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Tori Amos — Spark
Album: from the choirgirl hotel
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 924









Released: 1998
Length: 4:09
Plays (last 30 days): 0
She's addicted to nicotine patches
She's addicted to nicotine patches
She's afraid of a light in the dark
6:58 are you sure where my spark is
Here, here, here

She's convinced she could hold back a glacier
But she couldn't keep baby alive
Doubting if there's a woman in there somewhere
Here, here, here

You say you don't want it again and again
But you don't, don't really mean it
You say you don't want it, this circus we're in
But you don't, don't really mean it
You don't, don't really mean it

If the divine master plan is perfection
Maybe next I'll give Judas a try
Trusting my soul to the ice cream assassin
Here, here, here

You say you don't want it again and again
But you don't, don't really mean it
You say you don't want it, this circus we're in
But you don't, don't really mean it
You don't, don't really mean it

How many fates turn around in the overtime?
Ballerinas that have fins that you'll never find
You thought that you were the bomb, yes well, so did I
Say you don't want it, say you don't want it

How many fates turn around in the overtime?
Ballerinas that have fins that you'll never find
You thought that you were the bomb, yes well, so did I
Say you don't want it, say you don't want it

You say you don't want it again and again
But you don't, don't really mean it
You say you don't want it, this circus we're in
But you don't, don't really mean it
You don't, don't really mean it

She's addicted to nicotine patches
She's afraid of a light in the dark
6.58 are you sure where my spark is
Here, here, here
Comments (119)add comment
 ziakut wrote:

Something very annoying about Tori Amos. Not sure what it is...anyone?




I think it might be all the stupid comments about her music...
 ppopp wrote:

Delicious tune. She's not afraid to go where she's told not to go, and it works well for her.


Have you read the part in her bio where she was kicked out of the Peabody Conservancy of Music in Baltimore, when she was a pre-teen?

Before that, she was the youngest student ever accepted there.
 Solanus wrote:

A young girl should sing whatever way is comfortable & interesting to her - F what other people want to hear. We're making creative young women here, not cookies.


Also, while popular opinion is far from all that matters, this song did chart very well. Obviously some people (like me!) quite enjoy the way she sings.
 Solanus wrote:

A young girl should sing whatever way is comfortable & interesting to her - F what other people want to hear. We're making creative young women here, not cookies.
 
She's hardly " a young girl".  She's been doing this a long time, with a good measure of success, too.

ps great song, in my book

pps the album cover reminds me of a tile  on this:



This song is so great. Hard to describe all the feelings it creates.
And after so many years, still a strong 9 here.
 lkovathana wrote:
Who tells young girls this is the voice people want to hear?  I guess I could be wrong ... but can't stand this type of high-pitched squeaking.

 
A young girl should sing whatever way is comfortable & interesting to her - F what other people want to hear. We're making creative young women here, not cookies.
love this Strong Song
Tori's dad is/was a minister.
Cooking.


BCarn wrote:

Well then, I see the problem...you go to church.

 


 Lazarus wrote:

Everybody in my church loves this song...
 

 
Well then, I see the problem...you go to church.
 Hoosfoos wrote:


 
What's this? This Tragically Boring?
Delicious tune. She's not afraid to go where she's told not to go, and it works well for her.
 jbjnr wrote:

What would the other two be?

 
For me it would be Little Earthquakes and Under the Pink.
 jbjnr wrote:

What would the other two be?

 
A difficult question.  I think like most artists the early stuff stands out most so Little Earthquakes and Under The Pink but after that how do you compare some of these very different albums.  I mean how do you compare Night of Hunters, American Doll Posse and To Venus and Back in any meaningful way?
 CoYoT51 wrote:
A dream made song.
One of my Tori's favorites. She just can't let you indifferent.

 
Well the last part seems true
I have tried liking Tori Amos' music so many times, without luck.. I must realize that I just don't
Thank you for Tori
A dream made song.
One of my Tori's favorites. She just can't let you indifferent.

 aspicer wrote:
Awesome song from what I would say is clearly one her top 3 albums.  A must own Tori album
 
What would the other two be?
Awesome song from what I would say is clearly one her top 3 albums.  A must own Tori album
Who tells young girls this is the voice people want to hear?  I guess I could be wrong ... but can't stand this type of high-pitched squeaking.
 Stingray wrote:
Still don't know what to think about Tori...

 
Huh, an odd response to her, most either lover or hate her.  Personally I like most of what I hear from her. 

