After an education in the arts, music and drama, by the age of 15, Tzuke spent most of her time writing poems which she turned into songs and playing folk clubs, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. She went to Island Records to try and get a record deal and after she'd played two songs was asked if she had any more. She replied that she had twenty, which she didn't, and they asked her to come back and record them the following week. She didn't return, but their interest made her realise that she could have a career in music.
In 1977 Tzuke went to see managing director David Croker at Elton John's label 'Rocket Records' as their motto was "a label for artists". She played them a few songs, one of which was "Stay with Me Till Dawn" and was immediately signed to the new label. Judie and collaborator Mike Paxman spent the next six months or so recording her first album Welcome to the Cruise at Air Studios in London, with producer John Punter.
The first single was released in the summer of 1978, entitled "For You" and was greeted with great critical acclaim and substantial air-play but only reached the top 40.
This was to all change with the release of the Welcome to the Cruise album and the single "Stay with Me Till Dawn". The song stayed in the UK charts for 16 weeks, and she made three live appearances on Top of the Pops. The song became a firm favourite and is still played regularly on radio in the U.K. It has appeared on dozens of compilation albums and regularly appears in lists of all time most popular songs.
With the success of her debut album, Judie and Mike put together the first Judie Tzuke band. Paul Muggleton on guitar and backing vocals and Bob Noble on keyboards, along with bass player John Edwards and drummer Jeff Rich.
Tzuke and her band then toured for the next 18 months and made her second album Sportscar at Virgin's Manor studios, in Oxfordshire.
In 1980, Tzuke and her band toured America for three months as support to Elton John. The tour was well received, but during the tour Elton John decided to change the US distribution for his Rocket label from MCA to the new Geffin label. MCA consequently decided to stop all tour support and promotion for the acts on the Rocket label, which meant that Judie was playing to huge audiences, including 450,000 people in New York's Central Park, but no-one knew who she was and her records were not available in the shops.
She recorded her third album I Am the Phoenix, followed by another lengthy UK tour which culminated in appearances headlining the Glastonbury CND Festival and some summer festivals in Europe. She then made the decision to leave Rocket and to sign with Chrysalis Records.
Judie was by this time selling out halls all over the UK and in parts of Europe. Her next album Shoot the Moon was recorded mainly at Rockfield studios in Wales and was released in 1982.
During the spring tour two sell out shows at the Hammersmith Odeon (now The Carling Apollo) were recorded and later that year the acclaimed live album Roadnoise was released.
Judie, Mike and Paul wrote new songs and went to Mayfair studios in London to record her fifth album, augmenting her stage band with a number of other musicians.
Throughout the late 80s and 90s, Judie has continued to record and tour, and has set up her own record label. In addition, she is now successfully writing songs for other artists.
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Hey Jude
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.
Hey Jude, don't be afraid.
You were made to go out and get her.
The minute you let her under your skin,
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain,
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders.
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder.
Hey Jude, don't let me down.
You have found her, now go and get her.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.
So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin,
You're waiting for someone to perform with.
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do,
The movement you need is on your shoulder.
Hey Jude, don't make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her under your skin,
Then you'll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh.
Judie Tzuke's cover of the classic song "Hey Jude" by The Beatles is a masterful rendition of an already beautifully crafted piece of music. The song begins with the titular phrase "Hey Jude, don't make it bad," which serves as a message of comfort and support to the song's subject. The lyrics urge the subject to take a sad song and to make it better, advocating for a growth mindset and emotional resiliency in the face of distress.
The second stanza of the song speaks directly to the subject's fear of failure or rejection. The lyrics suggest that the subject was made to go after their object of affection, and the key to success is to allow that person under their skin. The song's themes of openness, vulnerability, and emotional vulnerability serve to reassure its subject that they can be successful in their pursuit of love if they are willing to let down their guard and risk emotional investment.
The final stanza of the song is a message of encouragement to the subject to seize the moment, to take action, and to let their light shine forth. The song suggests that the key to success is to release self-doubt and to embrace self-expression, and that the movement necessary to build a better life is "on your shoulder."
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Jude, don't make it bad.
Don't make the situation worse than it already is.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Take a negative situation and turn it into a positive one.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Allow yourself to be vulnerable and open to love.
Then you can start to make it better.
Once you have love in your heart, you can start healing and improving things.
Hey Jude, don't be afraid.
Don't let fear hold you back.
You were made to go out and get her.
You were born to pursue love and happiness.
The minute you let her under your skin,
As soon as you allow yourself to fully feel and experience love,
Then you begin to make it better.
You can start making positive changes in your life.
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain,
Whenever you experience pain or hardship, try to hold back from reacting negatively.
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders.
Don't take on too much responsibility or stress.
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
It's foolish to pretend like nothing bothers you or that everything is okay.
By making his world a little colder.
By shutting people out and not allowing warmth and love into your life.
Hey Jude, don't let me down.
Don't disappoint those who believe in you and your ability to find love and happiness.
You have found her, now go and get her.
If you have found love, don't let fear hold you back from pursuing it.
So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin,
Express your emotions and allow yourself to feel deeply.
You're waiting for someone to perform with.
You're waiting for someone to experience life and love with.
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do,
You don't need anyone else to experience love and healing.
The movement you need is on your shoulder.
You already have the strength and ability to make positive changes in your life.
Hey Jude, don't make it bad.
Don't make things worse than they already are.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Turn negativity into positivity.
Remember to let her under your skin,
Allow yourself to be vulnerable and open to love.
Then you'll begin to make it Better better better better better better, oh.
You can make things exponentially better once you have love in your life.
Contributed by Max T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.