Boys for Pele, Scarlet's Walk, Night of Hunters and Native Invader are my favorites, all because they are brilliant in different ways. But more of her work is brilliant than not brilliant. You're four albums in. Are you sufficiently impressed? Do you agree with those of us who love her music that she is woefully underappreciated? No pressure to say yes. :)
@DavidMichaelCommer I am SO impressed by Tori's music! I'm shocked that I hadn't heard much about her before, but I hope that I can pull in a few new fans with my videos. :)
Somehow I had ignored Tori until this album. This album blew me away and made me seek out her previous work. How this whole album lost the Alternative Music Grammy that year to single Intergalactic by The Beastie Boys is a huge mystery.
Yay! Love, love, love this album. "Spark" is mostly written in irregularly alternating time signatures between 6/8 and 7/8. 6/8 (or 3/4) is often associated with lullabies. I read it as the lullaby for her lost child getting interrupted, musically, like it's tripping over itself. Ugh, it's such a brilliant mirror of what's happening in the lyrics. The piano work across her whole catalog is incredible, but I think "Northern Lad" has some of my favorite piano composition alongside "Cornflake Girl" and "Precious Things." Also, her B-side tracks from this era are among my favorite Tori Amos songs, especially "Cooling" and "Merman."
Amazing analysis and so very spot on. I highly, highly recommend P J Harvey’s “Is This Desire?”, which was released the same year. That would be such an interesting album to delve into, especially with the narratives and the plethora of characters and personas.
Spark is a masterpiece. I get choked up when I hear the song and I've got 20 years of listening to it. And its a perfect album opener, its blunt but not aggressive, emotional, and tells you "hey. sit down, or get up and rage, but we've got many things to talk about."
To Venus and Back is my favorite Tori Amos album. It came out a year after this. Half of the double album are live performances, but the 1st CD is full of some of Tori's coolest works. Sort of in this vein, soundwise.
ooooo. you're there. tori plugged. this album is a masterpiece from start to finish. has a permanent place on my top ten albums of all time. this tour was also the first time i saw her live. a whole other blessed animal. she was in a darker place here, but it let her go from room to room in this hotel and channel the stories of these "choirgirls". twenty three years and this never leaves my playlist. you should watch some of her live performances from this era. some are transcendent. this album and scarlet's walk are her two biggest jewels..for me. (if i'm not mistaken..and i could be..this was the first album she recorded at her own studio in cornwall). hope you're well eric.
This is her best album. Tori is actually very electronic rock minded. She said her husband didn't want to work so hard to produce the loops again, that she should do more direct recording; even though her next album To Venus and Back was great, especially with the advanced optimisation for small speakers it featured that they unfortunately never repeated, sadly she never continued this production style of From The Choirgirl Hotel because of that.
I always thought the garden line in Raspberry Swirl was a reference to Lilith, and not Eve. Lilith was banished from the garden of Eden for refusing to be subservient to Adam. Great album, and great reaction. I'm becoming a broken record here, but it astounds me how astute you are when it comes to lyrical interpretation, especially since you're hearing most of these songs for the first time. And Tori's lyrics are generally very obtuse.
“Some of you know that we like really good wine, so I wasn’t quite sure if the things I was seeing were from that or if they were really happening. It was a strange time, I had had a bad pregnancy and lost the baby and I started seeing this vision of a little boy everywhere I went. We knew it wasn’t a little boy so I really didn’t know who he was. I would close my eyes when he would appear and I would follow him. We had this 1959 convertible and he would stand in the back of the car with his arms wide and we would drive for hours and hours. I would sit there and I didn’t know where we were going but when we would get there nobody would be alive. I didn’t know what to do so we would leave the town and he would tell me to build a campfire. So I would build this thing and he would start dancing and he would say, “we failed today but we have to go to the next town tomorrow.” This happened over and over again and we were always too late and he would sing this thing in my head, “iieee, iieee." - Tori Amos
Yay, My fave Tori album alongside BFP. But honestly her first 7 (including 'Strange little girls) are all top notch. The latter half of her discography is a bit spotty but there are some great albums there as well, especially her most recent two releases.
By the way, part of her mythology comes from the single releases from her first few albums. Most had non-album tracks backing the promotional track and many of those ended up becoming part of her live repertoire. If you only do the albums you're missing out.
I love how much you mention the elements (as does Tori, of course). As a person who has studied astrology for years, I'm always thinking about the elements - and Tori's first 4 albums really represent each of the 4 elements. (I came to this conclusion when she said in an interview at the time that she wanted the Choirgirl album to sound like Water.) Little Earthquakes is clearly Earth - it's literal, it's actual stories, reads like a diary, you can hold it like Earth. Under The Pink is Air - it's abstract, you can't put it in a box, it's cerebral and intellectual. Pele is clearly Fire, with the volcano imagery and Tori releasing the Fire of her anger and passion (and since she is a Fire sign, appropriate that it's the first album she produced on her own). And Choirgirl is Water - it's dreamy, floaty, emotional. But it's also healing, the healing process of her miscarriages (I believe she'd had 2 when this album came out and would have a 3rd before finally giving birth in 2000) and her healing her friends who had been through abuse (some of those 3rd person references are actually about other people, you can find interviews where she mentions this, particularly Black-Dove and in a less traumatic way, Raspberry Swirl). Water can also be a deep love, and she married the husband she is still with today during the writing process of this album. You already mentioned how much Water imagery there is in Liquid Diamonds and Pandora's Aquarium. I'm sure she was conscious of this. And if this is indeed the case, then the studio half of her next album To Venus And Back is straight up outer space. Definitely check out when she did VH1 Storytellers around this time, she tells a lot of great back stories about some of these songs (I specifically remember iieee and Raspberry Swirl being on there). Great channel, keep up the great work!
