the weight of a word
and why does an angel
have wings on his shoulders?
'cause that is where the weight
of the world can be found
("Angel" Suzanne Vega)
This is the story of a songwriter and her songs. After more than 20 years of writing, Suzanne Vega radiates the imprimatur of prestige whilst plying her trade in her workman-like fashion. Not many writers end up inventing entirely new vocabularies -- Vega did. She interpolated rock, rap, folk, and jazz in a way that is still unique, still strange, and blew away the cobwebs. Even after years, her songs retain their power to transfix, to delight, to surprise.