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Tori Amos — Glory of the 80's
Album: To Venus and Back
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1028









Released: 1999
Length: 4:01
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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i took a taxi from la to venus in 1985
i was electromagnetically sucked back
into a party going on that night
it was the glories of the 80's
with karma drawn up in lines
and two bugle boy models saying, 'baby,
it's free-bee you sure look deprived'

i had the 'story of o' in my bucket seat
of my wanna be mustang
auditioning for reptiles in their
racquel welsh campaign

in the glories of the 80's
you said, 'i'm not afraid to die'
i said i don't find that remotely funny
even on this space cake high

and then when it all seemed clear
just then you go and disappear

silicone party barbies to the left and
joan of arcs to the right
no one feeling insecure we were
all gorged and famous in our last lives

and the glories of the 80's you said
'the end is nothing to fear' i said
blow the end now baby
who do i gotta shag to get outta here

and then when it all seemed clear
just then you go and disappear

sure you're out there orbiting around
wish i had you back now

i met a drag king call venus
she had a velvet hologram she said
'my husband ran off with my shaman
but they love me as i am'

in the glories of the 80's
i may not have to die
i'll clone myself
like that blonde chick
that sings betty davis eyes

and then when it all seemed clear
just then you go and disappear
Comments (100)add comment
I hope we hear a cut soon from her new album released last week.
Posted 3 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
 Edweirdo wrote:

I adore Tori (not unconditionally, and not all of her oeuvre, but when she's good she's outstanding) and I'm a man.  I'm also a pianist and composer ... so maybe I also admire and respect her undoubted chops (one of the best left hands in rock piano).


I second this comment which was in response to somebody postulating that Tori fans were women and Tori haters were men. I was introduced to Tori Amos's music by my husband who is, without doubt, a man and a fan.  

She's not my favorite and I am, without doubt, a woman. This song isn't bad though.
Posted 3 years ago by smartn1    [ Reply ]
Mediocre song, like a b-side of Madonna.
Posted 3 years ago by nicknt    [ Reply ]
As much as I don't like most of her work, I have to say I do like this quite a bit.
Posted 3 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Another 4 or 5 from me, where she usually ranks. Instrumentals can get higher though.
Posted 3 years ago by Broken_Ear    [ Reply ]
yikes... I hear a joni mitchell album here

hejira?  don juan?
Posted 3 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
 RabbitEars wrote:

Wow, I usually have to turn Tori off within seconds of hearing her voice, so I'm surprised to say this is great. 



On the contrary, this one is meh.
Posted 3 years ago by Meolla_Reio    [ Reply ]
 Edweirdo wrote:

I adore Tori (not unconditionally, and not all of her oeuvre, but when she's good she's outstanding) and I'm a man.  I'm also a pianist and composer ... so maybe I also admire and respect her undoubted chops (one of the best left hands in rock piano).
 

Me as well, well the male who really enjoys Tori and exactly as you say, when she is good, she is outstanding!  But, not the musician part, I can only hurt people, small animals and children with my lack of musical talent.   I tell my wife I was put here purely to listen, some of us had to be, right?
Posted 3 years ago by sbegf    [ Reply ]
 RabbitEars wrote:
Wow, I usually have to turn Tori off within seconds of hearing her voice, so I'm surprised to say this is great. 
 Same here!

Posted 3 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
I was really into Tori in the early to late 90s, for her first couple of solo albums.   I was (and still am) into alt female vocalists in general. I remember walking into Tower Records and Little Earthquakes was playing and I immediately had to know who it was and to buy it.  But gradually her music style changed to more of an off-key grunge aesthetic rather than the high ranging vocals and I lost interest.   Little Earthquakes was such a pure, beautiful album.   Someone singing out their pain with a piano.   Under the Pink and Boys for Pele were not bad, but it went downhill for me after there.  Saw her in concert a few times and I still have a giant collection of early Tori singles and ephemera packed in a box that I need to eBay some day.  

