Caramel by jmjiloveyou

jmjiloveyou - Caramel

jmjiloveyou

Aug 02, 2025 10:02am

<h1>Caramel (Suzanne Vega song)</h1><h2>From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</h2><h2> </h2><img src="https://singsnap.imgix.net/message-board/threads/ELFK/e5d31a54cb_DWLL_media.png"> <h2><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songwriter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Songwriter(s)</a>Suzanne Vega</h2><h2> </h2><h2>Background</h2>"Caramel" was influenced by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bossa_nova" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bossa nova</a> music of the 1960s, which Vega grew up listening to. In a 1997 interview for Power Music Network, Vega said, "'Caramel' was intended to be one of those old fashioned songs, like "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_from_Ipanema" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Girl from Ipanema</a>," or what <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrud_Gilberto" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Astrud Gilberto</a> would sing. I used to really love that kind of music when I was a teenager."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-Music_Power_Network-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[2]</a> Until "Caramel", Vega had consciously avoided writing in such a style because "I didn't want the music to be corny" and "I came up in the '80s during the new wave when rhythms were all so English-influenced."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[3]</a> Lyrically, Vega has described "Caramel" as being "about longing and wishing for something you know you really shouldn't have", with 'caramel' being "the metaphor for the thing you long for, but you shouldn't really touch".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-Music_Power_Network-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[2]</a>Prior to its release on Nine Objects of Desire, "Caramel" was featured in the film <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Truth_About_Cats_%26_Dogs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Truth About Cats & Dogs</a>, and its accompanying soundtrack release, in April 1996.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[4]</a> Vega recalled of being approached by the filmmakers and the subsequent decision to use "Caramel" in the film, "When I saw the scene, I thought 'Caramel' would be the right song. I had written the basic idea of the song already and we were in the process of recording it when I got that phone call. So we then adjusted some of the song so it would fit the movie."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[5]</a> From A&M Records' perspective, the use of "Caramel" in the film was a way of reintroducing Vega after her three year absence from the music scene.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[6]</a> In the US and UK, "Caramel" was released as a promotional single from the soundtrack, and then as a single in Europe from Nine Objects of Desire.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-Flick_98-7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[7]</a> The song was also used in the trailer for the 2004 American romantic drama film <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closer_(2004_film)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Closer</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[8]</a><h2>Critical reception</h2>On its release, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Flick" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Larry Flick</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Billboard</a> commented, "This soft-served morsel shows Vega in rare form as she whips up a sultry, lounge-ish tune that drips with her soft warm vocals. Excellent arrangement has subdued horns, strings and bongos."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-Flick_98-7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[7]</a> In a review of Nine Objects of Desire, Daina Darzin of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cashbox_(magazine)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cash Box</a> considered the song to "sidle up to an almost Latin vibe and mellifluous orchestration".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[9]</a> Elysa Gardner of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Los Angeles Times</a> wrote, "'Caramel' has a bossa nova feel, with lilting flutes and muted trumpets adding nuance."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-10" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[10]</a>Craig S. Palosky of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tampa_Tribune" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Tampa Tribune</a> commented, "The delicate 'Caramel' turns a forbidden attraction into a sensual slow dance."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-11" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[11]</a> L. Kent Wolgamott of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Journal_Star" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lincoln Journal Star</a> noted the song "goes into the cocktail lounge to explore forbidden longing".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-12" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[12]</a> Dave Hansen of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Daily_Utah_Chronicle" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Daily Utah Chronicle</a> wrote, "'Caramel' sounds like something one would hear coming from the cantina on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Love_Boat" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Love Boat</a> with a slinky seductress on the microphone. Vega's refreshing voice and simple guitar make this song a soothing pleasure."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_(Suzanne_Vega_song)#cite_note-13" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[13]</a>