With her multifaceted acting career and some incredible theatre projects ahead of her, Rubin-Vega's latest endeavor is REDEMPTION SONGS (Sh-K-Boom Records), a much-anticipated collection of original and diversely classic songs.
"Some of these songs were written when I experienced deep losses and incredible firsts. I was inspired to write again. It was a very 'fertile' time for creativity," says Rubin-Vega. The result developed into a form of personal redemption; a vibrant and sophisticated collection of pop, Latin folk, rock and reggae influenced songs that are soulful, passionate and very reflective of Rubin-Vega herself.
As a child, Daphne moved to NYC's Greenwich Village from Panama. It was in the center of this bohemia that Daphne discovered her passion for music and performing.
"I was in the seventh grade when almost overnight I realized I was quite popular with the girls in school, and my house was turning into the hot after school hang out," Rubin-Vega recalls. "It didn't take long to figure out that it was because my brothers' band played in the basement almost every afternoon," she added. "Shortly thereafter, I started glomming the mic and singing lead."
In her teens, Daphne found herself at an Atlantic Studios vocal session begging legendary producer Arif Mardin to let her sing with David Bowie on the soundtrack to George Lucas' film, "Labyrinth." After attending a birthday party for Mardin’s son Joe, she listed all the celebrated singers in her resume; having sung "happy birthday" with them. With that credit under her belt, she joined Pajama Party, the girl group with the infamous freestyle single, "Yo No Se." She recorded two albums on Atlantic Records with the group before going solo to write and record singles for the indie club label, Maxi. Her single, "I Found It" topped the Billboard Dance and Club Play charts. At the same time, the LAByrinth Theater Company was founded and she became an early member.
In 1997, Daphne Rubin-Vega cut her first album of original music, SOUVENIRS for Polygram's now defunct Mercury label. It was the fans of this album that she credits for getting her band started. Fate also intervened in the form of Joan Jett, her co-star and roommate during Rubin-Vega's run as Magenta in 2000's The Rocky Horror Show. "She basically told me to stop bitching, get up off my ass and start a band," says Rubin-Vega. "So I did."
Rubin-Vega went on to play straight-laced detective Gloria Perez in the camp-noir thriller "Wild Things," starring Kevin Bacon and Matt Dillon, for which she won a Blockbuster Award for Best Supporting Actress/Suspense. Other film credits include Robert De Niro's love interest Tia, in the film "Flawless" and her award-winning performance of Olya in the indie cult feature "Skeleton Woman."
Daphne's 2003 role as Canary Mary in Susan Lori Parks' Fucking A at the Public Theater got her a Lucille Lortel Best Featured Actress nomination, and in 2004, Rubin-Vega received her second Tony nomination for best featured actress (play) for her role as Conchita in Nilo Cruz' Pulitzer Prize winning Anna in the Tropics with Jimmy Smits.
Rubin-Vega is preparing for the end of a very busy year. This April, she ended her run as Martirio in Bernarda Alba at Lincoln Center. In September, she finished her star turn in The New Group's summer 2006 production of Everythings Turning Into Beautiful.
In October, the same month as the release of REDEMPTION SONGS, Rubin-Vega will play Fantine in the Broadway revival of Les Miserables.
In January 2007, she will star with Academy Award winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman in The Public Theater/LAByrinth production of Bob Glaudini's Jack Goes Boating.
For more information on Daphne Rubin-Vega, please visit www.daphnerubinvega.com
or www.myspace.com/drvmyspace.
without you
Daphne Rubin-Vega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trynna be the life of the party
Tell me more love
Whisper in my ear while i grab it
We just tryna smoke
And (dance)
Tomorrow does'nt matter
Long as we got matching eyes
But i'm throwed off
(Asking what would life be without you)
Without you
In the palisades
Trynna be the drug to her loving
Hear the things she say
The only love she want
When we fuckin
Cause she just trynna smoke
And fuck
Live up every night
Nothing even matters
Long as she just getting high
But baby
Take it slow
This night cant end without you
Without you
The lyrics to "Without You" by Daphne Rubin-Vega and Adam Pascal explore the idea of how everything in the world continues to move and grow without a loved one who has gone. The opening lines, "Without you, the ground thaws, the rain falls, the grass grows," suggest that nature and the world around us continue to function despite the absence of someone important. The lyrics then shift to images of children playing, poets dreaming, eagles flying, and the moon glowing. These are all things that continue to occur without the person who is gone.
