Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner (Live At Royal Albert Hall/1986)

Music video by Suzanne Vega performing Tom's Diner (Live At Royal Albert Hall/1986). An A&M Records Release; © 1986 UMG Recordings, Inc., Courtesy of A&M Records under license from Universal Music Enterprisespop
vevo.ly/EC45DM

[@ginotarabotto]

this song is weird and awesome at the same time. love it.

[@dreamcast.0]

what's weird abt it? /gen

[@matrixofdeath]

@@dreamcast.0 The tempo, the pause, soupirs, but it's perfect in its own way leaving space for great remixes with that diamond clear voice :)

[@B05S]

Is this song I thought she was reading a poem 😆

[@dreamcast.0]

@@B05S yes it's a song.

[@ВалентинаКалашникова-в1м]

@@matrixofdeath ь

[@williamk2803]

That’s is the greatest show of respect I’ve ever seen an artist achieve, that crowd was dead SILENT, with made the performance even more eerily remarkable. Like that’s insane , not one person was making a sound , so amazing, I’m blown away.

[@clarissawalker5210]

The audience is ALWAYS part of the performance.

[@growthandunderstanding]

What an astute point! Thank you!

[@exitido]

0:48

[@z4nd4r]

The person at 0:48 was silently choked out by other people in the audience.

[@spoofyman]

When people acted humane simpler times

[@Imran-Emu]

Her voice is so sensational. ❤️

[@PuritART]

Why?

[@sergioruiz5218]

its a very soothing beautifull voice !

[@robersniper]

@@PuritART good, but not awsome

[@beetea2886]

​@@PuritART because her pitch is fine af and her intonation is beautiful. She has this realistic vibe

[@sujansarkar3720]

Until Tom's dinner

[@matthewwilkes6065]

Effortlessly performed. We need more of this style of music to settle down the overburdened mind in the chaotic world we live in now.

[@alex_chugaev]

Can’t agree more 👍🏻

[@daCubanaqt]

This type of music isn’t what you hear on the radio. It is out there, it’s just not the popular stuff.

[@javier0027]

It's not just the story of this song, is more how is being interpreted by the author, it is kind of a piece of art.

[@Nebafyer_DandD]

"Does she see me? No, she does not really see me, 'cus she sees her own reflection..." Is such a metaphorically resonate line.

[@ryand6150]

never knew this song was so old, it has such a 90s vibe to it.

[@epiphany501]

Agreed. I would guess 1993. That's odd. I was just thinking that and read this comment .

[@Константин-х2х4э]

Me too

[@mr.mesmermanasmr1558]

It gained more fame in 1990 when DNA made it into a dance mix.

[@BassBunnyMusic]

Came here to say this. Similar story to Miss Jane - It's a fine day, Covered by ATB, Opus III, and recently Cloonee

[@Emmanuel_Rivera1]

Amazing how she sings so beautifully without any music playing with her voice. So soothing to listen to you doing Suzanne 💕🥰

[@worldissuesmatter1643]

I am in awe of the fact that the people who developed audio compression used this song to test it. That’s when you know you area talent.

[@rumblefish9]

They used this song because the original was recorded acapella. Her voice was so clear it made it easier for researchers to tell how much audio quality loss was due to compression

[@daCubanaqt]

Yes, those engineers were very talented!!!

[@MC-rr5iz]

I'm almost 50 years old. I learned this song when I was a teenager and even though I never tried to sing it in almost 35 years, I still remember all the words and inflections of her voice. Magic?

[@shiwanikhokhar1993]

Another teenager here Sir...

[@pooryorick831]

Yeah. I'm a little older, I was in my early twenties. And then 35 years later the melody popped into my head and I had to hear it. It was like a ghost from the past came up and tapped my shoulder. It was raining the first time I heard it. That was in the car. I liked the song "Luka" so I bought the cassette. I was leaving Tower Records. I pulled off the wrapper, stuck it in and this comes on. And it has stuck with me all these years.

[@gevinprathibha5408]

please do some basic algebra first,

[@everydaydre1185]

The power of keeping an audience focused and locked in

[@baba-yoshino]

It still gives me goosebumps

[@PuritART]

Why?

