Fiona Apple : Worth the adolescent idealistic "Hate everyone" attitude for her throaty sleepers?

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I don't see why people lik e her. I mean, people act like she's as good as Tracey Chapman or something. I find her to be a musically banal waste of optical disc space.

― Mike Hanle y, Friday, 6 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I loved criminal but PTA called her his "muse" and he is know making a 90 minute adam sandler comedy so DUD

― anthony, Friday, 6 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Well, she is the quintessential example of an artist who should microphones kept FAAAAARRR AWAAAAY from her when she's not singing, given her notorious predeliction for spouting ridiculous nonsense. Sure, she's a thankless whistle-head ("This World is Bullshit!..."), but at the end of the day, she has a lovely voice. That's it, really.

― alex in nyc, Friday, 6 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"as good as Tracey Chapman". Mmm just about, which means she's shite.

― Omar, Friday, 6 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"I loved criminal but PTA called her his "muse" and he is know making a 90 minute adam sandler comedy so DUD "

He and Apple are an 'item', even though he filled Magnolia with Aimee Mann songs and the scene where the various charecter sing along to one of her warblings is, flat out, the single WORST thing PT Anderson has done.

Except, of course, for hiring Adam Sandler. Though I don't think it's going to be a "90 minute adam sandler comedy", more like Sandler is - ahem - acting in a PTA film. It's not a Sandler movie, it's an Anderson film. Fingers X'd.

― DavidM, Friday, 6 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

ILM calling Nick Dastoor, ILM calling Nick Dastoor...

― Michael Jones, Friday, 6 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Interestingly enough, the warbling sequence in "Magnolia" is one of the few scenes in the movie that didn't fill me with a seething rage that wanted to punch in the television set. That movie eats apes.

― Dan Perry, Friday, 6 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

She's got a nice voice and plenty of musical talent. Songwriting's a little limp.

― Josh, Friday, 6 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Her older sister Amber went to my college, a year ahead of me. (She dropped out as a sophomore after I finished my freshman year; I knew her vaguely.) She had a much better voice (a ravishingly beautiful soprano, very French and delicate -- slightly nasal, but in the best possible way, and she could sing Fauré like an angel), and was better-looking to boot, at least to my taste. (Since Fiona trades heavily on both of those two things -- her voice and her appearance -- I have no qualms about mentioning them.) Anyhow, between that, her often-dimwitted conduct in public, and having repeatedly heard that she's rather a self-involved brat, I don't think much of her.

― Phil, Friday, 6 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Err, yes. I like Fiona Apple a lot. Or at least her second album. I don't have the first. She's not that big in the UK, so I have not really been exposed to her reputedly annoying persona, but I suppose her going out with David Blane is a bit rubbish. The only singer songwriter that I can take singing about inner demons and stuff. That bit where it all breaks down in 'Fast As You Can' - you've got to love it! 'I Know' - what a song!

I love Fiona Apple and I've just realised she also looks a lot like one of the barmaids in the Golden Heart who in turn looks like Emmanuelle Beart and that's good enough for me. Lixibell - are you around? You agree with me too, don't you? About 'Whenthepawn..' being a great album, not about the fancying her thing.

― Nick, Monday, 9 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You know, people really down Fiona Apple for absolutely no reason. She doesn't seem to me to be a "spoiled brat" or a "dim-wit" or any of the other insults tossed her way rather regularly. Actually, reading in-depth interviews with her led me to be very depressed and sad. She's just someone with a bad background who really needs to get into therapy or get into a good support network of friends, etc. to help her out. She's fucked up, in short, and possibly on drugs.

That all being said she has a lovely voice, at least on record (never seen her live) and the singles from her first album were all gorgeous. Didn't hear anything off the second, though.

― Ally, Monday, 9 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't "down" her for "no reason". I dislike her music, which seems narcissistic and trite. And all of her public actions seem to confirm the rumors I heard while at college -- that she's got a huge ego and is awful to those around her. If she needs help, fine, let's hope she gets it. Maybe then I'll find her, and her music, more likable.

― Phil, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Poor poor tourtured soul Fiona...poor rich successful Fiona...weepweep.

― Mike Hanle y, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You gotta problem with her music? Great. So then say so. Easy as that, right?

