Suzanne Vega - South Bank Show 01-11-1987

[@92ninersboy]

Suzanne Vegas has incredible depth as an artist. Sure she has brains - there's a real intellect behind her songs - but above all else, she overflows with soul. I don't think I've been as moved by any other pop/folk artist as much as her. Neil Young and Leonard Cohen also come to mind. But she really has a sense of mystery in her music - a sirens song that doesn't lead you to the rocks but rather to a higher place. There's a real vulnerability combined with strength, and, like Leonard Cohen, there's a seductive, almost erotic impulse in her work. She combines opposites in a way that communicates so much to anyone with an open mind. Sometimes her singing has a cool jazz element that I find devastating along with the more traditional folk roots. She's something special.

[@eldiran2]

I agree, though she is a far better vocalist (even in her minimalist fashion) that Cohen is or ever was.

[@noahifiv]

Thanks god there she was at that concert and listened to Lou Reed. What a lesson she took home.

[@rapman5791]

Lou Reed? 😂😂. Dudes a poser of the highest degree. The only person who loves him as much as you is Lou himself.

[@stevebrennan1309]

She is so pretty and so talented, but most of all she is SO SMART!!

[@ElectoneGuy]

I still listen to Solitude Standing on vinyl from beginning to end to this day. Wonderful LP.

[@sanghapeaceproject]

Caught Susanne at the Black Horse Cafe in Northampton, Mass in 1981 or so and have always remembered the lyrics..!

[@mbatchelor]

Great stuff. She just totally melts me; such a beautiful lady with a beautiful voice, and looking at what she looks and sounds like 34 years later, not a whole lot of difference. She's still awesome... Luka was her first song that brought her to US prominence when I was a kid, but I don't believe it hit here until circa 1987; when it was dated as 84 in the video.

[@whipchorus3726]

Just the year it was written. Solitude Standing has the year each song was written beside the lyrics (sorry you’re probably aware of this but this is where they must have got the info)

[@MarcusConte]

Was a fan then, still a fan now.

[@qqleq]

And her voice is still the same unique recognisable beauty it always has been

[@freeplayfrank7736]

What an awesome presentation, at least until he said Suzanne doesn't really move him. Bullsh@t! You can't help but be moved when Suzanne sings,she has it all, talent,intelligence, beauty and a wonderfully, engaging personality. Suzanne is probably the most important poet / songwriter of our time.

[@partsslopecare9461]

...i love that she sounds like she's singing directly into my ear.. love her.

[@garydunn3037]

I have "Loved" Suzanne's music since the mid 80's when she first hit the scene. I "Love" her laid back vocal style, accompanied with her "Trademark" acoustic guitar. I have seen her perform twice, and she has a real rapport with her audience. Especially as she relates to the audience the story behind each song. One of her songs is called "Unbound" from her "Beauty & Crime" album. And is a song about a Plant and how it struggles to grow, but it is also a song about Human relationships, and how they at first struggle and grow to maturity. Who else could write such songs.

[@JamesCassidy-d5q]

I am A NYC 70 Year-- OLD Guy Who Spent 45 Years helping Homeless People From LGBTQ-Domestic- Violence, Children Abused-- Crying In MY-- ARM'S- Poor, Homeless, The Dying in Hospices- -in My Arms, and about 500 Thousand Homeless singles, couples, and Families. Suzanne Vega---is--MY Hero Obviously?

[@leafnlore2712]

Authentic, creative and a maverick. Thank you, Suzanne

[@LouisL1963]

I remember going to one of her shows at the RAH in London (which is in the video). One of my favourite gigs as even though she was pretty "static" and moved very little onstage, she totally captivated the audience. The acapella "Tom's Diner" was outstanding 😊 A couple of years later I saw her at Wembley Arena - a much bigger stage, and she worked every inch of it that night, which shows how much her stage craft had grown. The "Joni Mitchell" of my generation - Suzanne's a legend, great songwriter and human being. 😊

[@eldiran2]

It is her brave & wise 'intellectualism' (which the host berates) that makes Vega so original and so good....and precious: she is a step above all the pop-star insincerity and shallowness.

