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Under the Pink

Tori Amos - Under the Pink Audio CD

A fair review of the Tori Amos "Under the Pink" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Tori Amos reviews here, or go back to the Tori Amos tabs.

Band: Tori Amos
Title: Under the Pink
Rating:

Release Date: 1994-02-01
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Pretty Good Year 2: God 3: Bells for Her 4: Past the Mission 5: Baker Baker 6: Wrong Band 7: Waitress 8: Cornflake Girl 9: Icicle 10: Cloud on My Tongue 11: Space Dog 12: Yes, Anastasia

my favourite album of all time
A step away from being a victim in Little Earthquakes, Under the Pink is about getting some clothes and some band-aids on and become a more whole person. This, is, by far, my favourite album of all time. The album art was inspired by purity and innocence surrounded by constant physical and emotional danger. Everything about Under the Pink has a comforting and soft quality, with a subtle twinge. One of the main themes that circulates through Under the Pink is not just a girl inside her room, but a girl and her relationship with other girls. There is not a single track on this album I do not love. It also pays tribute to her classical training. Sweeping orchestrations, fascinating lyrics, quite strength make up this album. Pretty Good Year is a perfect opening, with gentle piano tickling sprinkled with some beefy guitar chords. God is a sympathetic hand extended to the God behind God. Bells for Her is a haunting ballad about the relationship of two little girls being torn apart by sexual abuse. Past the Mission is a gorgeous, albeit at times Partridge Family-equse, Ode to the Magdalene and the Sacred Mother figure to people who have been colonized by the missions world wide. Baker Baker is about not being able to open up after sexual assault. The Wrong Band is very fun, in a German beer hall sort of way. The Waitress is a screaming declaration. Cornflake Girl is a buoyant pop song about girl on girl betrayal and violence in the girls' room at school and female genital mutilation. Icicle is a beautiful ballad, as is the sweet and nurturing Cloud On My Tongue. Space Dog is incredible and inspired by the Man, himself, David Bowie. Yes, Anastasia is the epic, sweeping and haunting closing track that tributes the late Romanov family. All in all, a complete album, 12 epic tracks and well worth your time. This album saved my life when I was 7 years old and I own it on vinyl, cassette and cd. .

Great album, but buy Little Earthquakes or Boys for Pele first
I only really liked a few of the songs. When I first listened through this album, I found it insufferably boring. I was surprised, because I liked all the other albums I bought of hers, the album got great reviews, and was declared by many of her fans as her best album. I would have given this album one star after I listened to it the first time. But after listening to it 5 times, looking extensively through the lyrics, and looking through her fansite for quotes so I could find out what the heck the songs were about, it became one of my favorites.

I think the only real reason I hated the first few times is because I didn't know what she meant in the songs (which is ironic, because I loved Boys for Pele the first listen. ) Therefore, I will attempt to roughly explain what each of the songs is about, sorry if I get any of this wrong.

Pretty Good Year- I'm honestly not too sure what this song is about. Basically, she got a letter from a 20 year old fan named Greg in England, and he said his life sucked, and he doesn't know what girls want from him. And I guess Tori is telling him "Hey, suck it up, your life isn't that bad. " I don't entirely get the song, but I loved the piano playing, and the way she went off at the end into "Hey! What's it gonna take till my baby's alright?" And then tones it down with "Still, pretty good year" 4/5

God- I don't need to explain this one, you'll get it. One of the only songs I liked the first time I listened to it. 5/5

Bells For Her- A little boring and longer than necessary, but she sings it much better and with more passion on her Venus live cd. The song is about still being in love with the person who broke up with you, feeling helpless, and not knowing what will happen, if you'll still stay friends, etc. The whole song is summed up by the beautiful refrain "Can't stop what's coming Can't stop what is on its way" 4/5, but 5/5 for her Venus live version

Past the Mission- This was my favorite song the first time I listened to Under the Pink. I'm still not sure what it's about. I think it's about her trying to get past her rape and salvage missing pieces of herself, but it has an upbeat tempo because she's finally over the pain and can "smell the roses. " There's also some vague Mary Magdalene reference here, because Mary Magdalene is supposed to be the rose, but even after all I've read about her I don't get the reference. 5/5

Baker Baker- This song is not about a baker. At all. Absolutely hated this one the first listen, but after reading the lyrics and her autobiograpy and comprehending it, it's one of my favorites. Basically, she always makes herself into a victim because of her rape, and is realizing that staying in a constant "I'm an abused, damaged woman and will never be complete again" mind state is not at all helpful to her. She's afraid to let anyone into her heart, and acts cold toward the one she loves, and he leaves because he can't handle it "I ran from him in all kinds of ways Guess it's his turn this time. " I love this song now because it gave me a new perspective on victim mentality. Though why she opens the song with "Baker Baker" is still beyond me, I have no idea what cake has to do with the situation. 5/5

