Who recorded "Luka"?

Suzanne Vega recorded "Luka." She wrote and performed the song, which became the best-known single from her 1987 album Solitude Standing.

Released as the album's second single, "Luka" is sung from the perspective of a child experiencing abuse. Vega encountered the name Luka among children playing near her apartment in New York City and chose it because it sounded distinctive. The song's restrained, conversational presentation makes its subject easy to miss on a casual listen.

"Luka" became Vega's highest-charting U.S. hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Shawn Colvin contributed backing vocals to the recording. The song is often grouped with late-1980s pop, but its acoustic foundation, folk-rock writing, and carefully indirect lyrics are central to its identity.

A neighbouring fact readers often ask about is "Tom's Diner," another Suzanne Vega song. The original a cappella version appeared on Solitude Standing, while a later remix by DNA became a worldwide dance hit.