Vanessa's sixth studio album, Love Is An Art, releases on March 27th, 2020 through Dine Alone Records.
Vanessa's fifth studio album, Liberman, was released on October 23 2015, through Dine Alone Records. It marks her first release since signing with Dine Alone Records. The title of the album comes from an oil painting made by Carlton's late maternal grandfather, whose given surname was "Liberman".
Official website: http://www.vanessacarlton.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vanessacarlton
Twitter: http://twitter.com/vanessacarlton
Vanessa Carlton first began playing the piano as a toddler, continuing on an artistic road with her attendance at the School of American Ballet in New York, a path she would eventually abandon in favor of songwriting. She re-embraced the piano and began performing in bars and clubs across Manhattan. While studying at Columbia University, Carlton was signed to Interscope Records, but made her formal debut on A&M under veteran producer Ron Fair.
Her debut album in April 2002, Be Not Nobody, resonated with audiences of all ages world-wide, especially the hit piano single “A Thousand Miles,” which reached the Top 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart, #1 in Australia, and Top 10 in the UK. Carlton went on to earn 2003 Grammy nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist (“A Thousand Miles”). The album witnessed global success, reaching Gold status in over 10 countries, and Platinum status in Asian territories, such as Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
Her second album Harmonium (2004), which yielded the single “White Houses,” continued to inspire an increasingly loyal global fan base and garnered some the best reviews of her career.
Her record release in 2007, Heroes & Thieves “might be my first thematic record,” Carlton says, adding that the songs reveal themselves like chapters in a book, one that fans can crack open (Vanessa has often explained during her live shows that the second single from "Heroes & Thieves" entitled "Hands On Me" is the second chapter to the album). Paying homage to the area of Manhattan where most of its songs were written, the first single off of the 2007 record, appropriately dubbed “Nolita Fairytale,” is a syncopated, upbeat piece that paints a dramatic musical landscape. “ That song is really about finding joy in unexpected environments. How sometimes losing things makes you realize what you have, which is like a quasi fairytale,” says Carlton. Heroes & Thieves was recorded in the San Francisco studio of Third Eye Blind founder Stephan Jenkins and the Los Angeles studio of producer/songwriter Linda Perry.
Vanessa's fourth studio album, "Rabbits On The Run" was released on July 26th, 2011. Material for this album was produced by Steve Osborne (U2, B-52’s, KT Tunstall), and was recorded in the UK at Peter Gabriel's well-renowned Real World Studios.
Speaking with Songfacts about the lead single Carousel in a 2011 interview, Carlton explained that she wrote the song in a dream where the "da na na na na" tune was floating around.
Other facts:
Vanessa's uncle is jazz musician Larry Carlton.
In 2003, Vanessa portrayed Dusty Springfield on the television show "American Dreams" on Heartache (episode #1.14) and performed a cover of the song "Wishin' And Hopin'".
One of Vanessa's touring guitarists, Ari Ingber, (other than being credited as a group vocalist on "More Than This) is the lead vocalist/guitarist for the band The Upwelling. Ari also co-wrote the song "About to Break" from Third Eye Blind's "Ursa Major".
One of Vanessa's touring bassists, Jon Evans, (other than being credited as bassist on Heroes & Thieves and bass guitarist on Third Eye Blind's "Ursa Major") is part of the band Redfish, Bluefish and has also performed with Tori Amos.
One of Vanessa's touring guitarists, Mark Beauchemin, (other than performing with Vanessa on the song "More Than This (Campfire Take)" for the album "Songs For Tibet - The Art of Peace") used to be part of the band SR-71 and currently has his own band.
Besides having Stevie Nicks do backing vocals on her song "The One" and Stephan Jenkins (of Third Eye Blind) do backing vocals on select songs on Heroes & Thieves, Vanessa has made several contributions to works of other artists and bands including: Vocals on the song Big Yellow Taxi with Counting Crows; backing vocals on the song Moving On by Kimya Dawson; piano on the song Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime by Zucchero; vocals on the song M A K E L O V E T O M E with 7 Aurelius; co-writing 3 songs with The Matrix; Providing vocals on the various artist compilation song "Put A Little Love", created for a Gap clothing company campaign which also featured Al Green, Melissa Etheridge, Kelly Rowland, Stephan Jenkins, Ginuwine, Musiq, Heather Headley and Gavin DeGraw; Providing vocals and piano on the various artist compilation song "Love Revolution", a cover of Lenny Kravitz's song, created for a Kohl's clothing company campaign which also featured Avril Lavigne, Lenny Kravitz, Plain White T's and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus; Performing live with artists/bands including a cover of Elton John's song "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" with Elton John's band, duets with Shlomo, Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra, Stevie Nicks, Goo Goo Dolls and Counting Crows and backing vocals on select songs with Counting Crows.
Vanessa is credited with providing piano on the track "Company" and backing vocals on "Faster" from Third Eye Blind's album "Out of the Vein".
Vanessa is also credited as being a performer on The Upwelling's debut album "An American Stranger" which Stephan Jenkins also produced.
I Don't Want to Be a Bride
Vanessa Carlton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never knew such a gentleman
You can take me on a cheap vacation
I don't wanna have expectations 'cause you
Could be the end of me
I don't need a house on a hill
Swing on a tree, a grandfather clock
A garden, with rose and jasmine
Gonna get drunk on a bottle of wine
No better way to pass the time
Forever by your side
But I don't wanna be a bride
Apologies to your mother
I wanna be your girl
And spend this life with you
But I don't wanna wear white
You know it's too late for that
But can we keep the ever after?
