hahaha watching people get flustered by watching Tori perform never gets old to me. I've been a fan of hers for a solid 20+ years now, and I STILL get chills watching her live performances. The camera loves her, and she knows how to just stare into your soul even through a lens. That said, check out her live version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit." I swear, it's still one of the sexiest things I've ever seen, and it's literally just her and a piano, just like in this clip.
OK you definitely need to start your Tori Amos journey ASAP, you have a void that you didn’t realize you had. A few things worth mentioning... She was a child prodigy. She still holds the record for being the youngest individual to be accepted into the Peabody Conservatory of Music at the age of five(!). Alanis Morissette was influenced by her, not the other way around. The majority of her lyrics are filled with metaphor and symbolism. It’s worth the time to dig deep into her lyrics. She writes all of her own music. She is known for her position on the piano bench. On some some songs she does live she’s playing both the piano and the harpsichord at the same time. She is also incredibly versatile; you really need to check her music out, it’s quite an amazing journey. Please react to more of her you won’t regret it. 👍
Thanks Brian, I've been aware of her name for a long long time and yet never found myself diving into her music before. Where would you suggest I start? Loved this.
@@JWSoundworks2 You could try a bunch of random songs but honestly, I would give her first album Little Earthquakes a listen if album reviews are something you want to try. If not, then some notable songs off that album: Crucify, Precious Things, Winter, Me and a Gun
@@JWSoundworks2 I’m new to your channel so uncertain if you only react to live performances. If that is the case then I would recommend (for starters): Precious Things, The Waitress, iieee, Pretty Good Year, Caught A Lite Sneeze... If you’re open to listening/reacting to albums, then with any great (and important) artist I always recommend starting from their debut and going in chronological order. I can send you specific links for live performances if you’d like. :) (Excited for you btw... I know and understand that particular thrill upon discovering “new” artists and music.)
@@witchestomotheryou234 I'm up for pretty much anything in this reaction series. I had been doing some live performances due to their visual appeal - for people to watch instead of just watching my face lol. If you check some of my other videos you'll see I'm also into covering lots of different styles. Thanks.
lol yes! love her so much, she's amazing, unique. Tori is wonderful. Icicle, icicle, and that's why she does it this way. JW: 'I don't know what it's about'. Come on! Listen to the words! Maybe it's cos I know her background of being raised as a pastor's daughter but still, you CAN hear what it's about. Perhaps concentrate on the technique AND the song's lyrics x
@@suziejane1008 hi Suzanne. You must be incredibly gifted to be able to hear a song once and understand everything about it! 😜 As I've explained in my other videos before, as an instrumental musician I'm hard-wired to listen and focus on arrangement and instruments on a first listen. I don't normally pay attention to lyrics until a third, fourth of even fifth listen, depending on how complex the arrangement is. The voice is usually an instrument (first and foremost) to my ears. Lyrics have always been an after thought. I know I'm not alone in this as an instrumental musician. P. S. I also have some of my students/students' parents, some of whom are quite young, who follow some of the content on my youtube page (I also upload a lot of piano performances). And yes, I did get the gist of what she was singing about, and I was in no way going to have a discussion about it on camera with the possibility of some of them seeing it! 🤐
"Getting off, getting off, while they're all downstairs, singing prayers, sing away, he's in my pumpkin pjs". The black metal lover in me always adored those unholy lyrics. ;)
Tori Amos is amazing. Prodigy pianist. She describes seeing music as color and lights in her mind as a small child. Her album “Little Earthquakes” was rejected by her label initially. They wanted to replace all the piano with guitar... think about what a loss that would have been.
😂 I knew I'd live to regret that one. Just trying to flesh out the idea of the higher register playing. Purely artistic, and for the song it turns out lol.
@@JWSoundworks2 lol, yeah she's eclectic in style, I've been following her her entire career and own everything she's ever produced...try Montreux 1991/1992 (basically any track, there's lots on TH-cam), Precious Things Live Session 1998 (playing with a band), Tori Amos live IIIEEE (Band plus Tori playing piano and keyboards), Mohammed My Friend featuring Maynard from Tool, Baker Baker live at The Current (starts a little abruptly, but shows her in her 50s, still kickin it), Tori Amos Caught a Lite Sneeze Live (a few options will turn up in a search, but search for acapella if you just want to check her voice out)
Caught A Lite Sneeze starts acoustic but goes into piano in the middle and ends with self percussion - its kinda raw and in a specific vibe - kinda cool
thanks for such a thorough and thoughtful reaction - i really appreciate that your analysis went deeper than just, "pretty girl, pretty piano, pretty voice, kinda weird lyrics," as is too often the case with tori reactions.
Oh, mate, you're bringing me back now to being a newly teenager and seeing a goddess for the first time in Tori Amos. Redefining my sexuality, religion, and how I view the world and listen to music in one fell swoop. I've been crushing on her since 1994. I'm absolutely loving your takes on her methodology -- I'd love to see you react to more of her. Tori has a lot to say about her Bosendorfer, she's got Big Piano Feels about each one, the way it feels, and which kind works best for each of her albums. I could just go on for days. I could literally watch you watchin' her for days. So record some more. :D
Most of the pictures for boys for Pete were taken where I live in Breaux Bridge which is really a small town. but a lot of old run down historic buildings and open fields for their photo shoots. I actually live about 2 minutes away from where she was breastfeeding the pig and sitting on the porch with the shotgun and most of the other shots were max 5 to 10 minutes away. I really wish I would have lived here at this time they were doing the shots
Tori could play Mozart by age 2. And was/and still is the youngest person ever admitted into the Peabody Institute at age 5. Her father is a Methodist minister, and her mother comes from the Cherokee nation. She's an interesting person, and her lyrics are quite clever.
Tori is The Siren. She captivated me in the 90s and have followed her since. She has some wonderful covers and an outstanding winter album. That is her own piano. She has several and uses the extra left octave on a lot of pieces. Another stunning pianist is Victoriya Termolveya...vkgoeswild...she shares her practice sessions. A favorite of mine "Chelsea Wolfe - 16 Psyche - piano cover" I've watched her break bass piano strings twice, on grand pianos. Mesmerizing hands. I would enjoy Tori doing instrumentals of some of her work.