― Ally, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Fiona's music: questionable lyrics, some great melodies, and some really good production, and some really terrible production (Jon Brion, ahem). I generally really like both of her albums. The first one is very gauzy sounding and adolescent and positively doomed. The second is harder edged but glossier and badly produced, but comes out with some of her better melodies and vocals intact.
Fiona's personality: I don't know much about her "rumored" personality, but her public personality is quite fitting with someone of her age and countenance. It never bothered me. She's very impulsive and childish in ways that many young women are that grew up as troubled outcasts, especially ones with traumatic experiences. Something like what happened to her really can stunt emotional growth. She's really quite the permanent adolescent. But a talented one. Albeit, talent in really still an embryonic state. She has to move on stylistically.

― Melissa W, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

One person made a sarcastic remark and I am paraphrasing , saying that awww poor Fiona , she's so rich. Weep , Weep. Well that sounded so stupid. Money doesn't buy hapiness. The girl was raped when she was just a little girl outside of her apartment building , I doubt those scars will ever go away. So when you hear her screaming , "This world is bullshit." maybe its because this world has been nothing but bullshit to her. The uneducated comments on her make you look and sound dumb , not her. I doubt you could sell as many records as her , so take a look in the mirror before you talk.

― Jasmine Matias, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Are you implying that my ugly face will make me sell less records than Fiona Apple? You are correct!

― Mike Hanle y, Thursday, 12 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

There's a better chance of being happy if you have the financial means to do as you please than if you haven't got a pot to piss in, so to speak. Besides, I never believe any pop star sob stories anyway.

― DG, Thursday, 12 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I have no problem with Fiona Apple at all. "Criminal" is great, most of the other stuff is good enough. She's sure as hell better than Aimee Mann. She's also the one white artist that most black people I know seem to be way into. I'm not sure why this is.

― Kris, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Better than Aimee Mann? Not likely. Aimee has more talent in her shit.

― Mike Hanle y, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Shadowboxer" was the good single for me. I think she's quite talented, but wish the producers would cut out more often and just let her do the piano-based singer/songwriter thing.

― Sterling Clover, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

She's got a beautiful voice and a few beautiful songs...that's enough for me. Besides, "hate everyone" attitudes are amusing.

― Maria, Monday, 23 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

three weeks pass...

Fiona Apple vs. Aimee Mann?

Aimee Mann is easily the victor of this.

I do enjoy Fiona's music, though... I just think Aimee is a much more consistent and mature songwriter.

― md, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Aimee Mann is supremely boring and staid. Fiona Apple has more mercurial possibility within her.

― Melissa W, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two weeks pass...

"Aimee Mann is supremely boring and staid. Fiona Apple has more mercurial possibility within her."

In the same way Paul McCartney is supremely boring and staid? If we're talking about classic vocal melodies, some of Mann's songs are the greatest in that regard since Costello and McCartney were at their genius levels. Fiona Apple has some wonderful electricity running through her, but When The Pawn, the incredible "Paper Bag" excluded, can put one to sleep if you aren't careful.

― Ray, Tuesday, 4 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two weeks pass...

"When The Pawn," putting someone to sleep? Surely you jest. The first album, good as it was, was the one with all the slow, jazzy ballads. "Pawn" has a couple of those, but for the most part the music and singing are positively seething. See "On The Bound," "Limp," "Fast As You Can" and the very very pissed off "Get Gone."

― Jack Redelfs, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Well, I think McCartney is just as staid and boring and cringe-worthy 99% of the time as Aimee Mann, so that is a fitting comparison.

― Ally, Monday, 24 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

three weeks pass...

Please turn that crap off! Is my only opinion of Fiona Apple. She's a confused, immature wreck who rarely climbs from the depths of her delusion to say something worth hearing.

― James Hunyar, Monday, 15 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I can't think of one single musical artist that that description could theoretically apply to. That's the entire basis of art, self- delusion and the grandiose belief that you have something to say that anyone in the entire universe cares about hearing.