However, the refrain "but I die, without you" emphasizes the deep emotional impact that the person's absence has on the singer. They acknowledge that the world may continue to thrive, but it feels meaningless without the one they love. The lyrics go on to describe how even the most basic human functions, like hearing, breathing, and thinking, feel incomplete without the presence of the loved one.
Overall, "Without You" is a poignant exploration of grief and loss, and how the world can feel so different and empty without the people we care about most.
Line by Line Meaning
Without you, the ground thaws
The warmth returns to the ground after winter, symbolizing the hope and life that you bring to my life.
The rain falls, the grass grows
Nature thrives and rejuvenates itself, but I cannot find the same joy and renewal within myself without you.
Without you, the seeds root
The start of something new and beautiful occurs, but I am unable to experience it without your presence by my side.
The flowers bloom
Beauty and wonder flourish, but I cannot fully appreciate it without the love and happiness we share together.
The children play, the stars gleam
Innocence and hope shine bright, but I am unable to feel their light without the love and connection we share together.
The poets dream, the eagles fly
Creativity and freedom are timeless, but my heart is unable to feel their depths without your presence in my life.
Without you, the earth turns
The world keeps spinning, but my life is incomplete without the love and joy that only you can provide me.
The sun burns but I die
The passion and heat of life can be overwhelming, but without your love, my existence is barren and unfulfilling.
The breeze warms, the girl smiles
Simple pleasures and experiences are treasured, but without you to share them with, my heart remains unfulfilled.
The cloud moves without you
The natural movements of the world seem insignificant without you to share them with and see the beauty in the mundane.
The tides change, the boys run
The natural rhythm of life continues, but the excitement and joy of experiencing it with you is forever missed.
The oceans crash, the crowds roar
The majesty and might of life can be overwhelming, yet without your companionship, my experiences feel hollow and unimportant.
The days soar, the babies cry
Life is both exhilarating and full of sorrow, but the love we share makes all experiences worth living for.
Without you, the moon glows
The beauty of nature is still ever-present without you, but my life is incomplete without your love and light.
The river flows but I die
The natural flow of life continues, but the beauty and wonder of it all is lost on me without your love and companionship.
Without you, the world revives
The world always has the power to renew itself and bring joy and beauty to life, but it is only truly experienced and appreciated through the love we share.
Colors renew but I know blue
The vibrancy of life can be restored, yet my heart still feels the ache of missing you in its deepest shades of blue.
Only blue, lonely blue
The emptiness and sadness I feel without you is all-consuming and leaves me with nothing but a deep, overwhelming shade of blue.
Within in me, blue, without you
The lonely ache of my heart is always present without you, reminding me just how much I need your love in my life.
Without you, the hand gropes
The search for connection and happiness continues, but without your love, it remains fruitless and incomplete.
The ear hears, the pulse beats
Life goes on, but without the love and fulfillment that we share, it feels like a meaningless existence.
Without you, the eyes gaze
The beauty of the world is still ever-present, but without you by my side, I am unable to fully appreciate and experience it.
The legs walk, the lungs breathe
The body continues to function, but the joy and wonder of life remains unattainable without your love and companionship.
The mind churns (the mind churns)
The constant turmoil of thought and emotion is present in every moment without you, always reminding me of what I am missing.
The heart yearns (the heart yearns)
My heart beats with an ache and longing for your love that can never be fulfilled without you by my side.
The tears dry without you
The pain and sadness of life eventually lessens, but the loneliness and loss without you remains a constant ache in my heart.
Life goes on but I'm gone
The world continues to move forward, but without your love and companionship, my own life feels empty and meaningless.
'Cause I die, without you
Without the love and connection we share, I feel incomplete and unable to live life to its fullest, as though a part of me has died without you by my side.
Without you, without you
Without your love and presence in my life, everything else feels insignificant and unimportant, leaving me always longing for the fulfillment and happiness that only you can provide.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Vann Vega
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Mcdermott
on Beautiful Thing
This song was written by Chris McDermott Warner/Chappel Publishing please list the correct composer. Thank you
Chris Mcdermott
on Life Isn't Fair
Daphne Rubin Vega did Not compose this song. It was composed by Chris McDermott 1995 Warner/Chappel publishing BMI