I'd love to hear you analyse more Tori from a classical standpoint. That's not something I ever hear and it is so interesting. I hear a lot about her pop/rock influences and similarities... not so much classical. Great reaction.
I can’t believe she played icicle on Jay Leno 😂😂🥶😍 I know you were listening in a technical/ artist reaction to another artist working. But now dive into the lyrics 😉🙃🙂🫠
Tori's live performances typically knock the socks off the album versions. She doesn't reduce the complexity when she plays live and she keeps things interesting by making entirely new arrangements. The music coupled with her emotional intensity is pretty captivating.
Blood Roses - This is completely different from the album version. She also plays it live with the harpsichord as well, but it was a finicky instrument to tour with. She sits at the piano bench with one leg behind her for diaphragm support while singing (this is what she said, and to me it makes perfect sense)
Wow, a Tori Amos reaction! Fantastic! I didn't really "get" her when I was younger but now she blows me away. I'd love to see your reaction to Japanese all-female band Band-Maid with their song "Blooming". Good luck with your channel!
Tori is a unique one of kind talent, and she produced a very large output of top notch quality material. There are at least 5 essential albums, 'Little Earthquakes', 'Under the Pink', 'Boys for Pele', 'Choirgirl Motel', & 'Scarlets Walk'. Her live performances (as you got a taste) are consistently great--total commitment to the performance and connection to the audience. She also does great covers with interesting piano arrangements (check out her cover Led Zepplin cover of 'Thank you' as an example. Happy digging !
@@JWSoundworks2 I enjoyed your review/reaction, Thanks! For context, I'm not a musician, but long-time avid listener with tastes for classic Jazz, Blues, Soul, Rock & Progressive Rock. Love Frank Zappa. So Tori Amos is a bit off that radar zone although I do love other female vocalists like Joni Mitchell, Lucinda Williams, Betty Carter etc...Would love to see you do more Tori as you seem very knowlegeable and perceptive.
@@sethleon2158 thank you Seth. Big Zappa fan, myself. Went to see his son Dweezil Zappa live a few years back in Dublin. Was a fantastic concert. Also enjoy some Joni Mitchell and am into my prog rock. Check out some of my other videos, I have a Gentle Giant one there you might like. Cheers for the recommendations!
When you said she had you "hot under the collar", I chuckled. Welcome to the club! She was/is, in my opinion, the sexiest woman alive. This hetero woman has had a massive crush on her for a very long time and I'm not alone.
I will add my voice to those saying go chronologically. I've been a fan since 1994 & don’t really have time for a lot of other music because it can't even compare. Fiona Apple is my #2, & I love a lot of different types of music, I just *need* that Tori emotional blanket. She claims to be led by Muses, & I tend to believe her after learning that Marianne was an improv that her husband was around to press Record for. Bells for Her is also a confirmed improv, & I'm sure half of her b-sides are as well. Oh, yeah. There's dozens of those, they're usually her "favorite" that "got kicked off in the last minute in mastering because I am SUCH a ding-a-ling", and they are SO important in her catalog. Soundtrack album songs are also fan favorites. Siren, Butterfly, Carnival....top 20. If you're brave & enjoy 80s music, eventually you could dive into her pre-solo career album, Y Kant Tori Read. She was ashamed of it for years because of the image - big hair, tight leather, sword in hand. She caved to record executives and let them mold her & her music. It was a complete failure, but she was still under contract so they sent her to England & she started doing there what she was doing in LA (bars, hotels...her life since she was 14 years old in the gay bars & lobbyist lounges in D.C.). The British liked her, & the rest is history. Nowadays she doesn't have the same attitude about the album. I really, really like it. The core, looking past the 80s production, is solid. She plays some of the songs in concert & re-released it a few years ago. My favorite album is Boys for Pele. Harpsichord punk & beautiful melodies. I think you'd dig it.
It’s about her overly religious grandmother coming over for Easter (the grandmother is the monster) and she’s not into the whole visit. The Bosenderfer is hers and she brings it to every performance.
she has more talent in one finger than swift, gaga, grande and co in their whole bodies together... i normally hate to say this, but if an artist is underrated, then tori... she is in the top 3 female artist ever for me...
i think you absolutely should react to her performance of blood roses live from new york 1998, so you get a better taste of her range both on keys (that song is on harpsichord) and on vocals. it's my favorite song and performance of hers and i think you'll see why
I really really enjoyed the fact that you decided to react to Tori Amos. Especially how you were interested in taking apart the way that she played the piano and what register she was singing in. Everything Tori did was completely intentional. Although you can hear her beautiful voice here I so encourage you to listen to her more. Especially in the early days all of her compositions for her and the piano or harpsichord. Other songs you would love to see it the way she drew homes on the piano, and some songs she sings with three pianos around her all different ones swiveling i’m playing the all! She was a child prodigy and grew up in a very strict Christian home but her father was a pastor so there is a lot of resentment found in many of her songs. Her first album Little Earthquakes became the soundtrack for my life in 1991 while a freshman in high school and then under the pink blew me away even more. Saw her in concert In 1995. An absolutely unexpected and transcendent experience. Please check out her live singing winter, crucify or Silent all these years. And under the pink album Cornflake Girl, pretty good year etc. you won’t be sorry. Also about her voice, she has the most amazing breath control of any artist I’ve ever seen. It allows her to take her voice in all sorts of places for a long period of time on that one breath. It’s been commented that she makes love to the microphone, and other times to the piano, and I have to add other times to the piano bench itself. Great job. ❤️
Thanks for the comment dude. I've not seen many singing pianists take this dominant stance when playing before. So much so that she's using the "wrong" foot to pedal (quotations because... like it matters here!). Really great way for her to keep the connection with the room.
God Damn, I can't believe she chose "Icicle" for Leno, what an absolute BEAST!!!!!D Def WAY more transgressive than anyone could obviously have imagined for mainstream television of the day, I wonder if Leno could possibly have known.....!?!D Bassendorfers have def been her pianos of choice for most of her career. Yeah, Tori fans, especially back then, they can get pretty intense, of course some showed up for this... really rather early for such a coherent fandom as well.....!!)
