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Pele is better... there is not a bad song and all the Bsides are incredible... that does not diminish Earthquakes... just my opinion but we are all fans
@@davidkoblentz Agreed. It is going to be subjective. For me Little Earthquakes just had such a huge impact as it came out when I was 20...a metalhead and it was unlike anything I had heard so has a nostalgic impact for me personally :)
As others have said, this version is different than the original album version. In the original, the background vocals weren’t as forward in the mix as they are here. Also, another huge difference is in the use of reverb and delays. This version uses very little reverb and delay making it sound quite focused. The original version used quite a bit of reverb making it sound very spacious. As always, great reaction!
I've always wanted to know how she does her vocal style. I've heard from experts it's actually deceptively complicated and she's highly skilled. Can't wait to hear Beth's take on it!
What a great musician she is, i really recommend her live at Montreux 91, the modulation she does with her voice, the intensity/honesty she puts in the interpretation, goosebumps everytime i watch it
This album is a powerhouse. Tear in Your Hand is my favorite track from Little Earthquakes. It kicks me in the gut like her later song Putting the Damage On from Boys for Pele.
Genius level lyrics from Tori- a tear in a hand could either be a crucifixion scar/stigmata, or a tear that someone cried being caught in their hand, or a tear-drop shaped object like a guitar pick.
I''ve never thought of the volume of those high harmonies in the chorus as an imperfection. They've always sounded a touch sharp and jagged to me and I've always assumed that was done intentionally and then they were pushed higher in the mix to create a feeling of unease after the first couple of verses lull you in.
Muhammed my Friend w/Maynard from Tool live....have seen Tori at least 4 times....she's amazing live and it doesn't matter the size of venue, she makes it seem so personal and intimate...truly gifted.
Back in the 90s, when video stores still existed, I came across the video for Little Earthquakes. Knew nothing about her but rented it and took it home and was blown away. China, Winter, Silent All These Years, are just amazing tunes. I still have Little Earthquakes in my CD collection and listen to it. She was kind of a triple threat, a great musician, a very intelligent song writer, and she was gorgeous back then. All too often, it's only the latter that matters of course, but if you have the first two well covered, it certainly doesn't hurt to have the last. It's definitely true that the mixes were quite humanly imperfect, which is a very good thing. Some of those tunes were quite layered and complex, and might have been pushing things a little bit for the tape era. I'm not sure where it was recorded and under what conditions though. It was early in her career, so maybe the budget wasn't as large as it might have been later.
Nothing imperfect about that mix choice with the doubling/tripling of her voice on "crucify myself". That was most definitely a choice in the mix process. Great track! Great artist.
Rick Beato did a really wonderful video on Little Earthquakes a while ago. It's great to hear his insights on it on top of the heaps of appreciation and admiration for Tori Amos!
Thank you for this! My wife and I love her work very much. I still think her rendition of Enjoy the Silence is so heart touching and just hits better than the original.
Thanks for the reaction! The main reason the backing vocals/mixing jars a little is that this is the cut down single edit and is about 90sec shorter than the original track. The edits are especially noticable at the point you note the backing vocals and also in the bridge-ish section coinciding with where she goes into the water, which is abbreviated in a way which sadly curtails the loveliness of that part. Still a great song, but the album version makes more sense without the additional edits.
To me this version is perfect, the video combined with the song, provides an unforgettable experience. And this is how I was introduced to this song when it came out in the early 90's, when it premiered on MTV, I have it recorded on old VHS tape! It's fantastic!!!!!!!!
yes! my first encounter with Tori! great song and video! love her voice in the Scarlet's walk album! there's even more texture in it when she sings softly! and the mood is just so... hard to explain! you know, that nostalgic, fall, rainy, gray and colored sky, mellow feeling! the piano is just perfection all the time! saw her live and it was quite a show! thanks for revisiting this now classic song!
I was in high school when this song, and album, came out. I remember the first time I heard “Crucify” and despite being so completely different sound wise from what I listen to, I’m a diehard metalhead, it spoke to me and I went a bought the album, which is fantastic in its entirety. Then I found out she was a redhead and I was absolutely in love. Her and Maynard James Keenan are very good friends and she does and amazing duet with him of her song “Mohammed, My Friend”
This was my first tape that I ever bought, when it first came out. I still get chills every single time I listen to the album. The record version of this song is better than the commercial / radio version they used in the video.
