GangstaFam said:

The actual words. During those times I just nod my head.

GangstaFam said:

I always thought it was "Slag pit, stag shit". I'm hopeless.

GangstaFam said:

Are you telling me there is a Tori equivalent to the PauPaulaAbdulla AbduPaulaAbdull game?!

GangstaFam said:

I thought it was Slag pit Either way, this song I have no problem with gonna make him feel like a Congreesmun....

sextonseven said:

This is exactly what i thought to and I'm a new tori whore

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

You're both right! It was a happy typo. I'm not helping things at all, am I?

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

It's not a game really; more of a state of mind.

GangstaFam said:

Although slag pig, slag bitch is awfully catchy

For me, understanding Tori's lyrics depends entirely on the perception of the listener. Sometimes Tori's songs are about a feeling, or even a series of feelings and ideas in one song. It might mean something to her on different days... and it certainly means something different to each listener. Sometimes my understanding of a Tori song will change, sometimes it stays near my first impression. I'd almost rather not know when songs are too specific. I like the sad quality of "Merman" when she plays it live and dedicates it to Matthew Sheperd. It wasn't written for him originally, but the song is owned by him now at least when I hear it. It's his face I picture when the song plays. Like with "Ribbons Undone". It's one of the most loathed songs by Tori's die-hard fans, but to me it's just wonderful because it is the ANTI-iiee, or the ANTI-Spark. Those songs were written in the agony over her miscarriage, whereas "Ribbons Undone" came from a totally opposite feeling, the joy of her daughter. Sometimes I feel like Tori's songs are *very* personal, like with "iieee", "Ribbons Undone", "Toast", "The Beekeeper", "Blood Roses".... and to me those are the ones that are the most direct. Her more obtuse tracks like "Cloud on my Tongue" or "Purple People" or "Cooling"... those are the ones that are more of a challenge. I would guess if you take 10 Tori fans who love "Cooling", each one of them would give a different interpretation of the lyrics, or the song, and what it means to them. And some of them probably won't even have a clue what it means to them, LOL. I really don't know honestly and I adore the song. It seems like a struggle of some sort, maybe, like trying to hold sand through your fingers but watching it slip through? Maybe the end of a relationship. I dunno.

So anyways... sorry for babbling. I guess the "trick" to understanding Tori's lyrics, in my opinion, is just to allow yourself to feel something about them personally, and to see where that feeling goes with ya!

I'm really glad to hear all this because I am not lyrically challenged It is the most important part of a song, IMO and something I am always drawn to, especially among my favorites. Now I can have no problem letting my spirit lead me instead of feeling like I'm retarded for not having a clue

the brilliance behind her lyrics is that, for the most part, she really is the only person who knows what she's talking about yet she leaves the lyrics ambiguous enough to mean something different for everyone.

she's huge on mythology and religion so if you're up on greek mythology or world religions, you can often decipher the metaphor (if one exists) or the common line the imagery shares.

lately she has a tendency to mix current day politics with myth and religious stories, narrating a fictional tale or real life perspective. she's not quite as introspective as she was when she was younger, but she's managed to keep the lyrics interesting.

sallysassalot said:

lyrics and songwriting are my favorite parts of music. I'll have to be baptized in Lake Minatonka to Tori I think

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[Edited 2/5/07 17:24pm]

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

her ability to intelligently incorporate all these elements into her songwriting is the majority of the reason why i still love her work. i often disagree with what she's suggesting or implying but she is so smart that i'm always intrigued by it. she's like my musical equivelant to going to a bar with my friends and debating politics and religion. we may disagree but i still wanna hear what they have to say and we can still be buds when its all over.

sallysassalot said:

oh NO! Now I'm going to have a P&R battle when I listen to this chick. She better be singing about shit I agree with Oh wait, if you don't love it I probably do!

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[Edited 2/5/07 17:32pm]

NorthernLad said:

Babble away. I love it!

And "Cooling" is my favorite Tori song. It has a very real meaning to me.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Lyrics are usually the LAST thing I pay attention to. As a musician and singer, I hear the voice first and then the composition itself - how everything works together. Then I get drawn into the colors and feelings and impressions a song will give off. Then, I dig into the lyrics. Tori is one of the few who keeps revealing new things to me the deeper I go. I've learned a lot from following her.

GangstaFam said:

I'm totally into the musical aspect as well but I always zoom in on the lyrics as I consider that the most important part of most music. Then I put the music with the lyrics and feel it from there

OK, just listened to Little Earthquakes and I'm so down with everything about that song. I really understand what she means!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

You have that album?

GangstaFam said:

No. Live recordings a certain Sexton, I mean orger sent me

For some reason my shuffle is really hooked on Tori today

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Jealous!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

How are you warming up to her non-Choirgirl material?

GangstaFam said:

I think I'm simmering There are some stuff that really grabs me and others I go But overall it's nice and cozy in here

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Give me an idea of where you're at. What stuff has grabbed you so far?

GangstaFam said:

OK, I have to work on that because the track lists and the songs never ever seem to be together at the same time

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Other than Choirgirl, Venus and Beekeeper in storage, do you have any other albums by her?

GangstaFam said:

Boys for Pele, might be floating around the house somewhere. I know that one is definitely in storage

My collection:

Pele,
Choirgirl
Venus
Beekeeper (sorry folks, so far and I have tried, I can't stand this stinky mess )
B-Sides, Live recordings and Remixes from Sexton.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Have you revisited Pele now that you like her? I think you'd get more out of it now.