The one this that is bugging me now is all the "targeted" ads I get on by browser for her new album. 
"She is addicted to nicotine patches"

Great line, furshur. 
Don't like Tori Amos.  But I do like Kate Bush. And this sounds like Kate Bush, so I like it a lot.
This song has an amazing bridge. 
I keep hearing Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" in this song but not as good....
Still don't know what to think about Tori...
 ziakut wrote:
Something very annoying about Tori Amos. Not sure what it is...anyone?

 
She is just annoying when she sings... besides that I have no problem with her!
 haretic wrote:
I am so thankful that Bill brings these jewels from Tori Amos' catalogue to us.
I could never wade through all of the... less than stellar... material she has put out to find them!
Thank you, Bill.   {#Notworthy}

I think North Korean prison camps make the prisoners listen to this awful music as a form of punishment.


Something very annoying about Tori Amos. Not sure what it is...anyone?
I dream of a radio paradise that doesn't play this kind of music. I guess RP is just like life, you have to take the good with the bad...........

Everybody in my church loves this song...
 
I am so thankful that Bill brings these jewels from Tori Amos' catalogue to us.
I could never wade through all of the... less than stellar... material she has put out to find them!
Thank you, Bill.   {#Notworthy}
 Johnny-smooth wrote:
Bill, enuf of the Tori Amos, does nothing for me, if anything, find her a bit trite. With so many great female vocalists out there, certainly we could get a bit more variety
 
I agree —- ENUF OF TORI.   I do think the variety of female vocalists is good here.   But PLEASE LESS TORI
 terrapin52 wrote:
Noone else quite wales and whines like Tori Amos.  
 
Peter Noone is Welsh? 
Drama Queen and not in a good way.
Bill, enuf of the Tori Amos, does nothing for me, if anything, find her a bit trite. With so many great female vocalists out there, certainly we could get a bit more variety
I'm a fan. Not of everything Tori. But I do like this.
peace within the chaos
I'm addicted to nicotine patches too!
nervt einfach nur
Noone else quite wales and whines like Tori Amos.  
Love Tori!
Since when does "mean it" rhyme with peanut?
Scary!  6
 Mandible wrote:
"y'know, once you've felt life in your body, you can't go back to having been a woman that's never carried life. The other thing is feeling something dying inside you and you're still alive. Obviously when it was happening, it was already over, but in my mind, you don't know that it's over yet. You're doing anything, thinking, Oh God, maybe if I put a cork up myself, maybe it'll keep this little life in. That's why in Spark, I say, 'She's convinced she could hold back a glacier/But she couldn't keep baby alive.' You just start going insane. There's nothing you can do, so so you surrender and then... start again."
— Tori; Q Magazine, May 1998

"Spark is about when I miscarried, in 1996. I was three months pregnant and very excited. All of a sudden I woke up one morning and started to feel bad. The songs started coming soon after. I was really angry at God. Going into a shopping mall and seeing some woman knock the head off her child, I'm going - 'So this is fair?' I don't know where the spirit went, whether she picked another mummy, like, "OK, choose her, then! Hope you're tone deaf!"

Q: One last question. Who is the ice cream assassin?
T: Who do you think that is?
Q: I have no idea
T: Well, people have been praying to him for a very long time and more wars have been fought in his name. The big guy. Think about it.
 
Wow..

 romeotuma wrote:


This song is soooo good for the external auditory meatus...
 
So it must be a 10 then {#Angel}
 jgeyer wrote:
Like them both but I think a celebrity death match between Tori Amos and Kate Bush would be good. 
 
A Celebrity Oil Wrestling match, you mean....

Tori is great.  I think she's one of those female musicians you aither like or dislike, akin to Joni Mitchell.  To compare her to that talentless hack Alannis is unfair to both.

 sirdroseph wrote:
Ok, people, take a snapshot; I actually can tolerate a Tori Amos song; this one is not half-bad.{#Eek}
 
Good,  I've got my camera!