I know I'm a little late to the party on this, but I've been a fan since I discovered "Under The Pink' (even though it came out in 92, it wasn't until I was in Eighth grade that I found her), but I'll tell ya, my favorite album (And she wrote several since) is "Night of Hunters".It was commissioned by Dutch Grammaphone as a "20th century" song cycle featuring influences from classical composers like Mozart and Debussy. She did all the arrangements for a small orchestra and recorded it in an old Manor House on the Irish moors. Her daughter and niece even perform on the album.
I’d highly suggest listening to her 1999 album To Venus and Back… but make sure it’s the live version. Incredible songs like Sugar and Cloud on my tongue
You have to do "Winter" Live in montreux 92. Beautiful performance about her father. Also there is a great interview with her when she is piano shopping. It really gives you an insight into her. Fascinating artist. She feels the music and sees pianos as living things.
Ahhh love Tori so much! Great reaction! You should react to her live performance of her song blood roses on New York in 1997! I think it’s on TH-cam! Amazing video!
I've seen that Tour in 1997 and it blew me away. My first concert of her (a I live in Germany). I've been to 13 Tori Amos Concerts since and loved every Song. She plays random cover requests too, different songs on every Evening. Please react to a live video of hers!
In regards to the way she sits at the piano: It was cultivated over her years of playing in clubs from an early age (13 I think). Her dad was always with her but she seems to have adopted that way of sitting as a way to both assert her self and engage with the audience. As far as everything else with this song... Man, you picked a HECK of a song for your first Tori song! HAHAHA
Next do Tori’s performance of “Father Lucifer” on Letterman. She incorporates “Tubular Bells” (think The Exorcist) and part of “Smalltown Boy” by Bronski Beat. 🖤🖤🖤
Tori is on a level most don’t understand. She is one with the lyrics, piano and one with the audience…who else can do that? I believe she is on a super sonic performance level most have not experienced for every self authored song that she sings. I believe that’s why when first listening to her, most are at a grave loss as to how to fit her into a “compartment,” she will never fit into a compartment…that’s the genius of Tori Amos! Please check out her multitude of voice ranges and sly use of the whole keyboard when her lyrics warrant low note ranges for the well thought out product she so carefully plans that help express what she is trying to say in her songs. Again, who else can do that!
Alanis has Tori vibes LOLOL. Tori was doing her thing before Alanis. I saw Tori in concert back in the day and it was indeed enchanting. Love her still and always.
Yeah! Tori was one of those rare artists that helped us old prog fans survive the 90's... Really unique in her expression. (I didn't discover the prog revival of the 90's until 2003... There were actually a couple of Swedish bands (I'm a Swede) taking part in paving for prog again. Änglagård most notably - to my liking - simply fantastic band, up there with the great 70's stuff!)
@@JWSoundworks2 Yeah! They're actually quite high on the users ranking of top 100 prog albums of all times at Progarchives (biggest prog site to my knowledge) Any song of theirs might blow your mind. Surprise me 😊
This video is the craic. I loved hearing your thoughts about this performance. I, too, have recently been introduced to her work and I've been absolutely blown away. My friends - particularly my LGBTQ pals (she was a formative figure to many of them because of songs like this) - have been recommending her for ages so I finally got around to it. Happy I did. Cheers! ☺️
The piano was probably hers. She bought one around this time. There's an interview on TH-cam, maybe 15 minutes, where she's accompanied to the warehouse and filmed trying out different ones and getting a feel for their personalities. I think she owns 2 - 1 for touring, 1 for her home studio in Cornwall. That stance started when she was at the Peabody Conservatory. She'll take whatever stance she has to, though. A lot of her compositions include a large amount of bass. She's talked about training her left hand by watching Stevie Wonder.
That makes sense. I was more certain of the arrangement on the piano being artistic in choice as opposed to her physical position at the piano, and in the middle section she did move into the lower registers (I noticed in hindsight). But some internal dialogue on that initial point hit me on the possibility of it being related to her stance on this first run through. Thanks for the info in your other comments too, and I'll definitely be checking out more of Tori Amos. Her talent is shining through gloriously in this so I couldn't not investigate further! 👍
Funny how you mentioned the similarities with the song "Martha's Harbor"- she has a song on her 2005 album "The Beekeeper" titled "Martha's Foolosh Ginger" which references that song !
Yeah, I knew when I watched this for the second time it was purely an artistic choice for the arrangement of this song. Think I touched upon the higher range being symbolic of the coldness in the song title. That makes more sense, although I still have to unpack the lyrics. Have yet to look into those yet. These initial reactions end up being a bit of a stream of consciousness. For better or worse. lol. Thanks for the comment! :)
0 seconds ago I love this channel! Eventually, Tori started touring with her Bösendorfer pianos. To hear her play live is just everything. Sugar live is nuts Edit: Excuse me, I needed an exclamation mark
Have you reviewed any other Tori Amos performances? I honestly appreciate your commentary more than that of anyone else I've seen/heard. She definitely does not limit her piano range based on her positioning on the bench; she always performs that way and she makes good use of the Bosendorfer's low notes in many songs.
you need to check out the hundreds of releases by THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS 1981-present .also the singer edward kaspel has alot of solo work.Start with the maria dimension.enjoy.
...ummm...hah...OK... yes, I do get captured-enraptured by certain artists. I do. And then I sensibly try to calm myself by a certain amount of over-listening to performances that stun me. Yup, 16 to 38 ...or 177... or.. whatever performances (count not!!!!) TH-cams of the same song. Somewhere along the excessive way, maybe I'll trip goofily over a reaction. (It's about reliving my own discovery thrill, I think?) Anyway, JW Soundworks, I am so tickled by this reaction!!! If I ever suspect reactors might cheat & preview a song, I definitely did not feel that here. Thank you for reminding me of my own startle & thrill at hearing this song from Tori Amos, singular poet-singer (voice & piano both). She probably is not, yet seems, to be fearless. And you, JW, did pretty good, too.
Great reaction. You should check out her performances from Sessions at West 54th. Around that time she played with a band and they’re also great. Caught a lite sneeze is a good one to start with from that session.
