26 July 2024 - Suzanne Vega - Solitude Standing

You know, I sometimes sit on drafts for a very long time, especially when they are unexpected.  

And the unexpected pieces of this, the fourth single and title song from her second album, are as follows:

1) Suzanne Vega, usually a solo songwriter, co-wrote this song with her backing band, who feature prominently in the video.

2) This song was her 2nd trip to the Billboard Hot 100 (her first being "Luka", of course).  The third single from Solitude Standing - you know, the one that preceded this one - "Tom's Diner" - in it's DNA remixed version, would go on to become her third.  

I bought Solitude Standing in 1987, on cassette - it came in a longbox, which was a type of packaging to prevent theft - and this song, which personifies solitude as a woman, was quickly one of my favorites.  

Somehow, when performed live, the song becomes a little angrier, sharper - more focused.  The cool, laid-back version jumps to life when there's a crowd.

Vega recorded a sparser version of the song in 2011 - she did a series of four albums called Close-Up - each labeled by volume.  This version is a live version of the one recorded on Close-Up Vol. 3.  

The Close-Up albums are really cool and interesting, by the way, and if you are a Suzanne Vega fan, you should seek them out.