Marlene on the Wall
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| "Marlene on the Wall" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cover of the 1986 re-release (7") | ||||
| Single by Suzanne Vega | ||||
| from the album Suzanne Vega | ||||
| Released | 1985 | |||
| Studio | Celestial Sound (New York City) | |||
| Genre | Folk[1] | |||
| Length | 3:37 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Songwriter | Suzanne Vega | |||
| Producers | ||||
| Suzanne Vega singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Marlene on the Wall" on YouTube | ||||
"Marlene on the Wall" is a song by American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega. In addition to being her debut single, it appears on her eponymous debut studio album, released in 1985 by A&M Records.
While the song failed to make any impact on the charts with its initial release, it became Vega's first top 40 hit on the UK singles chart upon a re-release in 1986.[2] It has gone on to become one of Vega's best-known songs[3] and has been included on the greatest hits albums Tried & True (1998) and Retrospective (2003).
The title of the song refers to German and American actress and singer Marlene Dietrich.[4] Inspired by a poster of the actress, Vega said of the song: "I was thinking, 'If Marlene really had eyes that could see – if she was actually a sentient being, instead of just a picture on my wall – what advice would she give me and what was to be seen?'"[5]
While Vega felt unsure about the song at first, considering it too private and obscure, her guitarist at the time, Jon Gordon, convinced her to keep the song as a show-opener due to its upbeat nature.[5]
Spin wrote the song is "on the small scale... about a troubled, even masochistic relationship; on the big scale its [sic] about the limits of what one will endure in the name of love."[6]
Critical reception
Upon its original release, "Marlene on the Wall" failed to gain much success, stalling at number 83 on the UK singles chart.[7] However, after being re-released in 1986, it became her first top 40 hit, peaking at number 21.[2] It remains her highest-charting song in the UK. The song found its greatest success in Ireland, where it peaked at number 9, becoming her first top 10 hit in any country.[8]
Track listing
All songs written by Suzanne Vega.
Original release
- "Marlene on the Wall" – 3:37
- "Neighbourhood Girls" – 3:19
1986 re-release (7")
- "Marlene on the Wall" – 3:37
- "Small Blue Thing" (Live) – 3:56
1986 re-release (10")
Side one
- "Marlene on the Wall" – 3:37
- "Neighbourhood Girls" – 3:19
Side two
- "Small Blue Thing" (Live) – 3:56
- "Straight Lines" (Live) – 3:48
Personnel
- Suzanne Vega – acoustic guitar, vocals
- Sue Evans – drums
- John Gordon – electric guitar
- Frank Gavis – bass guitar
- C.P. Roth – synthesizer