Tori Amos Blogger on San Diego Code Red Incident
I apologize for the ridiculously long delay in posting. The holidays and internship interviews have run this blogger ragged.
So, I checked all of my Google alerts for some good post fodder and I was shocked at the buzz surrounding what I am labeling the “Code Red Incident.” For those Tori Amos fans who’ve been nice and comfy under a rock somewhere…Tori gave a couple of rude front-row-seat-abusers the boot during her San Diego ADP show. In response, people who don’t know Tori from Adam are shrieking to the gods of TMZ, Myspace, and Digg calling Tori everything from a Diva to an ungrateful biotch (I’m sure their are more colorful adjectives, but I got so upset that I stopped reading).
Wow…this thing got serious fast, huh?
My question is, since when did something this benign become worthy so much media attention? Surely, rock and roll has seen bigger, badder displays of musician frustration than this. This is not news. This is the stuff live shows are made of! Further, this is yet another demonstration of how much Tori Amos cares for her fans. Disruptive concert-goers can ruin shows for everyone in a 20 seat radius AND the musicians on stage and T. decided to nip it in the bud. While we can quibble over what form “disruptive” took in this instance (the booted women say they were simply commenting on a song, while others who were there say there were multiple ups and downs, cell phone conversations, and other forms of shenanigans). The bottom line is that Tori made a judgment call that was totally hers to make. And the show went on.
Actually, I have the answer to my question. Tori’s firm request became such a big deal because one of the booted ladies, Monique, posted a Myspace blog that got picked up by TMZ. Fair enough. If I suffered that much embarrassment and was escorted to the door as though I were a criminal, I’d be a bit ticked, too. And I’d probably blog about it. But that is where the similarities end. I certainly would not have been as grandiose as to think that I could use my moment of shame to ruin a legend’s career. Psht. And I wouldn’t have been as self-centered as to think that since I was “done wrong” everything wonderful Tori Amos has done for her fans should be deleted.
And I would not begrudge future fans of the chance to enjoy her music. I would probably write a letter to Tori Amos apologizing that I was perceived as a disruption, try to explain my actions, and then thank her for her music.
I won’t go on and on (too much) about the absurd notion that this fan will “single-handedly destroy” Tori Amos’ career. I will just add that Tori Amos has done amazing, wonderful, beautiful, selfless, irreplaceable acts of kindess for millions of people on this planet. That she didn’t feel like having a couple of obnoxious women distract her from playing a show (whether they were really obnoxious or not, I don’t know and I don’t care. This was TORI’S call) hardly dismisses her contributions to music, her talent, her grace, her multiple acts of philanthropy, or what she has done to help so many men and women cope with abuse and emotional turmoil. Simply won’t happen.
And as for preventing new Tori Amos fans from forming, I’ll add that Little Earthquakes, Under the Pink, Boys for Pele, From the Choirgirl Hotel, and all albums subsequent to these chart-topping, life-changing compilations will survive long, long after these Tori-bashing posts + comments have faded from the blogosphere. The next celebrity melodrama will replace it soon enough and Tori will go on creating and nourishing her devoted fan base just like none of this ever happened.
Hell, Jamie Lynn Spears’ pregnancy has already trumped it.
True, ANY true Tori fan would respond the way that I am responding now. I am, in fact, a proud member of Team Tori. But any fair, rational person with the time to weigh the evidence would see that Tori comes out on top in the end. Founder of RAINN…embarrassed fan…one of the most influential women in rock and roll…embarrassed fan. The scales are definitely tipped in T’s favor.
Oh…and since when is being a diva a bad thing? Women in rock and roll are divas by nature–they’ve had to be in order to get where they are. And they are capable of being caring, compassionate, warm-hearted nurturers at the same time.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT AMERICAN DOLL POSSE IS ABOUT, BY THE WAY!!! Unbeknownst to the booted blogger, she is proving Tori’s point exactly. I ask why a woman can’t speak her mind and be directive and assertive AND be a worthy, ultra-giving musician? Why must women be one or the other? Why must we be Athena or Demeter? Can’t we embrace both and be safe from backlash? Geez Louise. Tori’s brilliant metaphor is lost yet again on Americans.
