folk]] and [[pop music]] with electronic elements.<ref name="Chiu 2017 i377">{{cite web | last=Chiu | first=David | title=Suzanne Vega Talks About '99.9F°' Turning 25 and Her New Carson McCullers Play | website=HuffPost | date=September 8, 2017 | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/suzanne-vega-talks-about-999f-turning-25-and-her_b_59b26530e4b0c50640cd6673 | access-date=April 27, 2024}}</ref> This record was awarded Gold status by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] in recognition of selling over 500,000 copies in the U.S.<ref name="riaa.com"/> The single "[[Blood Makes Noise]]" from this album peaked at number-one on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'''s [[Alternative Airplay|Modern Rock Tracks]]. Vega later married the album's producer, [[Mitchell Froom]].<ref name="Chiu 2017 i377"/>

Her fifth studio album, ''[[Nine Objects of Desire]]'', was released in 1996.<ref name="Larkin"/> The music varies between a frugal, simple style and the industrial production of {{proper name|''99.9F°''}}. This album contains "[[Caramel (Suzanne Vega song)|Caramel]]", featured in the movie ''[[The Truth About Cats & Dogs]]'' (1996), and later the [[Trailer (promotion)|trailer]] for the movie ''[[Closer (2004 film)|Closer]]'' (2004). A song not included on that album, "Woman on the Tier", was featured on the soundtrack of the movie ''[[Dead Man Walking (soundtrack)|Dead Man Walking]]'' (1996).

In 1997 she took a singing part on the concept album ''[[Heaven & Hell (Joe Jackson album)|Heaven & Hell]]'', a musical interpretation of the [[seven deadly sins]] by her colleague [[Joe Jackson (musician)|Joe Jackson]], with whom she had already collaborated in 1986 on "Left of Center" from the ''[[Pretty in Pink (soundtrack)|Pretty in Pink]]'' soundtrack (with Vega singing and Jackson playing piano).<ref name="Morse">{{Cite news |last=Morse |first=Steve |date=September 5, 1997 |title=Stepping Out: Pop star turned classical composer, Joe Jackson takes on the Seven Deadly Sins |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5870313/santa_cruz_sentinel/ |newspaper=Santa Cruz Sentinel |location=Santa Cruz, CA |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=July 12, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref>

In 1999, [[Avon (publisher)|Avon Books]] published Vega's book ''The Passionate Eye: The Collected Writings of Suzanne Vega'', a volume of poems, lyrics, essays and journalistic pieces.<ref name="Gewertz">{{Cite news |last=Gewertz |first=Daniel |date=February 24, 1999 |title=Vega has 'Eye' for passionate poetry |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-57107504.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911025256/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-57107504.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |newspaper=The Boston Herald |location=Boston, MA |access-date=June 28, 2016}}</ref>

=== 2000s ===
[[File:Suzanne Vega Barcelona 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Vega onstage, 2008]]In September 2001, Vega released a new studio album entitled ''[[Songs in Red and Gray]]''. Three songs deal with Vega's divorce from her first husband, [[Mitchell Froom]].

At the memorial concert for her brother [[Tim Vega]] in December 2002, Vega began her role as the subject of the direct-cinema documentary, ''Some Journey'', directed by [[Christopher Seufert]] of [[Mooncusser Films]]. The documentary has not been completed.

Underground [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] duo [[Felt (hip hop group)|Felt]] named a track "Suzanne Vega" on their studio album ''[[Felt: A Tribute to Christina Ricci]]'', released in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/16417072 |title=A Tribute To Christina Ricci |website=Listen.tidal.com}}</ref>

In 2003, the 21-song [[greatest hits album|greatest hits]] compilation album ''[[Retrospective: The Best of Suzanne Vega]]'' was released. (The UK version of ''Retrospective'' included an eight-song bonus CD as well as a DVD containing 12 songs). In the same year she was invited by [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]-winning [[jazz]] guitarist [[Bill Frisell]] to play at the ''Century of Song'' concerts at the famed [[Ruhrtriennale]] in Germany.

In 2003, she hosted the [[American Public Media]] radio series ''American Mavericks'', about 20th century American composers, which received the [[Peabody Awards|Peabody Award]] for Excellence in Broadcasting.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 2, 2004 |title=Nuclear weapons, affirmative action works awarded |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5870588/the_gettysburg_times/ |newspaper=The Gettysburg Times |location=Gettysburg, PA |agency=AP |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=July 12, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://musicmavericks.publicradio.org/ |title=American Mavericks |date=2016 |publisher=American Public Media |website=Publicradio.org |access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref>

On August 3, 2006, Vega became the first major recording artist to perform live in the Internet-based virtual world, ''[[Second Life]]''.  The event was hosted by [[John Hockenberry]] of public radio's ''[[The Infinite Mind]]''.