This song takes me way back, and it might’ve possibly been her debut single. Tori’s songwriting then was quite different from her much later releases. And for myself, there is still something very striking to me about her early work. She emerged with a style that was so uniquely her own. And on a related note, “Anxiety Society” is another great song title.
Tori has been my favorite musician since 1995, and I didn't know Crucify was originally a poem and that it had been banned in some places. Thanks for the knowledge!
Damn it we were spoilt in the 90s with songs like this in the top 40 you don't hear this sort of musical sophisitication in pop music much, that playful / dark feel is a very 90s thing too I think Nirvana had a lot to do with making things go that direction with their balance full of humour, sarcasm and dark subject matter
Hi Beth! Tori's music has been a big part of my life. I loved all her 90s albums. Thanks for this review. Would love to see Jacob Collier in the future 😊
I just love her so much. I remember giving her a picture of her as a fairy I photoshopped together back in 1995 after a concert and she kissed my cheek. I have been to her concerts countless times and she is always amazing.
I think it was a conscious decision to mix those vocal harmonies like that, because they're so jarring. Much like the idea of being crucified, much less a self inflicted crucifixion. But you're not wrong about the "imperfection" of music 30 years ago and before. There was an organic feeling to it that is missing from today's tightly quantized productions. That and people were willing to experiment with unconventional things to drive a creative vision. The majority of contemporary productions are so timid in their harmonic and rhythmic structures, because they're more concerned about profitability than artistry. That's one thing I adore about Tori is that she never compromises her artistic vision for an easy payday.
Her father was a Methodist preacher and she's described his style of the faith as very severe and authoritarian so I think the not uncommon religious references in her songs aren't coincidence.
Try her live set from Berlin 4/9/94 . She's much better without all the bells and whistles added by studio overproduction. It was recorded less than a week after Kurt Cobain died . She opened with American Pie > Smells Like Teen Spirit. Very emotional
You're absolutely right about liking the imperfections - the very clean production takes something out, it sounds less human. It happens with some of the "remastered" versions of songs - they cleared so much, removed every breath and fals note, that they don't sound real anymore.
If there's something I'd really want to see you react to it would be Idles - The beachland ballroom from their "From the basement" set. Such an amazing piece of soul-punk-fusion and with a vocal delivery to die for, although with quite obvious dangerous technique.
I think because it was written as a poem first, it might be in reference to Oscar Wilde. “ We are our own worst enemy.”Meaning we crucify ourselves before others would.
Hello Beth, I am an admirer of your work. I like your analyses, congratulations! I would like to suggest that you do an analysis of any of Jonathan Bree's songs, for me this guy is a musical genius of recent years.
You gotta check out that Tori Amos - Talula (The Tornado Mix) (Official Music Video) ..yeah the TWISTER soundtrack is awesome. Extremely talented artist..kinda like..almost Kate Bush level haha
I go through phases where I can’t listen to music that is too perfect. I need music where the timing is loose but in the groove and you hear the guitar strings on occasion.
Imperfections in music are so important especially now in days. With the whole sterilization of music with the rise in popularity of pro-tools, autotune, and other such sofware made music from 2000-2015 very disconnecting. I liked hearing a singer breathe, hearing a guitar player or bass player moving up and down the neck of thier instruments. Its a lot like the crackling you hear on vinyl. Im a big Tori Amos fan. Her music is very dark at times and she is an amazing musician. She even covered Slayers Raining Blood. Do an analysis of Precious Things, that is her best song in my opinion.
That whole album and the next one were meant as a religious poke. The misogyny of religion and fighting back against it was a theme that ran through her first two albums.
Excellent news! Ms Amos just released her cover of the Kendrick Lamar track 'Swimming Pools (Drank)' and IT. IS. SUBLIME. Please have a listen to it and let us know what you think?
