you for a while

Do journalists actually DO research anymore?

Google Alerts just dropped off a very brief Tori article in my inbox…and for as short as it is it sure is insulting:

Having missed the important lessons of Garth Brooks’ s career-derailing Chris Gaines fiasco, Tori Amos is evidently convinced she can make the whole identity-switcheroo shtick work for her. Since recording her latest album, American Doll Posse…Amos has been perplexing audiences on her current tour by opening shows with a performance by a different one of her invented characters each night…

First, I really don’t know what Garth Brooks was doing, but I will assume it was not a strong political statement of the sort Tori is making. Absolutely zero comparison.

Second, that Tori writes and performs as characters is not news. She’s been doing it for years (although I’ll accept that ADP is on the more blatant side). After Little Earthquakes she was finished writing about herself and moved on to take the perspective of men and women past and present from all over this globe–from ancient Greek gods to bleeding women trapped in the trunks of cars. And let’s not mention Mary Magdalene. While she does continue to give us some of herself (i.e. the break-up saga that is Boys for Pele), she knows better than to bore us continuously with her life story and her opinions and desires du jour (not to hate on Alanis or anything…but…). This is what makes her a superior artist, someone who keeps up guessing, keeps us learning about ourselves and the world, and will always bring us back for more. This is why she has been around for 20 years. She not only transforms her appearance (nod to Madonna), but she continues to transform her perspective as well. To suggest that her efforts on ADP are nothing but crazy and whimsical is utterly foolish. And, obviously, upsets me a tad. (Defensive much?)

Third, if you are advertising and/or promoting an artist who is coming to your town, playing up her creative genius is much preferable to displaying your ignorance as a journalist. Not everyone who is “assigned” a Tori story has to be a fan, but they at least should show some respect and attempt to understand where she is coming from. At the very least so that you do not have to be bashed on Tori blogs.

Fourth, this “schtick” is working for her. Listen to the album. Google her. She’s everywhere.

And fifth…I am not perplexed. I’d venture to guess that the rest of her “audience”…die hard fans who are paying $50 per ticket…is not perplexed either.

Curtain call…rant over.

Oh…and one more thing, just in case you are still wondering where my animosity stems from. The blurb was titled: “Topsy Tori.” Screw you, man. By the way, bud…you do not need that extra s after the apostrophe in Brooks’.

I hate to unleash on this person who was “just doing their job” but Tori has worked very hard to gain respect in the music industry and the glaring lack of appreciation for her efforts is unnerving to this fan.

Filed under: Press/Articles on October 6th, 2007