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Vienna Teng — Mission Street
Album: Warm Strangers
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 226









Released: 2004
Length: 4:24
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Mission Street is a striking dark-eyed stranger
Who speaks a language I don't know but long to learn
Its cadences fall endlessly beyond the windowpane
As I sit as though awaiting some return

And my hands are cold tonight
I'm sleepless in this dark
Forgetting what it was I came to find
And it seems that I've been wrong
More than I've been right
More than I've been right

Mission Street calls out to me by name
Then hurries on before I've hardly turned my head
Promises of answers muttered underneath her breath
Like an offering of contraband misread

And my hands are cold tonight
On the strings of this guitar
Looking for the chords of what I've left behind
And it seems that I've been wrong
More than I've been right
More than I've been right

Mission Street is alive at every hour
Like I've never been and feared I may not ever be
A light so steady on the mountains in the distance
A solitude so deep it might awaken me

Well, my hands are cold tonight
But the sky is bright with stars
And I'm tearing through the veil that keeps me blind
And it seems the more I'm wrong
The more that I am right
The more that I am right

Mission Street
Mission Street
Comments (58)add comment
Waybo wrote:
I've lived in SF my whole life, and this song still sucks.
There's a Latin phrase for logic like that, and it loosely translates to so fucking what?
Posted 17 years ago by rgj13    [ Reply ]
If she just sang and had the guy shut up.
Posted 17 years ago by Loonytunas    [ Reply ]
iMacomania wrote:
A very nice voice
True. She kind of reminds me of the singer on Zero 7's "Home." Her name escapes me.
Posted 17 years ago by cattgirl813    [ Reply ]
rgj13 wrote:
And might not you? What does knowing there's a Mission Street in SF have to do with not getting out enough? She spent time in SF and went to Stanford. Right there on the web for all to see.
I've lived in SF my whole life, and this song still sucks.
Posted 17 years ago by Waybo    [ Reply ]
A very nice voice
Posted 18 years ago by iMacomania    [ Reply ]
rcurrier wrote:
There is more than one "Mission Street" in the world. I know it's "The City" and all that, but some of you need to get out more.
And might not you? What does knowing there's a Mission Street in SF have to do with not getting out enough? She spent time in SF and went to Stanford. Right there on the web for all to see.
Posted 18 years ago by rgj13    [ Reply ]
mettle wrote:
The sweetness of her voice makes for a jarring contrast with the urine + excrement covered and prostitute- and drug-dealer loitering Mission street those of us that have lived around there (Liberty, btw. Mission + Valencia) know and don't miss. Comical even... She must have never actually "lived" there - otherwise, she'd know that any song about Mission street must necessarily have a mariachi groove.
There is more than one "Mission Street" in the world. I know it's "The City" and all that, but some of you need to get out more.
Posted 18 years ago by rcurrier    [ Reply ]
mettle wrote:
The sweetness of her voice makes for a jarring contrast with the urine + excrement covered and prostitute- and drug-dealer loitering Mission street those of us that have lived around there (Liberty, btw. Mission + Valencia) know and don't miss. Comical even... She must have never actually "lived" there - otherwise, she'd know that any song about Mission street must necessarily have a mariachi groove.
Meh. I lived within two blocks of different parts of Mission Street for 8 years. You lived in a bad pocket of it, sure, but most of it's not that way at all (especially as the march of gentrification continues), and much of it is culturally and socially vibrant. The lyrics make the street an emblem for a certain version of the city, it seems to me. Lord save me from those damned mariachis.
Posted 18 years ago by rgj13    [ Reply ]
Nice voice. I also enjoy that the producer didn't revome the sounds created when fingers slide on guitar strings. Gives it a very authentic sound.
Posted 18 years ago by olsaltybastard    [ Reply ]
smooth and soothing like pepto bismol
Posted 18 years ago by fncll    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by tammaye    [ Reply ]
Great, soothing voice.
Posted 18 years ago by wade44    [ Reply ]
rgj13 wrote:
It's in San Francisco, so yeah, sort of. ;)
The sweetness of her voice makes for a jarring contrast with the urine + excrement covered and prostitute- and drug-dealer loitering Mission street those of us that have lived around there (Liberty, btw. Mission + Valencia) know and don't miss. Comical even... She must have never actually "lived" there - otherwise, she'd know that any song about Mission street must necessarily have a mariachi groove.
