Women In Music: Where is Fiona Apple

News Type: Opinion — Tue Apr 8, 2008 3:45 PM EDT

entertainment, music, hot-chicks, listen-in, kymlee-music, fiona-apple, wim

Extraordinary Machine album artwork.

This is a Listen In feature.

At the tender age of 17 Fiona Apple made her debut in 1994 with Tidal and her breakout hit, "Criminal". With poetic lyrics sung in a deep alto and driven by Apple's passionate piano playing, most will agree that Fiona Apple is an artist. Likewise, her public image has appeared at times temperamental and tumultuously conflicted.

It was during what could arguably be considered the most successful point in her music career, Apple became subject to parody and the butt of many jokes for her "This world is bulls---" VMA acceptance speech. That speech marked a turning point in her relationship with the public. While her music continued to evolve and seemed to coincide with Apple's own emotional growth and maturity, she was never quite able to live down her images as petulant child. In fact, each subsequent release came and went relatively quietly; each increasingly obscure.

The magic of Fiona Apple's music lies in the emotion infused into each note, each belted throaty riff, and every heavy handed stroke of the piano. She also has an ability to control her breathing that any vocalist would (and should) aspire to. In the beginning of her career, Apple admitted she was so concerned with proving her intellect she became wordy with her delivery. By her 2006 release Extraordinary Machine she revealed a poetic, folksy and vaudevillian style.

Although understated, Apple's second album When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He'll Win the Whole Thing 'Fore He Enters the Ring There's No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and if You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where to Land and if You Fall It Won't Matter, 'Cuz You'll Know That You're Right, received critical acclaim and ended up on many lists of the year's best in 1999, and that wordy title earned her a world record. Apple's maturity was apparent, though songs such as "Love Ridden" and "I Know" indicated she continued to find inspiration in angst and sick love.

A conflict between Apple and record label Epic/Sony BMG almost kept the 2005 album Extraordinary Machine from being released. It was the fervent cries of fans demanding for Fiona to be freed, that inspired her to not only finish the album but re-master the original tracks that had been leaked over the Internet. Even without the help of radio or a hit single, the LP reached No. 7 on US charts.

Apple has maintained a relatively low profile since the release of Extraordinary Machine and die-hard fans, while accustomed to long stretches between her albums, are certainly aching for her return. With a pop landscape littered with the likes of Danity Kane and Pussycat Dolls, the world is in dire need of substantial music from strong women.

See more Women in Music features from Listen In Music.
Read more music news, reviews and opinions by Kymlee.
Cross posted to Listen In Music.

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{"commentId":1669157,"authorDomain":"kymlee"}

kymlee

I want more! And the iTunes Originals don't count, that was just previous songs remixed. I want something new.

{"commentId":1669157,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"kymlee"}

3 votes

#1 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 3:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":1669264,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

Eric Atienza

When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He'll Win the Whole Thing 'Fore He Enters the Ring There's No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and if You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where to Land and if You Fall It Won't Matter, 'Cuz You'll Know That You're Right

Wow.

{"commentId":1669264,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"deatienza"}

4 votes

#2 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 4:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":1669301,"authorDomain":"kymlee"}

kymlee

Hehe, yeah.

{"commentId":1669301,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"kymlee"}

3 votes

#2.1 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 4:31 PM EDT

{"commentId":1669722,"authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

Ryan Stolte-Sawa

...That's what she said?

{"commentId":1669722,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

3 votes

#2.2 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 6:11 PM EDT

{"commentId":1669351,"authorDomain":"Infohack"}

Infohack

Apple has maintained a relatively low profile since the release of Extraordinary Machine

To say the least. You could have easily gone with the headline, "Whatever Happened to...Fiona Apple?"

{"commentId":1669351,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"Infohack"}

4 votes

#3 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 4:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":1669486,"authorDomain":"kymlee"}

kymlee

That's the title I wanted to use but I had to stay within the Listen In guidelines. As I told Eric yesterday, structure keeps me in check.

