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On a personal note
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Singer Suzanne Vega’s latest album, “Beauty and Crime”, records her observations on daily life
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With her soft, husky voice and strumming her acoustic guitar, Suzanne sings like she is having a conversation with you. In her new album “Beauty and Crime”, she sings of the intensely personal. According to an interview posted on her offi
cial website www.suzannevega.com, writing the album two weeks after 9/11, the singer-composer-lyricist says she felt “really weird to be talking about all these personal songs at a time that wasn’t like any other in New York”. She has attempted to capture the character of New York through “little stories”.
The 11 songs in the album can be loosely divided into three categories — on the city, on her relationships, and on her observations on life.
In category one, “New York” tops. With saxophone and clarinet, the song announces the grandeur attached to the city and after a pause, Suzanne takes over, strumming the guitar. Singing detachedly and occasionally turning up the orchestral sound, she captures a city in love with itself and indifferent to its lovers. She sings, “she’s (New York) happy that you’re here but when you disappear/ she won’t know that you’re gone to say goodbye.”
On her relationships, “As you are now”, a song dedicated to her daughter, leads. It begins, “I will take up all your tears/salty tissues through the years/ spread them in the sun to dry/ diamonds from each time you cry.” Once again layering the folksy with the orchestral, she captures the intimacy and reverence in their relationship.
Her musings on life, “Pornographer’s Dream” and “Edith Wharton’s figurines,” are saved from being preachy; first, by the leisurely pace and, second, by a soulful cello. In “Pornographer’s…”, she sounds contemplative about someone who describes a woman as “a pornographer’s dream.” In “Edith Wharton’s figurines”, on beauty and women, a cello emphasises the pathos in the chorus (“see the portrait come to life/ see the vanity behind/ cause in the struggle for survival/ love is never blind.”).
The album ends on a meditative note with the song “Anniversary” based on the 9/11’s first anniversary. With a touch of the gospel, the song is about appreciating and finding joy in everyday life. It ends this way… “Make the time for all your possibilities./They live on every street.”
Suzanne grows on you. Listen to her three times and you’ll be humming her songs.
ASHA S.MENON
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