Posted 18 years ago by mettle    [ Reply ]
i usually give her the benefit of the doubt, but this song is just vapid.
Posted 18 years ago by rah    [ Reply ]
This sucks.
Posted 18 years ago by Four-Five    [ Reply ]
I must visit SF before I'm too old. (I'm 30 and in good health, so plenty of time left.) This track should be followed by Mamas & Papas.
Posted 18 years ago by jah_blessed    [ Reply ]
Hey, I'm in the Mission right now, cool.
Posted 18 years ago by JonnyNismo    [ Reply ]
steve wrote:
I just saw her live a couple weeks ago, an absolute do-not-miss Artist. Check out my notes on another of her songs.
agreed. seeing her again tonight.
Posted 18 years ago by four_felicity    [ Reply ]
I love this song, mainly because it reminds me of a dear friend who moved to San Francisco -- she lived just off of Mission Street!
Posted 18 years ago by MysticMilt    [ Reply ]
psycholynx wrote:
Okay I realize I'm a geek for even mentioning video games here but anyways... Doesn't the instrumentation of this song sound like something from Final Fantasy VIII ?
Yeah, a little bit.
Posted 18 years ago by serendipity_blue    [ Reply ]
Wow, I would have bet money that was Dar Williams voice.
Posted 18 years ago by Art_Carnage    [ Reply ]
Pipes wrote:
Great CD! Love her voice!
Great...uh...pipes. ;-) No, really. A wonderful voice. :oops: Excellent tune.
Posted 18 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
winter wrote:
And here I am about to pick up my friends at the airport, fresh from their week in San Francisco. Coincidence - or invisible mind-reading sattelite beams at work? You decide . . .
hey man - I lived right off Mission...so my opinion really counts....this is like my aunt singing to me...sweet, but because she's not my aunt.....boring.
Posted 18 years ago by moshevelvul    [ Reply ]
And here I am about to pick up my friends at the airport, fresh from their week in San Francisco. Coincidence - or invisible mind-reading sattelite beams at work? You decide . . .
Posted 18 years ago by winter    [ Reply ]
I love Rp because of the diversity, but stuff like this is a bot too "lite listening" for me. My ultimate most hated artist is Norah Jones.
Posted 18 years ago by trempel    [ Reply ]
Mark1970 wrote:
Yeah, I bought this CD a few months back and I love it. Would love to see her live...
I just saw her live a couple weeks ago, an absolute do-not-miss Artist. Check out my notes on another of her songs.
Posted 18 years ago by Steve    [ Reply ]
a bit too "lite and easy" for my tastes. i would expect to hear it while on hold, or perhaps while sitting in the doctor's office waiting room.
Posted 18 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
Pipes wrote:
Great CD! Love her voice!
Here here
Posted 18 years ago by NiceGuy2005    [ Reply ]
Pipes wrote:
Great CD! Love her voice!
Yeah, I bought this CD a few months back and I love it. Would love to see her live...
Posted 19 years ago by Mark1970    [ Reply ]
Great CD! Love her voice!
Posted 19 years ago by Pipes    [ Reply ]
I grew up in the Bay Area. This song is so evocative for me - it makes me long to go back. Wonderful!
Posted 19 years ago by winter    [ Reply ]
Okay I realize I'm a geek for even mentioning video games here but anyways... Doesn't the instrumentation of this song sound like something from Final Fantasy VIII ?
Posted 19 years ago by psycholynx    [ Reply ]
was this a live track? I could have sworn I heard somebody talking about halfway through. (I'm wearing headphones.) I remember when she was a live guest on RP. That was cool. Bill: When is the next in-studio guest coming?
Posted 19 years ago by camarkim    [ Reply ]
nice song, nice voice, good music if you like Sarah McLachlan, Jewel and their copies. however, this song is by far overplayed here and should take a break for the next couple of weeks. it's not a song that gets better everytime, but rather makes me dislike it more and more ...
Posted 19 years ago by borderlessworld    [ Reply ]
toastee wrote:
It seems that I've been wrong...more than I've been right.
Don't like the song, but this is a good line.
Posted 19 years ago by Joyfulchristine    [ Reply ]
MsJudi wrote:
Mission street calls out to me by name then hurries on before I've hardly turned my head.... Vienna is magnificent!
agreed! such a voice from such a small person!
Posted 19 years ago by four_felicity    [ Reply ]
JokesandJokesandJokes wrote:
Go take your sermon somewhere else!
