Suzanne Vega’s six favourite albums
In many ways, we take music for granted. We listen to someone’s heart and soul distilled into a three-minute edit, so seamlessly woven into the fabric of daily life that we can become disillusioned. We forget that while an album might take an hour to consume, its tracks may have been meticulously crafted over the years, with every lyric and sonic detail fine-tuned to perfection. The artistic element of music, it seems, has slipped from the forefront of the listener’s conscience—until, that is, Suzanne Vega steps into the frame.
Vega is a true creative force known for her distinctive musical persona and lyrical depth. With acclaimed hits throughout the 1980s, such as ‘Marlene on the Wall’ and ‘Luka’, she became a standout figure in lyricism, tackling harrowing subjects like abuse with profound sensitivity. In the production process, Vega prioritises words and melody over intricate musical arrangements, often collaborating with other musicians to shape her albums while focusing on her first love—writing. This, of course, comes as no surprise; having started writing poetry as a child and later studying English, Vega brings a literary lens to both the music she creates and the work she admires. Her favourite albums are no exception.
Speaking to the Express in 2016, it’s clear that many of Vega’s picks are unsurprisingly based on lyrical artistry. She began with the magnum opus that “opened up a world of songwriting”, Leonard Cohen’s eponymous album, Songs of Leonard Cohen. Evidently a worshipper of the Canadian poet musician, she enthused: “His voice is so intimate, though, there was nothing easy listening about it. It’s very intense. Who else sings about being sick in bed? I tried to drink in everything I could learn from it, and I still do.”
With her songwriting masterclass in check, Vega moves on to another wordsmith who no discussion about lyrics would be complete without. “Bob Dylan’s been an inspiration since I was nine when my teacher played him,” she said, particularly making reference to his 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. “He’ll sing you an image and not explain it, which appealed to me because it retains mystery. When he does lecture you it’s astonishing as in ‘Masters Of War’, which makes you want to curl up and die.”
Well, you see what she means, but it’s probably not the right time to tap out since there’s so much more mastery to get through. Next, Vega chooses the seminal Outlandos D’Amour by The Police, explaining her memory: “I remember being amazed that this sound was made by just three guys, and I loved Sting’s charisma and delivery. They were fooling around with reggae and punk, and there’s a lot of energy with the drumming driving everything.”
Despite her penchant for lyrics, Vega still clearly appreciates the power of musicianship because, from The Police’s drums, she moves on to Laura Nyro’s incomparable voice. She singles out the iconic 1968 record Eli and the Thirteenth Confession, recalling, “Some people left this album after a party my parents had so I put it on. It really annoyed my mother who thought she screeched. But why shouldn’t she? I grew up in New York City and she sang about the world I knew, then transformed it with the way she sang in weird phrases.”
Interestingly, she tends to pick works close to home in some way because her next choice may be a little biased. It’s Woodface by Crowded House, made special because “I married the producer of this album, Mitchell Froom, after he produced my 99.9F album, though I fell in love with this before I met him. Neil Finn’s melodies are beautiful”. Clearly, Froom had some sort of enthralling power over the rest of Vega’s life, as she said: “For years after we split up, I kept hearing ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ with Mitchell’s organ solo floating out from some random place I’d stopped to get lunch.”
Well, whether she liked that song Chasing Her or not, her final pick was an Escape – specifically to Berlin, by one Lou Reed. Vega said that Reed was “A big influence on my life and career. I first saw him in 1979 on a date. The concert was abrasive and violent, but I loved his songwriting, and he was fearless in his subject matter”.
But their songwriting kinship went even further because she went as far as to say: “’Caroline Says’ was an influence on my song ‘Luka’ because there’s domestic violence in that too. I was listening to it the day I wrote it.”
It is a bit crazy to realise how these things work – of course, particular albums and songs influence artists everywhere, but without giants like Lou Reed in the game, we may never have seen the fresh breath of talent in Suzanne Vega.
Suzanne Vega’s six favourite albums:
- Leonard Cohen – Songs of Leonard Cohen
- Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
- The Police – Outlandos D’Amour
- Laura Nyro – Eli and the Thirteenth Confession
- Crowded House – Woodface
- Lou Reed – Berlin
