SUZANNE VEGA-SMALL BLUE THING-OGWT-BBC 2-1985

suzannevega.com Suzanne Vega performs live on the Whistle Test 1985.

[@jongordonmusic1]

So glad to find this video! Thanks to Brett Rogers for pointing it out to me. That's me on electric guitar! Playing with Suzanne in the early to mid 80's was a major high point of my career. I've seen a version of Marlene on the Wall from this shoot, but never this one before today.

[@marciamayer8610]

It's great!

[@dunkieofficialmusic]

Stunning song and performance. Well played Sir

[@jongordonmusic1]

Thanks!

[@charcolew]

Thank you for the shivers!

[@froggiemorton5990]

Before looking at the comments and seeing yours, I was watching this video and thinking, "That guitarist is amazing -- he really gets this song". So it was pretty cool to find your comment here! A truly memorable performance. Suzanne Vega has been such an important artist for me ever since her first album, so I'm thinking it must have been a true experience to perform with her. I've only been able to see her live twice, and not until long after this period in her career. Great to see your comment here!

[@autumnrain2110]

one of the greatest singer-songwriters to ever live

[@vidviewer100]

so true!

[@Jean-dt6mf]

Absoluty right !!! 👍

[@undershaft8828]

Good music never violates the silence in which it was created

[@jamesloming]

I was introduced to this song in the 80s on cassette tape. In those days there is no youtube, spotify or smart phone. I consider it as one of Vega greatests. Just the sound of it is enough to capture your mind and imagination. Not need music video, fancy showmanship or complicated instruments, just her voice and pure sound.

[@AlanCanon2222]

Performed it at open mic night in Louisville, Kentucky. When lockdown happened I dremeled a cheap Yamaha guitar so I could put a Fishman pickup in it. And I swore if I survived COVID I would hit the open mic nights and perform Suzanne's entire catalog, one by one. Tonight I did Small Blue Thing, and I think it is my 18th public Suzanne Vega cover title in performance. Only 90 or so to go. All my friends at open mic are okay with it, we all have our muses, everyone knows SV is mine.

[@guyredares]

Smart, modest and talented as hell

[@donnam2012]

Blending poetry and music with such haunting simplicity. I listened to Suzanne Vega in my early 20s, and today this song popped into my head when I thought about how I was feeling as the pandemic is taking off in my home city. I feel something small, smooth, hard and cold inside, and found myself singing "Today I am a small blue thing". The soothing calm strength of this song is magic. Thank you Suzanne Vega.

[@dreamyblue44]

In a brash decade she reminded us that having a soul mattered, wonderful footage, many thanks!

[@swordsinging1709]

Fast Folk

[@paxwallacejazz]

She's truly a wordsmith "scattering like light"

[@Rentner-r9c]

Sie ist einmalig ❤

[@blissfulbaboon]

Timeless beauty will always be alive as the day it was written.Magnificent song in every way,a song that lives forever.They come along once in a century,a singer/writer like Suzanne Vega,a jewel of jewels

[@stewartsanders6078]

35 years gone in the blink of an eye 😪

[@latkagravas2967]

Alas, my friend, they can never take away the memories, or music as beautiful as this. And today, SV has a voice that, to me, is as fine as ever. Others age, and try to hold their gifts, and more power to them. She can do it still, without trying at all. Listen to her more recent work with her great guitarist, Gerry Leonard. Not to take anything away from her earlier musicians, and the great work on this recording. They are superb.

[@daylight44ful]

What happened ??????????????/

[@xXNitXx]

This song tells a different story every time ❤

[@chrisamerriman]

Well put!

[@Poteerharry_01]

@xXNitXx ...even about the smartphones.

[@peterbustin2683]

I love the vulnerability in this song so much.

[@vicv.2720]

Always loved her talent and beauty. Her voice soothes my ears, her face holds my gaze, and her music/lyrics massage my brain. Perhaps a lot of makeup artists were doing this (so not necessarily something Suzanne had an opinion about), but I especially like her eye shadow in this video. The shading only being on the outer corners and following the downward edges of her brows, makes her eyes that much more expressive.

[@jwckauman]

Man this has a real vibe.

[@grahamgray2421]

This Ladies music is so nice to listen to, remarkable!

[@railwaystationmaster]

Never fully appreciated just how elf like beautiful SV was back in the day, as for this song one of best and close forensic observations of such a simple every day object of the glass marble is pure acoustic alchemy of spherical proportions .

[@pierlivexmusic]

GREAT Suzanne 🎸🎸🎸

[@billblackmon7704]

Love you soooo much ❤

[@karasimon6766]

This just sounds like New York City of the 80s and 90s. Brings me to tears.

[@Happyharold666]

know exactly what you mean

[@patrickjenkins2788]

My favorite song of hers. Love her.

[@24kGoldenRocket]

What an amazing song...about a marble. That something so simple can be so beautiful is astounding.

[@danieljulian4676]

Oh, sweetheart, it's a metaphor... what this song is about is not simple at all... The first line, "today, I am..."

[@ibelieveicansoar]

It might be a reference to the '70s/'80s children's TV series Big Blue Marble, or to Carl Sagan's nickname for the earth, "pale blue dot." Suzy could thus be singing that she's a mini version of the earth when she's around a certain someone. 🌏

[@michael931]

It's not about a marble.

[@portcullis5622]

@@danieljulian4676The lyrics may be metaphorical, but song actually starts with a simile, as she uses the word "like". "Today I am a small, blue thing. Like a marble or an eye."