@@JWSoundworks2 To be fair, as a Canadian, I must say that this “Alanis” album sounds nothing like Jagged Little Pill, which you reference here. “Alanis” was super sweet bubblegum pop. To the point where after hearing that album for years, when I heard “You Oughta Know” from JLP in 1995, I was like “Wait a minute… THIS is Alanis?!” I definitely see the comparison, but “Under the Pink” was out in 94, JLP in 95. Great reaction vid though. I’d love to see you react to “A Sorta Fairytale”..!
Can't remember if I mentioned in the video or not but I've known about Tori for about 20 years, just never taken the time to listen to her stuff before. 😊
If you're enjoying the content, folks, please consider... 🅿Supporting me on Patreon 👉www.patreon.com/JWSoundworks 🎸Buying my original music 👉🎹therupalface.bandcamp.com/ ☕Supporting me @BuyMeACoffee 👉www.buymeacoffee.com/JWsoundw... Thanks!🤘 JW
@ 5:29, she's making a comment about the Bible that could be interpreted as a blasphemy by Mainstream US Culture so, yeah, she's gonna have a moment of anxiety where her voice goes high and displays it in her Art.
I am a very big Tori fan, but this song pick is not doing her justice at all 😇😉 her normal performance is at least 10 times better than this - especially live 😎🔥 but a great artist pick though 🙏🏻
Hi Suzanne. It's clear that I recognised her genius. Comparing her to Debussy and Ravel quite clearly shows that. Comparing a vocal inflection to another singer doesn't reflect imitation. It recognises similarity. BTW, in case it wasn't clear, the purpose of the reaction is to purposefully not research beforehand so that I am unbiased in my impression. If I was doing a review or analysis that would be different.
Tori Amos was literally the youngest student to ever be accepted to the Peabody Music Conservatory (at the age of five) for her ability to play the piano. So, yeah, she can play the piano kinda good. ...and you compared her to Alanis Morissette. She’s an accomplished musician, vocalist, and song writer... not many popular artists who can claim all three. Good reaction... though a little tone deaf. Hey, how about a reaction to Bannanarama. They’re good too.
😂 I compared her playing/composing to Ravel and Debussy, two of the most lauded classical composers in history. If that's not high praise I don't know what is. Regarding Morissette, there was one very specific vocal moment of the song I thought she resembled her. Morissette was a global phenomenon. She maybe didn't have have the classical chops of Amos but the comparison is in no way meant in a derogatory way. No need for the passive aggressiveness. It cheapens your argument.
🎵🎸Moody, atmospheric, instrumental, one-man-band prog? Right this way 👇
th-cam.com/video/1nWe3g_7pqA/w-d-xo.html
hahaha watching people get flustered by watching Tori perform never gets old to me. I've been a fan of hers for a solid 20+ years now, and I STILL get chills watching her live performances. The camera loves her, and she knows how to just stare into your soul even through a lens.
That said, check out her live version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit." I swear, it's still one of the sexiest things I've ever seen, and it's literally just her and a piano, just like in this clip.
OK you definitely need to start your Tori Amos journey ASAP, you have a void that you didn’t realize you had. A few things worth mentioning... She was a child prodigy. She still holds the record for being the youngest individual to be accepted into the Peabody Conservatory of Music at the age of five(!). Alanis Morissette was influenced by her, not the other way around. The majority of her lyrics are filled with metaphor and symbolism. It’s worth the time to dig deep into her lyrics. She writes all of her own music. She is known for her position on the piano bench. On some some songs she does live she’s playing both the piano and the harpsichord at the same time. She is also incredibly versatile; you really need to check her music out, it’s quite an amazing journey. Please react to more of her you won’t regret it. 👍
Thanks Brian, I've been aware of her name for a long long time and yet never found myself diving into her music before. Where would you suggest I start? Loved this.
@@JWSoundworks2 You could try a bunch of random songs but honestly, I would give her first album Little Earthquakes a listen if album reviews are something you want to try. If not, then some notable songs off that album: Crucify, Precious Things, Winter, Me and a Gun
@@JWSoundworks2 I’m new to your channel so uncertain if you only react to live performances. If that is the case then I would recommend (for starters): Precious Things, The Waitress, iieee, Pretty Good Year, Caught A Lite Sneeze... If you’re open to listening/reacting to albums, then with any great (and important) artist I always recommend starting from their debut and going in chronological order. I can send you specific links for live performances if you’d like. :) (Excited for you btw... I know and understand that particular thrill upon discovering “new” artists and music.)
All of this. She's a goddess.
@@witchestomotheryou234 I'm up for pretty much anything in this reaction series. I had been doing some live performances due to their visual appeal - for people to watch instead of just watching my face lol. If you check some of my other videos you'll see I'm also into covering lots of different styles. Thanks.
“The way she’s exaggerating everything” is a total Tori mood.
lol yes! love her so much, she's amazing, unique. Tori is wonderful. Icicle, icicle, and that's why she does it this way. JW: 'I don't know what it's about'. Come on! Listen to the words! Maybe it's cos I know her background of being raised as a pastor's daughter but still, you CAN hear what it's about. Perhaps concentrate on the technique AND the song's lyrics x
@@suziejane1008 hi Suzanne. You must be incredibly gifted to be able to hear a song once and understand everything about it! 😜 As I've explained in my other videos before, as an instrumental musician I'm hard-wired to listen and focus on arrangement and instruments on a first listen. I don't normally pay attention to lyrics until a third, fourth of even fifth listen, depending on how complex the arrangement is. The voice is usually an instrument (first and foremost) to my ears. Lyrics have always been an after thought. I know I'm not alone in this as an instrumental musician.
P. S. I also have some of my students/students' parents, some of whom are quite young, who follow some of the content on my youtube page (I also upload a lot of piano performances). And yes, I did get the gist of what she was singing about, and I was in no way going to have a discussion about it on camera with the possibility of some of them seeing it! 🤐
@@toddmathers5075 huh? Who are you talking to?
@@JWSoundworks2I could tell from your facial expressions that you definitely got it and just chose not to comment 😂
Tori Amos. There is NO other vocalist with more intensity and charisma on stage
Unusual is the word. She is just so damn good.
Incredible!
