One of her very best songs, and this is great and astute reaction. "You say you don't want it, the circus we're in, but you don't really mean it." Uffff, gets me every time.
My dude--I LOVE that you have dedicated so much time to Tori Amos. She has been my favorite musician since 1996. I have seen her in concert many times and have been just so inspired by her talent. It is always so exciting to watch new people get familiar with her, especially watching some of these older music videos and performances! I remember being a little 20 year old stoner punk in 1998 and fell in love with the Spark video and the subsequent tour! Such sweet memories. AND it's really refreshing to see straight men get familiar with Tori on UA-cam; she has a little bit of something for everyone.
Love it! There's a musical rhythmic disruption that Tori Amos does here: she uses 3/4 time as the basis of the song, which is the classic "lullaby" tempo, and throws off the rhythm by occasionally adding an extra beat. The rhythm gets thrown off and we're essentially denied the lullaby that was promised, because the miscarried child never arrives. It's such a poignant, subtle, but effective technique that she pulls here and in a few other songs. "Carbon" immediately comes to mind as another example-- the rhythmic change reflects disintegrating mental health (or a dysfunctional relationship with mother earth). Be well and thank you as always!
Love the Tori reactions! This is the first song off the album that got me hooked on Tori “From the Choirgirl Hotel,” the whole album is brilliant! Keep them coming!
3:16 Yep, Tori's really good at the triple, quadruple meaning with words/lines/songs. Spark is one of my favorite songs of her, and one of her best videos. Great reaction!
This is the song and album that got me into Tori’s music. She’s definitely one of the most unique artists out there. Tori wrote this song after experiencing her miscarriage. Also, like you said, the line “6:58 are you sure where my spark is?” is a reference to the US PSA: “Its 10pm, do you know where your child is?”. From what I’ve read, 6:58 is a reference to the time she realized she was losing her baby.
Q: One last question. Who is the ice cream assassin? Tori: Who do you think that is? Q: I have no idea Tori: Well, people have been praying to him for a very long time and more wars have been fought in his name. The big guy. Think about it. [Rolling Stone Online - August 8, 1998]
I have days when I just listen to Tori all day. Here's some suggestions for you that are some of my faves - "Baker Baker" NBC Today '94 (with short interview beforehand), "Icicle" MTV 120 Mins special '94, "Caught a Lite Sneeze" live in the studio whilst recording "Boys from Pele" 1996 (Just her vocals & beating out a beat on her piano - intense!!), "Sugar" Hard Rock live '99, "Bliss" Hard Rock live '99, "Take to the Sky (Russia)" from the Strange Little Webcast 2001. Loads more, of course ;-)
@@SaeedReacts. You can't go wrong with most of her discography. Other female artists that I love just as much are Chelsea Wolfe, Emma Ruth Rundle and PJ Harvey. All unique, doing it on their own terms. If you need any recommendations for those artists, let me know ;-)
I think, I’m remembering correctly, Tori labels God as the ice cream assassin. Like some think as God being all benevolence, but then there are these tragic deaths like her loss or through war and then there’s the philosophical paradox like “if God is good…why all this tragedy.” So he’s like an assassin (if it’s the master plan), but disguised as a loving figure (the ice cream) part. And it would make sense that the character in this song story (or Tori herself) would be angry at god after the tragedy.
I'm so glad you watched the music video for this one. It's my favorite of her videos. I wish she had done more with this type of vision and this caliber of direction.
to me, "icecream assassins" line read like "ppl who smile to your face but are ready to plunge a dagger in your back" like in the video's ending, and that theme is regularly appearing in T's music. You've already heard it at least once - nine inch nails and facist panties tucked in every nice gir's heart.
The backing vocals are singing "Between cotton balls and xylophones. I'm getting old." I imagine she means ABC...XYZ. She's middle aged, between C and X.
I love the visual metaphors in this video. The desolate landscape as her womb. Tori switching gender roles as the the lost sperm breaking into the womb. Her unborn child 'Skeeter'. The chilling disconnect and abandonment at the end when the eggs reject tori spern character. The grim reaper/God dude. Brilliant!
@SaeedReacts. Asortafairytale official music video please! Another great song with an unforgettable video. The opening track to Scarlet's Walk with Gold Dust as the closer. As you know. Thanks!
If you were ever wondering if Tori had a Number one hit - she did back in 1994 with Cornflake Girl ua-cam.com/video/QKZqcAP5d8Q/v-deo.htmlsi=CDFWY9-FTdwBMT6K
Man, it's funny how music associations work in my brain. Absolutely no match of content but there is a pause in Spark after one of the verses that had my brain then go into a melody and chord progression from some song that I just had to figure out what it was. Took me a few minutes but I got it! 😅 It's Delta Goodrem's song "Not Me, Not I". You should add it to your massive list, a great song.