Camer

Tori

Just scoot up there next to Tori....Tori, you look nice but could you lose the book? Smile people! {#Cheesygrin}

Ok, people, take a snapshot; I actually can tolerate a Tori Amos song; this one is not half-bad.{#Eek}
...i like this better the first time she did it in little earthquakes...
"y'know, once you've felt life in your body, you can't go back to having been a woman that's never carried life. The other thing is feeling something dying inside you and you're still alive. Obviously when it was happening, it was already over, but in my mind, you don't know that it's over yet. You're doing anything, thinking, Oh God, maybe if I put a cork up myself, maybe it'll keep this little life in. That's why in Spark, I say, 'She's convinced she could hold back a glacier/But she couldn't keep baby alive.' You just start going insane. There's nothing you can do, so so you surrender and then... start again."
— Tori; Q Magazine, May 1998

"Spark is about when I miscarried, in 1996. I was three months pregnant and very excited. All of a sudden I woke up one morning and started to feel bad. The songs started coming soon after. I was really angry at God. Going into a shopping mall and seeing some woman knock the head off her child, I'm going - 'So this is fair?' I don't know where the spirit went, whether she picked another mummy, like, "OK, choose her, then! Hope you're tone deaf!"

Q: One last question. Who is the ice cream assassin?
T: Who do you think that is?
Q: I have no idea
T: Well, people have been praying to him for a very long time and more wars have been fought in his name. The big guy. Think about it.
 romeotuma wrote:


This song is soooo good for the external auditory meatus...
 
amazing — really...

 betsyroks wrote:
genius girl
 

{#Notworthy}

I like that she's addicted to nicotine patches; I know that sounds weird, but there is something that makes the song's protagonist more accessible in that statement. . .


Liked the pre-Choirgirl Tori more, personally, but this is one of the tracks that seems a 'throwback' to that time from this album.
 iscoot4peace wrote:
Actually though...I like the cover art for reasons which should be obvious.  Did anyone get the number of that steamroller?  I wanted to thank them.
 
{#Lol}

No{#Headache}

Number me among the Tori haters...but she probably does deserve time on RP judging by all the listeners who love her. (A rare moment of grace from an angry old man.  Now back to my rat-catching.)


Actually though...I like the cover art for reasons which should be obvious.  Did anyone get the number of that steamroller?  I wanted to thank them.

yeah! thanks for starting my day off right with some Tori, RP!!
 romeotuma wrote:
This song is soooo good for the external auditory meatus...
 
Are you trying to say that this song is good for the ears? {#Wink}
It took me a while to warm up to Tori Amos but saw a video of her performance live and appreciated her artistry. Her creativity and energy and committment to her tunes really came through. RP is a perfect place for her. I see some people dislike her but then others might dislike their likes. For me it is this variety and exploration that makes RP work. I can always wait for the next tune.
I saw some tv show where she played this, got blown away, and went out to buy my first TA album.  Unfortunately, this is about the only song on the album that I can listen to.  I think it's the guitar and drumming that appealed to me most.
I've always had the impression that she's really quite big on herself, and I feel that it limits some acceptance of her work. 
Can you actually get addicted to nicotine patches?

Also, LOVE THE TORI, KEEP IT COMIN!
 Shimmer wrote:
As a Kate fan, I have to admit that this is pretty good - more energy than a typical Tori Amos song.
 

Yes, more than a nod to Kate here, but darned difficult to despise............
As a Kate fan, I have to admit that this is pretty good - more energy than a typical Tori Amos song.
 mrrmt wrote:
All those sick of Tori-haters, raise YOUR hands.....
 
{#Wave}

Like them both but I think a celebrity death match between Tori Amos and Kate Bush would be good. 
 betsyroks wrote:
genius girl
 