@@JWSoundworks2 definitely explore her more. She’s well worth it.
"Getting off, getting off, while they're all downstairs, singing prayers, sing away, he's in my pumpkin pjs". The black metal lover in me always adored those unholy lyrics. ;)
The nerve to play this on Jay Leno lolol! Love that gal!
I feel the same way about her Father Lucifer performance on David Letterman. Tori is v metal. :)
@@danverdeja Iconic!
She really gave zero fucks. More metal than most.
Tori Amos is amazing. Prodigy pianist. She describes seeing music as color and lights in her mind as a small child.
Her album “Little Earthquakes” was rejected by her label initially. They wanted to replace all the piano with guitar... think about what a loss that would have been.
This song is a masterpiece!
JWS "Maybe she restricts herself to certain keys"
Tori Live: [responds with 2 pianos]
😂 I knew I'd live to regret that one. Just trying to flesh out the idea of the higher register playing. Purely artistic, and for the song it turns out lol.
@@JWSoundworks2 lol, yeah she's eclectic in style, I've been following her her entire career and own everything she's ever produced...try Montreux 1991/1992 (basically any track, there's lots on TH-cam), Precious Things Live Session 1998 (playing with a band), Tori Amos live IIIEEE (Band plus Tori playing piano and keyboards), Mohammed My Friend featuring Maynard from Tool, Baker Baker live at The Current (starts a little abruptly, but shows her in her 50s, still kickin it), Tori Amos Caught a Lite Sneeze Live (a few options will turn up in a search, but search for acapella if you just want to check her voice out)
Caught A Lite Sneeze starts acoustic but goes into piano in the middle and ends with self percussion - its kinda raw and in a specific vibe - kinda cool
She's a bloody genius on the pianosss/harpsichord/anything
thanks for such a thorough and thoughtful reaction - i really appreciate that your analysis went deeper than just, "pretty girl, pretty piano, pretty voice, kinda weird lyrics," as is too often the case with tori reactions.
you should totally check out her '97 live performance of 'pretty good year': th-cam.com/video/dJkzi6kCy0E/w-d-xo.html
Thank you, Justin. I appreciate that!
Oh, mate, you're bringing me back now to being a newly teenager and seeing a goddess for the first time in Tori Amos. Redefining my sexuality, religion, and how I view the world and listen to music in one fell swoop. I've been crushing on her since 1994. I'm absolutely loving your takes on her methodology -- I'd love to see you react to more of her. Tori has a lot to say about her Bosendorfer, she's got Big Piano Feels about each one, the way it feels, and which kind works best for each of her albums. I could just go on for days. I could literally watch you watchin' her for days. So record some more. :D
i can’t believe she did this on Jay Leno! he’s such a square.
Please listen to her record Boys for Pele it’s an absolute masterpiece. My particular favs on that record would be Horses and Marianne
Thanks for the suggestion, Amy! 👍
Most of the pictures for boys for Pete were taken where I live in Breaux Bridge which is really a small town. but a lot of old run down historic buildings and open fields for their photo shoots. I actually live about 2 minutes away from where she was breastfeeding the pig and sitting on the porch with the shotgun and most of the other shots were max 5 to 10 minutes away. I really wish I would have lived here at this time they were doing the shots
Tori could play Mozart by age 2. And was/and still is the youngest person ever admitted into the Peabody Institute at age 5. Her father is a Methodist minister, and her mother comes from the Cherokee nation. She's an interesting person, and her lyrics are quite clever.
@@fallingdownthestairsallday6008 k. I should've added "play by ear".
When she sang about her "hiding place", I LOVED your facial expression! Great comments. This was one of the first songs I ever heard by Tori.
My crush back in the 90's. Check out her song Winter.......😍
Subbed because I HAVE to watch you discover more of this phenomenal artist and her work.
Tori is The Siren. She captivated me in the 90s and have followed her since.
She has some wonderful covers and an outstanding winter album.
That is her own piano. She has several and uses the extra left octave on a lot of pieces.
Another stunning pianist is Victoriya Termolveya...vkgoeswild...she shares her practice sessions. A favorite of mine "Chelsea Wolfe - 16 Psyche - piano cover" I've watched her break bass piano strings twice, on grand pianos. Mesmerizing hands.
I would enjoy Tori doing instrumentals of some of her work.
I've been following some of VK's work for several years now. She's an incredible pianist!
I'd love to hear you analyse more Tori from a classical standpoint. That's not something I ever hear and it is so interesting. I hear a lot about her pop/rock influences and similarities... not so much classical. Great reaction.
Thanks for the comments, Brittny. Glad you enjoyed!
This was about a year before Alanis Morrissette’s “Jagged Little Pill.”
I can’t believe she played icicle on Jay Leno 😂😂🥶😍 I know you were listening in a technical/ artist reaction to another artist working. But now dive into the lyrics 😉🙃🙂🫠
Right? I’m laughing over here! Balls of steel!
Tori's live performances typically knock the socks off the album versions. She doesn't reduce the complexity when she plays live and
she keeps things interesting by making entirely new arrangements. The music coupled with her emotional intensity is pretty captivating.
I think she's amazing from what I've heard so far. Any particularly good live performances you'd recommend?
@@JWSoundworks2 It it so hard to choose but I'll post a few :)
Blood Roses - This is completely different from the album version. She also plays it live with the harpsichord as well, but it was a finicky instrument to tour with. She sits at the piano bench with one leg behind her for diaphragm support while singing (this is what she said, and to me it makes perfect sense)
th-cam.com/video/-33MPuhTl4I/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/ILkG2RfjaJA/w-d-xo.html
Wow, a Tori Amos reaction! Fantastic! I didn't really "get" her when I was younger but now she blows me away.
I'd love to see your reaction to Japanese all-female band Band-Maid with their song "Blooming". Good luck with your channel!
Thank you so much! I will add your suggestion to my list of requests 😊. Tori is definitely one of a kind. Will need to explore more of her music.
