you for a while

Before I forget to remind you…remember to tune in to Jay Leno tonight (10/1/2008) to see Tori Amos perform live. This show represents the kick off of the American leg of her world tour.

To put us all in the mood, I thought I’d briefly review all of Tori’s Leno performances to the extent that I remember and to the extent that other folks online have kept track.

The first I found mentioned was her performance of Crucify in 1993. She was featured singing with the tonight show band. I’ve only heard audio versions of this performance (genius, of course), but something tells me that she was was very intriguing and beautiful onstage.

In 1994, while promoting Under the Pink she was invited to play both God and Baker Baker on the show. God featured a band and pre-recorded background vocals, but it was just Tori and her piano for the beautiful performance of Baker Baker. Later in that year she played Icicle…I’ve only head audio versions of this appearance as well, and I’m immensely curious to know if Jay Leno asked her to describe what Icicle was about!

Perhaps the most famous (meaning, most often “youtubed”) of Tori’s Leno performances was her bouncy, innocent, and beautiful performance of Butterfly in 1995. She had written this song for the Higher Learning soundtrack and was either helping promote the movie or to plant a seed in all of us new-budding Toriphiles which manifested into a full-blown b-side obsession.

Her 1996 performance of Caught a Lite Sneeze is probably my favorite performance, because I know Tori probably bullied the shows producer into letting her bring both the Bose and the harpsichord onto the stage. She also looked absolutely stunning in a red plaid skirt and very business-like Oxford top. There was also a very cool tympani player in the background. Tori stood during this entire performance and used pre-recorded background vocals…probably because she knew that many of us fans loved that churchy high-pitched hymn she sings.

Later on in 1996, Tori was invited to play Hey Jupiter. This one featured Tori and an organ with an occassional note or from Caton…all on a beautiful candle-lit stage. She made intense eye-contact with the camera the entire time, suggesting she was actually talking to “Jupiter.” And, of course…she never missed a note…even those high ohhoohhhs.

Tori Amos broke out the sparkly eye-adhesives for her performance of Spark in 1998. This is the first Tori Leno performance I was able to catch live and not on youtube (my fandom hit critical mass right in between Pele and Choirgirl). So, this performance holds a special place in my heart. The performance featured the “boys,” the piano, the keyboard, and, of course, our talented heroine. And, again with the intense eye-contact with the camera. She was invited back later on that year to promote another Choirgirl single: Jackie’s Strength.

To my knowledge, while Tori promoted Strange Little Girls and Scarlet’s Walk on other talk shows (like David Letterman), she did not appear on Leno at this time. In 2003, though, she appeared on Leno to promote Tales of a Librarian. She sang Winter…beautifully of course. She donned a long black skirt and matching top and looked as entranced with the song as she did when she was touring with Little Earthquakes.

To promote her The Beekeeper album she sang Sleeps with Butterflies on the show in 2005. This performance featured a beautiful little piano improv. She sang this song solo (with the Bose, of course). She also sang Sweet the Sting later on that year–in an equally stunning performance.

And tonight…we anticipate a performance from American Doll Posse. While she will most likely sing Big Wheel or Bouncing off Clouds, there is a chance she will sing Roosterspur Bridge. But, hey, she might surprise us with a little Girl Disappearing. That’s my hope.

What do you hope she sings tonight?

Filed under: Tori Appearances on October 1st, 2007