Suzanne Vega - "Edith Wharton's Figurines" (from Beauty and Crimes)

Suzanne Vega was inspired to write this song as the result of the sudden death (2004) of a successful author named Olivia Goldsmith.

Goldsmith died of cardiac arrest while under sedation for cosmetic surgery. Within four minutes, she was in a coma from which she'd never awake. All for a face-lift.

Edith Wharton was a Pulitizer Prize-winning author in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The word "figurine" is used here with a more limited meaning referring specifically to objects in human form. Wharton wrote about the pressure society puts on women to be beautiful.

Vega interweaves these two authors' ideas and lives with a focus on the futility of vanity and the struggle for beauty.

This song is from her album "Beauty and Crimes" (2007)

Further explanations follow the song.

LYRICS:

"Edith Wharton's Figurines"

Edith wharton's lovely figurines
Still speak to me today
From their mantlepiece in time
Where they wrestle and they play

With passions and with prudences
Finances and fears
Her face and what its worth to her
In the passing of the years

See the portrait come to life
See the vanity behind
Cause in the struggle for survival
Love is never blind

Now, olivia lies under anesthesia
Her wit and wonder snuffed
In a routine operation
Her own beauty not enough,

Her passions and her prudences
Finances and fears
Her face, what it was worth to her
In the passing of the years

See the portrait come to life
See the vanity behind
Cause in the struggle for survival
Love is never blind

Edith Wharton's lovely figurines
Still speak to me today
From their mantlepiece in time
Where they wrestle and they play

We lie under anesthesia
Our wit and wonder snuffed
In our routine operations
Our own beauty not enough

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Suzanne Vega
• Edith Wharton
• Olivia Goldsmith
• contemporary folk music
• literacy in lyrics
• poignant music
• reflective lyrics
• folk singers
• plastic surgery
• cosmetic surgery
• face-lifts
• Edith Wharton's Figurines
• treatment of women
• women as objects
• vanity
• pursuit of beauty
• First Wives Club
• Age of Innocence
• high definition
• 1080p

[pearl7princess]

What is the piano solo playing at the end??

[ernest671]

A very beautiful song

[revelrot]

Histoire triste et réelle ... trop fréquente, hélas !

Une voix sublime, excellente musique et une histoire très bien mise en images !!

Tu es plus que douée, Eileen ! Tu es une artiste et je le répèterai jusqu'à ce que tu acceptes ce fait évident pour tous sauf pour toi...

Gros bisous !! xxx<3

[ArtsKris]

As usual this work is the most interesting. I did not know the story. In France we like very much Suzanne Vega. She makes rare and it's a pity. "My name is Luka" will remain the absolute tube. Thank you for this sad story but nicely put in images.

[Leilazul]

As many other areas, esthetic surgery generates so much money. I worked some years at a hospital...who read this comment take attention....a great and big esthetic surgeons team.........but noone of them, some women, made a single esthetic surgeon.

Thanks for reading.

Thanks my dear Eileen I appreciate so much your videos.

[Leilazul]

Some great artists or famous women are so beautiful with the pass of years, without surgeries, we have to look at them as great examples: My loved Joan Baez, Mina, and so many others.

Young generation, what can wait from parents or grandparents without experience of life, wisdom to transmit them, just because they wan to continue being teenagers as their children ...no respect to old people as consecuence.

[Leilazul]

Today I looked a video of anorexic models falling down over the passarella for having to walk with those high spike heels and no carpet, the public watching, how much of Roman Circus have this crazy world dear Eileen.I think, we are not far of seeing slaves fighting till death and brainwashed, ezquizofrenic people enjoying of it.

Excuse me for going out of theme. I am very sensitive today, this story touched me, women must refuse!!!!!!

[Leilazul]

As always your videos are so clear about the message my friend, and presentation.

How sad story. Another more of many. This system that consumes in many ways so many lives, at first creates the reources, products, after they creates the need of them trough the Media, clients are objects not subjects. And women as ever suffer so much social presure and sucumbs, no respect by their bodies sometimes, men looks for someone younger, the religion of eternal youth.

[zjmn58]

Another GREAT video!!! Such a sad story, but beautifully done. Thumbs up!! : )

[cogermax91]

bravoooooooooo! I love her voice and style !