“Father says bow your head like the good book says.. Well I think the good book is missing some pages”. Damn
Tori is a unique one of kind talent, and she produced a very large output of top notch quality material. There are at least 5 essential albums, 'Little Earthquakes', 'Under the Pink', 'Boys for Pele', 'Choirgirl Motel', & 'Scarlets Walk'. Her live performances (as you got a taste) are consistently great--total commitment to the performance and connection to the audience. She also does great covers with interesting piano arrangements (check out her cover Led Zepplin cover of 'Thank you' as an example. Happy digging !
Thanks Seth, there's clearly a wealth of her material out there, I must get started on that!
@@JWSoundworks2 I enjoyed your review/reaction, Thanks! For context, I'm not a musician, but long-time avid listener with tastes for classic Jazz, Blues, Soul, Rock & Progressive Rock. Love Frank Zappa. So Tori Amos is a bit off that radar zone although I do love other female vocalists like Joni Mitchell, Lucinda Williams, Betty Carter etc...Would love to see you do more Tori as you seem very knowlegeable and perceptive.
@@sethleon2158 thank you Seth. Big Zappa fan, myself. Went to see his son Dweezil Zappa live a few years back in Dublin. Was a fantastic concert. Also enjoy some Joni Mitchell and am into my prog rock. Check out some of my other videos, I have a Gentle Giant one there you might like. Cheers for the recommendations!
When you said she had you "hot under the collar", I chuckled. Welcome to the club! She was/is, in my opinion, the sexiest woman alive. This hetero woman has had a massive crush on her for a very long time and I'm not alone.
I will add my voice to those saying go chronologically. I've been a fan since 1994 & don’t really have time for a lot of other music because it can't even compare. Fiona Apple is my #2, & I love a lot of different types of music, I just *need* that Tori emotional blanket. She claims to be led by Muses, & I tend to believe her after learning that Marianne was an improv that her husband was around to press Record for. Bells for Her is also a confirmed improv, & I'm sure half of her b-sides are as well. Oh, yeah. There's dozens of those, they're usually her "favorite" that "got kicked off in the last minute in mastering because I am SUCH a ding-a-ling", and they are SO important in her catalog. Soundtrack album songs are also fan favorites. Siren, Butterfly, Carnival....top 20.
If you're brave & enjoy 80s music, eventually you could dive into her pre-solo career album, Y Kant Tori Read. She was ashamed of it for years because of the image - big hair, tight leather, sword in hand. She caved to record executives and let them mold her & her music. It was a complete failure, but she was still under contract so they sent her to England & she started doing there what she was doing in LA (bars, hotels...her life since she was 14 years old in the gay bars & lobbyist lounges in D.C.). The British liked her, & the rest is history. Nowadays she doesn't have the same attitude about the album. I really, really like it. The core, looking past the 80s production, is solid. She plays some of the songs in concert & re-released it a few years ago.
My favorite album is Boys for Pele. Harpsichord punk & beautiful melodies. I think you'd dig it.
It’s about her overly religious grandmother coming over for Easter (the grandmother is the monster) and she’s not into the whole visit. The Bosenderfer is hers and she brings it to every performance.
it's so awesome to watch you react to her for the first time! loved it
Thank you!
she has more talent in one finger than swift, gaga, grande and co in their whole bodies together...
i normally hate to say this, but if an artist is underrated, then tori... she is in the top 3 female artist ever for me...
i think you absolutely should react to her performance of blood roses live from new york 1998, so you get a better taste of her range both on keys (that song is on harpsichord) and on vocals. it's my favorite song and performance of hers and i think you'll see why
Love your reaction. Love Tori. Love All About Eve. . . so good the things you noticed and references you made.
I really really enjoyed the fact that you decided to react to Tori Amos. Especially how you were interested in taking apart the way that she played the piano and what register she was singing in. Everything Tori did was completely intentional. Although you can hear her beautiful voice here I so encourage you to listen to her more. Especially in the early days all of her compositions for her and the piano or harpsichord. Other songs you would love to see it the way she drew homes on the piano, and some songs she sings with three pianos around her all different ones swiveling i’m playing the all! She was a child prodigy and grew up in a very strict Christian home but her father was a pastor so there is a lot of resentment found in many of her songs. Her first album Little Earthquakes became the soundtrack for my life in 1991 while a freshman in high school and then under the pink blew me away even more. Saw her in concert In 1995. An absolutely unexpected and transcendent experience. Please check out her live singing winter, crucify or Silent all these years. And under the pink album Cornflake Girl, pretty good year etc. you won’t be sorry. Also about her voice, she has the most amazing breath control of any artist I’ve ever seen. It allows her to take her voice in all sorts of places for a long period of time on that one breath. It’s been commented that she makes love to the microphone, and other times to the piano, and I have to add other times to the piano bench itself. Great job. ❤️
Thank you for the suggestions and good info. I must have a look at some more from Tori, for sure ! 😊
I have been missing your analyses on youtube John, enjoyed your comments and above all seeing you enjoy listening to music
So now I have to listen to more Tori Amos.
I thought your pondering the range/camera shot/audience viewpoint was a really interesting insight.
Thanks for the comment dude. I've not seen many singing pianists take this dominant stance when playing before. So much so that she's using the "wrong" foot to pedal (quotations because... like it matters here!). Really great way for her to keep the connection with the room.
God Damn, I can't believe she chose "Icicle" for Leno, what an absolute BEAST!!!!!D
Def WAY more transgressive than anyone could obviously have imagined for mainstream television of the day, I wonder if Leno could possibly have known.....!?!D
Bassendorfers have def been her pianos of choice for most of her career.
Yeah, Tori fans, especially back then, they can get pretty intense, of course some showed up for this... really rather early for such a coherent fandom as well.....!!)
Love it!
Thanks man!
sublime tori amos🙌
This did come out before Alans, this was from Tori's 2nd album. It came out about 1.5 years before Jagged Little Pill, FWIW
I know I'm a little late to the party on this, but I've been a fan since I discovered "Under The Pink' (even though it came out in 92, it wasn't until I was in Eighth grade that I found her), but I'll tell ya, my favorite album (And she wrote several since) is "Night of Hunters".It was commissioned by Dutch Grammaphone as a "20th century" song cycle featuring influences from classical composers like Mozart and Debussy. She did all the arrangements for a small orchestra and recorded it in an old Manor House on the Irish moors. Her daughter and niece even perform on the album.
