Hey Everybody,

Does anyone in this forum listen to Tori Amos? I find her to be a fabulous singer and an amazing pianist. She was one of those freak-of-nature kids with perfect pitch and phonographic memory, a modern Mozart of sorts. She composes music inside her head without playing, and then the first time she sits down to play and sing it, it'll be recorded and will make the album. She's simply amazing, I think.
She's releasing a new album on Epic Records on October 29th called "Scarlet's Walk". I've heard a few tracks from it already, and it's beautiful.
Just thought I'd tell anyone interested, and inquire if anyone here listens to her.
Thanks!

The D's Pianist
AKA Ben Ruppert

Hi, Ben:

Sorry, I just noticed your post! I'm not a Tori Amos fan, not because I don't like her, but rather because I've never heard her! Based on your recommendation, sounds like I should give it a try. Do you recommend any particular CD?

Also, I believe Penny, a regular poster, is a big Tori Amos fan... you might want to repost in The Coffee Room to get more "traffic."

Nina

Hey, I just saw this! Yes, I like Tori a lot. I think the new CD is going to be very good, better than the last one. The only sheet music I own is from her first album. I play "China" and I started "Happy Phantom" but got distracted by a move. Now that we're settled, and I've survived the gut-wrenching performance that was the SoCal Piano Party, I plan to get back into the "Little Earthquakes" book.

I also play Fiona Apple. What do you think of her?

penny

Thanks for replying! lol... I had thought that no one cared about Tori here, and I was thinking, "SOMEONE has to like her; she plays the piano well..." lol.

Nina: I would recommend, so you get a feel for her music, "Little Eartquakes", which was her first (successful... it's a long story) album. That is very much "old-school" Tori, a lot of raw piano and some strings (though, if I am correct, much of the strings are synthesized. ... oh well...). Also, her voice is gorgeous. The whole album deals with the idea of regaining one's self, after a tragedy or submitting to everyone else, having no backbone. I could go on and on about this album, but I'll end this little spurt with this: When/If you get "Little Earthquakes", set aside 57 minutes and 13 seconds (and maybe a little extra time to think), and just listen to it from beginning to end, maybe reading the lyrics throughout. I hope it takes you on the journey it takes me on every time I hear it. After you hear it (if you do), get back to me. I'd like to know what you think.

Hey Penny, I love Fiona. I find her to be a remarkable poet/lyricist. Her music is also beautiful, though I like Tori more because Tori is much more classically influenced in her sound. Tori's music is also a lot more complex, I think. I have the sheet music for "TVAB" (it includes the live tracks!), and some book called "Tori Amos Anthologies", which has a bunch of songs from "Baltimore" ( ) to "Spark". It ends at "FTCGH" (only has "Northern Lad" and "Spark" from, it). I love playing "Father Lucifer". The piano part of the chorus is so much fun! Funny thing: I've played and sung many places, for school benefits, at restaurants, at little get-togethers, at school ceremonies, church, etc., but I've only sung a Tori song I think once. It was "Little Earthquakes", which I find a blast to play. I never really read through the solo ( ), but I sort of wrote my own to a similar chord progression. Anyway, it was just at some Ragtime thing, and I didn't know any ragtime. Whatever. So I'd love to chat with you about Tori sometime, or just about music in general. Do you have MSN Messenger? If not (and if so) my e-mail's pianofaerie@hotmail.com

Thanks for replying Nina and Penny!

Ben

I LOVE Tori and cant wait until Scarlets Walk is out in the UK, she is also doing a tour soon...cant wait!!

My fave is Under the Pink although Little Earthquakes is SO awesome too. I hardly play anything else. My other half introduced me to her in 1995 and now she is my total God!!

I LOVE Happy Phantom, Silent all these years, Baker Baker, Crucify, Father Lucifer, Blood Roses, Winter, Leather...OMG I could go on and on.....

I LOVE Tori, she ROCKS!!!

I think I'll check out some Tori Amos CDs... what the heck, it's only money, right?

Maybe Penny and I can plan a Tori duet for the next SoCal piano party!!

Nina

OK, for your first Tori CD, go for Little Earthquakes She is FAB!!

Nina, are you coming to the next So Cal party? It'll be great to see you under the piano!

Joy

:rolleyes: :p

We So. CA folks throw the kewlest parties....

*does happy dance*

I can't believe I didn't see this thread earlier.
I LOVE Tori!!!

I can play a lot of her songs as well, though I don't find the sheet music books too accurate.

It's good to see she has some fans here.

and just for the record,
Thanks to my asking people at www.@forumz.com to vote for her in the Piano Artist Poll, she's in second place behind Freddie Mercury.

Is anyone going to any of her concerts for the upcoming tour?

Yesterday, I scored 4th row tickets to the Montreal show!!!

I hope I get seats just as good for the Toronto show.

Am waiting for dates for the UK ... you are SO LUCKY! Good for you!! Dont forget to tell us how it was.

Nina,
The "Little Earthquakes" CD is by far my favorite. I just started up "Happy Phantom" again and it is a very enjoyable piece -- I mean song!

penny

Hi guys, it's me again. So Nina, did you ever buy "Little Earthquakes?"

I'm writing because I'm playing Tori and Fiona and I think it so interesting how different their musical expressions about their rapes (both had this wretched experience and wrote about it). Tori comes much more from a sense of rage and even revenge and Fiona from a bruised place of deep sadness. I think I'll learn "Sullen Girl" next in my Fiona book. Any thoughts, Ben?

penny

As an avid Toriphile I have to politely disagree with that statement.

The song (IMHO) is about survival. "Me and a gun" is such a stomach churning, accurate and powerful account that she has become a beacon of light to thousands of women who have been through the same ordeal.

Has anyone else purchased Scarlets Walk yet? It came out on Oct 28th and it is AWESOME!!!

Going to see her at Londons Hammersmith on January 17th CANT WAIT!!!

Actually, I think survival comes from rage. It's a healthier thing than the way Fiona seems to have reacted to her rape (if lyrics mean anything, which I hope they do!). When you get mad, you start to take care of yourself.

penny

Wow! I hadn't visited the "Musicians Welcome" forum in a while, and there seems to have been a lot of discussion on this Tori thread. Yes, go for the "Sullen Girl". That song is so beautiful, and heart-wrenching. Makes me quiver every time I hear it.

I think that maybe Fiona's and Tori's reactions might have something to do with the ages at which they were violated. Fiona was I think 11 or 12, and Tori was in her early twenties (22? 23?). Also, the locations: Tori was raped in her car giving a frequent comer to a club gig she had regularly a ride home, Fiona going home from the grocery store. And, if you want to get superstitious a little, maybe the zodiac. I don't know about Fiona, but Tori was born in August, and she's a Leo, which tends to give her a fiery coutenance and attitude toward things. Perhaps this played a role in the reaction.

Just "thoughts right now"...

Ben Ruppert

P.S. What do you all think about the new album??? I love it. I'm seeing her in Portland on December 11th, got 7th row seats. My review of the album's up on The Dent somewhere, if you want to bother to find it. If anyone wants to read it, I'll find the URL and post it promptly.

I'd like to read your review!

And I just started playing "Sullen Girl" this month on the piano. Not very good yet, but it's not hard. I don't get much time to practice (at last not as much as I would like!).

And I think you are correct in your assumption that the circumstances had something to do with the reaction of the rapes. Explains the two songs very well.

penny

http://thedent.com/scarletreviews.html

It's the 11th one down. Not very thorough, but I tried to be colourful with it.

Ben Ruppert