Tori Amos Remixed part 1.

Yeah, so not rid of those dreadful, painful Tori entries. ;)

Today's pick, first pick, is i i e e e - I do not have an absolutely favorite Tori Amos song (that's just impossible, sir), but i i e e e certainly ranks in my top 5 all-time-Tori-favs.

i i e e e was born some time in 1996, but was included in my fav album, from the choirgirl hotel, in 1998. To me, it talks about this raw ripped-open woman who is looking for answers and, at the same time, about being in denial when it comes to fucking up something that has beauty in it and well, pretty much everyone can relate to the feeling of the song and its lyrics. 

Musically, I do not believe Tori has done anything remotely alike. Also, the live version from Sessions at West 54th is, by far, the most heart-felt and impressive. That damn coda is otherwordly!! If you understand the way I feel, the whyyyiieee???? Gut-wrenching, I tell ya.

I'm including the airfetys version of this song, as well as the remixed (A Piano, box set, 2006) instrumental version and the original (from the choirgirl hotel, album, 1998) instrumental version. All three of these remixed by me.

Airfetys version: No cons. :) The changes are very subtle, but the piano and backing vocals are very upfront.

Remixed/Remastered instrumental: Pros: There is a guitar which is seemingly not present in the original version, towards the beginning of the song. The backing vocals are loud and clear. The main vocals all gone. The piano is very clear. Cons: The strings sound a bit muffled. Rats!

Original instrumental version: Pros: Strings are a bit clearer. It's a fucking mess. Cons: The main vocal track is very hard to get rid of, so I tried my best.

And just for kicks

Sessions at West 54th version.

Original lyrics:

with your E's 

and your ease

and I do one more

need a lip gloss boost

in your america

is it God's

is it your's

sweet saliva

with your E's

and your ease

and I do one more

I know we're dying

and there's no sign of a parachute

we scream in cathedrals

why can't it be beautiful

why does there

gotta be a sacrifice

just say yes

you little arsonist

you're so sure you can save

every hair on my chest

just say yes

you little arsonist

with your E's 

and your ease

and I do one more

well I know we're dying

and there's no sign of a parachute

in this chapel

little chapel of love

can't we get a little grace

and some elegance

no we scream in cathedrals

why can't it be beautiful

why does there

gotta be a sacrifice.

Stab at lyrics: I believe "E" is a reference to ecstasy, maybe?

"Need a lip gloss boost in your america" - I think she is talking about, again, patriarchy and how beauty is "the way to be accepted" in america (or, you know, "developed" socities). Which beauty can also be a metaphor for a general standardized way of looking at women.

Is is God's, is it yours? Sweet saliva (why is there an apostrophe in the booklet?) - I think she wonders if this way of thinking, referring back to beauty and society, is god-made or man-made.

I guess the rest is pretty self-explanatory - She, the arsonist, knows her demise. Yet, she is playing with fire. She knows that, at some extent, her decay is her own fault, but also blames God for it.

Happy listening. ;)