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Suzanne Vega - Tom’s Diner (DNA 12” Remix) (Music Video) (by ZephyrAndy)

Background via Wikipedia

In 1990, two British record producers remixed “Tom’s Diner”, grafting her vocals onto a dance beat from Soul II Soul and turning her simple ad-libbed outro – “Doo doo doo doo, doo da-doo doo” – into the song’s driving hook. Without permission from Vega, her record label, or publisher, the duo released the remix on a limited basis for distribution to clubs as “Oh Suzanne” by “DNA featuring Suzanne Vega”. Vega’s record company of the time, A&M, decided to buy^{[citation needed]} and release the remix rather than take DNA to court for copyright infringement. A&M struck the deal after consulting with Vega, who liked the interpretation,^[11] and DNA, who conducted the transaction through intermediaries without revealing their true identities.^{[citation needed]} The remix became a much larger hit than Vega had with the song originally, peaking at #2 on the UK singles chart and #5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and it became one of a handful of tracks to chart in the top 10 of both the Modern Rock Tracks (#7) and Billboard R&B Tracks (#10) charts. It spawned a number of hip hop, dance, and rock remixes and remakes from artists such as Peter Behrens (drummer from Trio) and Bingo Hand Job, a whimsical one-time collaboration between Billy Bragg and R.E.M. It was also sampled in songs by Public Enemy, Nikki D, Twin Hype, and Lil’ Kim, among other hip hop acts.

In 1991, Vega, noting the huge number of remakes of the song, released Tom’s Album, a compilation of different versions of the song, spanning a variety of musical genres, including a parody that worked in references to I Dream of Jeannie called “Jeannie’s Diner,” which Nick-at-Nite would use to promote its airings of the show. The album also featured another DNA remix of one of her songs, “Rusted Pipe.” On the album’s sleeve, Vega wrote: “A small song about eating breakfast became a song about accidental pregnancy (Daddy’s Little Girl – Nikki D.) and the recent war in the Gulf (Waiting At The Border). One version incorporates forgotten bits of pop culture (Jeannie’s Diner). All of them surprised me; a couple made me wince. I include them anyway.”^[12]