It's interesting, I've never seen the video before and I found it quite jarring compared to the song. The lyrics are quite dark, and the rhythm part always sounded more pointed rather than "bouncy" to me. I think this has to do with the re-mixing of this song. Also the story behind the song is, well quite unique to Tori.😊
the background vocals almost have a kids-choir quality to it. as if symbolising being kept small by society. tell me if I'm projecting or on to something
The religious imagery is absolutely intentional. She’s the daughter of a Methodist preacher, and she broke with the church because she found their teachings repressive towards women.
The religious fervor over this song was absurd, historically speaking, Jesus was not the only person who got crucified. There is a veiled reference to Jesus, a cat named Easter, and throughout her career she's generally given Jesus a positive spin, he tends to give advice or warnings in her songs, but they aren't always terribly comforting.
I don’t care for this version because some of the best parts of the song are edited out, and I can HEAR where they cut it up. Pisses me off every time I hear it. She’s got so many wonderful songs that were not radio friendly. They should have left this song alone. The single version destroyed the integrity of the song. If I meet any of the people that thought this was a good idea, I will slap them each while the crowd watches. Maybe I could be an opening act for Tori.
Tell us you know nothing about music without telling us you know nothing about music. I am a huge Kate Bush fan, and I can assure you that she and Tori are not remotely the same. Next you'll be saying that PJ Harvey is in the shadow of Tori Amos.
I was in high school when this song, and album, came out. I remember the first time I heard “Crucify” and despite being so completely different sound wise from what I listen to, I’m a diehard metalhead, it spoke to me and I went a bought the album, which is fantastic in its entirety. Then I found out she was a redhead and I was absolutely in love. Her and Maynard James Keenan are very good friends and she does and amazing duet with him of her song “Mohammed, My Friend”
📖 Get your signed copy of my album Fable here: www.bethroars.com/shop
☀ Find me on Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/1W0He1MTuQoG0Yt2ccmhyL?si=b5qm82DmSRip8L4abe2-nw
🥁 Become a Patreon Supporter: www.patreon.com/bethroars
Little Earthquakes is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. And it's a debut album!
Little Earthquakes was a brilliant debut album. Best thing she ever did.
Every song s-tier
Choirgirl is far better.
Pele is better... there is not a bad song and all the Bsides are incredible... that does not diminish Earthquakes... just my opinion but we are all fans
@@davidkoblentz CHOIRGIRL IS BETTER. PERIODT
@@davidkoblentz Agreed. It is going to be subjective. For me Little Earthquakes just had such a huge impact as it came out when I was 20...a metalhead and it was unlike anything I had heard so has a nostalgic impact for me personally :)
As others have said, this version is different than the original album version. In the original, the background vocals weren’t as forward in the mix as they are here. Also, another huge difference is in the use of reverb and delays. This version uses very little reverb and delay making it sound quite focused. The original version used quite a bit of reverb making it sound very spacious. As always, great reaction!
I've always wanted to know how she does her vocal style. I've heard from experts it's actually deceptively complicated and she's highly skilled. Can't wait to hear Beth's take on it!
This entire album is brilliant.....so many deeply personal songs. "Me and a Gun" hit especially hard when I first heard it, & still does today.
What a great musician she is, i really recommend her live at Montreux 91, the modulation she does with her voice, the intensity/honesty she puts in the interpretation, goosebumps everytime i watch it
This album is a powerhouse. Tear in Your Hand is my favorite track from Little Earthquakes. It kicks me in the gut like her later song Putting the Damage On from Boys for Pele.
Genius level lyrics from Tori- a tear in a hand could either be a crucifixion scar/stigmata, or a tear that someone cried being caught in their hand, or a tear-drop shaped object like a guitar pick.
Tori is great, such depth. I've always found Cooling one of those performances that creates shivers.
I ADORE Tori, I'm so glad you're doing it!
I''ve never thought of the volume of those high harmonies in the chorus as an imperfection. They've always sounded a touch sharp and jagged to me and I've always assumed that was done intentionally and then they were pushed higher in the mix to create a feeling of unease after the first couple of verses lull you in.
it's boring the way modern production is scared of dynamics, it's used really well on all of this album
Such a great song. Love the contrast between the presentation and the content. A master.
Thanks for doing another Tori song. I loved your analysis of Winter (live from Montreux). I look forward to the next Tori analysis! :)
Thanks so much Richard
Tori is such a rock star 🤘
That whole Little Earthquakes album is phenomenal
Muhammed my Friend w/Maynard from Tool live....have seen Tori at least 4 times....she's amazing live and it doesn't matter the size of venue, she makes it seem so personal and intimate...truly gifted.