I’d highly suggest listening to her 1999 album To Venus and Back… but make sure it’s the live version. Incredible songs like Sugar and Cloud on my tongue
You have to do "Winter" Live in montreux 92. Beautiful performance about her father. Also there is a great interview with her when she is piano shopping. It really gives you an insight into her. Fascinating artist. She feels the music and sees pianos as living things.
Thanks for the request and info, will have to get round to doing more Tori for sure!
Everyone does this. I'm glad he did something different
@@golddustmommy4772 me too but I thinking more for him more than catering for people watching.
I second this 💪🏻🔥 great performance indeed 😎
Ahhh love Tori so much! Great reaction! You should react to her live performance of her song blood roses on New York in 1997! I think it’s on TH-cam! Amazing video!
Thanks for the suggestion, this was fantastic! 😊
I've seen that Tour in 1997 and it blew me away. My first concert of her (a I live in Germany). I've been to 13 Tori Amos Concerts since and loved every Song. She plays random cover requests too, different songs on every Evening. Please react to a live video of hers!
In regards to the way she sits at the piano: It was cultivated over her years of playing in clubs from an early age (13 I think). Her dad was always with her but she seems to have adopted that way of sitting as a way to both assert her self and engage with the audience. As far as everything else with this song... Man, you picked a HECK of a song for your first Tori song! HAHAHA
The QUEEN.
Next do Tori’s performance of “Father Lucifer” on Letterman. She incorporates “Tubular Bells” (think The Exorcist) and part of “Smalltown Boy” by Bronski Beat. 🖤🖤🖤
You've definitely made that request enticing. The Exorcist is one of my favourite movies and I love the soundtrack. I'll add that to the list. Thanks.
@@JWSoundworks2 woohoo! It’s easy to find on TH-cam, but just in case: th-cam.com/video/UWqxX8CdIn0/w-d-xo.html
OMG, yes! That performance of Father Lucifer on Letterman is so amazing! She looks gorgeous and that Exorcist insert gives me the chills every time!
*everyone* who has seen her perform is hot under the collar, believe me! She's still like that, breathtakingly like herself, and performs quite well.
It's about a young girl discovering her body and taking control back after being abused.
Tori is on a level most don’t understand. She is one with the lyrics, piano and one with the audience…who else can do that? I believe she is on a super sonic performance level most have not experienced for every self authored song that she sings. I believe that’s why when first listening to her, most are at a grave loss as to how to fit her into a “compartment,” she will never fit into a compartment…that’s the genius of Tori Amos! Please check out her multitude of voice ranges and sly use of the whole keyboard when her lyrics warrant low note ranges for the well thought out product she so carefully plans that help express what she is trying to say in her songs. Again, who else can do that!
she can rock the bass octaves for sure … check out more stuff, from this era, you’ll love it.
Did anyone mention that Maynard James Keenan is her friend and they did some duets live?
I did NOT know this. Must investigate further!
Alanis has Tori vibes LOLOL. Tori was doing her thing before Alanis.
I saw Tori in concert back in the day and it was indeed enchanting. Love her still and always.
Yeah! Tori was one of those rare artists that helped us old prog fans survive the 90's... Really unique in her expression. (I didn't discover the prog revival of the 90's until 2003... There were actually a couple of Swedish bands (I'm a Swede) taking part in paving for prog again. Änglagård most notably - to my liking - simply fantastic band, up there with the great 70's stuff!)
I must check them out, Per. I haven't heard of them before! Thanks for the suggestion. 😊🤘
@@JWSoundworks2 Yeah! They're actually quite high on the users ranking of top 100 prog albums of all times at Progarchives (biggest prog site to my knowledge) Any song of theirs might blow your mind. Surprise me 😊
This video is the craic. I loved hearing your thoughts about this performance. I, too, have recently been introduced to her work and I've been absolutely blown away. My friends - particularly my LGBTQ pals (she was a formative figure to many of them because of songs like this) - have been recommending her for ages so I finally got around to it. Happy I did.
Cheers! ☺️
Norn Iron, represent! Glad you enjoyed. Got to get to more Tori ASAP. Thanks! 👍😊
The piano was probably hers. She bought one around this time. There's an interview on TH-cam, maybe 15 minutes, where she's accompanied to the warehouse and filmed trying out different ones and getting a feel for their personalities. I think she owns 2 - 1 for touring, 1 for her home studio in Cornwall.
That stance started when she was at the Peabody Conservatory. She'll take whatever stance she has to, though. A lot of her compositions include a large amount of bass. She's talked about training her left hand by watching Stevie Wonder.
That makes sense. I was more certain of the arrangement on the piano being artistic in choice as opposed to her physical position at the piano, and in the middle section she did move into the lower registers (I noticed in hindsight). But some internal dialogue on that initial point hit me on the possibility of it being related to her stance on this first run through. Thanks for the info in your other comments too, and I'll definitely be checking out more of Tori Amos. Her talent is shining through gloriously in this so I couldn't not investigate further! 👍
This performance ('94) predates the release of Jagged Little Pill ('95) by at least a year. No copying here.
I wasn't implying plagiarism. I was merely comparing what I was hearing to something I was already familiar with and that they were at similar times.
Funny how you mentioned the similarities with the song "Martha's Harbor"- she has a song on her 2005 album "The Beekeeper" titled "Martha's Foolosh Ginger" which references that song !
Tori is actually sponsored by Bösendorfer. There's a video about it somehere on youtube
I think her quirky eye movements are partially because of her synesthesia- she sees a kaleidoscope of colors when she plays
I promise you the arrangement has nothing to do with limiting herself. She normally plays 3 keyboards at shows. Bose is her main lover though
Yeah, I knew when I watched this for the second time it was purely an artistic choice for the arrangement of this song. Think I touched upon the higher range being symbolic of the coldness in the song title. That makes more sense, although I still have to unpack the lyrics. Have yet to look into those yet. These initial reactions end up being a bit of a stream of consciousness. For better or worse. lol. Thanks for the comment! :)
I love that she got you hot under the collar!!!!
"I'm not quite sure what this song is about..."
Tori: Gettiing off, getting off....
Lol I was being sarcastic.
