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Vienna Teng — Shasta (Carrie's Song)
Album: Warm Strangers
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 600









Released: 2004
Length: 3:28
Plays (last 30 days): 0
So far, so good
You're coming to the bend at the end of the road
You put a hand to the belly that's foreign more
With every day like an oversize load

And you're thinking about clouds the color of fire
And the scent of an orange peel
The way Mount Shasta explodes into windshield view
And your hands steady on the wheel

So far, so good
Coffee motel coffee diner coffee, go on
Styrofoam is drying like the tears that once did flow
Starting 10 o'clock and ending at dawn

And you can't go back but you're going back
And you don't know what you'll say
You've got half-formed sentences
Explanations for a life half-broken away
And they just may
They'll take you in their arms and then take out their knives
So you drive on thinking

So far, so good
But you can't go on much longer like this you know
You're all alone in this world no that's not true
The nice Christian lady told you so

She was handing out pamphlets by the clinic door
Saying, "Jesus knows what you've been through
Take the Savior into your heart my child
There's love waiting for the both of you"

Well, you don't believe but you have to believe
It's still crumpled there in your back seat
Were you the hero or the worst kind of coward back there
Putting pavement back under your feet
Couldn't stand the heat
Couldn't stand the thought of ghosts with a negative age
Turn the page
OK

So far so good
You try to sing along to the radio
But it's not your language, not your song
It's from some other time ago

And you're thinking about how someone died that day
The you that was so carefully planned
But then again maybe this life is like a sleeping mountain
Waking up to shape the land

Calm, calm, let it come, let it come back to you
Calm, calm, breathe on out, you know you know what to do
Comments (84)add comment
A solid 1 for this. Terrible in so many ways.
Hey, she said Mount Shasta, that is where I live, way cool!
This is the first Vienna Teng song I've really enjoyed. She had me at 'Shasta'.
 sirdroseph wrote:


I am with you in spirit!{#Cheers}

 

Sid, if I didn't like you so much, I'd unleash a torrent of hell on you for that comment.{#Lol}

Everybody in my church loves this beautiful song...
 
I love this. I also like her artistic range, from the deeply introspective "Blue Caravan" to something more accessible like this.
 MojoJojo wrote:
Seems much more "soda poppy" or "bubble gummy" than what I remember hearing from her...
 
Are you kidding?  She's always been made of bubble gum and kittens and unicorns.  Guh. Blech!
Beautiful melody but preachy lyrics like this make me PSD.
7
 grungepuppy wrote:
I like it. She has a great voice and doesn't overdo it with histrionics. Simple, but enough going on vocally to really keep my interest, especially when the volume is up and I can hear the subtle nuances that she adds.
 
Agree. We got to see her at an intimate venue here last summer. Just she and her piano and sampling machine, a la Imogen Heap. She has great audience interaction (helped by us being at a table a few feet away) and puts on a wonderful show—very natural and engaging. What a talent!


I saw her-LIVE- in Kassel, Germany at "Kasseler Kulturzelt" in 2010. She and her percussionist are so good. The evening was magic!
 grungepuppy wrote:
I like it. She has a great voice and doesn't overdo it with histrionics. Simple, but enough going on vocally to really keep my interest, especially when the volume is up and I can hear the subtle nuances that she adds.
 
And I'm with you. {#Cheesygrin}
The men don't seem to be able to hear the lyrics on this — not boring at all, considering current efforts to socialize the uterus.

dig it boyz - if the government can own one organ, they own them all 
I like it. She has a great voice and doesn't overdo it with histrionics. Simple, but enough going on vocally to really keep my interest, especially when the volume is up and I can hear the subtle nuances that she adds.
 Hinkamp wrote:
sort of like Tori Amos without the attitude... not that attitude isn't good sometimes.
 
not exactly a glowing recommendation.

hoping this stream gets a little better soon! 
...a lot of vienna teng's early vocals sound slightly flat to my ears; i don't have her more recent albums for comparison...
 Hinkamp wrote:
sort of like Tori Amos without the attitude....
 

...which makes her uninteresting.  Nice and uplifting, maybe, but not particularly engaging.


holborne wrote:

Vienna Teng is sort of a funny name.




I used to work in Vienna for several years (unfortunately not in her). {#Angel}


Hinkamp wrote:
sort of like Tori Amos without the attitude... not that attitude isn't good sometimes.
 
yep, that was also my first thought - tori amos finally tuned it down a bit.

anyway, can't wait to hear this song again on RP.