Looking forward to this. Tori is amazing.
Back in the 90s, when video stores still existed, I came across the video for Little Earthquakes. Knew nothing about her but rented it and took it home and was blown away. China, Winter, Silent All These Years, are just amazing tunes. I still have Little Earthquakes in my CD collection and listen to it.
She was kind of a triple threat, a great musician, a very intelligent song writer, and she was gorgeous back then. All too often, it's only the latter that matters of course, but if you have the first two well covered, it certainly doesn't hurt to have the last.
It's definitely true that the mixes were quite humanly imperfect, which is a very good thing. Some of those tunes were quite layered and complex, and might have been pushing things a little bit for the tape era. I'm not sure where it was recorded and under what conditions though. It was early in her career, so maybe the budget wasn't as large as it might have been later.
Nothing imperfect about that mix choice with the doubling/tripling of her voice on "crucify myself". That was most definitely a choice in the mix process. Great track! Great artist.
Little Earthquakes, in my opinion is the greatest album ever.
It's one of my favs too.
Second greatest is Under the Pink, Yes. Anastasia is one song I muse upon frequently
I'm a metalhead and I think it's a perfect album.
Rick Beato did a really wonderful video on Little Earthquakes a while ago. It's great to hear his insights on it on top of the heaps of appreciation and admiration for Tori Amos!
Tori was one of a kind! Not sure why is not seen/heard nowadays.
Is this sarcasm? She's still out there doing what musicians do (albums and touring), not hard to find.
she never stopped she's released loads of albums in every decade since
Are you for real? Tori has been winning accolades & performing music & sell out shows for a long time!
Thank you for this! My wife and I love her work very much. I still think her rendition of Enjoy the Silence is so heart touching and just hits better than the original.
I saw Ms Amos perform in Melbourne, Australia back in 1995. Simply amazing. I fell in love that night.
Thanks for the reaction! The main reason the backing vocals/mixing jars a little is that this is the cut down single edit and is about 90sec shorter than the original track. The edits are especially noticable at the point you note the backing vocals and also in the bridge-ish section coinciding with where she goes into the water, which is abbreviated in a way which sadly curtails the loveliness of that part. Still a great song, but the album version makes more sense without the additional edits.
To me this version is perfect, the video combined with the song, provides an unforgettable experience. And this is how I was introduced to this song when it came out in the early 90's, when it premiered on MTV, I have it recorded on old VHS tape! It's fantastic!!!!!!!!
My sister's boyfriend took us to Red Rocks this past July to see her. It was FANTABULOUS
Oh wow. I’ve seen her several times. At Red Rocks must have been phenomenal. I live in KS but seeing a concert there some time is on my bucket list.
yes! my first encounter with Tori! great song and video! love her voice in the Scarlet's walk album! there's even more texture in it when she sings softly! and the mood is just so... hard to explain! you know, that nostalgic, fall, rainy, gray and colored sky, mellow feeling! the piano is just perfection all the time! saw her live and it was quite a show! thanks for revisiting this now classic song!
I was in high school when this song, and album, came out. I remember the first time I heard “Crucify” and despite being so completely different sound wise from what I listen to, I’m a diehard metalhead, it spoke to me and I went a bought the album, which is fantastic in its entirety. Then I found out she was a redhead and I was absolutely in love.
Her and Maynard James Keenan are very good friends and she does and amazing duet with him of her song “Mohammed, My Friend”
I completely agree, I love Maynard & Tori's duet "Mohammed, My Friend" too.
This was my first tape that I ever bought, when it first came out. I still get chills every single time I listen to the album. The record version of this song is better than the commercial / radio version they used in the video.
The song is an old favorite of mine, back in a time that I didn’t see music videos. MTV didn’t have what I wanted, and UA-cam wasn’t around yet.
I’ve been a fan since I was kid.
Tori saves lives.
❤️🩹✨
me taking notes for my music exam: "...Piano is a percussion instrument that goes: boop. Got it..."