Wow, I forgot how awesome this album was! I especially appreciate your Tori videos because as much as I love/respect her, the lyrics are so over my head I just have to ride the groove and get lost in her voice and the production, so to hear an intelligent interpretation of her lyrics is downright illuminating!
Just wanted to say that I'm loving your Tori videos ❤ Favorite albums: Little Earthquakes Under the Pink Boys for Pele From the Choirgirl Hotel To Venus and Back (both discs, the live tracks are amazing) Scarlet's Walk The Beekeeper American Doll Posse After ADP ⬆️ I liked, but didn't love, the albums that followed.
in her 2017 tour, T opened most shows with I i e e e and in 17 during the dark reign the lyrics of "we are dying and there's no sign of a parachute" took on the whole new meaning...
Spark is mostly in 6/8 with a few 7/8 measures that throw off the beat. There might be a 4/8 bar or 2 added in for an extended fill. The "How many fates..." part is 3 bars of 6/8 then one of 7/8 counted as [1-2-3][1-2-3-4]. She used this grouping of measures and time signatures in Snow Cherries From France as well.
FANTASTIC!!! This is my 2nd favorite album in her catalog. Number one being "Boys for Pele". Top 3 tracks off this album are; "Spark" "Jackie's Strength" and "Northern Lad"...and "Purple People" of course... :) all her bsides are such gems. If you haven't done a "B-Side" review you should :) i'd love to hear what you think.
Check out the Iive version of northern lad. It’s on you tube. Shows her in front of a piano. I think this is a rehearsal for a concert. It was a bonus dvd on tales of a librarian. I saw her in concert after choir girl was released. So good
My favourite is Under the Pink! Always and forever but it’s also the album I discovered her with back in 1994. Then Boys for Pele and From the Choirgirl Hotel often duke it out for 2nd place.
As an avid Tori fan, I absolutely love that you are doing this, I adore Choirgirl and think you will continue to be in for a treat. Her albums change over time and it is incredibly impressive how she continues to change as she grows. Some Tori people don't like the change you'll see around 2002-2005 distinctly, but I adore it, and well, Scarlet was my first Tori album, and I think you will enjoy it as well.
Hi Eric, I've been a die-hard Tori fan for 11 years now and just discovered your channel last week. Your analysis is spot on and very impressive. There is a change in her songwriting after Choirgirl Hotel, she begins using personas and concepts to distance herself a bit from her music. It has changed on her last two albums, which are considered as a return to form by many fans. If you don't want to go chronologically, you should check out Scarlet's Walk (now considered her mid-career masterpiece and very relevant because of everything that happened after 2016), Unrepentant Geraldines (some of her most beautiful solo piano tracks) and Native Invader (some rank it beside her 90s albums). There seems to be a reassessment of her importance and influence in music criticism since Unrepentant Geraldines. But I would also be interested in your opinion on what are considered her weaker albums between 2005 and 2009, as you are listening to them with fresh ears. Generally, I want to applaud your approach of using the tools of literary criticism for pop music lyrics. Taking pop serious as an art form is really important, as it is too often disregarded because it is made by women or people from marginalized groups. (Sorry for mistakes, not a native speaker)
The best way is to just keep going chronologically tbh. Although you must check out Cooling one of Toris best B tracks it was meant for Boys For Pele and didn't make it then Choirgirl and the same decision was made so the song became a b side but boy its one of her masterpieces. Love your reactions and deep dives. Keep going!
I have been patiently waiting for this and it was SO worth it! Thank you so much, these videos really make my day. And yes, please keep going in chronological order!
@@viviandarkbloom4339 I'm so happy to see someone who appreciates Night of Hunters. It was so overlooked. It took a long time for me to appreciate it as a masterwork, but it eventually revealed itself to be such an intricate tapestry. I think of Native Invader as Night of Hunters translated into a contemporary and more immediately personal album, and it's one of my favorites, as well.
@@spyrospal1 I always forget about GD; I think of it as just a compilation like Tales of a LIbrarian, and not a real album. It could have been awesome considering how she reworked songs like Cruel with the quartet for the NOH tour, alas ...
ERIC!!! You liked the album!! This is my favorite Tori album. Big favor, I really would love for you to react to three promotional videos/singles for this album. In order of release: Spark, Jackie’s Strength, Raspberry Swirl. All Toris videos are fun, but these three videos are cinematic masterpieces. Ohhh I’m SO happy you enjoyed this album. ♥️
So happy you covered this! I always go back and forth with this and BFP being my faves. I can’t wait until you review the next one, To Venus and Back. It’s such an underrated album, with some of Tori’s best writing.
I looked up the definition of " happy" " feel good " " ideal " "flawless " " fun " and " stunning it said you words cant describe how much i love you and your channel 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
This Tori journey you're going through is my favorite thing on UA-cam. Thank you! Choirgirl is such a stellar work. Tori engaging with a band and fuller production really amps up the intensity and depth that she was already serving in a way that continues to blow my mind. I imagine other Tori stans are getting just as emotional watching your journey as I am. Her work resonates so deeply within us and to see her "gospel" spreading to critical thinkers and truth seekers, such as yourself, is immensely fulfilling.
ive been searching for a reaction for from the choirgirl hotel and there is none except yours. i am so glad that u like the album because to me it was so underrated. for me this album is solid and intense and it need more appreciation among music lovers. i would love to see more ftch review and reaction in yiutube.
