Well, I meant to make this post a few days ago, but life happened. For my first post in the I want my MTV series, I'll be talking Fiona Apple. My MTV experience with Fiona Apple, which is probably no surprise, was seeing her music video for the song 'Criminal'. Aside from the video being rather risque, I remember thinking it was such an interesting song. I never remember seeing any other music videos of Fiona Apple's on MTV, but Criminal really stuck with me. I do also remember when she called out Society's idolization of celebrities during her MTV music video award acceptance, that was new to me to see as a kid, and especially cool now that I know she was pretty young and certainly taking some career risk.

Fiona Apple grew up in a family of artists, and was raised primarily in New York City. She went to a private religious school and was also home schooled. She appears to have picked up playing the piano at a young age, and started writing her own songs at 8. She is clearly driven from a young age as she was signed to a record label by 18, and her first album 'Tidal' being released that same year to critical acclaim.

Tidal is the album that I listened to primarily of Fiona's music. She apparently wrote most or all of the songs in high school after going through a break up with her first boyfriend. The album is impressive, and all the more that the music was written as a teenager. Apparently the producer that signed her at 18, when listening to the songs that would come to be in Tidal, thought he was being punk'd. He did not believe that such a young person had written these songs and could perform them that well. I can kind of understand why :)

I thoroughly enjoyed this album, but I did find myself feeling the first half of the album more than the second half. There were 3 songs in particular that I really liked:

Sleep to Dream- Fiona doesn't waste time introducing the world to her amazing voice and piano skills. This may be my favorite song from the album, it's got an awesome, head-nodding vibe and has a great progression, adding layers and layers to the song (I really like the little burst of guitar at the end). The piano work also reminded me of Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor (oddly perhaps, but it does); the way he plays piano and the sound had a lot of similarities in this song (I'm thinking specifically of his music from the soundtracks for the Facebook movie and Watchmen, as well as The Downward Spiral Album).

[Verse 1] I tell you how I feel, but you don't care I say tell me the truth, but you don't dare You say love is a hell you cannot bear And I say "Give me mine back and then go there For all I care,"

[Chorus] I got my feet on the ground And I don't go to sleep to dream You got your head in the clouds And you're not at all what you seem This mind, this body and this voice cannot be stifled by your deviant ways So don't forget what I told you; don't come around, I got my own hell to raise

[Verse 2] I have never been so insulted in all my life I could swallow the seas to wash down all this pride First you run like a fool just to be at my side And now you run like a fool but you just run to hide And I can't abide

[Chorus] I got my feet on the ground And I don't go to sleep to dream You got your head in the clouds And you're not at all what you seem This mind, this body, and this voice cannot be stifled by your deviant ways So don't forget what I told you; don't come around, I got my own hell to raise

[Bridge] Don't make it a big deal, don't be so sensitive We're not playing a game anymore You don't have to be so defensive

[Verse 3] Don't you plead me your case, don't bother to explain Don't even show me your face, cause it's a crying shame Just go back to the rock from under which you came Take the sorrow you gave and all the stakes you claim And don't forget the blame

[Chorus] I got my feet on the ground And I don't go to sleep to dream You got your head in the clouds And you're not at all what you seem This mind, this body and this voice cannot be stifled by your deviant ways So don't forget what I told you; don't come around, I got my own hell to raise I got my feet on the ground And I don't go to sleep to dream You got your head in the clouds And you're not at all what you seem This mind, this body and this voice cannot be stifled by your deviant ways So don't forget what I told you; don't come around, I got my own hell to raise

Sullen Girl - This song is a sharp redirection from Sleep to Dream. The song is somber and slower, and I found Fiona's piano work took center stage with the serving to compliment. This song has an emotion sadness to it that I feel intensely while listening.. And I really liked the eventual addition of the marimba and twangy guitar work that conclude the song. I really like the line 'under the waves in the blue of my oblivion.'

Verse 1] Days like this, I don't know what to do with myself All day and all night I wander the halls along the walls And under my breath I say to myself "I need fuel to take flight,"

[Chorus] And there's too much going on But it's calm under the waves In the blue of my oblivion Under the waves In the blue of my oblivion

[Verse 2] Is that why they call me a sullen girl, sullen girl? They don't know I used to sail the deep and tranquil sea But he washed me 'shore And he took my pearl And left an empty shell of me

[Chorus] And there's too much going on But it's calm under the waves In the blue of my oblivion Under the waves In the blue of my oblivion Under the waves In the blue of my oblivion It's calm under the waves In the blue of my oblivion

Criminal - Ya, I simply love this song. It puts a grin on my face while I listen. Criminal transports me to that very moment where the fun is wearing off and its just starting to set in how much you screwed up. The whole song from the lyrics, to the cadence, the piano tempo all come through for me and with lots of fun to deliver that guilty vibe. I think my favorite line is "I know tomorrow brings the consequence at hand But I keep livin' this day like the next will never come."

[Verse 1] I've been a bad, bad girl I've been careless with a delicate man And it's a sad, sad world When a girl will break a boy just because she can

[Pre-Chorus 1] Don't you tell me to deny it I've done wrong and I want to suffer for my sins I've come to you 'cause I need guidance to be true And I just don't know where I can begin

[Chorus] Ooh What I need is a good defense 'Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal And I need to be redeemed To the one I've sinned against Because he's all I ever knew of love

[Verse 2] Heaven, help me for the way I am Save me from these evil deeds before I get them done I know tomorrow brings the consequence at hand But I keep livin' this day like the next will never come

[Pre-Chorus 2] Oh, help me, but don't tell me to deny it I've got to cleanse myself of all these lies 'til I'm good enough for him I've got a lot to lose and I'm bettin' high, so I'm beggin' you Before it ends just tell me where to begin

[Chorus] What I need is a good defense 'Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal And I need to be redeemed To the one I've sinned against Because he's all I ever knew of love

[Bridge] Let me know the way Before there's hell to pay Give me room to lay the law and let me go I've got to make a play To make my lover stay So, what would an angel say? The devil wants to know

[Chorus] What I need is a good defense 'Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal And I need to be redeemed To the one I've sinned against Because he's all I ever knew of love What I need is a good defense 'Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal And I need to be redeemed To the one I've sinned against Because he's all I ever knew of love

--

Well, in conclusion I really like Fiona Apple's album Tidal, and I plan to listen to her other albums next (probably won't write about it). I'm a real sucker for a singer-songwriter that plays the piano, so I have a feeling I'll enjoy the rest of her work.