My brother in Christ, Tori could play that huge piano blindfolded, backwards, and upside down. Great reaction.
Tori is known for having deep respect for pianos.
0 seconds ago
I love this channel! Eventually, Tori started touring with her Bösendorfer pianos. To hear her play live is just everything. Sugar live is nuts
Edit: Excuse me, I needed an exclamation mark
The music mimics an icicle.
12:10 I definitely know what you feel🥰🥰
You seemed pretty taken with her in this video. I'm surprised you haven't listened to any other songs by her since this one.
I do intend to get back to Tori, I've just been focusing on the more frequently demanded requests at the moment. Sorry for the wait.
Tori was admitted to Peabody Institute under full scholarship at 5 years old; the youngest accepted to date.
Have you reviewed any other Tori Amos performances? I honestly appreciate your commentary more than that of anyone else I've seen/heard. She definitely does not limit her piano range based on her positioning on the bench; she always performs that way and she makes good use of the Bosendorfer's low notes in many songs.
Thank you, David. I haven't yet.
Please keep going with Tori. If you're even slightly impressed now, know that you haven't scratched the surface of the richness of her body...of work.
you need to check out the hundreds of releases by THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS 1981-present .also the singer edward kaspel has alot of solo work.Start with the maria dimension.enjoy.
“Hot under the collar,” eh? 😂
You picked a song with a more simplistic piano piece. It does not really show what a phenomenal pianist she is. You should check out more of her music
It's not subtle.
(Look for Bob's Burger clip featuring red-haired pianist Tabitha.)
Hahaha, that's class! 😂 Spot on.
She always uses a Bosendorfer, iirc
...ummm...hah...OK... yes, I do get captured-enraptured by certain artists. I do. And then I sensibly try to calm myself by a certain amount of over-listening to performances that stun me. Yup, 16 to 38 ...or 177... or.. whatever performances (count not!!!!) TH-cams of the same song. Somewhere along the excessive way, maybe I'll trip goofily over a reaction. (It's about reliving my own discovery thrill, I think?) Anyway, JW Soundworks, I am so tickled by this reaction!!! If I ever suspect reactors might cheat & preview a song, I definitely did not feel that here. Thank you for reminding me of my own startle & thrill at hearing this song from Tori Amos, singular poet-singer (voice & piano both). She probably is not, yet seems, to be fearless. And you, JW, did pretty good, too.
Great reaction. You should check out her performances from Sessions at West 54th. Around that time she played with a band and they’re also great. Caught a lite sneeze is a good one to start with from that session.
Tori was ASMR before there was ASMR
This album came out in 1994. Before Alanis.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alanis_(album)
@@JWSoundworks2 To be fair, as a Canadian, I must say that this “Alanis” album sounds nothing like Jagged Little Pill, which you reference here. “Alanis” was super sweet bubblegum pop. To the point where after hearing that album for years, when I heard “You Oughta Know” from JLP in 1995, I was like “Wait a minute… THIS is Alanis?!” I definitely see the comparison, but “Under the Pink” was out in 94, JLP in 95. Great reaction vid though. I’d love to see you react to “A Sorta Fairytale”..!
How can this guy not know Tori? She's a legend. Great review though.
Can't remember if I mentioned in the video or not but I've known about Tori for about 20 years, just never taken the time to listen to her stuff before. 😊
I think it's kind of rude to say that just because you adore her. I like Tori Amos but I'm not a fascist.
Tori fans like ,"wait for it....."
You should react to “Cornflake Girl” by Tori Amos
Thanks for the request!
You should read to Cornflake girl, its a fun song
She sometimes plays another keyboard behind her
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@ 5:29, she's making a comment about the Bible that could be interpreted as a blasphemy by Mainstream US Culture so, yeah, she's gonna have a moment of anxiety where her voice goes high and displays it in her Art.
have you checked out "precious things"? you should look into the meaning behind this song.... yeah it is seductive in a way, lol.
Almost 2024 and there is not other Tori Amos yet. And there not will be in much time.
Hot under the collar lol, most people have a religious experience with their first run in with Tori Amos
TIL that Tori performed a song about masturbation on live TV. :D
Great reaction! Would love to see you react to this iconic Tori performance: th-cam.com/video/KWmETxWM0h0/w-d-xo.html
Tori Amos and limiting herself don't go too well together.
check out tori and maynard a song called muhanad i aim on youtube a 25 year old song
"I'm not quite sure what this song is about" It's about masturbation :)
I am a very big Tori fan, but this song pick is not doing her justice at all 😇😉 her normal performance is at least 10 times better than this - especially live 😎🔥 but a great artist pick though 🙏🏻
Hoping to do more of her, definitely. This was the first song request I had for her music. 😊👍
Best song about masturbation ever.
Tori is a genius, and anyone can see that watching her. Tori was a good few years before Alanis - research is your friend.
Hi Suzanne. It's clear that I recognised her genius. Comparing her to Debussy and Ravel quite clearly shows that. Comparing a vocal inflection to another singer doesn't reflect imitation. It recognises similarity. BTW, in case it wasn't clear, the purpose of the reaction is to purposefully not research beforehand so that I am unbiased in my impression. If I was doing a review or analysis that would be different.
@@JWSoundworks2 Tori and Alanis did aTour together! US only...They like each other, so great catch!
Tori Amos was literally the youngest student to ever be accepted to the Peabody Music Conservatory (at the age of five) for her ability to play the piano. So, yeah, she can play the piano kinda good. ...and you compared her to Alanis Morissette. She’s an accomplished musician, vocalist, and song writer... not many popular artists who can claim all three. Good reaction... though a little tone deaf. Hey, how about a reaction to Bannanarama. They’re good too.
😂 I compared her playing/composing to Ravel and Debussy, two of the most lauded classical composers in history. If that's not high praise I don't know what is. Regarding Morissette, there was one very specific vocal moment of the song I thought she resembled her. Morissette was a global phenomenon. She maybe didn't have have the classical chops of Amos but the comparison is in no way meant in a derogatory way. No need for the passive aggressiveness. It cheapens your argument.
@@JWSoundworks2 I'm pretty sure Tori has said one of her favorite composers is Debussy.