I was 20 when this album came out and was my first Tori album that I bought on release, it still sounds fresh and exciting and honestly think it’s some of the best vocals of her career, her upper register is just fantastic, please continue chronologically only because To Venus and Back is one of my favourites and that’s next 😀
Choirgirl is my top, followed closely by Little Earthquakes, Under The Pink, then To Venus and Back. So much of this album is musical, lyrical perfection - even if I may not know what Tori means by 'lollipop gestapo' - I can picture what I think it means. One of the thing I remember from watching Little Earthquakes is how she describes the how energy is passed from her to the audience and back in a cycle and I find that on Choirgirl this process does not feel like it stops. There's almost an overload from how it builds and increases. There's such vulnerability in the songs, and she unflinchingly shows her wounds and also lets you in on how she stitched herself up and kept going through the pain. My favorite track is Raspberry Swirl. It is so high energy and although it can be pared down to what we used to call it, "The lick it before you stick it song." The underlying message of neither expecting more of someone else if you're unwilling to give as much and the need for reciprocity in relationships in all facets, from the bedroom to all over the house. That's why it's crucial to have really open convos with your partner/lover/whoever about what you want in all aspects of life. It can make it so much easier.
I love that you listened to Purple People, too. :) It's one of my favorites of all time. Most of these songs are about her husband Mark (Northern Lad, Jackie's Strength) or her miscarriages. I believe there were 3. Cooling was another song written during this general time period after a miscarriage...another top 10 of all time for me.
Within the silent parts of your reactions, when you experience a shock of recognition (whether its a musical resolve or a lyrical, cultural reference), the smile that reaches your eyes is so warm & endearing. Can't wait for the next ("Venus") in line!
Another home run analysis! I love how you tie individual songs together to help me understand her full body of work. I know the general recommendation from the community is to continue chronologically. At this point, I recommend next to react to the b-sides from her first 4 albums. I feel like they have been overlooked and quite frankly some of her strongest songs come from her b-sides. Maybe we can treat the b-sides as some sort of a recap before moving on to Venus? I mean she even has a song titled “Song for Eric,” so it would be a disservice to skip the b-sides. There are many, so happy to propose a list that covers the key songs :)
Another amazing reaction & analysis Eric 🥰 so happy that you have been blessed to be able to react to this legendary & majorly underrated/under appreciated Artist 💗 💫
Eric!! Thanks for this reaction. I’ve been waiting rather impatiently for it! This album is a masterclass from Tori... though for even more sheer talent and outstanding beauty wait till you get to Night Of Hunters. Northern Lad is my favourite Tori song of all time, but when Northern Lad runs into Hotel and then plunges into Playboy Mommy, well I’m on a rollercoaster of pure colourful emotions every single time and with every single note and breath. My favourite Tori lines sit here, “girl you’ve got to know when it’s time to turn the page, when you’re only wet because of the rain!” This resonates so much with anyone who has become bored with their sexual relationship. Also when Tori swears on Northern Lad it is simply demanding attention. She doesn’t on her studio tracks, so this makes it even more powerful!!! Keep going chronologically with the albums, you’re in for more highs and maybe a few lows along the way. Love from Ireland 💙
I'm so happy to see younger folk discovering Tori for the first time. I remember finding her music in high school and later in college and just hungrily devouring the whole catalogue. 15 years later, still get shivers listening to her. Her best album for me is Scarlett, followed closely by Choirgirl.
Christmas In Space was actually a misprint on the single, it was supposed to be next to her version of Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas, and not Purple People
I could watch you react to music all day long. I love your reactions to Tori (my favorite artist) because you get it - it feels like the looks I had the first time I heard these albums. I love your animated facial expressions and your eyes. You have kind eyes. :)
I think every song on choir girl is top notch, maybe ‘’she’s your cocaine” is my least favorite but I still grin when singing it… Tori could fart a song and as far as I’m concerned it’s still a treasure. Choir girl is the album that I first really dived into, fell in love then went backwards and fell harder. Your analysis is beautifully in depth and on point. You interpreted some parts in ways I had not thought of, interesting. Thank you.
Ahhhh love this so much! One of my favorite albums if not my favorite by Tori! I just love how she talks about the songs as girls that live inside this hotel...”I saw the girls being like a singing group, because they're very independent, but they hang out together. They have their own solar systems, they have their own family trees, but I did see them having margaritas by the pool. Sometimes they let me sing with them”.... Can’t wait to to Venus and back 💙
I love your Tori reactions. So nice to hear someone else's perspective of her songs in depth. You definitely should check out her videos. I highly recommend watching the "Spark" video. It adds this dark ambience that captures the tragedy of Tori's miscarriage. Since you seem to react to videos in threes - my 3 first favorite videos by her are(will keep it limited to the albums you've reacted to): Caught a Lite Sneeze video (Boy Pele album), God (Under the Pink album), and of course, Spark (From the Choirgirl Hotel album). My favorite album by Tori is Boys for Pele, but Choirgirl is VERY close - sometimes I go back and forth. All of her albums run so deep. I love Tori- so introspective, and willing to be vulnerable lyrically.
Loved this review, thanks for making your videos! They are a nice re-visit to the songs that got me through young adulthood. To Venus & Back is a double record. You'll want to react and discuss lyrics to the studio songs on Disk 1, but should consider reacting to Disk 2 as well. Yes, you've heard them before, but they come to life on this recording. New verses & extended choruses, lots of surprises. If not the whole record, you could add Sugar and Cooling, two songs you've not reacted to yet as bonus tracks to Disk 1. Anyway, thanks again for sharing your thoughts on Tori. Have a terrific weekend!
You have some very interesting interpretation of some songs. Tori's lyrics are kinda cryptic all the time so there's no right or wrong take. Can't wait to hear your interpretation of "Suede" on Venus!
I was a young emotionally struggling piano playing songwriter girl when I got my introduction to Tori Amos - "Spark". Kinda perfect, right? Watching her go ham on the keys just like I loved to, even though it wasn't "the proper way of doing it". And such a deep, resonant song too. Had no idea what it was about at the time, but the feeling soaked out of it nonetheless. Very encouraging. Curious that I didn't check out much else of hers until a bunch of years later... but it was always in the back of my mind to until I eventually did, because of that song.
