Two Toris is a crowd
A Tori in Pip's clothing
This was the lady who famously said the only thing she has in common with Bjork and P.J. Harvey is they all have three holes. You never knew if you were gonna get easily dismissed or spat in the eye by Tori Amos. It's why her fans love her so immensely.
It was easy to see why she dropped out of her classical training during her teen years. Eccentricity is her definition.
Previously, the media has pounced on her nuances - such as her once very feminist views and the habit of giving her pianos personalities. What's more appealing to the masses than a preacher's daughter gone bad? Now, Amos is more mature, more wary of letting people in.
During her first performance in Sydney she danced like a child and waved a scarf in front of her eyes like a belly dancer. Before seeing her live, I didn't think it was feasible to gyrate to her music.
The audience was an afterthought, halfway through the gig she flicked back her hair, tilted her head and said a small "hello". After that, we went back to being invisible.
American Doll Posse
Music-wise, the piano should have been louder, most of the keys hit could not be heard. She jumped between keyboard, organ and piano with the ease of a pro. Her voice, which tended to drag on a bit, overpowered everything else. The drummer, Matt Chamberlain, brought another level to her normally subdued style of music.
Cornflake Girl brought her piano to life. It positively sang under her fingers, then went back to a whisper only to come alive once more for Precious Things.
There was some lengthy improv that reminded me of the Doors but again the piano was too quite to be fully appreciated.
I expected more gusto in her playing, but as Tori has matured, so has her music. If only I could have seen her when we were both in conflict with the world. Then, I would have gotten some satisfaction.
Instead, I found myself listening to adult contemporary. And no matter how good it was, it was also easy to forget. For someone that has a tremendous amount of talent, the concert was an easy cruise.
Some of her best lyrics/poetry for your indulgence:
Precious Things by Tori Amos
So I ran faster
But it caught me here
Yes my loyalties turned
Like my ankle
In the seventh grade
Running after billy
Running after the rain
These precious things
Let them bleed
Let them wash away
These precious things
Let them break their hold over me
He said youre really an ugly girl
But I like the way you play
And I died
But I thanked him
Can you believe that
Sick sick
Holding on to his picture
Dressing up every day
I wanna smash the faces
Of those beautiful boys
Those christian boys
So you can make me cum
That doesnt make you jesus
These precious things
Let them bleed
Let them wash away
These precious things
Let them break their hold over me
I remember
Yes in my peach party dress
No one dared
No one cared
To tell me where the pretty girls are
Those demigods
With their nine-inch nails and little fascist panties tucked inside the heart of every nice girl
These precious things
Let them bleed
Let them wash away
These precious things
Let them break
Let them wash away
These these precious things
Let them bleed now
Let them wash away
These these precious things
Let them break their hold over me
Precious ...
Leather by Tori Amos
Look I'm standing naked before you
Don't you want more then my sex
I can scream as loud as your last one
But I can't claim innocence
Oh God
Could it be the weather
Oh God
Why am I here
If love Isn't forever
And it's not the weather
Hand me my leather
I could just pretend that you love me
The night would lose all sense of fear
But why do I need you to love me
When you can't Hold what I hold dear
Oh God
Could it be the weather
Oh God
Why am I here
If love Isn't forever
And it's not the weather
Hand me my leather
I almost ran over an angel
He had a nice big fat cigar
"In a sense" he said "You're alone here
So if you jump you best jump far"
Oh God
Could it be the weather
Oh God
Why am I here
If love Isn't forever
And it's not the weather
Hand me my leather