[@CaptainNab]

I dont understand it but it made me cry

[@asdrubal4523]

Is called nostalgia 😢

[@manuelmenendez5691]

Me too. It gave me goosebumps and also nearly made me cry

[@Jere00249]

Her voice is everything

[@aodiogo]

So relaxing. Thank you Suzanne ❤️ March 14 2022

[@brianhatcher2799]

Her voice is absolutely incredible, but man, I was hoping for the subtle music, the bells, and the constant do-do-do that plays throughout the radio version, but mad props to her for just belting it without any of those extra details.👍 Now off to hear the radio version!!🎉

[@mymobile5014]

I saw this when it was first released and I've never got over it. I continue to play it now and again even now, 40 years later.

[@bobbymoss6160]

You'll never see an audience this respectful ever again. This was absolutely amazing the artist and the audience.

[@peteramodio]

I was there, near the front, left of Center!

[@danielcanoy5803]

Congrats, Peter! Must be nice to witness this.

[@deathdreammyxomatosis3332]

Lucky you

[@MDezanGlasovic]

Lucky you, Sir!!

[@rip710]

Oh i think i see you in the video

[@avaaro.o]

im so jelly

[@burtontrent5121]

Absolutely brilliant! Suzanne is really blessed with so much Talent.

[@HerStoryofMusic]

OG spoken poetry. One of the most beautiful set of lyrics ever made ❤

[@ljh4880]

This is a poetry which has so much meaning inside it... looks weird and discursive, yet when you try to interpret it... you will find something that very relate to real life...

[@MsKeiaDaBaddest]

So simple and easy to digest, a work of art!

[@arunca190]

Takes a lot of nerve to do this. That alone is amazing. So minimal, no backing track, no support of any kind. And she pretty young then. And the respectful crowd. Unheard of these days.

[@peteramodio]

Could have heard a pin drop! 💕

[@paulasmith3374]

Duh duh da da duh duh da da duh duh da da da da da da.

[@luisotre]

It’s like poetry

[@aarongiles4885]

Very true

[@shantanubondre2004]

@@paulasmith3374 google translate translates your comment as Spirit spirit yes yes spirit spirit yes yes spirit Yes yes yes yes yes

[@fineassling3879]

This was just magical I can literally watch this always

[@kevinbell3700]

I love Suzanne's voice and this a brilliant piece. Superb.

[@timothinking9855]

Back when memories were amazing and when something like this was made people simply talked about it. No photos, no cell phones, I get it was recorded, and you could later purchase the vhs, but audience members weren't recording it, just sitting in awe listening.

[@antoxnsoekanto4529]

The 80' crowd is something else

[@TheSoteriologist]

A year later we drove to and through Spain for 7700 km with a Fiat Uno and a Citroën 2CV and constantly listened to the album this is from. I was obsessed with _"Solitude Standing"_ .

[@brenoleal741]

Suzanne Vega, the first ASMR artist

[@rumblefish9]

I have been saying this forever. When she says "cool" you really feel it.

[@Sienna-u4u]

I'm 30 years old , and I love this song, still

[@Respector399]

Im 34🎉🎉🎉 my sister. Lost.

[@achuthaprakash1064]

Such a cool song, I like the music the vocals and the lyrics -- all are top notch

[@MilitaryBeauty]

Her voice is amazing for story telling

[@carolinagarzao]

The public is so respectful

[@tat-q6i9o]

Unbelievable. WOW!!! I love this song and Susan Vegas voice is so smart and lovely and special! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@FirstnameLastname-cp9lr]

Recently discovered this masterpiece... 👏👏👏👏

[@wesss9353]

yo i haven't heard this song since the 7th grade

[@clearskies]

Hang on, you haven't heard the dna remix??

[@kealivy]

this song is like a Seinfeld episode. its like, about nothing but also relatable and incredible?

[@sharkybuddy5192]

It mentions toms restaurant too

[@rumblefish9]

Its a lot more than you think it is. She wrote it about her days spent at Tom's Restaurant in NY. She would stay there all day. The story is about someone going about their mundane day but feeling alienated from everyone around her. She is watching everyone as a viewer would but not part of it. She is not bitter. Alienation is not bitterness. If anything she is emotionally disconnected from everyone--just watching everything unfold. She says in an essay that: she “felt as though he saw the world through a pane of glass.” The part about the actor dying was her reading about the death of actor William Holden (she didn't know who he was). Parts of the song also deal with the things she used to do with another folk singer, Jack Hardy, like picnicking at midnight on the steps of the cathedral. She explains it in detail in a New York Times essay

[@brianhatcher2799]

When you’re by yourself in a restaurant it can be easy to feel that way sometimes. Thanks for sharing that story. That’s why this song is so relatable.

