273:, and its accompanying soundtrack release, in April 1996. 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." 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. In the US and UK, "Caramel" was released as a promotional single from the soundtrack, and then as a single in Europe from
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would sing. I used to really love that kind of music when I was a teenager." 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." Lyrically, Vega
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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." In a review of
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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".
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with a slinky seductress on the microphone. Vega's refreshing voice and simple guitar make this song a soothing pleasure."
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commented, "The delicate 'Caramel' turns a forbidden attraction into a sensual slow dance." L. Kent
Wolgamott of the
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considered the song to "sidle up to an almost Latin vibe and mellifluous orchestration". Elysa
Gardner of the
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wrote, "'Caramel' has a bossa nova feel, with lilting flutes and muted trumpets adding nuance."
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noted the song "goes into the cocktail lounge to explore forbidden longing". Dave Hansen of
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Tchad Blake – recording and mixing on "Caramel", "Story of Isaac" and "As Girls Go"
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33 1/3 Revolutions Per Minute - A Critical Trip
Through the Rock LP Era, 1955–1999
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wrote, "'Caramel' sounds like something one would hear coming from the cantina on
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music of the 1960s, which Vega grew up listening to. In a 1997 interview for
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Wolgamott, L. Kent (September 8, 1996). "Music: A captivating rhythm fest".
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Mitchell Froom – producer of "Caramel", "Story of Isaac" and "As Girls Go"
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599:
Harrison, Tom (November 7, 1996). "Suzanne Vega: On the Road Again".
760:
Palosky, Craig S. (November 8, 1996). "Spin This: Music
Reviews".
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Bauder, David (May 31, 1996). "Movie soundtracks make big bucks".
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Darzin, Daina (September 21, 1996). "Pop Albums: Album
Reviews".
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Flick, Larry (June 8, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles".
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235:. The song's music video was directed by Charles Wittenmeier.
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Lover, Beloved: Songs from an
Evening with Carson McCullers
615:"The Truth About Cats & Dogs - Original Soundtrack"
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Joe Warda – assistant recording engineer on "Caramel"
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Gardner, Elysa (September 20, 1996). "Record Rack".
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640:"Suzanne Vega - Caramel: The Story Behind the Song"
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225:and featured in the American romantic comedy film
582:"Music Power Network interview with Suzanne Vega"
567:] (DVD). A&M Records. 2005. B0004369-09.
790:Hansen, Dave (October 24, 1996). "CD Reviews".
231:. The song was written by Vega and produced by
897:Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles
817:
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486:– producers of "Luka" and "Small Blue Thing"
1159:Song recordings produced by Mitchell Froom
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802:
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561:Retrospective - The Videos of Suzanne Vega
215:" is a song by American singer-songwriter
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18:
496:– assistant mixing engineers on "Caramel"
997:An Evening of New York Songs and Stories
976:Solitude Standing: Live at the Barbican
525:
45:
34:
267:, "Caramel" was featured in the film
7:
929:Close-Up Vol. 2, People & Places
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943:Close-Up Vol. 4, Songs of Family
936:Close-Up Vol. 3, States of Being
426:Steve Donnelly – electric guitar
243:"Caramel" was influenced by the
533:Segretto, Mike (2022). "1996".
367:CD single (European release #2)
270:The Truth About Cats & Dogs
228:The Truth About Cats & Dogs
1:
463:– keyboards, horn arrangement
395:"Caramel" (LP Version) – 2:55
372:"Caramel" (LP Version) – 2:55
359:"Caramel" (LP Version) – 2:55
700:Women Icons of Popular Music
515:Albert Sanchez – photography
354:CD single (European release)
922:Close-Up Vol. 1, Love Songs
512:Jeri Heiden – art direction
1180:
584:. vega.net. Archived from
379:" (Spanish Version) – 3:49
697:Havranek, Carrie (2009).
539:. Backbeat. p. 558.
457:Cecilia Sparacio – flutes
362:"Small Blue Thing" – 3:54
205:
192:
183:
150:
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16:1996 song by Suzanne Vega
792:The Daily Utah Chronicle
747:Press & Sun-Bulletin
502:– mastering on "Caramel"
336:The Daily Utah Chronicle
263:Prior to its release on
1164:A&M Records singles
382:"Story of Isaac" – 4:08
876:Nine Objects of Desire
304:Nine Objects of Desire
275:Nine Objects of Desire
265:Nine Objects of Desire
222:Nine Objects of Desire
155:"When Heroes Go Down"
50:Nine Objects of Desire
990:Sessions at West 54th
983:Live at the Speakeasy
883:Songs in Red and Gray
253:The Girl from Ipanema
777:Lincoln Journal Star
400:CD single (US promo)
390:CD single (UK promo)
385:"As Girls Go" – 3:25
330:Lincoln Journal Star
321:Craig S. Palosky of
1040:Marlene on the Wall
969:Live in London 1986
703:. Greenwood Press.
436:– drums, percussion
249:Power Music Network
1154:Suzanne Vega songs
1096:Book & a Cover
890:Beauty & Crime
666:Rapid City Journal
306:, Daina Darzin of
287:Critical reception
146:singles chronology
64:"Small Blue Thing"
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1075:Blood Makes Noise
1068:Solitude Standing
862:Days of Open Hand
855:Solitude Standing
762:The Tampa Tribune
494:S. Husky Höskulds
324:The Tampa Tribune
315:Los Angeles Times
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405:"Caramel" – 2:55
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349:Track listing
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342:The Love Boat
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1007:Compilations
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848:Suzanne Vega
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833:Suzanne Vega
794:. p. 4.
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734:. p. 9.
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714:. Retrieved
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601:The Province
600:
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586:the original
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452:Dave Douglas
440:Bruce Thomas
421:Suzanne Vega
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217:Suzanne Vega
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144:Suzanne Vega
124:Suzanne Vega
48:
41:Suzanne Vega
1113:Discography
1061:Tom's Diner
961:Live albums
649:November 3,
624:November 3,
448:– clarinets
430:Pete Thomas
293:Larry Flick
255:," or what
188:Music video
131:Producer(s)
1144:1996 songs
1138:Categories
716:2020-04-04
520:References
500:Bob Ludwig
484:Lenny Kaye
468:Production
245:Bossa nova
239:Background
83:Bossa nova
953:(box set)
684:Billboard
446:Don Byron
410:Personnel
298:Billboard
195:"Caramel"
22:"Caramel"
1118:Tim Vega
732:Cash Box
619:AllMusic
423:– vocals
309:Cash Box
69:Released
1082:Caramel
1032:Singles
644:YouTube
565:Caramel
415:Caramel
213:Caramel
200:YouTube
175:(1996)
166:(1996)
162:Caramel
157:(1993)
111:A&M
869:99.9F°
707:
543:
442:– bass
280:Closer
89:Length
59:B-side
37:Single
563:[
507:Other
106:Label
78:Genre
1054:Luka
705:ISBN
651:2020
626:2020
541:ISBN
377:Luka
72:1996
295:of
198:on
39:by
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96::
94:3
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