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Tori Amos - Pianist, Singer, Songwriter

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By Nicole Winter


A Few of My Favorite Things...

I spend almost every weekend seeing live band(s) perform, but I haven't seen many "big-name" concerts in my time. There's one act that I'll shell out the big bucks for repeatedly, though... I love seeing Tori Amos perform live! Sure, she sounds great in the studio, but nothing beats seeing her on stage, strutting her stuff and performing vocal acrobatics while getting intimate with her keyboard(s).

Rasberry Swirl - LIVE

As you can see from the video, Tori Amos loves being on stage. I enjoy her performances in part because of the easy rapport she builds with her audience. She can make the hugest venue seem cozy and personal. She isn't afraid of poking fun at herself, either... the last concert I went to at the VIC she forgot part of the lyrics to one of her songs... after she was finished performing she joked around about it... everyone got a good laugh when she told us the next song was contingent on if she could remember the words. She didn't pause or miss a beat, she just kept playing. To me, that is real showmanship.

I've been to five Tori Amos concerts in all, and I've thoroughly enjoyed each one. Four of the five concerts I've gone to were seriously girl-oriented events... Usually drumming up money for children / women's programs, the atmosphere oozes estrogen and good-will. The concert at the VIC had more men in the audience than any of the other concerts I'd been to combined... even some single guys were in the audience, which surprised me. It was also the only concert of hers I had seen at a venue which allowed liquor. (Though at those prices I think I would have just rather done a little bar-hopping before hand.)


Last Christmas my boyfriend gave me this video collection, a must-have for true Tori Amos fans. It isn't the same as seeing her in concert, but some of the video's are pure genius! I especially liked the video for Crucify, which was on one of the first albums I bought way back in the high school days. (Little Earthquakes) There are nineteen songs covering two discs on Fade to Red.

Tori Amos is one of my favorite female vocalists. She is extremely talented in everything she does... she writes her own songs, plays piano beautifully and has a fantastic voice. She is a founding member of RAINN and many of her concerts have been fund raisers to help support victims of rape, abuse and incest. She is an incredible role-model for young women everywhere.

Tori Amos - Video Collection: Fade to Red Tori Amos - Video Collection: Fade to Red
Price: $17.52
List Price: $24.98

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Cris A profile image

Cris A  says:
10 months ago

Hey Nicolle! Thanks for this as I am a big fan. My iPod is Toricountry right now and on heavy rotation is sleeps with butterflies! She rocks (but of course you know that)  and she doesn't write songs, she writes poetry and sings them! How cool is that! :D

Nicole Winter profile image

Nicole Winter  says:
10 months ago

Cris A: Awesome! You *have* to get the video collection if you don't have it, yet. Yes, you're absolutely right, she writes poetry & then sings her poems, it is very cool. Also, I was reading that she has an autobiography out, I haven't read it yet, but it might be worth checking out.

Cris A profile image

Cris A  says:
10 months ago

Ok will check the vid out. Thanks :D

foxility profile image

foxility  says:
10 months ago

She's a great artist... love her.

Julie-Ann Amos profile image

Julie-Ann Amos  says:
10 months ago

Oh how I wish I was as musical as she is but all we share is a name - she's always good.

Nicole Winter profile image

Nicole Winter  says:
10 months ago

foxility: Happy you like her, too! Thanks for coming by and taking the time to read and comment on my hub!

Julie-Ann Amos: *giggle* Man... don't we all? She's awesome, thanks for taking the time to read and comment.

Madison Parker profile image

Madison Parker  says:
10 months ago

Nicole,

My late daughter was a huge Tori fan. She used to play her music for me and describe the meaning, both what Tori meant and the way Jodi saw it. She had every one of Tori's albums.

My nieces are also Tori Fans. We all went to a concert after Jodi died, together, as a group. Somehow, Tori reaches out and touches the hearts of her fans in a way that perhaps no other woman artist ever has. She is a special lady.

Good hub!

Madison

Nicole Winter profile image

Nicole Winter  says:
10 months ago

Madison Parker: Thank-you so much for stopping by and sharing your experiences with us! I appreciate you taking the time out to read and comment on my hub, you're right, Tori Amos has an innate ability to touch the hearts of many people, especially girls. Thank-you.

tony0724 profile image

tony0724  says:
10 months ago

I have always been about hardrock and punk but have always enjoyed Tori Amos.My favorite Tori Amos moment was when I saw her live at the SD civic center . She was In the middle of performing a song when some self absorbed young lady was on her cellphone In the front row ! She promptly stopped the song and told her to get the@#^% out ! I was Indeed proud of her and joined the crowd In applauding her as I could not believe the rudeness and audacity of that young lady. Oh and by the way the performance was great ! Godd pianist good songwriter better singer ! Listen to the piano on "Cornflake Girl " Its awesome !