Don't get personal. If you don't like the fact that people actually like the music you obviously do not like, don't read it! Vienna Teng is fabulous. At least in our opinion. If you don't like it, either change station or mute it. You can use my script (see my journal) to do so automatically. Just set your preferences and don't attack people on their taste.
Posted 19 years ago by Tux    [ Reply ]
MsJudi wrote:
There is a difference between believing music sucks and that it's "pop" (which was your initial assessment.) Vienna Teng is an indy. Her songs don't play on normal radio. Therefore it's VERY hard to classify her as "pop" since that means "popular" and her music, as yet, is not. This is not a Brittany Spears knock-off we're talking about here. Now, I don't agree with you that her music sucks, I think she's wonderful. But calling her music "pop" is the mark of someone who doesn't know the difference between what's pop and what's indy. Period!
Go take your sermon somewhere else!
Posted 19 years ago by JokesandJokesandJokes    [ Reply ]
Posted 19 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
Ive heard it too much now
Posted 19 years ago by kctomato    [ Reply ]
masterhead wrote:
I actually being listening waaaayyyy toooo much...Music sucks. Period!
There is a difference between believing music sucks and that it's "pop" (which was your initial assessment.) Vienna Teng is an indy. Her songs don't play on normal radio. Therefore it's VERY hard to classify her as "pop" since that means "popular" and her music, as yet, is not. This is not a Brittany Spears knock-off we're talking about here. Now, I don't agree with you that her music sucks, I think she's wonderful. But calling her music "pop" is the mark of someone who doesn't know the difference between what's pop and what's indy. Period!
Posted 19 years ago by MsJudi    [ Reply ]
We sure do hear a lot of Vienna on here. I recently saw her open up for Mason Jennings. She has an absolutely beautiful voice and her melodies can be quite haunting but I find a majority of her songs bland. She performed well but I was bored with her set well before she was finished. Edited 07-08-04: I have to admit...she's slowly growing on me.
Posted 19 years ago by pixidrizzl    [ Reply ]
I just adore this woman.
Posted 19 years ago by Red_Dragon    [ Reply ]
She was a stranger to me before I heard her here. Now her music makes me warm. This is one of those warm and beautiful songs of her again. Thanks for sharing
Posted 19 years ago by Tux    [ Reply ]
Kinda feels like the music you hear in the dentist's waiting room before you have to go in and get that damn cavity filled. Next up should be Anne Murray or the Carpenters. I think I ready for a nap.
Posted 19 years ago by fifteendays    [ Reply ]
pdhski wrote:
The more I hear of Vienna Teng, the more I dig her. I like it! This song just has such a great hook without being cliche, and a sweet, lilting vocal delivery that make me dream of Strawberry Fields & Penny Lane. I'm sure Mission Street is just around the corner form there.....
It's in San Francisco, so yeah, sort of. ;)
Posted 19 years ago by rgj13    [ Reply ]
MsJudi wrote:
Then you haven't been listening.
I actually being listening waaaayyyy toooo much...Music sucks. Period!
Posted 19 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
This song was shmaltzy and annoying, methinks.
Posted 19 years ago by Miles    [ Reply ]
masterhead wrote:
Instead of top stuff, i woudl say POP stuff IMHO
Then you haven't been listening.
Posted 19 years ago by MsJudi    [ Reply ]
Mission street calls out to me by name then hurries on before I've hardly turned my head.... Vienna is magnificent!
Posted 19 years ago by MsJudi    [ Reply ]
al9009 wrote:
Vienna is only going up in my estimation. top stuff. Wonderful voice.
Instead of top stuff, i woudl say POP stuff IMHO
Posted 19 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
Wow..... that was beautiful..... excellent song.
Posted 19 years ago by Mark1970    [ Reply ]
Vienna is only going up in my estimation. top stuff. Wonderful voice.
Posted 20 years ago by al9009    [ Reply ]
She has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard IMHO. I love it.
Posted 20 years ago by fuzzy_logic    [ Reply ]
It seems that I've been wrong...more than I've been right.
Posted 20 years ago by toastee    [ Reply ]
My favorite of the new stuff we have been hearing! Excellent!
Posted 20 years ago by gypsy222    [ Reply ]
first time I've heard her - I like it :o
Posted 20 years ago by drtracey    [ Reply ]
The more I hear of Vienna Teng, the more I dig her. I like it! This song just has such a great hook without being cliche, and a sweet, lilting vocal delivery that make me dream of Strawberry Fields & Penny Lane. I'm sure Mission Street is just around the corner form there.....
Posted 20 years ago by pdhski    [ Reply ]