Oh! Since I know people will comment this on your To Venus And Back reaction, there is a song on it called Riot Poof that's been misspelled as "Riot Proof" on pretty much all streaming services. That one word changes the whole feel of the song!
Raspberry Swirl - “In a few of my relationships with my women friends, I play a certain role. I hope my dad’s not watching but I always told him, gays, lesbians, he just has to get used to it. What I said to Beenie, the love of my life, my husband understands this, that we’re married, we’re absolutely married and I adore her with all my heart and she’s dated some idiots and in another life I’ll absolutely kick your ass. And I’m going to kick it right now because this song is for her and I’m in love with her.” - Tori Amos
It amazes me how consolidated fans in the comments can lead/guide new people to dive into an amazing journey to certain fandom. You should also react to Tori’s b-sides and to a group of kids that sing Tori songs “PS22 Chorus”
Eric, I love your insights into Tori's music, and I was wondering, could you also do a review of Tori's best B-Sides? I really believe that Tori's B-Sides are some of her best music she's made and too many people miss out on these, and I don't want you to miss out! So, I made you a playlist of some of her best B-Sides, they are deep, and I would love a video of your insights! Thank you. ua-cam.com/play/PLfTlwPThZhOuMfVezCEncjK5zcChmNm_o.html
My favorite album. My favorite song is iieee. It came out at the same time I was going through a terribly painful breakup of an 11 year relationship and I caught him cheating. Somehow she knows how to write for those of us that don't have a voice. I had no family and my friends all chose him so I was alone. But I had this album and it was everything to me at the time. I still remember listening to it on repeat until I knew every syllable. Might be my #1 of all time.
I recommend checking out Tori's performance of Cruel live on Later... With Jools Holland in 1998 on your own time! The bass in that version almost feels lile metal and the bridge has some insane vocals from T!
I think this is her last truly MASTERPIECE. She made some “choices” in The next albums, but she still is a clever, intense, unique artist. She grow up, and her voice too, and we still love her and we’ll always do.
I respectfully disagree completely. :) Scarlet's Walk to me unquestionably is a masterpiece. It's just masterful in a far more understated way. The lyrical content and the way she weaves together multiple narratives is really ingenious. I also think that Night of Hunters and Native Invader are masterpieces, but I understand why Night of Hunters is overlooked by most people, and I understand that Native Invader hasn't received proper consideration because a lot of people go into it believing Tori's brilliant work is behind her. It's not, and I hope that there's a lot more to come. Her voice has lost some of its dynamic range and power and resonance over the years and I think that some people aren't willing to listen beyond that. It's too bad because her heart and her mind are as profound as ever.
@@DavidMichaelCommer plus sonically Venus picks up where this album leaves off. And BTW - check out The Beekeeper again if you haven't heard it recently. It's a strong mid career effort. I'm so into it at the moment.
You have one more masterwork to go and would be Scarlets Walk. She did lots of other interesting stuff, I like Night of Hunters a lot, but the 4 you have done plus Scarlets Walk represent her prime studio albums. Of course many of her live performances, B sides, and covers are also essential.
What's YOUR favorite Tori Amos album? :)
Boys for Pele, Scarlet's Walk, Night of Hunters and Native Invader are my favorites, all because they are brilliant in different ways. But more of her work is brilliant than not brilliant.
You're four albums in. Are you sufficiently impressed? Do you agree with those of us who love her music that she is woefully underappreciated? No pressure to say yes. :)
I can’t choose. But today, it’s Choirgirl.
Scarlet's Walk
The first 4. Scarlets walk and night of hunters. I’m so glad you’re reacting to all of them though
@DavidMichaelCommer I am SO impressed by Tori's music! I'm shocked that I hadn't heard much about her before, but I hope that I can pull in a few new fans with my videos. :)
Somehow I had ignored Tori until this album. This album blew me away and made me seek out her previous work. How this whole album lost the Alternative Music Grammy that year to single Intergalactic by The Beastie Boys is a huge mystery.
Choirgirl is definitely my favorite Tori Amos album.
Same here! Back in the 90s I listened exclusively to metal AND Tori Amos! xD
Yay! Love, love, love this album.
"Spark" is mostly written in irregularly alternating time signatures between 6/8 and 7/8. 6/8 (or 3/4) is often associated with lullabies. I read it as the lullaby for her lost child getting interrupted, musically, like it's tripping over itself. Ugh, it's such a brilliant mirror of what's happening in the lyrics.
The piano work across her whole catalog is incredible, but I think "Northern Lad" has some of my favorite piano composition alongside "Cornflake Girl" and "Precious Things." Also, her B-side tracks from this era are among my favorite Tori Amos songs, especially "Cooling" and "Merman."
🎶 Girls you know it’s time to turn the page when you’re only wet because of the rain 🎶 🤣 love this damn line 💗
💦💦
Which song are those lyrics from?
@@miguelinarodriguez6676 Northern Lad
Lol me too ♥️
Amazing analysis and so very spot on. I highly, highly recommend P J Harvey’s “Is This Desire?”, which was released the same year. That would be such an interesting album to delve into, especially with the narratives and the plethora of characters and personas.
Like choir girls older junkie sister 👌
One of my all-time favorite albums!
Spark is a masterpiece. I get choked up when I hear the song and I've got 20 years of listening to it. And its a perfect album opener, its blunt but not aggressive, emotional, and tells you "hey. sit down, or get up and rage, but we've got many things to talk about."
To Venus and Back is my favorite Tori Amos album. It came out a year after this. Half of the double album are live performances, but the 1st CD is full of some of Tori's coolest works. Sort of in this vein, soundwise.
TVAB is so underrated. I wouldn't call it my favorite, but I love how experimental and strange it is.