[@axy_the_alien7034]

I love how this simplistic poem like song starts off, with a simple tempo and simple story but slowly goes to reflect that of a metaphorical, slow narrative that turns right around and leaves you relaxed but restless, wanting to know more about what this person has gone through

[@ScienceFoundation]

She once said in an interview that she likes to open or close with this song because it brings the audience to a dead quiet. Mrs. Vega, if you ever happen to read this I assure you we wouldn't mind if you did both.

[@guspeake6167]

Forgotten what a class act she is. Simply sublime.

[@nickbuchanan190]

Love you Suzanne! One of the greatest songwriters of our time!!

[@luisotre]

This makes me think the human experience is both beautiful and pointless at the same time but I’ll choose to love it just the same while it’s here and before it goes away for me at least

[@volkanerrgun]

Dear Suzanne Vega the great, Thank you for everything you have done for music.Each note and key change have been an inspiration for me and many others I am sure. All the best. As always; Keep rockin'❤

[@cmonkey63]

The audience let her sing the song without interruption. Such respect. Do do do doot....

[@shonjayeedwards7130]

2024 checking in

[@D33Lux]

Such a great voice with no auto-tune.

[@saleenz9643]

Thank you so much for this upload! Woke up humming this tune, spent 15 minutes searching before finding a link from an obscure forum. Much appreciated!

[@jamesirungu8809]

Great lyrics , u can hear her breathing between the verses.....no auto tune .

[@fenriswolflp-verlierenmits5952]

I love that song. I heard it on the radio when I was a teenager.

[@ScienceFoundation]

I close my eyes mouth along to the words. It takes me there and by the time the song is done I have to be startled back to reality.

[@truesamuraiHisashi]

Beautiful! A great cut of our society. I can keep listening to forever. Thank you! ^_^

[@jaimeduncan6167]

She is someone of this beautiful moments. This is the stuff magic is build from, hundreds of humans really putting their minds in a single directions, full of discovery.

[@richardhare3996]

This is just SO beautiful but the whole album is amazing ❤❤

[@TheArmourersBench]

Try it at 0.75 speed.

[@kamilfingr371]

What a mesmerizing voice.

[@davidrawzen8232]

Realising that this performance takes place even before the studio version, that only several years later became a real hit by DNA, - wow!!...

[@anthonyquiroz96]

Reminds me of how sweet a mother sounds when she sings to her kids while they fall asleep.

[@rjformation9038]

Wow thats amazing and audience has so much respect, no one is shouting or interrupting

[@JesusChrist-yh4pi]

This is art and it moves me. I dont know why i'm tearing up but i am.

[@MikeK2100]

I thought so and had to see if their is an a cappella version and what a surprise to find out it actually is from the beginning. A glimpse of the spirit of everyday life for me.

[@vesterchampify]

Such a professional. Wow!

[@quinquiln14]

This is great thank you!!!!

[@dmitryponsov2870]

One love! Music from childhood! Tnx!

[@bigbiemacaw]

This song is everything, love the new version flying around tiktok atm As well, it should help the views on this...who's here to hear this for the 1st time in there life because they heard the one on tiktok by the German band..or ate they French.

[@astrizia]

German... AnnenMayKantereit with Giant Rooks

[@ChandaWalker-zt7gd]

I love this unique song I've always did I grew up to this ty Suzanne Vega we as kids was sooooo excited when this song first played on stations and they played it at the roller rink we had so much fun😊🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎 TY ICON!

[@KiranKumar_46]

Storytelling at it's best!

[@zeeqwan6477]

Still chill as heck

[@cannoli_aoli]

That was awesome! I love how the crowd was silent. 👏

[@mylovevega]

I am thinking of your voice...Aways thanks.

[@trexinvert]

I always liked this song ever since it played on my cassette player when I bought it. For anyone who feels uncomfortable when eating alone in public, you do not feel alone when you start to notice the world happening around you.

[@aminanwar7438]

Thank you madam.

[@nemo227]

I wouldn't have known about Suzanne Vega if it wasn't for youtube. That's probably true for a million or more people. There are such treasures all around us. Yes, I'm a fan now.

[@davidshepherd2994]

What a voice this gal has - absolute quality!!!!

[@johnnyacosta9088]

Uff esa voz hermosa 💜

[@yerbanohay1]

I come again and again to hear this.

[@josefreitasoliveira4547]

Linda de lindo sucesso 💓

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I saw her at the Kings Hall in Belfast in 1981.

