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.
Miner's Canary
Vanessa Carlton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down below in the cage you built for me
A cave of echoes
A miner's canary
You were older, you knew the way
To keep me breathing even though the air was thin
There was no oxygen
Lead me, slowly
I am your detective
A living warning sign
Kill me slowly
As I keep you company
I'll be keeping time
A sentinel so sensitive
You have to lose me
Just to feel the state you're in
You're bound to darkness
A miner's canary
Lead me, slowly
I am your detective
A living warning sign
Kill me slowly
As I keep you company
I'll be keeping time
In "Miner's Canary" by Vanessa Carlton, the lyrics depict a relationship where one person takes on the role of a caretaker or protector for the other. The singer refers to herself as a miner's canary, symbolizing vulnerability and sensitivity, while the other person is represented as an older, wiser figure who guides and supports her.
The first verse describes how the singer is singing to maintain harmony and unity within the relationship, despite being confined within the metaphorical cage her partner has built for her. The reference to a "cave of echoes" suggests that her thoughts and emotions are trapped, reverberating within the confines of this dynamic.
The second verse continues to emphasize the role of the older person in the relationship, who understands how to keep her going even in difficult circumstances. The phrase "there was no oxygen" could imply a lack of emotional support or the feeling of suffocation in the relationship. Here, the miner's canary imagery alludes to the singer's ability to sense and warn of potential dangers or issues within the relationship.
The chorus introduces a shift in perspective. The singer becomes a detective, searching for answers or insights into the dynamic they share. She is aware that her presence serves as a warning sign, indicating the potential harm or toxicity in the relationship. The line "kill me slowly" suggests that she may be sacrificing her well-being to be there for her partner, while also "keeping time" refers to her maintaining the pace or rhythm of the relationship.
In the final verse, the singer becomes a sentinel, someone who stands guard and watches over her partner. However, the sensitivity and depth of her emotions make her disposable in the eyes of her partner. Losing her becomes necessary for them to recognize or feel the weight of their own emotional state, which seems to be trapped in darkness. This further reinforces the idea that the singer is the metaphorical miner's canary, a sacrificial figure who brings attention to the imminent dangers within the relationship.
Overall, "Miner's Canary" portrays a complex and potentially toxic relationship dynamic where one person's emotional well-being is jeopardized for the sake of the other's comfort. The usage of miner's canary imagery effectively captures the vulnerability and sensitivity of the singer's role in this relationship as she navigates the challenges and sacrifices that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
I will sing, to keep the peace
I will use my voice to maintain harmony and avoid conflict
Down below in the cage you built for me
Trapped in the confinement that you created for me
A cave of echoes
A space where sound reverberates, representing emptiness and loneliness
A miner's canary
Symbolizing a warning sign, an indication of danger or harm
You were older, you knew the way
Being more experienced, you understood how to navigate the circumstances
To keep me breathing even though the air was thin
Ensuring my survival despite the challenging and suffocating conditions
There was no oxygen
Lacking the necessary support or sustenance
A miner's canary
Serving as a warning of impending danger or harm
Lead me, slowly
Guide me at a gentle pace
I am your detective
Figuratively, I am exploring and investigating your actions and motives
A living warning sign
Existing as a living embodiment of caution and danger
Kill me slowly
Metaphorically harm me gradually over time
As I keep you company
While providing companionship and support to you
I'll be keeping time
Acting as a reminder of the passing moments and the consequences they bring
A sentinel so sensitive
Being watchful and perceptive, attuned to even the slightest changes
You have to lose me
You must let go of my presence
Just to feel the state you're in
In order to fully comprehend and experience your own emotional state
You're bound to darkness
Trapped and confined within a state of despair and gloom
A miner's canary
A symbol of warning, indicating the presence of danger or distress
Lead me, slowly
Guide me cautiously and gradually
I am your detective
I am actively engaged in uncovering and understanding your actions and intentions
A living warning sign
An embodiment of caution and potential harm in your life
Kill me slowly
Metaphorically cause me gradual harm and suffering
As I keep you company
While providing companionship and support despite the resulting pain
I'll be keeping time
I will serve as a reminder of the passing moments and the consequences they bring
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Vanesa Carlton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@engrfka
Vanessa is definitely not an underrated singer. She's basically what you call a pure artist. Pure artists are just not 'celebrated' these days.. She doesn't need to resort to nudity or alter her work for the sake of commercialization. Sure, at the end of day, she might be making lesser money or less of a fan base but I'm telling you she sleeps in peace at the end of the day and is completely satisfied as she gets to do what she always wanted. And her fan base is true and not based on fake fans that other mainstream artists have.
@ManiSoSweet
Right. we actually BUY her music.
@nikolamilovanovic7129
I buy some CDs of her.
@antoniocastro2301
Honestly I think Vanessa is an underrated singer her music is amazing and the people that gave her dislikes obviously don’t know what good music is in my opinion
@brunodeandradeful
exotic visions she the most underrated singer/songwriter of her generation. Unfortunately labels are only interested in money. What Vanessa makes goes beyond music, it’s art, pure magic.
@IloveSPIDERZ
The dislikes could be accidental... Maybe they were sleeping and the button was inadvertently pressed?
@lyrilljackson
@@IloveSPIDERZ it's 2020 already voting stopped mattering long before reddit removed showing downvote counts lul
@thelonelyconner1908
Listen buddy, almost everyone's knows her album "A thousand miles" and after that no one really cared for her music, just how it is, people have all there different opinions, but for the ones that like little pump, they should got to hell and never come back, but hay that's just my opinion.
@sameershakya7194
Her album Heroes and Thieves is one of the best albums I've listened to. Every single song is soo good.
@joeyjoe7930
Every time I think Vanessa has outdone herself, she comes up with another brilliant song. The lyrics and instrumentals in this song are epic!