This one is definitely growing on me. 8 —-> 9
 rah wrote:
i had never paid much attention to the lyrics before just now — i have a better respect for this song now. listen.
 
Agreed. Wonderful.


Vienna Teng is sort of a funny name. But anyway, I like this song, so I give it an 8 — 7 for the song and 1 for the funny name.



Blue Caravan and The Tower - Check those out by her, you will never be the same.

Love her music, and she also has alot of her songs available to listen to on her website. Just google her.{#Umbrella}

Yes, you are in for some beautiful music !agbar713 wrote:
I love this. It's the first time that I've heard her. She seems extremely talented. Kinda reminds me of something you would hear on the Apple commercials but not over-produced and much, much better. I say an 8 for now but I suspect it'll grow on me.
I love this. It's the first time that I've heard her. She seems extremely talented. Kinda reminds me of something you would hear on the Apple commercials but not over-produced and much, much better. I say an 8 for now but I suspect it'll grow on me.
Just about all of her songs are fantastic.
VERY tori amos.
Hinkamp wrote:
sort of like Tori Amos without the attitude... not that attitude isn't good sometimes.
This is good, attitude is OK in the right situation and dose, Tori Amos never!
I really like this song. It's a refreshingly different take on the subject.
meghan89 wrote:
This could be a jingle for a cheese commercial.
not bad... although I hope the cheese offered is a good one. The song deserves it. Very nice!
MojoJojo wrote:
Seems much more "soda poppy" or "bubble gummy" than what I remember hearing from her...
yes, way too tori
Seems much more "soda poppy" or "bubble gummy" than what I remember hearing from her...
you go girl....
"Hay, this song is about Mt. Shasta, CA!" Or is it about obscure generic soda? Try that one on for size. :) Oh, and I truly enjoy ms. teng's music.
sort of like Tori Amos without the attitude... not that attitude isn't good sometimes.
number6 wrote:
Only metaphorically. Check out the lyrics. This is an amazingly touching song about choosing/not choosing to have an abortion.
I particularly like this telling line:
were you the hero or the worst kind of coward back there putting pavement back under your feet couldn't stand the heat couldn't stand the thought of ghosts with a negative age
She put on a nice performance at ACL Fest last year. Likeable, if not excellent tune.
Like her voice. She has a lot of nice songs.
pdxguy wrote:
Hay, this song is about Mt. Shasta, CA!
Only metaphorically. Check out the lyrics. This is an amazingly touching song about choosing/not choosing to have an abortion.
I really like this young talented lady.
Hay, this song is about Mt. Shasta, CA! I grew up there, its about 2 hours from Paradise, CA. Awsome - go Vienna!
not sure how much I like this song, but that was a great transition from gomez's see the world
traveyes wrote:
I have the CD. It's a really pretty, mellow song. Unsure how she arrived at the name. Lyrics here I really like the CD. .
Nice job with the link to the lyrics. Well done, well done my man
This could be a jingle for a cheese commercial.
NewFee wrote:
Ms. Teng has a lovely voice. Anyone else catch a hint of Maggie Reilly in Mike Oldfield's "Moonlight Shadow"
for sure, eh
I can't help wishing Bill would warn us in advance that he's going to play a Vienna Teng track and also give us the track time. Then I'd have a few minutes to find something from my catalogue of mp3s to play just for the duration of Teng's song.
LesFromStJ wrote:
Too pop-tunish... hardly intelligent rock.
Try reading the lyrics and then decide if this is "hardly intelligent rock". Granted you may not find it as "intelligent" as the B-52's Planet Claire, but this is hardly typical pop fluff.
Ms. Teng has a lovely voice. Anyone else catch a hint of Maggie Reilly in Mike Oldfield's "Moonlight Shadow"
trekhead wrote:
I'm thinking of buying this. What is that 'ATHEIST CHRISTMAS CAROL' all about?
I have the CD. It's a really pretty, mellow song. Unsure how she arrived at the name. Lyrics here I really like the CD. .
Bill, you must read my mind. During the Hem song, three songs ago, I was thinking to myself, "I'd love to hear Shasta by Vienna Teng." You rock. :)
drew wrote:
It sounds a bit like a Genisis song. "No not this confused again ,No not the same mistakes again.Your're taking it all to hard" Or is it just me ??
no, not just you. i hear it too.