[@92ninersboy]

Agreed.

[@jeanniesegall5636]

This is such an unexpected treat! I fell in love with Suzanne Vega the first time I heard her sing at the Bottom Line in 1986. Her exquisite lyrics and vocals were mesmerizing and her songs decorated my bedroom walls for years. This 35 year old footage brings back my city as it was and allows me to know about her songwriting and her life in a way I never expected... thank you

[@kagokass]

seems to be the best coverage of what she´s really about, the roots and methods.

[@kenneth1767]

Almost 40 years later and she's still singing in my head 'we strangers know each other now as part of the whole design'.

[@Rh70-o7e]

I remember when i bought her solitude/standing Lp I was so excited myself It was absolutely beautiful album

[@RyanEmmett]

It's so nice to see this again after all these years. Suzanne is one of only a handful of artists that I consider myself a fan of, and I remember watching this show when it was first broadcast. I had forgotten about the Black Widow Station song at the end too.

[@barakcohen3612]

one of the greatest gifts in 80s music .a true jewel

[@lennongreen2091]

This is a joya. Me enamore de la dulce bella y talentosa Suzanne!

[@kipling1957]

I'm so glad someone preserved this-one of mt favorite SBS episodes! Amazing!

[@M0nsieurX]

just learned the context... wow. heartful!

[@Valentyne90]

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful piece of history!

[@nosnibor800]

re discovered her!

[@Eduardo-tq5sk]

84? I got to US in 87 But radio play Susanne's song 10 years in a row ,now there's another 4 years back then! Well I listen now...

[@TheParisthething]

Man, at 5:45 the music and the place she is walking in iss so beautiful, it's like poetry...

[@kindbluey]

She is beautiful...

[@rodeoruz]

So intense, so deep of thought and intellectual with a distinctive sweet childlike vocal style and soft delivery (complete with American accent) that you immediately recognise to be hers and hers only. Oh and a dream date for many males during the 1980's.

[@merseydave1]

I remember this transmission very well, The South Bank Show was on I.T.V. around 10.45 on a Sunday night (I asked my Dad to record it for me) as I was going to the pub with friends. Thanks for uploading this, Oh The Nostalgia!.

[@hazelwray4184]

'The pup' - A rescued dog?

[@merseydave1]

@@hazelwray4184 Thanks for the correction (and the sarcasm) although I have only just noticed it x

[@pete5534]

What a great find. So enjoyable. Thank you!

[@Edson_da_Rocha]

It's a very good documentary. Thank you!

[@kenw.1112]

What a Talent!!! She is amazing!

[@Alan-b8q9j]

Been listening to Miss Vega for years in spite of my love for Speed Metal and Hardcore Punk Rock like Discharge . In a subtle way she sings of the same social concerns. Just wondering why I can't buy a DVD of her performance at the Royal Albert Hall , Solitude Standing. I had it on video for years but now my tape player is busted.....😢

[@the-warning-music]

Thank you for this great video.

[@Maymun_Maymun]

Thanks for this video, much appreciated

[@johnhurt888]

this is great. thx

[@_fabio1978]

Great artist

[@smallbluecaramel9144]

Thank you for this very interesting programme,useful for studying Suzanne Vega's work.

[@thebadradio5340]

Love you, Suzanne!

[@worldofarkadij9356]

Love you!

[@strafe777]

Nice video of an amazing woman, so pretty at that.

[@kloppskalli]

11:50 ... dang that place where i used to go n feel included closed a couple of years ago, on the other hand i have time now to sit at home and watch this : ))

[@Isidroprada]

Nice and sweet. I love her.

[@pamsatira7784]

i've always envied, in a good way, how excellent she is with words.

[@charliegritzmacher8885]

thank you Suzann Vagas

[@mariaalonso8510]

Esta canción es hermosa

[@sandrahawes1739]

Alway's liked this song

[@tonyjohnson8752]

You're not moved by Suzanne Vega? Are you a psychopath? I cry every time I hear the queen and the soldier.