Venus is next - it’s important that you do both discs.
ooooo. you're there. tori plugged. this album is a masterpiece from start to finish. has a permanent place on my top ten albums of all time. this tour was also the first time i saw her live. a whole other blessed animal. she was in a darker place here, but it let her go from room to room in this hotel and channel the stories of these "choirgirls". twenty three years and this never leaves my playlist. you should watch some of her live performances from this era. some are transcendent. this album and scarlet's walk are her two biggest jewels..for me.
(if i'm not mistaken..and i could be..this was the first album she recorded at her own studio in cornwall).
hope you're well eric.
Thank you so so much for doing this, even if you get more views with artists like Madonna or Kylie. 🙏🏼
I hope he does Kylie!
and isn't this mean gorgeous!
This is her best album. Tori is actually very electronic rock minded. She said her husband didn't want to work so hard to produce the loops again, that she should do more direct recording; even though her next album To Venus and Back was great, especially with the advanced optimisation for small speakers it featured that they unfortunately never repeated, sadly she never continued this production style of From The Choirgirl Hotel because of that.
I always thought the garden line in Raspberry Swirl was a reference to Lilith, and not Eve. Lilith was banished from the garden of Eden for refusing to be subservient to Adam.
Great album, and great reaction. I'm becoming a broken record here, but it astounds me how astute you are when it comes to lyrical interpretation, especially since you're hearing most of these songs for the first time. And Tori's lyrics are generally very obtuse.
“Some of you know that we like really good wine, so I wasn’t quite sure if the things I was seeing were from that or if they were really happening. It was a strange time, I had had a bad pregnancy and lost the baby and I started seeing this vision of a little boy everywhere I went. We knew it wasn’t a little boy so I really didn’t know who he was. I would close my eyes when he would appear and I would follow him. We had this 1959 convertible and he would stand in the back of the car with his arms wide and we would drive for hours and hours. I would sit there and I didn’t know where we were going but when we would get there nobody would be alive. I didn’t know what to do so we would leave the town and he would tell me to build a campfire. So I would build this thing and he would start dancing and he would say, “we failed today but we have to go to the next town tomorrow.” This happened over and over again and we were always too late and he would sing this thing in my head, “iieee, iieee." - Tori Amos
Yay, My fave Tori album alongside BFP.
But honestly her first 7 (including 'Strange little girls) are all top notch. The latter half of her discography is a bit spotty but there are some great albums there as well, especially her most recent two releases.
By the way, part of her mythology comes from the single releases from her first few albums. Most had non-album tracks backing the promotional track and many of those ended up becoming part of her live repertoire. If you only do the albums you're missing out.
Absolutely, he really needs to delve into the b-sides and some live concerts from the 90s to really get the Tori experience.
Damn, Playboy Mommy still making me cry after all these years. Unbearable.
I love how much you mention the elements (as does Tori, of course). As a person who has studied astrology for years, I'm always thinking about the elements - and Tori's first 4 albums really represent each of the 4 elements. (I came to this conclusion when she said in an interview at the time that she wanted the Choirgirl album to sound like Water.)
Little Earthquakes is clearly Earth - it's literal, it's actual stories, reads like a diary, you can hold it like Earth. Under The Pink is Air - it's abstract, you can't put it in a box, it's cerebral and intellectual. Pele is clearly Fire, with the volcano imagery and Tori releasing the Fire of her anger and passion (and since she is a Fire sign, appropriate that it's the first album she produced on her own). And Choirgirl is Water - it's dreamy, floaty, emotional. But it's also healing, the healing process of her miscarriages (I believe she'd had 2 when this album came out and would have a 3rd before finally giving birth in 2000) and her healing her friends who had been through abuse (some of those 3rd person references are actually about other people, you can find interviews where she mentions this, particularly Black-Dove and in a less traumatic way, Raspberry Swirl). Water can also be a deep love, and she married the husband she is still with today during the writing process of this album. You already mentioned how much Water imagery there is in Liquid Diamonds and Pandora's Aquarium. I'm sure she was conscious of this. And if this is indeed the case, then the studio half of her next album To Venus And Back is straight up outer space.
Definitely check out when she did VH1 Storytellers around this time, she tells a lot of great back stories about some of these songs (I specifically remember iieee and Raspberry Swirl being on there). Great channel, keep up the great work!
Wow, I forgot how awesome this album was! I especially appreciate your Tori videos because as much as I love/respect her, the lyrics are so over my head I just have to ride the groove and get lost in her voice and the production, so to hear an intelligent interpretation of her lyrics is downright illuminating!
Jackie's Strength is my favourite song from this album.
Just wanted to say that I'm loving your Tori videos ❤
Favorite albums:
Little Earthquakes
Under the Pink
Boys for Pele
From the Choirgirl Hotel
To Venus and Back (both discs, the live tracks are amazing)
Scarlet's Walk
The Beekeeper
American Doll Posse
After ADP ⬆️ I liked, but didn't love, the albums that followed.
every time you react to a new tori album I get so excited, this is probably my favorite Tori album, it’s so influenced by industrial rock
in her 2017 tour, T opened most shows with I i e e e and in 17 during the dark reign the lyrics of "we are dying and there's no sign of a parachute" took on the whole new meaning...
Spark is mostly in 6/8 with a few 7/8 measures that throw off the beat. There might be a 4/8 bar or 2 added in for an extended fill. The "How many fates..." part is 3 bars of 6/8 then one of 7/8 counted as [1-2-3][1-2-3-4]. She used this grouping of measures and time signatures in Snow Cherries From France as well.
All of her music videos from this album are some of her best!
Yes, I hope Eric will look up the Spark video. It's a really stunning little short film of a music video. And Raspberry Swirl is something else...
