Luka (song)

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“Luka”
“Luka” cover
Single by Suzanne Vega
from the album Solitude Standing
Released 1987
Genre Pop
Length 3:48
Writer(s) Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega singles chronology
"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 U.S., peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Luka" is written from the perspective of an abused boy of that name who is evasive about what sounds are coming from his apartment. He eventually opens up, trying to understand his situation.

"A few years ago, I used to see this group of children playing in front of my building, and there was one of them, whose name was Luka, who seemed a little bit distinctive from the other children. I always remembered his name, and I always remembered his face, and I didn't know much about him, but he just seemed set apart from these other children that I would see playing. And his character is what I based the song Luka on. In the song, the boy Luka is an abused child -- In real life I don't think he was. I think he was just different."

—Suzanne Vega, in a Swedish television special recorded 3 November 1987.[1]

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

Contents

[edit] Charts

Chart (1987) Peak
Position
UK Singles Chart[1] 23
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[2] 3
Austrian Singles Chart 9
Australian ARIA Singles Chart 21
French SNEP Singles Chart 24
Swedish Singles Chart 2
New Zealand Singles Chart 8
Ireland Singles Chart 11
Canadian Hot 100 5

[edit] In popular culture

  • The song was covered by The Lemonheads on their 1989 album, Lick.
  • British indie group Easyworld covered the song on the Bside to their 2004 single "'til the day".
  • Homer Simpson sings this song while driving in The Simpsons episode "Realty Bites".
  • 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".

[edit] "Luka" videos and performances


[edit] References

  1. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named acharts
  2. ^ Mariah, Madonna Make Billboard Chart History
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