Keep in mind though, that she's always been low profile between albums and they were all relatively spaced out (3-5 years apart)...I'm trying to be patient but dammit I'll be so upset if she never puts out another album.

{"commentId":1669486,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"kymlee"}

3 votes

#3.1 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 5:14 PM EDT

{"commentId":1669526,"authorDomain":"Infohack"}

Infohack

Keep in mind though, that she's always been low profile between albums

Well, given the strength of her debut I guess I had higher expectations overall since then. She seemed to never really get out of her 'sophomore slump' with another breakout offering.

{"commentId":1669526,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"Infohack"}

3 votes

#3.2 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 5:22 PM EDT

{"commentId":1669725,"authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

Ryan Stolte-Sawa

By the way, Kimkym, the only requirement for titles in this feature is that you include "Women In Music:" as the opening title. After the colon, you can include whatever you want. So you can rename this one "Women In Music: Where the @!$%# is Fiona Apple?" if you want. :)

{"commentId":1669725,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

3 votes

#3.3 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 6:14 PM EDT

{"commentId":1669746,"authorDomain":"kymlee"}

kymlee

Infohack I think she's ok with not being a mega hit. She's an artist and while she understands she has an audience, I don't think she minds not having a huge audience. Trust me, she has a small cult following; myself included.

Ryan I think I shall! :D

{"commentId":1669746,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"kymlee"}

3 votes

#3.4 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 6:20 PM EDT

{"commentId":1669902,"authorDomain":"Infohack"}

Infohack

I meant in terms of critical acclaim rather than chart position or album sales.

I remember her debut, the way she belted out lyrics in that powerful and angst-filled voice, she was being compared to jazz greats like Nina Simone.

When The Pawn wasn't as strong an effort, IMHO.

{"commentId":1669902,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"Infohack"}

3 votes

#3.5 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

{"commentId":1669942,"authorDomain":"tcervo"}

gecko85

I liked When the Pawn... quite a bit. Possibly even more than her debut...

{"commentId":1669942,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"tcervo"}

3 votes

#3.6 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 7:13 PM EDT

{"commentId":1670051,"authorDomain":"kymlee"}

kymlee

I preferred When the Pawn... too. I thought it was far more mature, and I still think Tidal was more mass audience friendly than either of her subsequent releases. And I patently reject any comparisons to Nina Simone. Aside from the deep alto, I don't think the two are even in the same bracket (obviously I have Nina Simone on a pedestal ;)).

{"commentId":1670051,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"kymlee"}

2 votes

#3.7 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 7:50 PM EDT

{"commentId":1670223,"authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

Ryan Stolte-Sawa

I remember her debut, the way she belted out lyrics in that powerful and angst-filled voice, she was being compared to jazz greats like Nina Simone.

When The Pawn wasn't as strong an effort, IMHO.

At such a young age, you run the serious risk of having something you want to say so badly that you burn up by the end of album one. I felt like the themes on When The Pawn... were in many ways a rehashing of what she wrote on Tidal.

I also think that her sophomore album didn't show much musical growth. Most variation between the two can really be chalked up to production, and that's not what you listen for with Fiona. She recorded exclusively on majors, and they won't stand for a single second of subpar studio quality. I guess over the years I haven't heard much, if any, improvement in her songwriting abilities.

This isn't to say that When the Pawn... isn't good. It's just...more of the same, in my opinion.

{"commentId":1670223,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

3 votes

#3.8 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 8:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":1670288,"authorDomain":"kymlee"}

kymlee

I felt like the themes on When The Pawn... were in many ways a rehashing of what she wrote on Tidal.

No argument from me there. The production was much more clean, and even more so on Extraordinary Machine. I noticed development in song writing and in vocal ability, the fullness of the sound. The themes were the same but as I said in the article, the music is really about the emotion and few things are more emotional than a woman scored. But I like Extraordinary Machine because it is less bitter and a bit of a departure. Of course there's the recurring theme of sick love (why else would she have a song called "Tymps - The Sick in the Head Song"?) but she explores themes as well.

