This self-penned song by Suzanne Vega was on her second album and came out as a single in 1987. An accompanying video helped promote the song. Luca with a C is likely to be a Latin name, with a K it is more East European. The song, written in the first person of the child is intimate and haunting. The song was a widely acknowledged popular and critical success. Vega has said that it was inspired by a real life Luka who she would see with other children playing in front of the building where she once lived in New York. She felt he seemed set apart from the other children. She has no reason to believe he was being abused, as the child in the song clearly is. By only hinting at the problems and having the child denying what is going on, the listener is drawn in and the song bears many listenings. It may be that the widespread incidence of child abuse in the twentieh century (something we grow ever more familiar with) has subtly helped make the song popular. There are very few songs that even attempt to go here. What is basically a folk tune is enhanced by some excellent pop guitar playing. The tune is quite jolly even though the subject matter is dark. I wonder if the way you find yourself enjoying the song but then thinking "but it's about child abuse" replicates the disturbing nature of this fearful subject. Prince is said to have written a fan letter to Vega declaring the song to be "the most compelling piece of music I've heard in a long time" which is about right.
No comments:
Post a Comment