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
Vivien
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to wake up next to you and be your moon and your sun
I want to hold you, I want to control you
There's no doorway you can hide, check me I'll be at your side
Stand you up if you should fall, what I've got I'll give it all
Then I could hold you, then I could control you
I've got this madness you should know
Caught in my heart I can't let go
(It haunts me, calls me)
Like Vivien, like Vivien
I close my eyes like Vivien
I smile that smile like Vivien
Demons dancing in my head, I can't give you room to breathe
It's an illness that's been fed by the fear that you might leave
I want to hold you, I want to control you
Mirror, mirror on the wall, my reflection says it all
If I could only change the place with a picture of her face
Then I could hold you, then I could control you.
I've got this madness you should know
(It haunts me, calls me)
Caught in my heart I can't let go
(It haunts me, calls me)
Like Vivien, like Vivien
I close my eyes like Vivien
I smile that smile like Vivien
The lyrics to Judie Tzuke's song "Vivien" express a complicated mix of emotions that the singer feels towards their object of desire. They want nothing more than to be with this person, to "follow [them] down this long journey" and be their everything - their "moon and [their] sun". However, at the same time, they are wracked with insecurity and fear that this person will leave them, leading to "demons dancing in [their] head" and an overwhelming need to control and possess.
The singer repeatedly references "Vivien", perhaps alluding to Vivien Leigh, the actress best known for her role as Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind". Like Vivien, the singer feels trapped by their own inner turmoil and constant self-examination, unable to fully enjoy or appreciate what they have in front of them. The chorus reinforces this idea, with the repeated phrase "It haunts me, calls me" suggesting that the singer's desire to possess this person is taking over their entire being.
Overall, "Vivien" is a complex and emotionally raw meditation on desire, control, and insecurity. The singer's conflicting emotions are reflected in the contrast between the song's gentle, almost wistful melody and its darker lyrical content.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to follow you down this long journey you've begun
I want to be by your side throughout this long journey that you have started.
I want to wake up next to you and be your moon and your sun
I want to be your everything and provide you with unconditional love and support.
I want to hold you, I want to control you
I want to have power over every aspect of your life.
There's no doorway you can hide, check me I'll be at your side
I will always be there for you, no matter what obstacles you face.
Stand you up if you should fall, what I've got I'll give it all
I will support you when you are down and give everything I have to ensure your happiness.
Then I could hold you, then I could control you
If I have complete power over you, I will finally be able to possess you.
I've got this madness you should know (It haunts me, calls me)
I have a deep obsession that consumes me and won't leave me alone.
Caught in my heart I can't let go (It haunts me, calls me)
This obsession has a strong grip on me, and I am unable to shake it off.
Like Vivien, like Vivien
I am living my life like Vivien, who was notorious for her obsessive personality.
I close my eyes like Vivien
In my mind, I am living out the life of Vivien and her unhealthy desires.
I smile that smile like Vivien
I am displaying the same behavior and emotions as Vivien.
Demons dancing in my head, I can't give you room to breathe
My mind is so consumed with my obsession that I am suffocating you in the process.
It's an illness that's been fed by the fear that you might leave
My obsession has become an illness that is fueled by the fear of losing you.
Mirror, mirror on the wall, my reflection says it all
When I look at myself in the mirror, I see the reflection of my obsessive behavior.
If I could only change the place with a picture of her face
If I could only become the object of my obsession, I would finally be satisfied.
Contributed by Scarlett H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.