[@baraataleb2383]

I think this song is a recount of the day she learnt how to move on: First she’s pretending she didn’t see the man and the woman that walked in kiss as that must be bringing back memories of the man she was in love with. Additionally the part where she mentions the actor that died is a way she is storing and perceiving the date, some day, some time back in the 80s there was a newspaper in New York that wrote about an actor that passed away from drinking. That’s the day, her bookmark for when she learnt how to move on, grabbing her coffee and catching the train….

[@niforoman7086]

Interesting theory

[@brianhatcher2799]

That’s beautiful!! I never thought of that before.

[@sm1137]

Talent

[@silpancho566]

amazing. l have hear this song lots of this, but this is the first time l had pay attention.....you are

[@mauriciosagredo7637]

Pero si es una obra maestra, ella no sólo es hermosa, increíble. Es músico y cantante profesional. Esto es sólo de grandes. Hay que conocer la canción. Y ese sello único en su hermosa voz. Bpor eso los aplausos al final.

[@ruqaiyahkhatab6061]

Maybe if I sing my English lessons in class to this hypnotic tune I'll get the attention from students that she receives from her audience.

[@cekuhnen]

Add electronic music and I have this song in my mind since multiple centuries …

[@shiwanikhokhar1993]

This one's on repeat 🔁

[@Wolkenpilot]

Nice love story.Thanks

[@musicmonkalive]

F f f this is awesome, i have been listening to this song for ......i guess more than 14 years, i love it

[@hill4252]

Please post the full remastered concert

[@thomaslewis6361]

Beautiful..!😊🙂👏👏

[@davidobrien3897]

AMAZING WITH NO BAND BEHIND HER !!! SO CREATIVE

[@misteralex1]

Mucho amor desde República Dominicana 🇩🇴🇩🇴

[@andyandy2579]

kaind of meditation. 5 minuts in the bar captured by the woman in hurry. No rythem in words, but capured life, like a picture. It blows my mind. The sipmplicity

[@priyaanand9342]

Brilliant!!!👏👏

[@amolegbesofiat4728]

I am sitting In the morning At the diner On the corner I am waiting At the counter For the man To pour the coffee And he fills it Only halfway And before I even argue He is looking Out the window At somebody Coming in "It is always Nice to see you" Says the man Behind the counter To the woman Who has come in She is shaking Her umbrella And I look The other way As they are kissing Their hellos And I'm pretending Not to see them And instead I pour the milk I open Up the paper There's a story Of an actor Who had died While he was drinking It was no one I had heard of And I'm turning To the horoscope And looking For the funnies When I'm feeling Someone watching me And so I raise my head There's a woman On the outside Looking inside Does she see me? No she does not Really see me 'Cause she sees Her own reflection And I'm trying Not to notice That she's hitching Up her skirt And while she's Straightening her stockings Her hair Has gotten wet Oh this rain It will continue Through the morning As I'm listening To the bells Of the cathedral I am thinking Of your voice And of the midnight picnic Once upon a time Before the rain began And I finish up my coffee And it's time to catch the train Like this comment if it was helpful🫠

[@dadungrpj8314]

Can't believe I actually read and sang along to this in my head 😂

[@TheAllBlue139]

It was hard to read it without singning it in my head😂 Thank you for the lyrics!❤ Right now I'm lying in my bed, saturday morning, early spring rain outside, reading the lyrics for the first time and I feel so light and dreamy and magical and a bit sad because I think she sings about a morning a man she loves is getting married to someone else (bells of the cathedral) (rain as a metaphore for tears and sad times). But I feel hopefull for her because the mentioning of the "next train she has to go catch", meaning she's moving on.

[@amolegbesofiat4728]

@@TheAllBlue139 aww you’re welcome.

[@heavensgoldenshore]

God bless the lyrics's ppl❤

[@gravity7208]

wow this is amazing.

[@Ismail-TLG]

SHE DOESNT NEED MUSIC, HER VOICE IS ENOUGH

[@TV-bl5vf]

Thanks

[@winstonbrandt7900]

Great song, great song, great song.... BTW did I mention,,,, great song. Sing it again for us!

[@manueltorresmartinez5701]

One of the best songs ever made ❤️🎚️🔝

[@mrlucasftw42]

What a song!

[@RobertaG556]

Wowwww Brilliant ❤

[@Milestone783]

Anytime this shows up on my recommended I have to watch it