On September 17, 2006, she performed in [[Central Park]], as part of a benefit concert for the [[Save Darfur Coalition]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ajws.org/who_we_are/news/archives/features/thousands_rally_for_darfur_.html |title=American Jewish World Service |publisher=Ajws.org |access-date=October 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005173149/http://ajws.org/who_we_are/news/archives/features/thousands_rally_for_darfur_.html |archive-date=October 5, 2011}}</ref> During the concert she highlighted her support for [[Amnesty International]], of which she has been a member since 1988.<ref>[https://archive.today/20061111154549/http://www.suzannevega.com/bySuzanne/childhoodStolen.htm The Official Suzanne Vega Website .::. By Suzanne: Articles, Poetry and Essays]. Web.archive.org (November 11, 2006). Retrieved on May 7, 2011.</ref>

In early October 2006, Vega participated in the Academia Film Olomouc (AFO) in [[Olomouc]], the Czech Republic, the oldest festival of documentary films in Europe, in which she appeared as a main guest. She was invited there as the subject of the documentary film by director [[Christopher Seufert]], that had a test screening at the festival. At the end of the festival she performed her classic songs and added one brand new piece called "New York Is a Woman".

Vega is also interviewed in the book ''Everything Is Just a Bet'' which was published in Czech in October 2006. The book contains 12 interview transcriptions from the talk show called ''Stage Talks'' that regularly runs in the Švandovo divadlo (Švandovo Theatre) in [[Prague]]. Vega introduced the book to the audience of the Švandovo divadlo (Švandovo Theatre), and together with some other Czech celebrities gave a signing session.

She signed a new recording contract with [[Blue Note Records]] in the spring of 2006, and released ''[[Beauty & Crime]]'' on July 17, 2007. The album, produced by [[Jimmy Hogarth]], won a [[Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical]]. Her contract was not renewed and she was released in June 2008.<ref>[http://www.suzannevega.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4160/5619]  {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 2007, Vega followed the lead of numerous other mainstream artists and released her track "Pornographer's Dream" as [[podsafe]]. The song spent two weeks at number-one during 2007 and finished as the No. 11<ref name=pmc1>{{cite web |last=Doelle |first=Chris |url=http://www.podmusiccountdown.com/archives/2008/01/pmc_top10_01040.html |title=PMC Top10–010408 – Top Hits of 2007!!! |publisher=PMC Top10 |date=January 5, 2008 |access-date=April 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325200052/http://www.podmusiccountdown.com/archives/2008/01/pmc_top10_01040.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=March 25, 2008}}</ref> hit of the year on the PMC Top10's annual countdown. In 2015, Vega joined The 14th Annual Independent Music Awards judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/judges |title=Independent Music Awards |publisher=Independent Music Awards |access-date=October 18, 2011 |archive-date=May 30, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530072703/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/judges |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hotelscombined.com/TrafficInspection/e88896b0-e382-11e9-8769-6b68405947ab?requestUrl=%2F%3Fa_aid%3D219239&PxVid=&PxAction=c&PxMobile=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509003804/http://miccontrolblog.com/2009/05/27/the-independent-music-awards-announces-judges-for-9th-annual-imas/ |url-status=dead |title=Compare & Save on Cheap Hotel Deals |archive-date=May 9, 2015 |website=HotelsCombined.com}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://top40-charts.com/news/Charts-Awards/She-&-Him-The-Black-Keys-Mark-Hoppus-Aimee-Mann-And-Bettye-LaVette-Join-Judging-Panel-For-The-9th-Annual-Independent-Music-Awards/48785.html |title=Top40-Charts.com |publisher=Top40-Charts.com |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> She was also a judge for the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th Independent Music Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/pastjudges.asp |title=Independent Music Awards – Past Judges |publisher=Independentmusicawards.com |access-date=October 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713024722/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/pastjudges.asp |archive-date=July 13, 2011}}</ref>

In 2008, fire at a [[Universal Music Group]] vault in Los Angeles County resulted in the loss or damage of some Vega recordings.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |title=UMG Acknowledges Elton John, Nirvana, Beck Recordings Were Lost or Damaged in Vault Fire |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elton-john-nirvana-beck-recordings-universal-vault-fire-lost-952850/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=February 14, 2020 |date=February 14, 2020}}</ref>

=== 2010s ===
[[File:Suzanne Vega at Union Chapel, London 2015.jpg|thumb|Vega at [[Union Chapel, Islington|Union Chapel]], London, 2015, improvising by using the pulpit]]A partial cover version of her song "Tom's Diner" was used to introduce the 2010 British movie ''[[4.3.2.1.]]'', with its lyrics largely rewritten to echo the plot. This musical hybrid was released as "[[Keep Moving (Adam Deacon and Bashy song)|Keep Moving]]". Vega participated in the [[Danger Mouse (musician)|Danger Mouse]] and [[Sparklehorse]] studio album ''[[Dark Night of the Soul (album)|Dark Night of the Soul]]'' (2010). She wrote both melody and lyrics for her song, which is titled "Man Who Played God", inspired by a biography of Spanish artist [[Pablo Picasso]]. Vega sang lead vocals on the song "Now I Am an Arsonist" with singer-songwriter [[Jonathan Coulton]] on his studio album, ''[[Artificial Heart (album)|Artificial Heart]]'' (2011).

