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Vienna Teng — The Tower
Album: Waking Hour
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 615









Released: 2003
Length: 3:47
Plays (last 30 days): 0
The one who survives by making the lives
Of others worthwhile
She's coming apart
Right before my eyes
The one who depends on the services she renders
To those who come knocking
She's seeing too clearly what she can't be
What understanding defies

She says I need not to need
Or else a love with intuition
Someone who reaches out to my weakness and won't let go
I need not to need
I've always been the tower
But now I feel like I'm the flower trying to bloom in snow

She turns out the light, anticipating night
Falling tenderly around her
Watches the dusk
The words won't come
She carries the act so convincingly
The fact is sometimes she believes it
She can be happy the way things are
Be happy with the things she's done

And yet I need not to need
Or else a love with intuition
Someone who reaches out to my weakness and won't let go
I need not to need
I've always been the tower
But now I feel like I'm the flower trying to bloom in snow

Reach out, hold back
Where is safety
Reach out and hold back
Where is the one who can change me
Where is the one
The one

Reach out, hold back
Where is safety
Reach out and hold back
Where is the one who can save me
Where is the one
The one

I need not to need
Or else a love with intuition
Someone who reaches out to my weakness and won't let go
I need not to need
I've always been the tower
But now I feel like I'm the flower trying to bloom in snow
I feel like I'm the flower trying to bloom in snow
The danger and the power, the friend and the foe
Comments (58)add comment
Only ever heard Vienna Tang here on RP, and just the one track ('Blue Caravan' - which i liked) this track has quite a different feel to it, but i'm liking this too.  
I've never heard anything by Vienna Teng that was less than pleasant. The problem for me is that I've never heard anything of hers that was more than that either. 
Terrific distinctive voice!  
I like it but not quite as much as I like the PSD button that brought me here.
Vienna is an amazing talent, wonderful live—especially in an intimate setting—with great audience rapport, humor, and brilliant music-making. Not to be missed.
I don't know, sounded to me like a bad contestant on American Idol.
Fell in love with the vocal, had to post a comment to show my support!
 gizmo wrote:
OK she's no Joni Mitchell but not quite Celine Dion either. Overall however a bit of an MOR snooze
 

No she is much better than those 2.
 Delawhere wrote:
I was thinking that I kind of like this song. Well, you ruined if for me. I've worked for Cisco and now I just picture her running around with her hands in the air like the rest of those bitches.

 
jessbussert wrote:
Vienna is amazing, and a geek as well! She used to work at Cisco, if you can believe it... I'm so jealous! I'd hate her if I didn't love her so much.
 
 
I'd so love to know what the heck you're talking about, but I suspect the reality is not even slightly as amusing as the images in my head. {#Ask}
 Delawhere wrote:
I was thinking that I kind of like this song. Well, you ruined if for me. I've worked for Cisco and now I just picture her running around with her hands in the air like the rest of those bitches.

 
jessbussert wrote:
Vienna is amazing, and a geek as well! She used to work at Cisco, if you can believe it... I'm so jealous! I'd hate her if I didn't love her so much.
 
  Gawd, what an offensive post! What motivates this sort of treatment of someone about which you know virtually nothing?


She has such a lovely voice.
My..what a Gem she is .
Well it is better than Bat for Lashes and that is about all nice that I have to say.

I was thinking that I kind of like this song. Well, you ruined if for me. I've worked for Cisco and now I just picture her running around with her hands in the air like the rest of those bitches.

 
jessbussert wrote:
Vienna is amazing, and a geek as well! She used to work at Cisco, if you can believe it... I'm so jealous! I'd hate her if I didn't love her so much.
 


She's going to get an MBA.  Some lucky guy is going to have one heck  of a classmate.

Actually this song is just boring,{#Sleep} I didn't cringe before rushing to mute. Quite the improvement over most of their stuff.

 Hannio wrote:
Very nice voice, but ultimately pretty boring music.
 
I logged on just to state something very similar.


Very nice voice, but ultimately pretty boring music.
RP turned me on to Vienna Teng - this albums is one of my favorites... an absolutely beautiful voice.
Haven't heard this here for a while. I bought this CD based on hearing this and other songs on RP. Something about her voice and delivery works for me.
 ad4tise wrote:
Every time I hear this song, I like it more and more.
 