Would LOVE to see you react to “Spark” music video & if it is blocked at least you saw this artistic masterpiece of a video 💕
I love your face when listening to Hotel
FANTASTIC!!! This is my 2nd favorite album in her catalog. Number one being "Boys for Pele". Top 3 tracks off this album are; "Spark" "Jackie's Strength" and "Northern Lad"...and "Purple People" of course... :) all her bsides are such gems. If you haven't done a "B-Side" review you should :) i'd love to hear what you think.
Check out the Iive version of northern lad. It’s on you tube. Shows her in front of a piano. I think this is a rehearsal for a concert. It was a bonus dvd on tales of a librarian. I saw her in concert after choir girl was released. So good
My favourite is Under the Pink! Always and forever but it’s also the album I discovered her with back in 1994.
Then Boys for Pele and From the Choirgirl Hotel often duke it out for 2nd place.
This is my FAVOURITE Tori album and I’ve been waiting for this video haha. X
As an avid Tori fan, I absolutely love that you are doing this, I adore Choirgirl and think you will continue to be in for a treat. Her albums change over time and it is incredibly impressive how she continues to change as she grows. Some Tori people don't like the change you'll see around 2002-2005 distinctly, but I adore it, and well, Scarlet was my first Tori album, and I think you will enjoy it as well.
Hi Eric, I've been a die-hard Tori fan for 11 years now and just discovered your channel last week. Your analysis is spot on and very impressive.
There is a change in her songwriting after Choirgirl Hotel, she begins using personas and concepts to distance herself a bit from her music. It has changed on her last two albums, which are considered as a return to form by many fans.
If you don't want to go chronologically, you should check out Scarlet's Walk (now considered her mid-career masterpiece and very relevant because of everything that happened after 2016), Unrepentant Geraldines (some of her most beautiful solo piano tracks) and Native Invader (some rank it beside her 90s albums). There seems to be a reassessment of her importance and influence in music criticism since Unrepentant Geraldines. But I would also be interested in your opinion on what are considered her weaker albums between 2005 and 2009, as you are listening to them with fresh ears.
Generally, I want to applaud your approach of using the tools of literary criticism for pop music lyrics. Taking pop serious as an art form is really important, as it is too often disregarded because it is made by women or people from marginalized groups.
(Sorry for mistakes, not a native speaker)
The best way is to just keep going chronologically tbh. Although you must check out Cooling one of Toris best B tracks it was meant for Boys For Pele and didn't make it then Choirgirl and the same decision was made so the song became a b side but boy its one of her masterpieces. Love your reactions and deep dives. Keep going!
And Eric this was what I was waiting for. Your Tori reactions are AMAZING!!!!
Thank you so much! :)
I have been patiently waiting for this and it was SO worth it! Thank you so much, these videos really make my day. And yes, please keep going in chronological order!
My favourite album ever!! Her masterpiece! If I could only take one album with me in another life.
Choirgirl and Unrepentant Geraldines (2014) are my ultimate faves but I love every single one so much
UG is one of my faves as well, along with Night of Hunters! After the rough stretch of albums after Scarlet, her most recent work has been solid.
@@viviandarkbloom4339 Except for Gold Dust. 💁🏻♂️
@@viviandarkbloom4339 I'm so happy to see someone who appreciates Night of Hunters. It was so overlooked. It took a long time for me to appreciate it as a masterwork, but it eventually revealed itself to be such an intricate tapestry. I think of Native Invader as Night of Hunters translated into a contemporary and more immediately personal album, and it's one of my favorites, as well.
@@spyrospal1 I always forget about GD; I think of it as just a compilation like Tales of a LIbrarian, and not a real album. It could have been awesome considering how she reworked songs like Cruel with the quartet for the NOH tour, alas ...
'"Jackie O" is do iconic its from another planet!
ERIC!!! You liked the album!! This is my favorite Tori album. Big favor, I really would love for you to react to three promotional videos/singles for this album. In order of release: Spark, Jackie’s Strength, Raspberry Swirl. All Toris videos are fun, but these three videos are cinematic masterpieces.
Ohhh I’m SO happy you enjoyed this album. ♥️
I love the way you delve into the music lyrically and you're open to all of her musical styles. You're also so freaking dreamy, I might be in love 😍😂
So happy you covered this! I always go back and forth with this and BFP being my faves. I can’t wait until you review the next one, To Venus and Back. It’s such an underrated album, with some of Tori’s best writing.
I looked up the definition of " happy" " feel good " " ideal " "flawless " " fun " and " stunning it said you words cant describe how much i love you and your channel 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
This Tori journey you're going through is my favorite thing on UA-cam. Thank you!
Choirgirl is such a stellar work. Tori engaging with a band and fuller production really amps up the intensity and depth that she was already serving in a way that continues to blow my mind. I imagine other Tori stans are getting just as emotional watching your journey as I am. Her work resonates so deeply within us and to see her "gospel" spreading to critical thinkers and truth seekers, such as yourself, is immensely fulfilling.
ive been searching for a reaction for from the choirgirl hotel and there is none except yours.
i am so glad that u like the album because to me it was so underrated.
for me this album is solid and intense and it need more appreciation among music lovers.
i would love to see more ftch review and reaction in yiutube.
I was 20 when this album came out and was my first Tori album that I bought on release, it still sounds fresh and exciting and honestly think it’s some of the best vocals of her career, her upper register is just fantastic, please continue chronologically only because To Venus and Back is one of my favourites and that’s next 😀
Choirgirl is my top, followed closely by Little Earthquakes, Under The Pink, then To Venus and Back. So much of this album is musical, lyrical perfection - even if I may not know what Tori means by 'lollipop gestapo' - I can picture what I think it means. One of the thing I remember from watching Little Earthquakes is how she describes the how energy is passed from her to the audience and back in a cycle and I find that on Choirgirl this process does not feel like it stops. There's almost an overload from how it builds and increases. There's such vulnerability in the songs, and she unflinchingly shows her wounds and also lets you in on how she stitched herself up and kept going through the pain.
