Vienna Teng

Vienna Teng played at The Ark this Wednesday and this proves that the universe still has potential in it for good. I love The Ark. I think I've mentioned this before with very similar words. It feels like my living room except that some of the most interesting musicians keep visiting and performing brilliant original music. Ben Sollee opened for Vienna. He plays a mean cello and sings. He made the cello do things I never imagined a cello could do. After his opening, I could have left satisfied for the evening; this is rare for any opening act. This was much better live, but here is Ben Sollee singing "How to see the Sunrise."



I think the test of a good singer-songwriter is their ability to resonate with those inaudible emotions, almost unspeakable thoughts. I like the way the San Francisco Chronicle describes Vienna's music: "Her songs are like dreams: images are only partly articulated, but the emotions they recall are fully realized."

Vienna often spoke of her songs having a life of their own. She didn't want to write or sing certain songs, but she said it was as if they wanted to exist. Here are two songs that I am quite fond of.

Blue Caravan
blue blue caravan, winding down to the valley of lights. my true love is a man who would hold me for ten thousand nights. in the wild wild wailing of wind, he's a house 'neath a soft yellow moon. so blue blue caravan, won't you carry me down to him soon.

blue blue caravan, won't you drive away all of these tears. for my true love is a man that I haven't seen in years. he said "go where you have to, for I belong to you until my dying day." so like a fool, blue caravan, I believed him and I walked away.

oh my blue blue caravan, the highway is my great wall. for my true love is a man who never existed at all. oh he was a beautiful fiction I invented to keep out the cold. but now, my blue blue caravan, I can feel my heart growing old.



Antebellum
In the fall, We circle through the leaves and talk about the little ones.
And we smile, but never say too much. The moment always vanishing.
One by one the neighbors' lights come on. Our October day is almost gone.

I know the border lines we drew between us
Keep the weapons down, Keep the wounded safe;
I know our antebellum innocence was never meant to see the light
of our armistice day.

In the spring, We climbed the rolling hills and talked about our budding plans.
And we smiled, Our faces like a mirror showing us our secret sides.
But then the fights...
The sharp words splintering the night, How I couldn't be what you'd need...
But oh how I could make you bleed...

I know the border lines we drew between us
Keep the weapons down, Keep the wounded safe;
I know our antebellum innocence was never meant to see the light of our armistice.
But how much would I give to have it back again?
How much did we lose to live this way?

You'll go home...I'll stay here
Seasons keep on marching
I'll stay here...You'll go home
With only strangers watching