I want to see where the music goes next...if it goes at all...

{"commentId":1670288,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"kymlee"}

3 votes

#3.9 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 9:16 PM EDT

{"commentId":1671627,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

"Whatever Happened to...Fiona Apple?

Good question.

{"commentId":1671627,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

3 votes

#3.10 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 9:52 AM EDT

{"commentId":1669717,"authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

Ryan Stolte-Sawa

SHE WAS SEVENTEEN??!??!?!?!??!!?!?!??!??!?????!!!!!!!!!

@!$%#. I feel old.

I had a big crush on kind of a douchy guy in high school, the guy that every girl had a crush on, and he totally blew me off to date more troubled teens. Whenever I hear "Love Ridden" I think of him....That's so emo.

I stopped listening to her after my junior year of high school. I wonder what Extraordinary Machine was like. Kimkym, did you like it?

{"commentId":1669717,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

3 votes

#4 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 6:10 PM EDT

{"commentId":1669815,"authorDomain":"kymlee"}

kymlee

I absolutely love Extraordinary Machine; Tanya and I wrote a review of the leaked version. There were quite a few people who said the leaked version was CD quality but it don't take much to hear that the songs weren't mixed down very well and they just sounded incomplete. The album itself had kind of loungy and grown up feeling to it. My favorites are "Parting Gift", "Waltz" and "Not About Love" (which I liked a lot more with the orchestra sound as opposed to the more rock oriented one on the LP). "Oh Sailor" got a little radio play but it was possibly the only song remotely suitable for mainstream radio (not because her music isn't great but it doesn't really fit into any radio format).

It's definitely a very good album. If you don't like dissonance and poetry put to music you probably won't like it; but those are both things I like about it...That and just being purely amazed by Apple's breath control.

{"commentId":1669815,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"kymlee"}

4 votes

#4.1 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 6:38 PM EDT

{"commentId":1670551,"authorDomain":"ajzzz"}

ajzzz

I've got my feet on the ground
And I don't go to sleep to dream

{"commentId":1670551,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"ajzzz"}

#5 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 10:49 PM EDT

{"commentId":1671587,"authorDomain":"keggerlord-1"}

Jay Keggerlord

I can't remember... is she the one that had the jacked-up teeth and the really big .... uh, talents?

{"commentId":1671587,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"keggerlord-1"}

1 vote

#6 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 9:41 AM EDT

{"commentId":2437470,"authorDomain":"girrl"}

day26girrrl

Danity Kane is hottt - I don't care what you say - their voices are tight and their music is fresh. And they're on Making The Band 4 on August 19th on MTV - I ammmmmmm sooooo exciteddd!

{"commentId":2437470,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"girrl"}

#7 - Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":2442653,"authorDomain":"kymlee"}

kymlee

Danity Kane actually won me over during the last season of Making the Band. But I wouldn't call them substantive. Their music is fun, poppy, fluff dance music. Absolutely nothing deep or cerebral about it. But that's ok, because sometimes, you just want a song you can dance to. :)

{"commentId":2442653,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"kymlee"}

3 votes

#7.1 - Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:24 PM EDT

{"commentId":3395102,"authorDomain":"katy24"}

Katy24

i could do with some new fiona apple music. I've been listening to her for about 2 years and i'm not the slightest bit bored of it. But i want more!!

{"commentId":3395102,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"katy24"}

1 vote

#8 - Thu Oct 9, 2008 5:13 AM EDT

{"commentId":7504955,"authorDomain":"aamaltaylor"}

Amal

I've been listening to Fiona since her debut album. She's one of a few artists I can sing to; considering her deep, raspy voice. Eventhough some of the music sounds the same, I do not have a problem with that... I love what she has done.

{"commentId":7504955,"threadId":"247202","contentId":"1418609","authorDomain":"aamaltaylor"}

#9 - Sun Jun 7, 2009 4:21 AM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"247202","isPrivate":false}

KYMLEE

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