Vega has re-recorded her back-catalogue,<ref>[http://www.suzannevega.com/suzanne/brief-bio-2007/ Suzanne Vega | Brief Bio 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108135728/http://www.suzannevega.com/suzanne/brief-bio-2007/ |date=January 8, 2011 }}. Suzannevega.com. Retrieved on May 7, 2011.</ref> both for artistic and commercial (and control) reasons,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mbbarton.wordpress.com/2010/03/17/suzanne-vegas-close-up-series-more-than-meets-the-eye/ |title=Suzanne Vega's Close-Up series more than meets the eye |date=March 17, 2010 |publisher=Mbbarton.wordpress.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720075436/http://mbbarton.wordpress.com/2010/03/17/suzanne-vegas-close-up-series-more-than-meets-the-eye/ |archive-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spinner.com/2011/11/04/suzanne-vega-close-up-vol-3/ |title=Suzanne Vega Proudly Embraces Her Role as 'The Mother of the MP3' |author=Theo Spielberg |date=November 4, 2011 |publisher=spinner.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104182701/http://www.spinner.com/2011/11/04/suzanne-vega-close-up-vol-3/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> in the ''Close-up'' series. Vol. 1 (''[[Close-Up Vol. 1, Love Songs|Love Songs]]'') and Vol. 2 (''[[Close-Up Vol. 2, People & Places|People & Places]]'') appeared in 2010 while Vol. 3 (''[[Close-Up Vol. 3, States of Being|States of Being]]'') was released in July 2011<ref>[https://twitter.com/suzyv/status/69980135352315904 Twitter / Suzanne Vega: Vol 3 of Close-Up coming out in July of this year – States of Being]. Twitter.com. Retrieved on May 24, 2011.</ref> followed by Vol. 4 (''[[Close-Up Vol. 4, Songs of Family|Songs of Family]]'') in September 2012.  Volumes 2, 3 and 4 of the ''Close-Up'' albums included previously unrecorded material; Volumes 2 and 3 each included one new collaboratively written song, while Volume 4 included three songs that Vega had written years earlier, but had not previously gotten around to recording. In all, Vega's ''Close-Up'' series features 60 re-recorded songs and five new compositions, representing about three-quarters of her lifetime songwriting output.

While performing live, Vega and long-term collaborator [[Gerry Leonard]] began to introduce a number of new songs into the setlist, including the live favorite "I Never Wear White". Over the course of a year, the songs were completed and recorded in a live-studio setting with the help of a number of guests. Produced by Leonard, ''[[Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles]]'' was released in February 2014.<ref>[http://www.ishtarmusic.com/detail.aspx?id=960 "Ishtar Press-release] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306174838/http://www.ishtarmusic.com/detail.aspx?id=960 |date=March 6, 2014 }} Announcement headliner for the Festival Antigel in Geneva, February 15, 2014</ref> It was her first album of new material in seven years and became Vega's first studio album to reach the UK Top 40 since 1992, peaking at No. 37.

Vega's ninth studio album, ''[[Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers]]'', was released on October 14, 2016.<ref name="wsj-mccullers">{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/07/06/suzanne-vegas-we-of-me-carson-mccullers/ |title=Hear Suzanne Vega's New Song 'We of Me' From Her Upcoming Album Inspired by Writer Carson McCullers (Exclusive) |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=July 6, 2016 |access-date=July 30, 2016 |author=Ayers, Mike}}</ref><ref name="nimbit">{{cite web |url=http://www.nimbitmusic.com/suzannevega.1/#loverbeloved |title=Suzanne Vega Lover, Beloved: Songs From An Evening With Carson McCullers |publisher=Nimbit |access-date=October 14, 2016 |archive-date=October 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001003835/http://www.nimbitmusic.com/suzannevega.1#loverbeloved |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== 2020s ===
In February and March 2023, Vega was to tour the UK.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/suzanne-vega-announces-2023-winter-uk-tour-get-tickets-here-3252715 | title=Suzanne Vega announces 2023 winter UK tour | website=[[NME]] | date=June 21, 2022 }}</ref>

On May 2nd 2025, Vega released the album "Flying With Angels". <ref>{{cite web  | url=https://www.discogs.com/release/33891507-Suzanne-Vega-Flying-With-Angels |title=Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels }}</ref>