My favorite track is Raspberry Swirl. It is so high energy and although it can be pared down to what we used to call it, "The lick it before you stick it song." The underlying message of neither expecting more of someone else if you're unwilling to give as much and the need for reciprocity in relationships in all facets, from the bedroom to all over the house. That's why it's crucial to have really open convos with your partner/lover/whoever about what you want in all aspects of life. It can make it so much easier.
Her best album with Boys For Pele, looooove this album!
My favorite Tori album! ❤️
omg, Eric grooving to raspberry swirl is like the cutest thing.. :)
I love that you listened to Purple People, too. :) It's one of my favorites of all time.
Most of these songs are about her husband Mark (Northern Lad, Jackie's Strength) or her miscarriages. I believe there were 3. Cooling was another song written during this general time period after a miscarriage...another top 10 of all time for me.
I adore Cooling, I didn't realise it was about a miscarriage.
Within the silent parts of your reactions, when you experience a shock of recognition (whether its a musical resolve or a lyrical, cultural reference), the smile that reaches your eyes is so warm & endearing. Can't wait for the next ("Venus") in line!
Another home run analysis! I love how you tie individual songs together to help me understand her full body of work.
I know the general recommendation from the community is to continue chronologically. At this point, I recommend next to react to the b-sides from her first 4 albums. I feel like they have been overlooked and quite frankly some of her strongest songs come from her b-sides. Maybe we can treat the b-sides as some sort of a recap before moving on to Venus?
I mean she even has a song titled “Song for Eric,” so it would be a disservice to skip the b-sides. There are many, so happy to propose a list that covers the key songs :)
Another amazing reaction & analysis Eric 🥰 so happy that you have been blessed to be able to react to this legendary & majorly underrated/under appreciated Artist 💗 💫
Eric!! Thanks for this reaction. I’ve been waiting rather impatiently for it! This album is a masterclass from Tori... though for even more sheer talent and outstanding beauty wait till you get to Night Of Hunters. Northern Lad is my favourite Tori song of all time, but when Northern Lad runs into Hotel and then plunges into Playboy Mommy, well I’m on a rollercoaster of pure colourful emotions every single time and with every single note and breath. My favourite Tori lines sit here, “girl you’ve got to know when it’s time to turn the page, when you’re only wet because of the rain!” This resonates so much with anyone who has become bored with their sexual relationship. Also when Tori swears on Northern Lad it is simply demanding attention. She doesn’t on her studio tracks, so this makes it even more powerful!!! Keep going chronologically with the albums, you’re in for more highs and maybe a few lows along the way. Love from Ireland 💙
Ive been to every tori tour since under the pink... this album tour was my fav... ❤
How are yours the best analyses on youtube? wtf. lol Splendid.
You bopping to Raspberry Swirl was adorable 🥰
Loved watching you discover “Jackie’s Strength” and “iieee”. Definitely some of the most unique tracks on the album and my faves.
I'm so happy to see younger folk discovering Tori for the first time. I remember finding her music in high school and later in college and just hungrily devouring the whole catalogue. 15 years later, still get shivers listening to her. Her best album for me is Scarlett, followed closely by Choirgirl.
Christmas In Space was actually a misprint on the single, it was supposed to be next to her version of Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas, and not Purple People
Wow. I’ve always wondered why PP was called Christmas in Space in parenthesis. Thanks!
I could watch you react to music all day long. I love your reactions to Tori (my favorite artist) because you get it - it feels like the looks I had the first time I heard these albums. I love your animated facial expressions and your eyes. You have kind eyes. :)
Thank you so much! :)
I think every song on choir girl is top notch, maybe ‘’she’s your cocaine” is my least favorite but I still grin when singing it… Tori could fart a song and as far as I’m concerned it’s still a treasure. Choir girl is the album that I first really dived into, fell in love then went backwards and fell harder. Your analysis is beautifully in depth and on point. You interpreted some parts in ways I had not thought of, interesting. Thank you.
Ahhhh love this so much! One of my favorite albums if not my favorite by Tori! I just love how she talks about the songs as girls that live inside this hotel...”I saw the girls being like a singing group, because they're very independent, but they hang out together. They have their own solar systems, they have their own family trees, but I did see them having margaritas by the pool. Sometimes they let me sing with them”.... Can’t wait to to Venus and back 💙
Loved watching your reaction! It was like listening to the album for the first time again. Emotional!
Love these Tori reactions so much! Thanks for making them!
I love your Tori reactions. So nice to hear someone else's perspective of her songs in depth. You definitely should check out her videos. I highly recommend watching the "Spark" video. It adds this dark ambience that captures the tragedy of Tori's miscarriage. Since you seem to react to videos in threes - my 3 first favorite videos by her are(will keep it limited to the albums you've reacted to): Caught a Lite Sneeze video (Boy Pele album), God (Under the Pink album), and of course, Spark (From the Choirgirl Hotel album). My favorite album by Tori is Boys for Pele, but Choirgirl is VERY close - sometimes I go back and forth. All of her albums run so deep. I love Tori- so introspective, and willing to be vulnerable lyrically.
Loved this review, thanks for making your videos! They are a nice re-visit to the songs that got me through young adulthood.
To Venus & Back is a double record. You'll want to react and discuss lyrics to the studio songs on Disk 1, but should consider reacting to Disk 2 as well. Yes, you've heard them before, but they come to life on this recording. New verses & extended choruses, lots of surprises. If not the whole record, you could add Sugar and Cooling, two songs you've not reacted to yet as bonus tracks to Disk 1. Anyway, thanks again for sharing your thoughts on Tori. Have a terrific weekend!