You're pretty much on point with your interpretation, the Ice Cream Assassin was, I believe, a literary reference, but I can't find it. In interviews I've found, Tori simply says it refers to God, but in my mind I remember her citing a literary source. Apparently, more recently, the phrase has taken on a different meaning, it refers to the sticker shock of paying way too much for ice cream in a convenience store, but the craving won't be denied. I'm pretty sure that's not what Tori's singing about.
Tori had been quoted saying "the Dark Prince wears a white cashmere sweater, rides in an ice cream car and is a woman." So I think the ice cream assassin was a reference to the devil.
There are some songs in Tori's catalogue that are mostly, unrepentantly, and quite proudly, utter gibberish. For an example of this, check out Space Dog from Under the Pink, or Ode To the Banana King(Pt. One).
@@WungoliothI feel like it's less gibberish & more the way she hides identities & events behind interpretive allocations. Mrs. Crocodile, imo, is Courtney Love.
I’ll keep it simple I would not be living and breathing without this song. As a struggling gay teen in 98 I was 14 this song saved my life
Glad you are still here 🫂❤️
Tori got me through my teenage years as well! Glad you're still here with us! ❤❤❤
Lol damn me too
One of her very best songs, and this is great and astute reaction. "You say you don't want it, the circus we're in, but you don't really mean it." Uffff, gets me every time.
Incredible song!
Thanks for watching.
Love your Tori reactions! Enjoying your Tori journey! She’s an incredible talent! Keep ‘em’ coming!
Thanks so much for joining me on this journey.
My dude--I LOVE that you have dedicated so much time to Tori Amos. She has been my favorite musician since 1996. I have seen her in concert many times and have been just so inspired by her talent. It is always so exciting to watch new people get familiar with her, especially watching some of these older music videos and performances! I remember being a little 20 year old stoner punk in 1998 and fell in love with the Spark video and the subsequent tour! Such sweet memories. AND it's really refreshing to see straight men get familiar with Tori on UA-cam; she has a little bit of something for everyone.
Incredible artist! Thanks for taking the time to share some of your experience! Always love to hear about that!
Love it! There's a musical rhythmic disruption that Tori Amos does here: she uses 3/4 time as the basis of the song, which is the classic "lullaby" tempo, and throws off the rhythm by occasionally adding an extra beat. The rhythm gets thrown off and we're essentially denied the lullaby that was promised, because the miscarried child never arrives. It's such a poignant, subtle, but effective technique that she pulls here and in a few other songs. "Carbon" immediately comes to mind as another example-- the rhythmic change reflects disintegrating mental health (or a dysfunctional relationship with mother earth). Be well and thank you as always!
Carbon is magnificent. Cloud on my Tongue is another one that comes to mind with the circles and circles and circles again.
Thanks so much for sharing some of your thoughts and insights. Very much appreciated. Thats beautiful!
Love the Tori reactions! This is the first song off the album that got me hooked on Tori “From the Choirgirl Hotel,” the whole album is brilliant! Keep them coming!
Great song. Thanks for watching!
3:16 Yep, Tori's really good at the triple, quadruple meaning with words/lines/songs. Spark is one of my favorite songs of her, and one of her best videos. Great reaction!
Incredible song! Beautiful writing. Thanks so much for watching.
I love Tori. Great reaction again. Thanks ❤
Thanks for watching!
saeed thank you so much for accepting my request - great reaction
Amazing song! Thanks so much for watching!
This has always been my favorite from Tori. In concert, she is mesmerizing.
This is the song and album that got me into Tori’s music. She’s definitely one of the most unique artists out there. Tori wrote this song after experiencing her miscarriage. Also, like you said, the line “6:58 are you sure where my spark is?” is a reference to the US PSA: “Its 10pm, do you know where your child is?”. From what I’ve read, 6:58 is a reference to the time she realized she was losing her baby.
Q: One last question. Who is the ice cream assassin?
Tori: Who do you think that is?
Q: I have no idea
Tori: Well, people have been praying to him for a very long time and more wars have been fought in his name. The big guy. Think about it.
[Rolling Stone Online - August 8, 1998]
Thanks for sharing that! Hadnt heard that term before.
Fun fact. the carving on the tree she touches reads Skeeter. it was the joke name she gave to the child she miscarried.
Oh wow. Heavy stuff.
