Recently, while loading a few songs
into my Mp3 Player, I came across some older Mp3's that I had saved
to a disc some years ago. I recognized most of the songs as “one
hit wonders” that I had downloaded from God knows where!
Being that I am more of a “Song”
guy, than a “Band” guy, I find myself having collected quite a
few stand alone songs, that were popular briefly, then died as a
result of the band or singer simply not producing any more “hits”!
I threw a few of these songs on my Mp3 Player and had a listen
during a recent workout. Besides bringing back some memories and
transporting me back to a different time and place, they still
sounded good to me!
There are certain “attributes” in
songs that generally reel me in: First, if there are violins playing
a supporting role and providing a backdrop or significant
accompaniment to the song, well, I like that. It is a very common
thread to many of the songs I like. Second, if there are good
lyrics, that tell a story by way of a Ballad, again, I am drawn to
it. Third, for some reason...I find it interesting or unique when
the annunciation of a word or words is either done with an accent, or
an unusual tone or even an unorthodox slang or slant. Not the whole
song mind you, but just the subtlety of a small part of the song or a
word or two. This last one is hard to explain, but easy to hear in
some of the songs I like.
I have decided to do a “One Hit
Wonder Of The Week” kind of thing and will be posting either a
YouTube viewable version, or an Mp3 version of one song each week,
from my “Play list” so to speak!
Fist up will be a song that was an
international hit for a “Folksy Singer” by the name of Susanne
Vega. She had two relatively solid hits. The first was a song about
a Diner ("Toms Diner" or something like that) ..and that Diner...which was a real place, was later featured in the Hit Comedy Series, “Seinfeld”.
(The one they always go to) Yep, Same Diner.
The second hit for her was a song
titled simply, “Luka”. It was a rather sad song that told the
story of a young boy that lived with abuse. Not a popular subject
for a song, but a powerful message and an equally well put together
melody etc. She wrote the song about a real boy that she met named Luka, though she said he was not an abused kid, but rather "just different" than the group of kids she had seen him playing with.
I remember first hearing the song while I was living in Germany, a lifetime ago:) I immediately liked the song, as did most of the younger Germans, as it got tons of airplay on the Berlin radio station I listened to!
What I like about the song most is the
sharp, clear and strong presence of the 12 string guitar throughout
the song, the driving drum beat and cymbal strikes, the almost xylophone sounding synth, Susanne's own haunting overdubbed harmony and her unique
voice and annunciation. When she says the word “trouble” for
instance, she says it in a most unusual and emphasizing way. She
really sells the song. If you have never heard it, I hope you enjoy
it. For those of you that know the tune, welcome back to the
1980's!!
Click the link below.