Indeed.  Also does a respectable follow up to PT's 0.3.

mongoose01ca wrote:
Am I the only one hearing a little Madonna in the voice? ...
It is not the same voice. But I hear some range and discipline that might be comparable to Madonna.
Every time I hear this song, I like it more and more.
She is so good.
Vienna is amazing, and a geek as well! She used to work at Cisco, if you can believe it... I'm so jealous! I'd hate her if I didn't love her so much.
Am I the only one hearing a little Madonna in the voice? For a second I thought RP had been co-opted by the Madge Fanboy Contingent (tm)...
lild wrote:
I just saw her play in San Diego on Sunday... beautiful venue and an amazing performance by Vienna. I highly recommend catching her on her tour! And she has an opening act that will blow your mind away. The girl's name is Jenny Owen Youngs. My friend and I both left with her cd and LOVE it! (click here)
I'm seeing her in Seattle this Saturday. Totally excited!!
I just saw her play in San Diego on Sunday... beautiful venue and an amazing performance by Vienna. I highly recommend catching her on her tour! And she has an opening act that will blow your mind away. The girl's name is Jenny Owen Youngs. My friend and I both left with her cd and LOVE it! (click here)
Love Vienna Teng--love this song!
Thank you for playing this. Beautiful song.
OK she's no Joni Mitchell but not quite Celine Dion either. Overall however a bit of an MOR snooze
daedalus wrote:
How many sensitive pianists does it take to change a light bulb? :-k
Only one, but 50,000 others think they should have gotten the record contract instead.
How many sensitive pianists does it take to change a light bulb? :-k
Thank you for introducing me to Vienna Teng! This is one female singer I can admire! Of course, I expect you to play some of the others today. This day is starting out as wonderfully as yesterday did badly. And next you will be playing those great Strawbs, says the playlist!!!!!!!!! :D =P~
stubbsz wrote:
You need a new set of speakers for your computer.
I feel sorry for you, that you need to try and insult someone based on their choice of music. I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Vienna Teng play recently in a very intimate club setting... it was one of the best shows I've seen in a very long time. Her voice, her keyboard and 2 accoustic guitars as back-up. It was awesome and she's about as sweet a person as you'd ever want to meet.
I agree with the "overproduced" comments.
The intimacy she conveys using her voice is just wonderful. What more can you ask from an artist?
MsJudi wrote:
This music seems like the epitomy of simplicity
That's "epitome". See https://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/epitomy.html.
Platypus wrote:
almost reminds me of Poe for a few brief moments.
I agree. And Tori.
oldslabsides wrote:
This woman's melodies really speak to me....
... And so does her voice. Beautiful... just Beautiful. I think Vienna is a hidden gem in the music world. I really enjoy her music. Great lyrics. Enjoyed her interview on RP with Bill, too... steve
This woman's melodies really speak to me....
MsJudi wrote:
Overproduced? This music seems like the epitomy of simplicity: Vienna's voice and her piano, for the most part. I love the quiet intensity of her music and I look forward to hearing more of her work.
You need a new set of speakers for your computer.
almost reminds me of Poe for a few brief moments.
this one does nothing for me.....nothing. it does not interest me in any way. I know I have heard better songs by her.
I bought her cd after the rp interview... and I have to say I'm glad I did. I'm now going to buy her first cd.... I like it.
Oh man, annoying voice, cheesy lyrics, and overproduced-sounding.
absolutemotion wrote:
Bought this disc after hearing a track on RP. A great album, a great songwriter and a beautiful voice. This cut, although nice, is not one of the CD's best.
I also got to know Vienna's music on Radio Paradise. Never heard of her before... And I also bought her CD, it's very-very good. Not all tracks are brilliant, but all are worth the money. Her voice is amazing!
My kingdom for a few more lyrics...
Bought this disc after hearing a track on RP. A great album, a great songwriter and a beautiful voice. This cut, although nice, is not one of the CD's best.
What are you all thinking? Great tune to the head
Sounds like Tori Amos meets Evanescence, with Sara McLaughlin's guitarist thrown in for good measure. Above average, but not great.
Overproduced? This music seems like the epitomy of simplicity: Vienna's voice and her piano, for the most part. I love the quiet intensity of her music and I look forward to hearing more of her work.
I do like her voice, but, as usual, think she could be doing more interesting things with it. Like other cuts I've heard, this seems overproduced and shapeless to me.
ugh, no like-y. very forgettable. :(
Nice voice. Pretty decent for a pop song... Jason