― Ally, Monday, 15 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two months pass...

i'd only heard about 3 of her songs, and i decided to buy her album tidal last week..i hadn't a clue, still dont about her personal life, or what she says when she's not singing, but the album was one of the most beautiful i've ever heard, melody wise. the lyrics were great, and her singing is nice. she's also very pretty. i also bought magnolia, because i'd heard wise up by aimee mann, and loved it. but that album was a huge dissapointment foe me...her melodies were so boring, the lyrics were okay, nice voice. i think (i'm probably gonna get jumped on for saying this) that aimee mann is more suitable for mainstream than fiona. i brought the 2 albums into work with me, and all the people who liked mainstream bands, like pop stuff, or soft rock, like stereophonics, blink 182, etc. liked the aimee mann one better and anyone with a slightly more alternative taste preferred the fiona apple one. paul mc cartney wrote beautiful stuff, i couldnt call him boring, nor fiona apple but definately aimee mann

― Katy Kelly, Tuesday, 1 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one year passes...

She's considered good looking enough to trade on her appearance? She has a nice figure, but I don't think she's that great looking. My impression on seeing photographs of her was something like: oh, she's putting herself across in a strong way, asserting her sexiness in spite of being average looking.

(I'm nothing to write home about, myself.)

I like her voice and singing, and the songs are okay. My g***f***nd loaned me one of her CDs and I'm listening to it now for the second time. I'm just glad I don't hate it. Good singing. Some of the backing seems merely contemporary (whatever the hell I mean by that).

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 15 May 2003 01:24 (twenty-two years ago)

(That's horrible about her being raped as a child. I posted before reading the whole thread. I'm sort of glad I listened to this CD without knowing much about her. I've never heard or read and interview with her.)

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 15 May 2003 01:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Fiona Apple has a very odd beauty that cause some to
exclaim "she so GORGEOUS" and others to say "eh."
See Christina Ricci, Helena Carter, et al

― squirl plise (Squirrel_Police), Thursday, 15 May 2003 07:39 (twenty-two years ago)

i think shes fucking hot

― chaki (chaki), Thursday, 15 May 2003 07:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd agree, with the proviso that she looked scarily thin
in the "Criminal" video.
And the video for "Fast As You Can" was so horrible, it
was like they were _trying_ to make her look awful.

BTW, Chaki, your music kicks arse. You've already been
told, but it should be reaffirmed.

― squirl plise (Squirrel_Police), Thursday, 15 May 2003 08:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually my first impression was that she was too thin, but then I found photos online in which her boobs were pretty noticeable. Maybe that was illusory (padded bra, etc.).

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 15 May 2003 13:03 (twenty-two years ago)

ten months pass...

I've now heard her cover of "Across the Universe" and it's not nearly as good as I thought it might be. I really can't stand that "downtempo" sound, or whatever you want to call this approach to rhythm, that gets used in most of her songs. Someone at work is always lending me things with that sound and it just seems "merely contemporary" as I said above (and still I am not sure how much sense that will make to anyone else).

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Monday, 29 March 2004 01:17 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

Listening to 'I Know'. It's still great. The best full stop song I can think of right now.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 23:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I really like her songs with a strong rhythm - "Criminal," "Sleep To Dream," "Mistake" etc. - but her more traditional singer-songwriter/voice+piano songs are pretty dud.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 23:51 (twenty-one years ago)

I miss her, I want a new album.

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 00:01 (twenty-one years ago)

New album's finished. Record company sitting on it, apparently due to their being "no singles".

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 00:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I wish I had a copy of that video she did with all the dancing children. I only saw it once and it was terrific.

― Brian Wilson (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 00:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd love an album of "Criminal"-esque songs.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 00:06 (twenty-one years ago)

the phrase 'dancing children' gives me the fear

― the surface noise and the analogue warmth (electricsound), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 00:12 (twenty-one years ago)

six months pass...

rekkid label still sitting on her album, it appears.

http://www.freefiona.com/

I'm still not quite sure what a "throaty sleeper" is

"when teh pwn!!11"

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 10 January 2005 16:54 (twenty-one years ago)

get rachael yamagata's album, or maybe something from leona naess, it'll hold you until fiona's surfaces.

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 10 January 2005 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

"Apple Day" happens to fall on my birthday.

I like Fiona, but I'm holding out for the greatest hits/best of disc.

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Monday, 10 January 2005 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

"I Know" is one of my favorites, and could probably be considered a "thoaty sleeper".