This song takes me way back, and it might’ve possibly been her debut single. Tori’s songwriting then was quite different from her much later releases. And for myself, there is still something very striking to me about her early work. She emerged with a style that was so uniquely her own. And on a related note, “Anxiety Society” is another great song title.
I love this song. 😍❤
Tori Amos is an unbelievably, natural talent. Lost touch after her To Venus and Back album...where Cooling made me cry and just moved on. Darn.
Tori has been my favorite musician since 1995, and I didn't know Crucify was originally a poem and that it had been banned in some places. Thanks for the knowledge!
Tori is fantastic, really want to see her live one of these days.
Then you should hurry up. Her voice is just a fraction of what it used to be. Het piano playing is even more beautiful though.
I adore Tori ❤❤❤❤
Damn it we were spoilt in the 90s with songs like this in the top 40 you don't hear this sort of musical sophisitication in pop music much, that playful / dark feel is a very 90s thing too I think Nirvana had a lot to do with making things go that direction with their balance full of humour, sarcasm and dark subject matter
Hi Beth! Tori's music has been a big part of my life. I loved all her 90s albums. Thanks for this review.
Would love to see Jacob Collier in the future 😊
Thanks so much Kamila! I love Jacob. I'll definitely take a look!
Beth, it's within imperfections humanity shines.
I just love her so much. I remember giving her a picture of her as a fairy I photoshopped together back in 1995 after a concert and she kissed my cheek.
I have been to her concerts countless times and she is always amazing.
I think it was a conscious decision to mix those vocal harmonies like that, because they're so jarring. Much like the idea of being crucified, much less a self inflicted crucifixion.
But you're not wrong about the "imperfection" of music 30 years ago and before. There was an organic feeling to it that is missing from today's tightly quantized productions. That and people were willing to experiment with unconventional things to drive a creative vision. The majority of contemporary productions are so timid in their harmonic and rhythmic structures, because they're more concerned about profitability than artistry.
That's one thing I adore about Tori is that she never compromises her artistic vision for an easy payday.
Her father was a Methodist preacher and she's described his style of the faith as very severe and authoritarian so I think the not uncommon religious references in her songs aren't coincidence.
Try her live set from Berlin 4/9/94 . She's much better without all the bells and whistles added by studio overproduction. It was recorded less than a week after Kurt Cobain died . She opened with American Pie > Smells Like Teen Spirit. Very emotional
You're absolutely right about liking the imperfections - the very clean production takes something out, it sounds less human. It happens with some of the "remastered" versions of songs - they cleared so much, removed every breath and fals note, that they don't sound real anymore.
I wish the video was the full version so reactors would know to react to the full version LOL
Two gorgeous redheads in one video... won't be easy to top this one miss Beth
My FIRST thought..lol
TORI!!!
Simply Tori.
If there's something I'd really want to see you react to it would be Idles - The beachland ballroom from their "From the basement" set. Such an amazing piece of soul-punk-fusion and with a vocal delivery to die for, although with quite obvious dangerous technique.
I just posted a YT short of this album yesterday. Great song and reaction
I think because it was written as a poem first, it might be in reference to Oscar Wilde. “ We are our own worst enemy.”Meaning we crucify ourselves before others would.
👍👍👍👍 extraordinariamente bella me encanta su voz su porte 🎉🎉🎉🎉 crece mi gusto por las pelirrojas bien Beth 👏👏🍀🍀
Beth is an equally stunning red haired beauty!
Hello Beth, I am an admirer of your work. I like your analyses, congratulations! I would like to suggest that you do an analysis of any of Jonathan Bree's songs, for me this guy is a musical genius of recent years.
You gotta check out that Tori Amos - Talula (The Tornado Mix) (Official Music Video) ..yeah the TWISTER soundtrack is awesome. Extremely talented artist..kinda like..almost Kate Bush level haha
I go through phases where I can’t listen to music that is too perfect. I need music where the timing is loose but in the groove and you hear the guitar strings on occasion.
I love imperfection in music, we are humans not metronomes. It definitely adds chacter as sompared to say, AI for instance.
Her voice
This must be a new remix or something with those harmonizing vocals. They weren't that pronounced originally.