[@danielsozzi4735]

Beautiful song, music and lyrics, she sings so honestly...

[@cbearw1]

Great song. Love the guitar work. Suzanne’s voice is wonderful as always.

[@MrSilviut]

Crazy how much this is as good as the recorded version

[@Jonahstrials]

I love her ❤

[@nickjones9969]

Going to see Suzanne tomorrow night in Barbican Centre London - I couldn't believe there were still tickets left - get in there quick!!

[@shirleywatre5092]

Always loved her songs and her voice. Listened to the cassettes those days .😂😍💕👍🏻Sang a few of her songs earlier , Luka ,and others, years ago when I was younger . 😂..Just found her again. ❤️💕😍💕👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙏🙏

[@actisoufre]

Exceptionnel, amazing, formidable, so american... and so french... the best of the best ! merci Suzanne !

[@Jean-dt6mf]

Cette artiste est tout simplement exceptionnelle ‼️👍

[@charlesdignam780]

I love Suzanne 🥀♥️

[@stevecolwell4425]

Beautiful song, thanks to KZbin for adding this to my 'mix' 👍

[@hofmanish]

beautiful !! she's indeed one of the greatest

[@marciosene7749]

I don't know what I feel when I listen to this sublime song. Solitude, awareness, nostalgia... Thank you so much for sharing this video!

[@박은규-b7c]

an amazing singer-songwriter

[@carlosrennerrenner4340]

Como era Bonito a juventude em outro tempo...

[@Gruntled2001]

This is one of my favorites, and it reminds me of Edie Brickell’s “Air of December”

[@marcob4630]

real CLASS !

[@demonicsweaters]

wow, what a find! Suzanne Vega was always one of my favorite singers and I've loved this song since I was a kid. Really awesome to see this performance.

[@Selenareznik25]

Love this old footage of my favorite artists. There’s something about the distorted sound of a vhs or cassette tape. I just love it

[@raymondmichaelocampo7262]

She''s so pretty

[@TheOmanJam]

Acoustic guitar and Prophet-5. I love that keyboard! I remember seeing this on TV at the time and thinking I love synthesizers especially in a non-electronic music context.

[@patkelly3966]

Bass is electric

[@baldarmstrong6532]

Goddess.

[@IanHodgetts]

Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this. Possibly my favourite (underrated) song from SV. While a lot of her more popular songs are amongst my favourites, this one always stood out.

[@MrCheesyLobster]

Oh my goodness, thank you for putting this video up, this is synonymous with my 20yo, self.. I'm transported in time..

[@nemoxenomorf8147]

Cudowna Istota ❤

[@OneFingerSnap]

So you played the solo on the recording of Marlene on the Wall? Top notch man, one of my favorite solos ever. It’s a story within the story, congratulations!

[@malthuswasright]

I think there must be an earlier live performance of this - I'm sure that Suzanne played this solo on Pebble Mill at One (a regional lunchtime magazine programme), and it would be brilliant if there was an extant recording of that.

[@considerlizards]

There's hardly any Pebble Mill at One left. They've failed badly in their archiving. She was on though, Small Blue Thing and Marlene on the Wall.

[@MathiasCorvinus1]

Loved It...!!! Thanks!!!

[@giampaolo1647]

This melody struck me from the first listen

[@beautifulroses]

❤️

[@Mulsanne58]

Has anyone got the clip from the BBC OGWT New Years Eve special 1985(?) with the video of Small Blue Thing where Suzanne sang straight to camera, was possibly a promo video. Recall that first sighting of her as being amazing.

[@edsonsantiago9135]

Great work man!!!

[@cccristol]

Thanks for the upload

[@mavmavize]

スザンヌいいわ〜

[@leafnlore2712]

Classic

[@kloppskalli]

muy bien

[@botheryenot3012]

the "tentativeness" in her voice (intended or not) is so beautiful... it's a pity, the VHS induced pitch sliding

[@saskiamolin]

♥

[@jimipappas9809]

Perfect and tasty. We saw the Carnegie Hall show..

[@ROWBRONCO]

Is that true ?? This is officially the first comment in this video ... epic !! HE HE HE (LOL) Now, no jokes folks but, this is probably one of the best live versions of this tune, and the guitar ad-libs, ... just glorious !! (Great guitar player).... Somebody knows the name of that dude ?? Greetings !!

[@NickPhillips1]

He's commented up top. Jon Gordon.

[@ROWBRONCO]

@@NickPhillips1 Thanks Nick, ... after eight years I finally got an answer. I saw Jon Gordon’s comment, apparently he wrote his comment three years after than mine and it wasn’t a reply to my comment either. So, thank you again Nick.

[@michael931]

Does anyone here know what the song is about? I do. :)

[@Sequencers]

Awesome thanks for this and is that the ghost of Phil lynott on the end ?

[@patkelly3966]

not the first song I wouldve thought of if you'd said synth

[@joelwallenius2877]

Feel like I recognise the bassist. Who is he?

[@ezandman6804]

nice vhs-effect....

[@actisoufre]

Ask Beyonce and Rihanna to listen to this song. They can understand what a song is ! I'm joking. 3:43 in Heaven merci !!!

[@penunka]

is this not the best song ever

[@nlondonex]

She wouldn't be much fun at a party but the songs good

[@dennispritchard73]

Grow up

[@kalevala29]

@@dennispritchard73 lol actually she's very new york cool. very intelligent. I think I would hang out with her at a party

[@latkagravas2967]

She doesn't go to the parties you go to, I'd bet.

[@דליהאליה]

❤