[@rlevanony1]

Thanks for that.

[@denywilliam5257]

Suzanne 😘💝💐

[@Maganiusz]

Lubię głos Suzanne V.!

[@theaultsinnc]

Recorded in 4k video (80's version)

[@iainholmes2735]

Solitude Standing is one of those albums that you simply must have. Like Dark Side of the Moon, Rumours, Hounds of Love, Sgt Pepper, Thriller etc.

[@smallbluecaramel9144]

I do agree !

[@stephencurran5429]

I prefer her debut album myself

[@iainholmes2735]

@@stephencurran5429 I haven't really given it a spin for about 35 years, but I think I remember Left of Centre, and Marlene on the Wall. Is it good? Must re-visit.

[@stephencurran5429]

@@iainholmes2735 yes I think as debut albums go it’s up there. Cracking. Undertow . The queen and the soldier great tracks . It’s just a personal opinion really some people prefer her second album others like myself prefer her debut

[@patriciaherlevi6217]

That's a strange comment. Why is that person interviewed comparing Suzanne Vega to Joni Mitchell? I'm moved emotionally by Vega's songs. Perhaps, it's because I share a Sun Sign (Cancer) with her. I feel that Luka is a devastating song as is Left of Center.

[@conillet]

Well, she does move me alright (although I get where Paul Gambaccini is coming from at 21:54 ).

[@mikelewis9088]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3jadp9_m86gY7M This is an incorrect reference that he makes regarding Joni Mitchell. Sugar Mountain was Neil Young's lament at turning 20 and no longer being allowed inside the teen club "Sugar Mountain". Joni Mitchell wrote her song Circle Game as an answer to this.

[@mayafialloyogaysalud5604]

I love you Susan

[@kloppskalli]

14:58 .. I like that a lot : ) ... actually she's best solo just with her guitar ... : )

[@Nozinbonsai]

Imagine if kurt met suzanne before Courtney.

[@klartext2225]

She was sooooooo beautiful at that age! Should have worked as a model too!

[@grottyfloprecordings9065]

New Song "You Kind Of Look Like Suzanne Vega"

Vision in Brazil 2019?

I'm

[@hirthirthirt1693]

Don't EVER do that shit on 80's music again

[@kassandraayalasongs]

You have to have this certain understanding or mode to get the Suzanne songs @ music journalist at the 21:52 of this video, Eyeroll Joni Mitchell is for the normals, it’s more edible I gues

[@kiralygeza490]

What is title of last song in the end of the video? Thx

[@kiralygeza490]

Ok It's written, black widow station, but which album is it on/in? :)

[@portcullis5622]

@@kiralygeza490 'Black Widow Station' was on a live EP that she released in the late 1980s. I seem to remember that it was a cover version. It was certainly not on any of her studio albums.

[@zaouifrederic3699]

oui a no for biz no reel ?

[@jimmcd1101]

I wish somebody would edit out that tool with his pedestrian criticisms

[@fertysurfer]

I loved Vega from the very first time I heard her and hated Gambo in the same manner.

[@kevinditzlerchecket]

...Ex Lax couldn't move Paul Gambaccini. I've fallen terribly...

[@johnholmes912]

gambo's been spoutin shite for most of his adult life; why would he stop now

[@therajgreek420]

Would pay top money for a songwriting lesson from her!

[@blakemcnamara9105]

Songwriting can't be taught. It's a gift from God.

[@patkelly3966]

Ikea got there 1st

[@carlosmiguelfloresalburq-pg1gs]

Lemonhead Is the original

[@Microjoey02]

Sade looks better and sounds better no comparison, but I would of let Suzanne babysit me lol

[@eldiran2]

Yeah, and what a rubbish comparison--Sade has a lovely cool jazzy sound, and ha s 'prettier' voice , but her songs are ultimately rather empty. Vega, on the other hand, is not quite a stirring vocalist, but that works so well with her profoundly insightful and intelligent lyrics.

[@seriousoldman8997]

Everything about Sade is bland.

[@comehere96]

Петросян гораздо лучше. Потому что смешно шутит.