{#Notworthy}
genius girl
I like Tori more all the time.
...one of her better songs i've heard since little earthquakes...
musikalia wrote:
I cannot believe I'm saying this, but the more I hear her on RP, the more I like Tori Amos.
I agree. But with a dis in like. Kate Bush is the real deal.
farbenblinde wrote:
Tori is the youngest person ever admitted to the Peabody/Johns Hopkins Conservatory - at the age of five (5)!!. I think that counts for some talent!
Yes, it does. As does being the archetype of wasting that talent on melodramatic, egocentric, turgid demonstrations of her inability to evolve.
I cannot believe I'm saying this, but the more I hear her on RP, the more I like Tori Amos.
Oh please. Gratuitous Hitler reference # 8,579. It's an old, unoriginal conceit and completely uncalled for in this case. On_The_Beach wrote:
Hitler made us think. He also had millions of ardent followers.
She's nuts...but I love her
I agree that Tori might be overplayed on RP, but damn if she doesn't deserve the attention!
I played this album until it was next to death back in the day...it\'s been awhile since I\'ve heard this track. Thank you!
Love Tori, love this album.
Tori is the youngest person ever admitted to the Peabody/Johns Hopkins Conservatory - at the age of five (5)!!. I think that counts for some talent! babyjuice wrote:
The difference is that kate is actually talented.
Pretty neat way to tie the "sky" set together Bill! 7:02 pm - Tori Amos - Spark 6:59 pm - Shawn Colvin - Wichita Skyline 6:55 pm - Bruce Cockburn - The Whole Night Sky 6:50 pm - Robbie Robertson - Showdown At Big Sky 6:45 pm - The Church - Under The Milky Way - (Starfish album has a song called Spark)
I have loved Tori Amos since 1992. She is fab. I am one of the fans. See her in concert if you can. Hopefully she will be touring the US before long.
ChardRemains wrote:
Admit it, Tori has something. The fact that she can polarize listeners so profoundly means she must be making some of them THINK. Isn't that what a good artist ought to do on a regular basis?
Hitler made us think. He also had millions of ardent followers.
Admit it, Tori has something. The fact that she can polarize listeners so profoundly means she must be making some of them THINK. Isn't that what a good artist ought to do on a regular basis?
babyjuice wrote:
i like the cd cover of her, drowning. if only she would.
GWAR is brilliant, you knob! milehighYinzer wrote:
Doesn't mean she should be rated a 1. I mean the only song I would give a 1 to wounldnt be played on here.........James Blunt, ICP, maybe Gwar.
rastille wrote:
Love it or hate it, I guess... I am voting with the latter group.
I find I'm either/or on a per-song basis. I really like some of her songs, or I can't stand them. For most artists, I'm more likely to have a more gaussian distribution over songs, or at least not bimodal.
We only get to vote once right? Cause I'd like to give this many 1 s
Her band is SO flippin' together!
Love it or hate it, I guess... I am voting with the latter group.
My first Tori song.
thewaxtadpole wrote:
Why must anybody who dislikes an artist be closed minded? I've listened to Tori with an open mind, I just don't particularly like her music. This is pretty good as far as she goes, but it's still only a 4 in my book
Ok not so much close minded. He is a qoute I had on a Modest Mouse song...."Modest Mouse one of my favorite bands of present times. I think they are far higher then mediocre. I do respect anyone's opinion though. I think people form opinions on them like my all time favorite band, the Grateful Dead. Some people hear Jerry and fall in love with it, some people say, "hey this is hippie crap that never ends." I think when there is such a difference in opinions in a band proves that band is good. Nobody seems to not like average FM radio music, it just burns out eventually." It is the same with Tori. She is a great musician, some people it just PERSONALLY doesn't apply too.
llism wrote:
All those sick of Tori, please raise your hand!
All those sick of Tori-haters, raise YOUR hands.....
rocco1207 wrote:
Tori Amos is so much like Kate Bush both in vocal style, and in musical arrangement and I would say subject matter that its impossible to listen to her and not hear Kate. Tori Amos is an American copy of the original.
The difference is that kate is actually talented.
milehighYinzer wrote:
Open those minds up or switch to clearchannel.
Why must anybody who dislikes an artist be closed minded? I've listened to Tori with an open mind, I just don't particularly like her music. This is pretty good as far as she goes, but it's still only a 4 in my book
Johray63 wrote:
Kate Bush influenced, to say the least. It's also true that, considering their simular backgrounds, their music is pretty much alike.
Tori Amos is so much like Kate Bush both in vocal style, and in musical arrangement and I would say subject matter that its impossible to listen to her and not hear Kate. Tori Amos is an American copy of the original.
How does she keep those nicotine patches LIT? Mine always go out. Sorry, couldn't resist. c.
I love how so many great artist have so many mean haters. Come on now. Open those minds up or switch to clearchannel.
babyjuice wrote:
i like the cd cover of her, drowning. if only she would.
i like the cd cover of her, drowning. if only she would.
llism wrote:
All those sick of Tori, please raise your hand!
me me me
This sounds so jarring and unpleasant after that lovely song from Shawn Colvin.
Why Why Why must Tori be heard... ick
Tori sucks. I'm really disappointed by RP this afternoon. I've been subjected to that stupid bing-bong song by Robyn Hitchock and now this. Maybe I just need to turn it off and come back another day.... Bill is obviously off today.
not a stellar Tori, but still effective
Originally Posted by rmurray248: Pretty bad
...And it's not getting any better. I want to like her but this sounds forced, contrived, hokey, pretentious...
Kate Bush influenced, to say the least. It's also true that, considering their simular backgrounds, their music is pretty much alike.
One of my favorite Tori songs.
Pretty bad
So much feeling in her music...love it....