Could it be
Don't need no golden ring
It'd be no match for the love it brings
From London to Tennessee
We could catch a train to another life
On a whim, under the moonlight
I promise you, will you promise me?
Our last names on a wooden sign
Arm in arm, where the river starts to wind
Forever by your side
But I don't wanna be a bride
Apologies to each other
I wanna be your girl
And spend this life with you
But I don't wanna wear white
You know it's too late for that
But can we keep the ever after
Oh could it be just you and me
I, I, I we will live like kings
Under lavender skies, skies
We will live like kings
Under lavender skies, skies
Built a poem, we kept a rhyme
Wrapped our love in golden twine
We wrote, we wrote a legacy
Just you and me
Just you and me
Just like kings under lavender
Skies, skies
We will
In Vanessa Carlton's song "I Don't Want to Be a Bride," the singer expresses her love for her partner but does not want to conform to society's expectation of getting married. She enjoys her partner's company and appreciates their fresh outlook on life. The lyrics suggest that the relationship is going well, but Carlton acknowledges that having expectations can lead to disappointment. Hence, she prefers to keep things casual and not rush into marriage.
The song suggests that the traditional portrayal of marriage is not for everyone. Carlton specifically mentions that she does not want a house on a hill, a swing on a tree, or any other conventional elements that often come with marriage. Instead, she wants to get drunk on a bottle of wine with her partner and just spend time together. Carlton further emphasizes the point by declaring that she does not want to wear white or be referred to as a bride.
The song's overall message is about celebrating love in a way that feels right for the couple, rather than conforming to societal norms. It suggests that couples can be happy in their own way without marriage. The song's melody is a mix of upbeat and slow with gentle piano and guitar sounds, making it an enjoyable listen.
Line by Line Meaning
I like your company got a fresh philosophy
I enjoy being with you and I appreciate your unique outlook on life
Never knew such a gentleman
You are a rare kind of gentleman that I have never met before
You can take me on a cheap vacation
I don't need luxury or extravagance, a simple vacation with you is all I need
I don't wanna have expectations 'cause you
Could be the end of me
I don't want to set expectations too high because I don't want to get hurt if things don't work out between us
I don't need a house on a hill
Swing on a tree, a grandfather clock
Porcelain for tea
A garden, with rose and jasmine
I don't need material possessions or expensive things to be happy, just your love and companionship
Gonna get drunk on a bottle of wine
No better way to pass the time
Forever by your side
Spending time with you is all I need, even if it's just getting drunk on wine
But I don't wanna be a bride
Apologies to your mother
I wanna be your girl
And spend this life with you
I don't want to get married, sorry to disappoint your mother, but I do want to be with you forever
But I don't wanna wear white
You know it's too late for that
But can we keep the ever after?
Could it be
I don't want the traditional wedding, but I still want a happily ever after with you
Don't need no golden ring
It'd be no match for the love it brings
From London to Tennessee
I don't need an expensive ring, our love is priceless and valuable no matter where we are
We could catch a train to another life
On a whim, under the moonlight
I promise you, will you promise me?
We can start a new adventure together, on a spontaneous trip, and make a promise to each other
Our last names on a wooden sign
Arm in arm, where the river starts to wind
Forever by your side
We can create a life together, forever and always together, with an old wooden sign marking our love
I, I, I we will live like kings
Under lavender skies, skies
We will live like kings
Under lavender skies, skies
We will live a life of joy and abundance, like royalty, under beautiful lavender skies
Built a poem, we kept a rhyme
Wrapped our love in golden twine
We wrote, we wrote a legacy
Our love story is unique, it is written like a poem, and will be remembered for generations to come
Just you and me
Just you and me
Just like kings under lavender
Skies, skies
We will
Just the two of us, like royalty, under the beautiful lavender skies, we will live our lives together in happiness and love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ARI BRYAN INGBER, STEVE OSBOURNE, VANESSA CARLTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chelsea Marie
I saw her perform this last night at the Stevie Nicks concert! She is very powerful. I almost cried. Live, I was pounded with emotions! Love this!!!!!!!!
RamireZ Bobby
GREEN DAY..WAKE ME .. when..♥️♥️🇺🇲🇺🇲🌍
Super Maxi
Wow I seen her on Oct19th last week perform this and opened for Stevie
Claire Means
I woke up this morning with this song stuck in my head and then I quoted it tonight while skyping with the guy i like, because I feel like it captures his feelings about marriage. Vanessa, you are exquisite.
Jorge Fdez
This is another example of how time has changed (not change in a bad or completely her style) her sound and how she has evolved as a musician. Vanessa will ever be one of the biggest and most talented artists we'll see. I just admire her more with every new song i hear from her albums...
Conscious Robot
Vanessa's voice is incredible on this album. I think it's my favorite
RamireZ Bobby
♥️♥️🦊🦊🦊 el principito 🌍🌍🌀🌀🇵🇷🇵🇷
MyStringSnapped
I love Vanessa, her music is so much better than most other artists today. Her music has so much heart and soul.
jungleguns
Really beautiful performance with an angelic children's choir on Conan tonight. I got the shivers!
fvtampa
I knew from the first time I heard this girl she was going to be something special. She paces herself and makes the time in between count for some really great songs. She has quality. This is what will keep her in the music mix for a long time to come. Vanesa is awesomely hauntingly hooking. Hooked on this one, hooked on them all. I Love this young lady's music.