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.
Take It Easy
Vanessa Carlton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Connected to one billion stars and lights
I know you have to go
Do we follow what we know?
I'll be here for you in the night
Say it once, say it twice, to yourself, to the night
A shaman's prayer
When it's quiet, get slow
As your castle crumbles down and it will, take it easy take it easy
When heaven wraps around you and she will, take it easy
Take it in easy
Are you waiting all the time for some unending delight?
Have you ever broken your own heart?
Say it once, say it twice, to yourself, to the night
A shaman's prayer
It's natural
When it's quiet get slow
As your castle crumbles down and it will, take it easy take it easy
When heaven wraps around you and she will, take it easy
Take it in easy
Take it in
Take it
Say it once, say it twice, to yourself, to the night
A shaman's prayer
It's natural
When it's quiet get slow
As your castle crumbles down and it will, take it easy take it easy
When heaven wraps around you and she will, take it easy
Take it easy
Take it easy
Take it easy
Take it in easy
In "Take It Easy," Vanessa Carlton sings about holding on during hard times, even when it feels like everything is falling apart. She begins by acknowledging that she knows enough about the world to understand that things can be difficult, but she's still young enough to believe that it's possible to move past those challenges without losing hope. She imagines herself as part of something bigger, something expansive and flush with stars and light, and she tells her partner that even though they may have to go through difficult times, she'll always be there for them.
The chorus of the song provides a sort of meditation or prayer that listeners can return to when they feel themselves getting stuck in their struggles. She encourages the use of positive affirmations ("Say it once, say it twice") to remind yourself that it's natural to experience pain and uncertainty, and that it's important to slow down and take things in when the world gets too loud.
As the bridge hits, she directly addresses her listeners, asking them if they're waiting around for something amazing to happen in their lives. She acknowledges the possibility that everyone has the power to hurt themselves, but she encourages listeners to stay strong and to keep moving forward.
Vanessa Carlton's "Take It Easy" is a testament to the importance of resilience and self-care when facing challenges. It's a gentle reminder that even when things are tough, we can find hope in the stars above us and in the quiet moments when we take things in slowly.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm old enough to know, too young to let it go
I have learned enough from life to understand the importance of not holding on to things unnecessarily, but I am still young and sometimes struggle to let go.
Connected to one billion stars and lights
We are all connected to something greater than ourselves, represented here by the vastness and beauty of the stars in the sky.
I know you have to go
I understand that sometimes people must leave and move on in life, even if it is difficult.
Do we follow what we know?
In moments of uncertainty, we must question if we should follow our instincts and what we know to be true.
I'll be here for you in the night
During times of darkness and uncertainty, I will be a source of comfort and support for you.
Say it once, say it twice, to yourself, to the night
Sometimes we need to repeat things to ourselves, whether it be a mantra or a prayer, and release it into the universe.
A shaman's prayer
A spiritual invocation or incantation used to align oneself with the natural world and the universe.
It's natural
It is inherent and instinctual, something that is a part of our nature or the nature of the world around us.
When it's quiet, get slow
During moments of calm and stillness, it can be useful to slow down our thoughts and actions, allowing us to be more present and aware.
As your castle crumbles down and it will, take it easy take it easy
As the things we hold dear inevitably fall apart or come to an end, we must try to remain calm and take things in stride.
When heaven wraps around you and she will, take it easy
During moments of great joy or comfort, we should savor them and appreciate the beauty of life.
Take it in easy
Absorb and enjoy the moment without overthinking or overanalyzing it.
Are you waiting all the time for some unending delight?
Do we spend too much time waiting for a happiness that is unattainable or unsustainable in the long run?
Have you ever broken your own heart?
Have we ever been the source of our own pain or disappointment, and how can we move past it?
Take it in easy
Absorb and enjoy the moment without overthinking or overanalyzing it.
Take it
Embrace what life has to offer and make the most of it, without fear or hesitation.
Take it easy
Remain calm and composed in the face of adversity, and appreciate the fleeting moments of joy that life brings us.
Take it easy
Remain calm and composed in the face of adversity, and appreciate the fleeting moments of joy that life brings us.
Take it in easy
Absorb and enjoy the moment without overthinking or overanalyzing it.
Lyrics © MOM'S GOTTA PLAY TOO
Written by: Vanessa Carlton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eduardowillio
0:19 Hey hey hey
I'm old enough to know, too young to let it go
Connected to one billion stars and lights
I know you have to go
Do we follow what we know?
Ill be here for you in the night
Say it once, say it twice, to yourself, to the night
A shaman’s prayer
It’s natural
When it’s quiet, get slow
@lahkaahau
I'm old enough to know, too young to let it go
Connected to one billion stars and lights
I know you have to go
Do we follow what we know?
I'll be here for you in the night
Say it once, say it twice, to yourself, to the night
A shaman's prayer, It's natural. When it's quiet, get slow
As your castle crumbles down and it will... take it easy, take it easy
Are you waiting all the time for some unending delight?
Have you ever broken your own heart?
Say it once, say it twice, to yourself, to the night
A shaman's prayer, It's natural. When it's quiet, get slow
As your castle crumbles down and it will... take it easy, take it easy
And as heaven wraps around you and she wil... take it easy, take it in easy
Take it in
Take it
Say it once, say it twice, to yourself, to the night
A shaman's prayer, It's natural. When it's quiet, get slow
As your castle crumbles down and it will... take it easy, take it easy
Take it easy
Take it easy
Take it easy
Take it in easy
@florancerudi
I just love her..... On that piano & she's got a great sense of humor... A lot of her songs are just hauntingly dreamy....no wonder Stevie nicks calls her her little song child........
@malibu64
Something really special about this song. In my late 20's now, so many castles have crumbled. This song feels comforting. It touches me in that broken place where very little comfort can reach.
@RobertoLyrio
malibu64 Same.
@christinewanjira1758
Listening to this in 2019....Her songs are beautiful 😃with ❤all the way from Kenya in Africa.
@zenhalimana
Maybe our castles crumble so that better ones that don't crumble can take their place
@joeyjoe7930
One of the best albums EVER! I never bore of this album and I love this song! ❤
@turning007anime
hauntingly beautiful!
@caseyjones831
vanessa is beautiful, her music is more reflective of her artistry now more than ever , she has shed her pop skin and matured her soul and the result is astonishing.
@tranphuong12288
I've been through a lot, I know the feelings of how to see all the castles in my 20s, crumbling down into dust, much of sadness, much of self crucifying, much of depression... but to learn the lessons of how to let them go and keep up, it takes me years.
@fallingstar245
I love her new sound!