marcoujor: Tori Amos - Totally

Myra Ellen Amos was born in Newton, NC on August 22nd, 1963 - just two years after me. She changed her name after a friend's boyfriend told her she looked more like a 'Tori''.

At the age of 11, Tori was granted a full scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory of Music, as her family had moved to Silver Springs, MD. After displaying a blatant fondness for rock and popular music and a lack of ability to read sheet music, Amos lost the scholarship.

As a young girl, I often thought Dad was rough on me. He questioned why I didn't 'bring home the 100', when I had scored a 95. He questioned why I wanted to learn rock and roll on the piano instead of classical music I could go on…

I am ever grateful now for my solid upbringing and education. Today, I see how scary times are and am blessed to have had two parents who loved and protected me from harm, violence and abuse.

The song 'Winter', from Little Earthquakes (1992), is one of the few songs that immediately takes me back to memories of Dad. The song is haunting. I usually end up crying long and hard after listening, as I do with most of Tori Amos' music.

'Winter' is a song that takes the listener through the life of a daughter with her Dad. She worries about every little thing. The lyrics stress the constancy of love, while life passes all too quickly. Music can help us gain perspective when we open our minds to it.

Winter from Little Earthquakes (1992)

​Hey Jupiter from Boys For Pele (1996)

Another song that highlights Tori Amos' velvety passion is 'Jackie's Strength' from the album, From the Choirgirl Hotel (1998).

I was immediately drawn to the lyrics because of the reference to Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. In all of the women in history, Jackie has been my truest ideal of social grace, elegance and coping in every possible scenario.

In her style of modern duality, Tori also addresses such life-changing behaviors as pre-marital sex and teen pregnancy.

Jackie's Strength from From The Choirgirl Hotel (1998) 

To Venus and Back (1999) in its entirety- an unforgettably dark year for me and Tori's music was especially healing for me at this time... 

​A Sorta Fairytale from Scarlet's Walk (2002)

Welcome to England from Abnormally Attracted to Sin (2009)

Per Tori, Night of Hunters is an album is filled with “song cycles, which are variations of classical themes we are all familiar with”.

I finally appreciated the octets and sonatas that Dad dearly wanted me to master as a child taking piano lessons. I really appreciated someone who admitted to knowing "a lot more about shoes than classical music". Hmmm...!

Had Tori Amos been my instructor, heaven only knows where I would be today! Listening to her play the piano, I am convinced the music she is reading comes from her mind. Reading sheet music for her is like me reading to my students, yuck ... :)

Fearlessness from Night of Hunters (2011)

Gold Dust from Gold Dust (2012)

While volunteering for Victims Services Center in my county, a client from a support group I conducted gave me a copy of Tori's music. It was her manner of thanking me for talking to her after a rape trauma.

In June, 1994, Tori Amos co–founded RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network), while launching the year-long campaign, 'Unlock the Silence''. This is a toll–free hotline in the United States connecting callers with their local Rape Crisis Center. Amos is a survivor of sexual assault.

Trouble's Lament from Unrepentant Geraldines (2014)

The first of many Tori Amos' albums I acquired since the 1990s was Little Earthquakes.(1992). Now 26-years later, I have nine of sixteen of her albums.

After listening to my favorites in preparing a taste of each album in this post, I plan to complete my musical library collection sooner rather than later.

---

​ShoutOuts

☙ The Most Amazing Story – Missing Relative Ferreted out After 31 Years via Martie’s Foyer

☙ Update 6: Daith Piercings for Migraine Relief via flashPress

☙ These thoughts might get your goat!  Via WarnerWords

---

​Until next week, wishing you peace and a song in your heart, mar