The Wrong Band- This one is quirky and fun, but I said "what the heck" the first time I listened to it. The song is about a prostitute Tori met in Washington who got involved with a governor, then fled to Japan because she 'knew too much' and her life was threatened. This song would've been better as a B-side, Honey probably would've fit on the album better. Not because this is a bad song though. 4/5

The Waitress- This is one you can really get into if you're in a dark kind of mood. It's about Tori working with a waitress who acts kind around all the customers, but is really a bitter you-know-what. Best lyrics of any song on the cd "I want to kill this waitress. But I believe in peace. I believe in peace, bitch. " 5/5

The Cornflake Girl- I wanted to hear this song, because I heard it's the ultimate Tori song and she plays it at almost every concert. After listening to it, I didn't get what all the hype was about. I found it quite boring, and couldn't get into (probably because I didn't get the meaning). But after listening to it several times, it's one of my favorites. This song is about many different things, but at core the song is about mothers in Africa who let their daughters' genitals be mutilated. Instead of being a stereotypical feminist and saying men are all awful, Tori proclaims with this song that woman are often the worst offenders of woman's rights, and she wonders how any woman can treat another woman so awfully or betray other women like that (hence the title "Under the Pink". ) The raisin girls, who Tori identifies with, are much harder to find in the cornflake box full of the Cornflake girls. The improv at the beginning of her Venus live version clarifies the betrayal meaning of the song "you swear to christ she won't You bet your life she won't Trust in her you do But she does it again and again. " The piano playing in this song is her best ever, and this song is an A+ in my book. 5/5

Icicle- I skipped over this song after about 2 minutes of piano playing at the beginning, then I listened to it 4 times and still didn't like it. Then I actually read the lyrics, and yelled, "OMG, is she really singing this?" It's my favorite song on the album now, because of the radical idea it portrays. Tori was raised by a Methodist minister, and her grandmother was strictly religious, and the song is about her pleasuring herself in her bed while her father does a church service downstairs. The piano playing at the beginning is a story of its own: a compilation of church hymns, followed by a dischordant, chaotic sound for when her grandmother finds out she's been masturbating. I think the song is called icicle because of the phallus imagery. 5/5

Cloud on My Tongue- I was bored by this one at first too, but it frequents my iPod now because it's so beautiful. I don't know what it's about, the best clue I got was that it's about traveling all over the world and not getting anywhere (though I have no idea why there is a cloud on her tongue. ) The whole song is summed up by "Circles and circles and circles again The girl's in circles and circles Got to stop spinning" 5/5

Space Dog- Probably the best and most cryptic song on the album. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to what it's about. I guess it's about a dog in space. 5/5

Yes Anastasia- Tori's epic for princess Anastasia, who Tori believed to be Anna Anderson. It has a nice melody, but I still find it uninteresting. At 9:33, the song is way too long, and it doesn't get any better after the second minute. 3/5

So give this album a chance, and if you don't like it, take a chance to read the lyrics a few times and the quotes on her fansite and try to digest it. It's not the kind of album you can just jump into, you need to take some time with it. The song meanings were not as clear as Little Earthquakes, yet the music was not as mystical and ethereal as Boys for Pele, so the cd was a little more boring than the other 2 at first. I would recommend the other 2 for people new to Tori's music, but if you already somewhat understand her music, this is a 5 star album.
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Classic album
amazon. Watch Video Here: http://www. amazon. com/review/R3Q0V2Y92PK0NE .

One of the best albums ever, period
Anyway, to make a long story short, I got the single but then later bought the CD and to this day, not only is it one of my favorites, but my young son and teen step-daughter are also huge fans of this CD. In college I first heard the song "God" on the radio and was instantly intrigued; the music was so different and unique. You can't listen to "Icicle" and not be mesmerized by the piano-playing in it, let alone her voice. In fact, her piano-playing is amazing throughout, even in a faster-paced song like "Cornflake Girl. " Whether you are a fan of Tori or not, her talent can't be questioned. My tastes in music run the gamut, but this CD has stood the test of time and will never get old. I HIGHLY recommend it.

I Believe in Peace...
These are beautiful, powerful songs. There are some albums that are staples to one's music collection and this is one of mine. This is one of those albums that makes me wonder how I ever lived with out it. Not my favorite Tori, but definitely essential. .

You can see a complete list of all Tori Amos discography, or go back to the Tori Amos tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.