Career
Mattern moved to New York as a young adult in order to pursue a career in music production. His early work, in the 1980s, was under the guidance of notable disco DJ and pop remixer/producer Shep Pettibone.
From 1989 to 1995, Vasquez gained national prominence — along with music industry influence — through his residency at the original Sound Factory, a club he cofounded at 530 West 27th Street in Manhattan's Chelsea District. Because of the heavy influence he had over his crowd, Vasquez was able to make or break new releases, and major record labels solicited Junior to craft club-friendly remixes of pop-oriented songs. Junior also created his own "private collection" of remixes of songs he was authorized to remix — and also for those he wasn't — that made his sets even more special to his audience.
After the closure of Sound Factory, Vasquez held residencies at the Tunnel, then his Arena party at the Palladium. In 1997, he returned to the Sound Factory's old space, remodeled to include a custom-designed DJ booth for Junior's exclusive use and reopened as Twilo, for a residency that lasted until that club's closure in 2001. Later that year, Vasquez began a new Sunday-morning afterhours residency -- Earth, at Exit Nightclub, that lasted until 2003. In the years that followed, he held shorter-lived residencies at various clubs in New York, including Discotheque (Fridays), Sound Factory (a club on West 46th Street, not to be confused with the "original Sound Factory"; since 2005, it has reopened with the name of Pacha), Spirit (the again-remodeled and reopened space at 530 West 27th Street that was formerly the home of legendary nightclub Twilo), and Roxy NYC. He now holds a small, monthly, Sunday-night residency at Cielo, a small bar located in the West Village section of Manhattan and spins at various other venues in New York and around the world.
In addition to his work as a DJ and remixer, he has co-produced albums for John Mellencamp, For Real, Lisa Lisa, and Cyndi Lauper, among others.
Madonna controversy
Vasquez had a public falling out with Madonna in 1996, after the release of an unauthorized single titled "If Madonna Calls". The original version that Junior plays at clubs contains what is widely believed to be an actual phone message from Madonna left on Junior's answering machine.
The song lyrics are as follows:
(voice recording ostensibly left by Madonna on Junior's answering machine at his home in New York):
"Hello Junior, This is Madonna. Are you there? (short pause) Call me in Miami."
This is follow by the voice of a male that says:
"If Madonna calls, I'm not here"
This is followed by hard tribal rhythms, with the samples of the message still playing in the loop of the track, and the male singer repeating the words shown above. Towards the end of the song, the words change and the male voice then says:
"If Madonna Calls…actually if she calls just disconnect her."
The song reportedly was produced after Madonna failed to show up for a surprise performance at one of Junior's parties held at legendary New York City club "Tunnel" at the last second. Although never confirmed, Madonna did not approve of Junior's actions, ending their professional relationship on bad terms. Chances for a reconciliation are impossible according to Madonna's longtime rep Liz Rosenberg, who in a June 2003 news story in New York Magazine said “I can assure you that Madonna will never work with Junior again.”
COME ON HOME
Junior Vasquez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It will be whatever it is you need
It will be better even though I know you're not sure
Remember the rain even comes down in Shangri-La
Look up as it soaks into your skin and remember who you are and
Come on home when the road you've been walking gets too long
Don't be scared in case the grass you thought was greener isn't there
If you find the sun won't shine through every window
If you find a moonlit night still makes you blue
If you find out why you feel the way you do
Glance over your shoulder boy you know I'll be there
I've found in the past you know, sometimes life isn't fair so
Come on home when the road you've been walking gets too long
Don't be scared in case the grass you thought was greener isn't there
You can come on home
When lifes isn't fair don't go there
You can come on home
The lyrics in Junior Vasquez's song "Come on Home" tell a story of comfort and reassurance for someone who is struggling with uncertainty and feeling lost. The lines "It will be whatever it is you're looking for, it will be whatever it is you need" indicate that the singer believes that everything will fall into place, even if the listener is unsure of what they are searching for. The mention of Shangri-La, a fictional utopia, suggests that even in the most idyllic of places, there can still be hardships to face. The imagery of rain soaking into the skin invites the listener to embrace their vulnerability and remember their identity.
The chorus, "Come on home when the road you've been walking gets too long, don't be scared in case the grass you thought was greener isn't there, you can come on home," serves as a metaphor for finding comfort and safety in returning to familiar surroundings. The singer acknowledges that it's scary to take a risk and leave what's familiar, but they're always available as a support system when things don't go as planned. The lyrics "If you find out why you feel the way you do, glance over your shoulder boy you know I'll be there" offer a sense of security and remind the listener that they are not alone in their struggles.
Overall, "Come on Home" is a song that offers hope and encouragement to those who are searching for their place in the world. It stresses the importance of staying true to oneself and finding comfort in returning to one's roots.
Line by Line Meaning
It will be whatever it is you're looking for
The outcome will be exactly what you desire
It will be whatever it is you need
The outcome will fulfill all your necessities
It will be better even though I know you're not sure
Even though you may not be confident, the result will still be positive
Remember the rain even comes down in Shangri-La
Even in a place of paradise, there are still negative aspects, like rain
Look up as it soaks into your skin and remember who you are
Take in the experience and reflect on your true self
Come on home when the road you've been walking gets too long
Return to a place of familiarity and comfort when the journey becomes overwhelming
Don't be scared in case the grass you thought was greener isn't there
Don't fear the possibility that what you perceived as better may not actually be
If you find the sun won't shine through every window
If you encounter obstacles that prevent positivity and hope
If you find a moonlit night still makes you blue
If even the beauty of the night cannot combat your sadness
If you find out why you feel the way you do
If you discover the root of your emotions
Glance over your shoulder boy you know I'll be there
Know that you have someone supporting you behind you
I've found in the past you know, sometimes life isn't fair so
Personal experience has taught me that life can be unjust
When lifes isn't fair don't go there
Don't let negative experiences bring you down and steer you away from home
You can come on home
Find safety, comfort and love in your home, always
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: CYNDI LAUPER, PULSEFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
X
this is a MASTERPIECE!
Odin 88
When I first moved to NYC and started going out A LOT I would go wherever Junior was playing. If I remember correctly (cuz all the drugs, you know) Junior premiered this at Tunnel. Whenever he played it the crowd would just erupt. I had no idea it was Cyndi Lauper and I thought the woman was saying "green card. you got to get green card". I couldn't understand why she would be saying such a thing and the drugs made it even more perplexing. I love this. Junior is just amazing.
Benny Santiago
+Odin 88 lol
M
I always thought she was saying "Cyndi Lauper gives free drugs, free drugs...." lol.
Adriano S
Your comment gave the biggest laugh of the day, it is so perfect and sincere to have felt that way with JV mind games in those old days, he played so much with other's mind that I'm pretty sure he became a victim of his own games which is just fitting since he enjoyed doing so much. I guess he found his match. I too loved dancing to his music and wouldn't change anything about my memories of those fun days of disco " vive la vida loca" and Mr DJ
eiknujcisuma
lol.. this is what my friends and I thought too! ahh.. the 90s.. what a time to be young and carefree. :)
LJose Hernandez
That was the bad ecstasy you did that night Darling. Get together.
moderndog1975
One of Junior's MASTERPIECE!
Scott in NC
YES
vandamme514
ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVS FROM JUNIOR!!!!