― jay blanchard (jay blanchard), Monday, 10 January 2005 17:54 (twenty-one years ago)

It really does seem very stupid of the record company to sit on these tapes: firstly, from the two songs I've heard, it doesn't seem any more uncommercial than anything else Fiona Apple has done; secondly, surely they are aware that the image of an innovative artist having her creativity stifled by industry suits is one which will guarantee notoriety and probably sales among a certain demographic? (cf Aimee Mann, Wilco)

I'm not sure if the website's protest strategy is nuts or genius, though:

How can I help? Send something with an apple theme - a fake apple, a real apple, a photo OF an apple, a piece of paper with an apple sticker, a sketch of an apple, even an apple pie - be creative! - to Andy Lack at Sony with a note attached. You can write a real letter or just scribble "Free Fiona!" on the envelope - whatever you want.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 10 January 2005 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Fiona just should just stream it from her website, like Wilco.

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Monday, 10 January 2005 21:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Is it produced by Jon Brion? If not, then I'm not sure that I care.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 10 January 2005 21:30 (twenty-one years ago)

i hate her

― chaki in charge (chaki), Monday, 10 January 2005 21:38 (twenty-one years ago)

It does sound like guerilla marketing to me.

― wombatX (wombatX), Monday, 10 January 2005 21:45 (twenty-one years ago)

it's definitely legit.

i've been participating in the fionahaswings forum for a while now..

― reo, Monday, 10 January 2005 23:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I think her second album is great.

Maybe she said stupid things when she was 17 or 19, but didn't you?

― shookout (shookout), Monday, 10 January 2005 23:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh I thought it was a cunning marketing ploy last year, and got very excited that Fiona was about to go stratospheric, but yeah it does seem legit now :(

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 10 January 2005 23:22 (twenty-one years ago)

What exactly did she say?

I bought "Whenthepawn" for my sister at Christmas and now both my sisters are hooked. She's not very big in the UK so the album is at no risk from being overplayed and I reckon it's rather good!

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 11 January 2005 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

its cheesy!!

― chaki in charge (chaki), Tuesday, 11 January 2005 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

it's better than I thought it would be, I really like it. Yes the new album is produced by Brion. The one song that leaked was excellent.

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 11 January 2005 20:34 (twenty-one years ago)

mrs adam loves her so much.

― .adam (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 11 January 2005 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I heard "Fast As You Can" at a restaurant last week and man that has aged nicely. I'd buy the second album if I saw it cheap.

― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 11 January 2005 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

two songs were leaked, kyle.

"a better version of me" as well as the supposed title track.

― reo, Tuesday, 11 January 2005 23:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Those two leaked songs are pretty good. I think I prefer "Extraordinary Machine". It's kind of endearing and cute, and has this almost jaunty rhythm, somewhere between soft jazz and a Disney soundtrack. I'd barely heard any of her stuff before stumbling on those two songs, but I'd certainly give this new album a chance if/when it's released.

― David A. (Davant), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 03:57 (twenty-one years ago)

(And, yes, I do realise my description makes it sound awful.)

― David A. (Davant), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 03:58 (twenty-one years ago)

When The Pawn is gorgeous. Listen to an album more than twice before you pan it. She is lightyears ahead of anyone else who emerged from that mid-90's Lilith trend that spawned after Jagged Little Pill.

― billstevejim, Wednesday, 12 January 2005 05:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT LIKE ONCE A WEEK! :( :( :( :(

― chaki in charge (chaki), Wednesday, 12 January 2005 06:42 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

Is it really true that only six people showed up for the protest yesterday?

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 12:58 (twenty years ago)

were PTA or Aimee Mann among them?

― Miles Finch, Tuesday, 1 February 2005 14:35 (twenty years ago)

I don't know. It was outside of the Sony building in NYC. Only the Howard Stern show sent someone to cover the event, and that someone (whose name I can't recall) was one of said six people present.

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 15:58 (twenty years ago)

It still made the news over here, though.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 16:02 (twenty years ago)

Her first album is quite spooky. Like a tiny, anorexic Jewel-wannabe trance-channeling Etta James or Billie Holliday or somethin'

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 00:47 (twenty years ago)

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