If you want some anxiety from Tori Amos, listen to “Siren” that song gives you anxiety through the delivery Tori nails
Imperfections in music are so important especially now in days. With the whole sterilization of music with the rise in popularity of pro-tools, autotune, and other such sofware made music from 2000-2015 very disconnecting. I liked hearing a singer breathe, hearing a guitar player or bass player moving up and down the neck of thier instruments. Its a lot like the crackling you hear on vinyl.
Im a big Tori Amos fan. Her music is very dark at times and she is an amazing musician. She even covered Slayers Raining Blood. Do an analysis of Precious Things, that is her best song in my opinion.
The album version is much more perfection & sounds so much better
The live version is so much better : D
That whole album and the next one were meant as a religious poke. The misogyny of religion and fighting back against it was a theme that ran through her first two albums.
Excellent news! Ms Amos just released her cover of the Kendrick Lamar track 'Swimming Pools (Drank)' and IT. IS. SUBLIME. Please have a listen to it and let us know what you think?
Merci !😍
Thanks so much!!
Never really heard this version, I've only heard the album version. It's weird hearing the edits
It definitely uses religious references. "Just what god needs, one more victim".
It's interesting, I've never seen the video before and I found it quite jarring compared to the song. The lyrics are quite dark, and the rhythm part always sounded more pointed rather than "bouncy" to me. I think this has to do with the re-mixing of this song. Also the story behind the song is, well quite unique to Tori.😊
Prova a sentire
Amii Steward Friends
E se ti piace un genere tipo Tori
Survivor di Mike Francis
Ma con più energia
This is the album version which kinda plods along. The Single version is much smoother.
You got it backward. This is the single.
@@sidhedanu Nope, this is the single version.
ua-cam.com/video/tgzQi88YQ-s/v-deo.htmlsi=DFM_MB_9vZu5OC9H
Menina como você é bonita. Wow, esses olhos verdes nesse cabelo ruivo faz a gente se apaixonar. E que voz maravilhosa você tem.
I love you.
Tori, and LE got me through a divorce. Of course it was while being a bottle for a year, but she and this album were there.
Biblical religious overtones? Oh yeah. Intentional? Oh yeah. Her father was a Lutheran minister.
I do not care for the back up vocals on this track. For me, the best version is on the EP
the background vocals almost have a kids-choir quality to it.
as if symbolising being kept small by society.
tell me if I'm projecting or on to something
The religious imagery is absolutely intentional. She’s the daughter of a Methodist preacher, and she broke with the church because she found their teachings repressive towards women.
This must be the single version. Different from the album. Music these days is edited and mixed to death because digital allows that. No life to it.
The religious fervor over this song was absurd, historically speaking, Jesus was not the only person who got crucified. There is a veiled reference to Jesus, a cat named Easter, and throughout her career she's generally given Jesus a positive spin, he tends to give advice or warnings in her songs, but they aren't always terribly comforting.
I don’t care for this version because some of the best parts of the song are edited out, and I can HEAR where they cut it up. Pisses me off every time I hear it. She’s got so many wonderful songs that were not radio friendly. They should have left this song alone. The single version destroyed the integrity of the song. If I meet any of the people that thought this was a good idea, I will slap them each while the crowd watches. Maybe I could be an opening act for Tori.
Tori Amos is ok, but really she just lives in Kate Bush's shadow. She tries so hard to be Kate but she isnt't!!!!!!!
I don't think she is trying to be anyone other than herself
You clearly don't know nothing about Tori and her music, then...
Tell us you know nothing about music without telling us you know nothing about music. I am a huge Kate Bush fan, and I can assure you that she and Tori are not remotely the same. Next you'll be saying that PJ Harvey is in the shadow of Tori Amos.
I have my opinion, you all have yours! Whenever I hear Tori I just end up thinking Kate has already done this or would do it so much better.
@@MLawrence2008 You can live in your own delusional world, must be lonely at times though!
I was in high school when this song, and album, came out. I remember the first time I heard “Crucify” and despite being so completely different sound wise from what I listen to, I’m a diehard metalhead, it spoke to me and I went a bought the album, which is fantastic in its entirety. Then I found out she was a redhead and I was absolutely in love.
Her and Maynard James Keenan are very good friends and she does and amazing duet with him of her song “Mohammed, My Friend”