I have days when I just listen to Tori all day. Here's some suggestions for you that are some of my faves - "Baker Baker" NBC Today '94 (with short interview beforehand), "Icicle" MTV 120 Mins special '94, "Caught a Lite Sneeze" live in the studio whilst recording "Boys from Pele" 1996 (Just her vocals & beating out a beat on her piano - intense!!), "Sugar" Hard Rock live '99, "Bliss" Hard Rock live '99, "Take to the Sky (Russia)" from the Strange Little Webcast 2001. Loads more, of course ;-)
Thanks for the recommendations! Definitely want to check out many more. I recorded another reaction, but havent uploaded it yet.
@@SaeedReacts. You can't go wrong with most of her discography. Other female artists that I love just as much are Chelsea Wolfe, Emma Ruth Rundle and PJ Harvey. All unique, doing it on their own terms. If you need any recommendations for those artists, let me know ;-)
Spark - the spark of life
Beautiful!
I think, I’m remembering correctly, Tori labels God as the ice cream assassin. Like some think as God being all benevolence, but then there are these tragic deaths like her loss or through war and then there’s the philosophical paradox like “if God is good…why all this tragedy.” So he’s like an assassin (if it’s the master plan), but disguised as a loving figure (the ice cream) part. And it would make sense that the character in this song story (or Tori herself) would be angry at god after the tragedy.
Thanks for shedding some light on that.
I'm so glad you watched the music video for this one. It's my favorite of her videos. I wish she had done more with this type of vision and this caliber of direction.
Great song and video! Very powerful. Thanks for watching.
I had forgotten how much I love this song! ❤😭
Another great song. Very heavy though.
@@SaeedReacts. yeah, a lot of her songs are! ❤️
Gotta do Playboy Mommy from this album
Seconded 1000%
to me, "icecream assassins" line read like "ppl who smile to your face but are ready to plunge a dagger in your back" like in the video's ending, and that theme is regularly appearing in T's music. You've already heard it at least once - nine inch nails and facist panties tucked in every nice gir's heart.
Thanks for sharing that!
@@SaeedReacts. that;s half of Tori music appeal. Her lyrics are like a puzzle and sometimes you keen a "decryption key".
I freakin' LOVE this song!! 😊 Yay!!
Amazing song.
Love this one, brings back a lot of memories ❤
The backing vocals are singing "Between cotton balls and xylophones. I'm getting old." I imagine she means ABC...XYZ. She's middle aged, between C and X.
I love the visual metaphors in this video. The desolate landscape as her womb. Tori switching gender roles as the the lost sperm breaking into the womb. Her unborn child 'Skeeter'. The chilling disconnect and abandonment at the end when the eggs reject tori spern character. The grim reaper/God dude. Brilliant!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! Gained some new insights on the song.
@SaeedReacts. Asortafairytale official music video please! Another great song with an unforgettable video. The opening track to Scarlet's Walk with Gold Dust as the closer. As you know. Thanks!
She had several misc.,one six months in.
Didnt know that 😞
❤
❤️
If you were ever wondering if Tori had a Number one hit - she did back in 1994 with Cornflake Girl
ua-cam.com/video/QKZqcAP5d8Q/v-deo.htmlsi=CDFWY9-FTdwBMT6K
Thanks for sharing that. Definitely want to check that one out.
Man, it's funny how music associations work in my brain. Absolutely no match of content but there is a pause in Spark after one of the verses that had my brain then go into a melody and chord progression from some song that I just had to figure out what it was. Took me a few minutes but I got it! 😅 It's Delta Goodrem's song "Not Me, Not I". You should add it to your massive list, a great song.
I have that too sometimes, my brain makes these connections i didnt ask for, but im here for it 😃
Will add it!
You're pretty much on point with your interpretation, the Ice Cream Assassin was, I believe, a literary reference, but I can't find it. In interviews I've found, Tori simply says it refers to God, but in my mind I remember her citing a literary source. Apparently, more recently, the phrase has taken on a different meaning, it refers to the sticker shock of paying way too much for ice cream in a convenience store, but the craving won't be denied. I'm pretty sure that's not what Tori's singing about.
Thanks for shedding some light on that. Had not heard that term before.
Inflation is the new flavor and i cant even afford the sprinkles on top 😅
Tori had been quoted saying "the Dark Prince wears a white cashmere sweater, rides in an ice cream car and is a woman." So I think the ice cream assassin was a reference to the devil.
There are some songs in Tori's catalogue that are mostly, unrepentantly, and quite proudly, utter gibberish. For an example of this, check out Space Dog from Under the Pink, or Ode To the Banana King(Pt. One).
@@WungoliothI feel like it's less gibberish & more the way she hides identities & events behind interpretive allocations. Mrs. Crocodile, imo, is Courtney Love.
You should do “Ruby through the looking glass” - another miscarriage song. So tragically beautiful
Will add it to my list. Thanks for the recommendation.
🏳️🌈