Vanessa Lee Carlton (born August 16, 1980 in Milford, Pennsylvania) is an A… Read Full Bio ↴Vanessa Lee Carlton (born August 16, 1980 in Milford, Pennsylvania) is an American pop and rock singer, songwriter and pianist best known for her hit song "A Thousand Miles", the first single from her platinum-selling debut album Be Not Nobody (2002).

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
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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.

Wanted
Vanessa Carlton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I have wandered far and wide
For something real something to die for
But I have found you and you do not see
All that is me all that is true

[Chorus]
I am more than you will see,
I am more than you will need

I am more than you will see,
More than wanted

As you float the flimsy surface
You should know life lies beneath it
Don't pretend you feel what I feel for you
Live illusion and I am real

[Chorus]

I know, I know you like the way
You feel when I play
I know, I know you don't really
Hear what I say
I know, I know you are waiting
For something to raid
I know, I know you wish you could be
More than you say

I have wandered far and wide
For something real something to die for
But I have found you and you do not see
All that is me all that is true and

[Chorus]

More than you'll love, more than you'll hate,
More than you'll hold, more than wanted

More than you'll crave, more than you'll cherish,
More than you'll have, more than wanted

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Wanted" by Vanessa Carlton express the singer's deep desire to be truly seen by a significant other. The song tells the story of a quest for something real and meaningful, something to die for, which the singer believes she has found in the individual she is addressing. She longs for them to see past the surface level and instead recognize the entirety of who she is.

The chorus repeats the message that the singer is more than what the other person sees or needs, more than what they wanted. The next verse builds on this message, emphasizing that there is a depth to life that lies beneath the "flimsy surface". The other person is urged not to pretend to know or feel what the singer does, to not live in illusion, while she emphasizes that she is real.

The final verse confirms the singer's desire to be seen and heard, to not simply be someone the other person enjoys being around for her music or waits for to raid off her talent. The song ends on the same chorus, reinforcing the singer's message that she deserves to be recognized for being more than what the other person wants or expects.

Line by Line Meaning

I have wandered far and wide
I have searched long and hard

For something real something to die for
For something true and valuable

But I have found you and you do not see
But I have found you, yet you do not truly understand me

All that is me all that is true
All of my true self

I am more than you will see,
I am greater than what you perceive

I am more than you will need
I am more than what you require

More than wanted
Greater than what you desire

As you float the flimsy surface
As you live superficially

You should know life lies beneath it
You must understand that there is deeper meaning to life

Don't pretend you feel what I feel for you
Don't pretend to share my emotions towards you

Live illusion and I am real
You live in an illusion, while I am genuine