Nicole Winter profile image

Nicole Winter  says:
10 months ago

tony0724: Wow, that is fantastic, thank-you so much for coming by and sharing that anecdote with us! I love hearing about everyone's personal experiences like this. The piano on Cornflake Girl is absolutely incredible, absolutely! I get chills when I listen to the piano for "Precious Things" ... Just thought I'd share, thanks :)

I'm surprised people didn't throw things at her. That is beyond rude, I've never seen anyone do something like that before, but then again, I haven't been to a lot of concerts. Thanks for taking the time to read my hub & share your story with us, I really appreciate it!

MatthewCepican  says:
10 months ago

Great hub! Yeah, Tori Amos is incredible. Little Earthquakes was my first love!

Nicole Winter profile image

Nicole Winter  says:
10 months ago

MatthewCepican: Awesome, thanks for taking the time to read and comment! I love Little Earthquakes, too, obviously. If you get a chance to check out the video comp, it's awesome!

Frieda Babbley profile image

Frieda Babbley  says:
9 months ago

I LOVE TORI AMOS!  OMG!  I SAW HER WHEN SHE CAME TO ST. LOUIS AND IT WAS THE BEST CONCERT EVER!  I PLAY HER PIECES ON THE PIANO AND SING MY HEART OUT DESPITE MY LACK OF TALENT COMPARED TO HERS.  I AM WRITING IN CAPS, BY THE WAY, BECAUSE I LOVE TORI AMOS!!!!!!!!  WE'RE FRIENDS ON MYSPACE AND EVERYTHING.  (OKAY, SHE DOESN'T WRITE ME, BUT WE'RE FRIENDS!  YAEE!)  ps. did you see her video on my new hubbers article?  she can even sing The Bevery Hillbillies song with style!  DID I MENTION I LOVE TORI?!

Nicole Winter profile image

Nicole Winter  says:
9 months ago

*smile* Thanks so much, Frieda Babbley! I appreciate you coming by and taking the time out to read and comment on my hub. That is really cool that she befriended you on MySpace, I love the video on your Hub Page Help for New Hubbers:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Get-the-most-out-of-hubs-o

That's real showmanship, ain't it?!? Thanks again for coming by and sharing with us!

Misha profile image

Misha  says:
9 months ago

Love her, too :)

If you did not hear it before, you might like this little gem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2Ldt2b-SC8

Frieda Babbley profile image

Frieda Babbley  says:
9 months ago

Excellent one Misha! I'd never seen that one. Dear God is she good or what.

Shalini Kagal profile image

Shalini Kagal  says:
9 months ago

Nicole I envy you being able to watch her live! Tori Amos, Kate Bush and Katie Melua are among my favourite female artistes - thanks for this hub!

Nicole Winter profile image

Nicole Winter  says:
9 months ago

Misha: Awesome, thank-you for coming by and sharing that with us!

Shalini Kagal: You're very welcome, thank-you for taking the time out to stop by and comment!

dagny roth profile image

dagny roth  says:
9 months ago

Hi Nicole...I Love Tori! I have never had the opportunity to see her live but my brother saw her and told me she plays Piano with her feet??!! Anyone seen this?

Nicole Winter profile image

Nicole Winter  says:
9 months ago

LOL, wow, yeah, that's right! I remember seeing her do that some odd years back, now, hadn't thought about it in the longest time. I mean, obviously, she doesn't do the whole concert like that, but yes, she can play with her feet! Pretty nifty, huh? Thanks for coming by dagny roth, I hope you get to see her in concert sometime, it is *so* worth the $$$.

Shalini Kagal profile image

Shalini Kagal  says:
8 months ago

Hi Nicole - congrats on those 500 fans!

Lgali profile image

Lgali  says:
8 months ago

nice hub

Nicole Winter profile image

Nicole Winter  says:
8 months ago

Shalini Kagal: LOL... hehe... thanks, man :) I've been watching my fan page creep towards 500 for so long now I'm kind of still in shock.

Lgali: Thanks! I hope you liked it.

K.D. Clement profile image

K.D. Clement  says:
7 months ago

I love watching her live too! Her concerts are fantastic. Fun hub.

Nicole Winter profile image

Nicole Winter  says:
7 months ago

K.D. Clement: Hey, happy to meet another Tori fan! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

Christoph Reilly profile image

Christoph Reilly  says:
4 months ago

I've always been a Tory Amos fan! Great piece on a great artist!

Jodi Hoeksel profile image

Jodi Hoeksel  says:
4 months ago

I love Tori Amos's music. She is quite a talent!

Nicole Winter profile image

Nicole Winter  says:
4 months ago

Christoph Reilly: Hey, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read and comment, I really appreciate it!

Jodi Hoeksel: She really is! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, I appreciate it!

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