Luka

"Luka"
Single by Suzanne Vega
from the album Solitude Standing
Released	1987
Genre	Pop
Length	3:48
Writer(s)	Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega singles chronology
"Gypsy" (1986) "Luka" (1987) "Tom's Diner" (1987)

"Luka" is a song recorded by Suzanne Vega and released as a single in 1987. It remains her highest-charting hit in the United States, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song was one of the earliest to deal with child abuse and domestic violence. One critic said, "the 'happy' music is a metaphorical denial, making this seem beautiful and serene while discussing something terrible and devastating. It is a wonderful use of tune as a metaphor for how many abuse victims also deny their abuse, and is a profound classic".^[1]

Writing

Vega also recorded a Spanish version of the song in the studio, featured on the single.

Music Video

This video was directed by Michael Patterson, & Candice Reckinge. It was shot over 3 days, in New York City. The part of Luka was chosen after the directors auditioned more than 90 kids for the part. It is her most popular video to date.

Charts

In popular culture

• The song was covered by The Lemonheads on their 1989 album, Lick.
• Irish musician, Luka Bloom, took the first name of his stage persona from the song title.
• British indie group Easyworld covered the song on the Bside to their 2004 single "'til the day".
• Homer Simpson sings this song while driving Snake's souped-up sports car in the ninth season Simpsons episode "Realty Bites".
• In the Space Ghost Coast to Coast episode "Late Show," Space Ghost tells Janeane Garofalo he is the eponymous Luka.
• This song is referenced in the Scrubs episode, "My Therapeutic Month".
• In 1988 Paola Turci recorded an Italian translation of the song, titled "Mi chiamo Luca"(My name is Luka). The song, contained in her debut album "Ragazza sola, Ragazza blu".
• The song was covered in a bossa nova style by Japanese band The Indigo on their 2004 album "My Fair Melodies 2".
• When Flo and Eddie perform as The Turtles, sometimes they sing the lyrics to "Luka" as "My name is Luka/I live upstairs from you/I get beaten by my mother and my dad...", and sing these lyrics to the tune of the theme from "The Brady Bunch".
• In the webcomic Penny Arcade, characters Gabe and Tycho refer to their neighbour Charles as "Luka" because he "lives on the second floor", "lives upstairs from [them]", and "[they've] seen him before".
• The song is referred to in the 1999 TV show "Action!" in episode 2, "Re-Enter The Dragon." Main character, movie producer Peter Dragon (Jay Mohr), barges into the apartment of female escort Wendy Ward (Illeana Douglas) while she is with a male "client" who is dressed as a French maid while scrubbing her floor. Though disguised with a mask made of feathers, Dragon recognizes Ward's "client" as an executive from Disney. When Dragon states, "I know that voice. That's Lloyd Bellweather from Disney," the man says, "No it's not." Dragon persists, "Yes it is. Lloyd, who are you kidding? It's Peter Dragon." When the man counters with, "My name is Andre," Dragon retorts sarcastically, "Andre? And my name is Luka. I live on the second floor."
• Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, lead guitarist of Blue Oyster Cult, and his wife made an unreleased parody of this song called My Name is Loofa, changing it into a song about the eponymous sponge.

References

External links

• Vega on writing "Luka"

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