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.
www.tzuke.com
Modified
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There’s a bit of your mouth don’t taste right, don’t taste right
And you’re not who you said you were when you came to me
If you ever really cared, it’s so hard to see
Why do you push me down?
Making me settle for less than I’m worth
Turning my smile around,
There are too many ghosts you bring with you, they can’t stay,
When you offer your hand, should I hold on, or run away?
I’m not sure if you lied, will I ever know?
If I feel I am safe with you I’m scared you’ll go.
Why do you push me down?
Making me settle for less than I’m worth
Turning my smile around,
Trying to modify how I love, how I love
And you’re not who you said you were when you came to me
If you ever really cared, it’s so hard to see
Why do you push me down?
Making me settle for less than I’m worth
Turning my smile around,
Trying to modify how I love, how I love
Judie Tzuke's song "Modified" is a reflection on the complexity and uncertainty of love. The opening lyrics set the tone for the song, with Tzuke singing that there are parts of her lover that she doesn't like and that don't taste right. This feeling of discomfort is followed by the realization that her lover isn't who they said they were when they first came into her life. Tzuke goes on to question whether her lover really cares about her at all, and wonders why they push her down and make her settle for less than she's worth. Despite her reservations and doubts, she still loves this person deeply and is torn between holding onto them and running away.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, as Tzuke sings about the way her lover is trying to modify how she loves. This could be interpreted in a number of ways - perhaps her lover is trying to change her personality or habits, or maybe they're asking her to compromise her own values and beliefs. Whatever the case may be, Tzuke is reluctant to make these changes and wants to love her partner in her own way.
Overall, "Modified" is a bittersweet exploration of the highs and lows of a complicated relationship. It encapsulates the fear, doubt, and vulnerability that can come with falling in love, and Tzuke's emotive vocals bring these feelings to life in a truly compelling way.
Line by Line Meaning
There’s a piece of your heart I don’t like, I don’t like
I have seen a part of you that doesn't suit me.
There’s a bit of your mouth don’t taste right, don’t taste right
Your words and actions are not compatible with my expectations.
And you’re not who you said you were when you came to me
You have deceived me with a fake identity.
If you ever really cared, it’s so hard to see
I doubt if you ever had genuine feelings towards me.
Why do you push me down?
Why do you try to undermine me?
Making me settle for less than I’m worth
You are trying to make me accept less than what I deserve.
Turning my smile around,
You are making me unhappy, taking away my joy.
Trying to modify how I love, how I love
You are attempting to change the way I express love.
There are too many ghosts you bring with you, they can’t stay,
You bear too many baggage that should not accompany you any longer.
When you offer your hand, should I hold on, or run away?
When you try to reach out to me, should I accept or reject you?
I’m not sure if you lied, will I ever know?
I am not certain if you have been truthful, will I ever find out?
If I feel I am safe with you I’m scared you’ll go.
If I consider myself secure with you, I fear you'll leave me.
Contributed by Matthew A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steve Drake
A stunning piece of music with beautiful words perfectly capturing my mood at the moment
Sussex Cyclist
beautiful song, can't stop listening to this one.
Peter Davison
Sussex Cyclist nice comment. Wrote this with Jude 10 years ago...