I'm thinking of buying this. What is that 'ATHEIST CHRISTMAS CAROL' all about?
It sounds a bit like a Genisis song. "No not this confused again ,No not the same mistakes again.Your're taking it all to hard" Or is it just me ??
i had never paid much attention to the lyrics before just now -- i have a better respect for this song now. listen.
The piano riff is a note-for-note rip of Phish's Walfredo (First played by Phish 2/13/97, this album released 2/24/04). I like 'em both tho. There are 2 live free mp3s of Walfredo here: (click here)
Very nice. Kinda Tori does a coke ad, lol, just kidding....I really like this track :-)
Both of her CD's are wonderful! They're the kind that grow on you, even the chinese song.
Too pop-tunish... hardly intelligent rock.
MsJudi wrote:
Going to see Vienna tomorrow night- I can't wait!!
Please tell us how it was. Is the piano life as bright and transparant as on the record? Does her music give you the same warm feeling life?
I like that piano lick.
w00t! the album is kinda sleepy, but this is one of the great songs.
Going to see Vienna tomorrow night- I can't wait!!
Someone gave this song a "1"?!? No Way! <-X (I turned it up!) :nodhead:
masterhead wrote:
Time to turn off the volume... <-X
Just turned UP the volume !!!
Posted this on an earlier song...but worth repeating...she's playing tonight in Hoboken at Maxwells, good place to see a show. So if you're in the NYC area, come and see her.
Time to turn off the volume... <-X
Aside from Piano and Female She sounds like Tori because: 1,4,5 are not the only chords in a key 4/4 is not the only time signature Isn't it strange how not adhering to the common set of musical constraints makes you sound like someone else. :-k P.S. I generally like Tori's stuff, and so far I'm really enjoying the Vienna Teng tracks I've managed to get my mitts on (cd's on back order....) :)
Algee wrote:
I don't like it when people compare one artist to another unless there's a further explanation, such as She sounds like Tori except - Anyways...this misses the point. Did you listen to words here? One of the very best treatises on abortion I've heard.
OK, I WILL RAISE MY RATING TO 3...I JUST DON'T SUBSCRIBE THAT YOU SHOULD JUDGE MUSIC FOR THE PAMPHLET UP FRONT...
masterhead wrote:
talkign about lowering standars...Jimmy Cliff, Peter Gabriel, George Harrison...and then this,,,what a horrible way to change someone's mood...This is very commercial and trivial...
Well, it's all subjective . . . but I see where you've rated the Ramones "I Wanna Be Sedated" as a 10, and although I think that's a great song, it's difficult to categorize that as being anything profound.
I don't like it when people compare one artist to another unless there's a further explanation, such as She sounds like Tori except - Anyways...this misses the point. Did you listen to words here? One of the very best treatises on abortion I've heard.
is this the first time this followed george harrison's what is life? nice transition work Bill 8)
talkign about lowering standars...Jimmy Cliff, Peter Gabriel, George Harrison...and then this,,,what a horrible way to change someone's mood...This is very commercial and trivial...
Never heard her before started listening to RP. Great voice. I'm impressed.
Never heard of her, but I like that piano riff. I can hang.
she does sound similar to Tori, but Tori warbles and drives me nuts.....Vienna just sings, very pretty
mrtyler wrote:
Agreed, on this track. And it's not just the piano. I'm inclined to think it must be homage.
I had assumed that's who it was until I looked at the artist.
philarktos wrote:
I've loved all of Vienna's cut's that I've heard so far on RP, but this is the best by far. Time ta pick up the CD. This really ROCKS. Catchy tune, her voice exquisite as always, spot on instrumentation, tight ensemble - what more could ya ask for ?
I agree! Really excellent. Gotta put her on my wish list.
radio paradise loves vienna teng, i assume. s'okay, i guess...
chased wrote:
She sounds so much like Tori Amos!
Agreed, on this track. And it's not just the piano. I'm inclined to think it must be homage.
I've loved all of Vienna's cut's that I've heard so far on RP, but this is the best by far. Time ta pick up the CD. This really ROCKS. Catchy tune, her voice exquisite as always, spot on instrumentation, tight ensemble - what more could ya ask for ?
She sounds so much like Tori Amos!
One of my favorite tunes from her newest CD!