If one chooses to see it this way, one could understand that by bashing Tori one is really subjugating the subjugated even more and feeding the we-are-one-way-and-one-way-only-or-bust political fire.
It is sad. I guess we’ll never really be two dimensional, let alone three.
Thanks for reading! Tori is a beacon of hope to many and she will continue to be as long as her music exists.
Filed under: ADP Tour on December 28th, 2007
As the person that uploaded that picture and was truly dismayed with the way that the media has picked up on and interpreted the situation, I want to thank you for expressing what I’ve tried hard (on the comment pages of some of the blogs and gossip columns) to convey (very unsuccessfully). Even the comments on that page are most disheartening, that our society will take something and see the shallow end and making assumptions without looking deeper and thinking “Why did this turn out the way it happened?” It’s disappointing that people see Tori as being a bitch who’ll interrupt her show because two audience members are bothering her instead of a performer who, as the roars of approval show, is willing to do what it takes, even if it means disrupting her own show, to make sure her fans aren’t being disrupted by unruly people that could care less about what’s going on.
Thanks so much for your ability with words.
Thank you, Stebbo! I agree…personal responsibility has been thrown out of the window as far as the media and gossip (which are typically one and the same) is concerned. I hope you and others feel comfortable expressing your frustrations here.
I agree, dude. This is not news. This is the way it is when you go see any performer. You respect them enough to listen, and in the case of Tori, you become a part of the shows’ energy whether you like it or not. Honestly, this whole fiasco just reeks of the immaturity of a high-school teenager who has been told that their behaviour is disrespectful in class and then the teacher finally has enough of them passing notes, or texting friends, or sniggering behind the teachers back, and sends them outside. What generally ensues is a whole lot of “that is soooooo unfair” “she’s such a bitch” “I was wronged,” when in fact, they were totally in the wrong, but just don’t have the maturity to accept it. So they try to “take down” the authority figure in whatever way they can, which in this day of technology, has turned into a horrible thing. Obviously the people who posted the negative comments aren’t looking into it properly, Tori obviously gives front row tix to people she wants to have a great night, and to just throw that back in her face by making it a big drama and taking it onto the internet and getting people who were not there to comment on it… well… the term “herd-mentality” comes to mind. To be fair to Tori (and I will always be), she gave them until Code Red (the 20th song) to redeem themselves. Sure they paid for tickets, and they got a good 20 song set. And instead of making it a big drama, Tori just started again and played the most seething kick-ass version of Code Red, ever.
You shouldn’t feel bad Stebbo. Tori fans know exactly what she is doing, and respect her for it. It is a shame that it has been taken out of context, but as China2Ny says, people have already moved on. And if anything, it might just get Tori some new fans, considering that in this day and age we prize “volatile” performers - Amy Winehouse, Britney Spears, Cat Power. Tori is not in their league, of course! Just making a point.
Ohh… and China2Ny, nice comment about the point of ADP. Tori is both a “bitch” and a “caring mum” and much, much, more– all at the same time. I find that there are still people who don’t get the whole “multiple facets of our personality,” “we are all subjects-in-process” thing. Obviously Tori has shown all those peeps and members of the general public that think she is some sage burning elf fairy princess or “goddess,” have been proven a bit wrong there, and she will, in Pip’s words “Rip your f**king c**k off” if you piss her off. Yay! p.s. I have message for you at afterglow. must be off! Mwah! xxx
Right on Kelli! (responded in more detail over at the ‘glow.)
Couldn’t have said it better. High School = Pop Culture at the mo’
Wonderfully well said.
Thanks ang69!
You’re brilliant.
I was on TMZ reading the comments and started laughing cause this wave of Pip came over me. I was going off in my head thinking ” I believe in peace bitches! you fucking cocksucking braindead Fergie loving media whores!!! Fox news watching bush worshipping zombified tabloid junkies!!!
Thanks Inge!
Here, here Jonathan
China2Ny
Go, Tori! Yes, it’s much ado about nothing. A performer has the right to have someone evicted who is ruining a show for others, not to mention ruining it for the performers. Audience misbehavior has a long history. We would be shocked at how opera-goers during the Baroque would shout catcalls and talk during performances. If you find it too hard to be respectful during a show, leave. Great comments, china2ny!
Wow! Love the historical perspective, Jon! Thanks for commenting!!!
China2Ny