My fav is Pele and just saw your video on it... Love love love! Thanks so much!❤️ Looking forward to the other albums (especialy Scarletts walk) ☺️
Oh, and you should defenitly check out some live Tori video's 🙂 Greetings from Belgium, Jan
So so excited for this reaction, let’s dive 🥰
Me gustan mucho tus interpretaciones y análisis de la música de Tori, te sorprenderá de igual manera To Venus & Back... Greetings from Mexico
You have some very interesting interpretation of some songs. Tori's lyrics are kinda cryptic all the time so there's no right or wrong take. Can't wait to hear your interpretation of "Suede" on Venus!
I was a young emotionally struggling piano playing songwriter girl when I got my introduction to Tori Amos - "Spark". Kinda perfect, right? Watching her go ham on the keys just like I loved to, even though it wasn't "the proper way of doing it". And such a deep, resonant song too. Had no idea what it was about at the time, but the feeling soaked out of it nonetheless. Very encouraging. Curious that I didn't check out much else of hers until a bunch of years later... but it was always in the back of my mind to until I eventually did, because of that song.
Her best album ever, for me, love you Tori
i almost want you to react to some of Tori's live performances or shows. They offer just such a different experience than the album.
You should listen to the dance club remix version of Jackie's Strength. It was a huge hit in the old days in the gay clubs.
P.S. you’re looking great recently mate - congrats 🙌
Oh! Since I know people will comment this on your To Venus And Back reaction, there is a song on it called Riot Poof that's been misspelled as "Riot Proof" on pretty much all streaming services. That one word changes the whole feel of the song!
Raspberry Swirl - “In a few of my relationships with my women friends, I play a certain role. I hope my dad’s not watching but I always told him, gays, lesbians, he just has to get used to it. What I said to Beenie, the love of my life, my husband understands this, that we’re married, we’re absolutely married and I adore her with all my heart and she’s dated some idiots and in another life I’ll absolutely kick your ass. And I’m going to kick it right now because this song is for her and I’m in love with her.” - Tori Amos
Side note: when you mention artists like ANOHNI I always think I’d love to see your iTunes library. I loved Antony & The Johnson’s and ANOHNI. ❤️
It amazes me how consolidated fans in the comments can lead/guide new people to dive into an amazing journey to certain fandom. You should also react to Tori’s b-sides and to a group of kids that sing Tori songs “PS22 Chorus”
Eric, I love your insights into Tori's music, and I was wondering, could you also do a review of Tori's best B-Sides? I really believe that Tori's B-Sides are some of her best music she's made and too many people miss out on these, and I don't want you to miss out! So, I made you a playlist of some of her best B-Sides, they are deep, and I would love a video of your insights! Thank you. ua-cam.com/play/PLfTlwPThZhOuMfVezCEncjK5zcChmNm_o.html
It's time to react to PJ.Harvey!!!. Pj Harvey, Bjork and Tori Amos are the 90's holly trinity.
My favorite album. My favorite song is iieee. It came out at the same time I was going through a terribly painful breakup of an 11 year relationship and I caught him cheating. Somehow she knows how to write for those of us that don't have a voice. I had no family and my friends all chose him so I was alone. But I had this album and it was everything to me at the time. I still remember listening to it on repeat until I knew every syllable. Might be my #1 of all time.
Maybe next you can react to her most recent album Native Invader. It is in my top 4 of favorite Tori Amos albums, along with the first three albums.
BEST Tori album
Chronology is the way and do, please, go all the way. You won't regret it.
From the choirgirl hotel is the only tori Amos CD I ever bought and it's been in my car CD player ever since.
I recommend checking out Tori's performance of Cruel live on Later... With Jools Holland in 1998 on your own time! The bass in that version almost feels lile metal and the bridge has some insane vocals from T!
Love tori and love watching your cute face bop along to the tunes and give it analysis.
Love them all but this album and Boys For Pele are my all time favorite albums.
I think this is her last truly MASTERPIECE. She made some “choices” in The next albums, but she still is a clever, intense, unique artist. She grow up, and her voice too, and we still love her and we’ll always do.
I respectfully disagree completely. :) Scarlet's Walk to me unquestionably is a masterpiece. It's just masterful in a far more understated way. The lyrical content and the way she weaves together multiple narratives is really ingenious. I also think that Night of Hunters and Native Invader are masterpieces, but I understand why Night of Hunters is overlooked by most people, and I understand that Native Invader hasn't received proper consideration because a lot of people go into it believing Tori's brilliant work is behind her. It's not, and I hope that there's a lot more to come. Her voice has lost some of its dynamic range and power and resonance over the years and I think that some people aren't willing to listen beyond that. It's too bad because her heart and her mind are as profound as ever.
@@DavidMichaelCommer plus sonically Venus picks up where this album leaves off. And BTW - check out The Beekeeper again if you haven't heard it recently. It's a strong mid career effort. I'm so into it at the moment.
Scarlet’s Walk is a masterpiece too
i also love "Cruel" "Black Dove" and "i i i e e e" and she's your cocaine....brilliant record all around.
You have one more masterwork to go and would be Scarlets Walk. She did lots of other interesting stuff, I like Night of Hunters a lot, but the 4 you have done plus Scarlets Walk represent her prime studio albums. Of course many of her live performances, B sides, and covers are also essential.
The way you said "i i e e e" that first time was cute. XD
You should listen to her album ‘Scarlet’s Walk’
I think Black Dove (January) might be my favourite Tori song.
Fave Tori album: "Choirgorl Hotel" & "American Doll Posse"
Wow Eric that is a hard question to post for the best album, as a toriphile I can’t pick one 😊
Definitely should react to Florence + the machine or Of monster and men. I think you would really like them :))