One pleasant discovery has been Vienna Teng - an RP regular and former Stanford choir mate of a friend.   First time I heard her I thought it was Tori.
Posted 4 years ago by Harlock    [ Reply ]
Wow, I usually have to turn Tori off within seconds of hearing her voice, so I'm surprised to say this is great. 
Posted 4 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
Tori rocks on this one!
Posted 4 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
 hippiechick wrote:
Do you think there's a line: Tori haters are men, Tori lovers are women?
 
I adore Tori (not unconditionally, and not all of her oeuvre, but when she's good she's outstanding) and I'm a man.  I'm also a pianist and composer ... so maybe I also admire and respect her undoubted chops (one of the best left hands in rock piano).
Posted 4 years ago by Edweirdo    [ Reply ]
 ddbz wrote:
Not a big fan of Tori, but this was excellent.
 

Me too! I was distracted (trying to work) and I was kinda enjoying this. Usually listening to her makes me vomit just a little bit.
But then RP follows with the wonderful Kate Bush - no contest.
Posted 4 years ago by paulprior61    [ Reply ]
Love Tori (male, BTW)
Posted 5 years ago by Spuck    [ Reply ]
 Dazzerb wrote:
I can see her house from my house!

 
I'm sure your mother is very proud
Posted 7 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
Interesting, in this she sounds a bit like a Ani DiFranco
Posted 8 years ago by pixiep    [ Reply ]
I can see her house from my house!
Posted 8 years ago by Dazzerb    [ Reply ]
 ppopp wrote:
The music industry was sent an angel when Tori Amos' voice was first introduced to the studio.

 
Look up Y Kant Tori Read and take that back.  Starting with her solo work I'd agree though.
Posted 8 years ago by ritingon    [ Reply ]
The music industry was sent an angel when Tori Amos' voice was first introduced to the studio.
Posted 8 years ago by ppopp    [ Reply ]
A slight slight Morisette sound to this song, which I guess in turn, sounds like her muse Anna (sp?).
Posted 8 years ago by jocelynsart    [ Reply ]
 WonderLizard wrote:

Jon Evans

 
Thanks; you're right, terrific work. And great album.
Posted 9 years ago by HearsayDave    [ Reply ]
 nagsheadlocal wrote:
Off to Google to find out who the bass player is on this, he/she is excellent.

 
Jon Evans
Posted 9 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Mmmm. Space cake. {#Good-vibes}
Posted 9 years ago by wgsu_1978    [ Reply ]
Off to Google to find out who the bass player is on this, he/she is excellent.
Posted 9 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
 jbettencourt wrote:
I was hearing Vienna Teng.  Bill has engrained her in me.  :) 

Kate Bush for me...
Posted 10 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
I was hearing Vienna Teng.  Bill has engrained her in me.  :)
Posted 10 years ago by jbettencourt    [ Reply ]
(entire comment deleted by censor)
Posted 10 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
Mwa-ha-ha!! 
Bill played ...
"Eurythmics — Missionary Man" and then
Glory of the 80's ... I get it {#Biggrin} 
Posted 10 years ago by 4merdj    [ Reply ]
If there are an infinite number of possibilities being played out at the same time in an infinite number of universes then there must be one where Tori is my lover.  
Posted 11 years ago by Sloggydog    [ Reply ]

This song is still glorious...  still love it...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]

Everybody in my church loves this song...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Make's me think Madonna's Ray of Light
Posted 11 years ago by merrickw    [ Reply ]

Makes me think of Joni Mitchell singing to Peter Gabrial rhythms. Not that it's a bad thing.


Posted 12 years ago by MinMan    [ Reply ]
Daaaaaannnnnggggg!  Tori!!!??  Not bad!
Posted 13 years ago by shutter    [ Reply ]
Not a big fan of Tori, but this was excellent.
Posted 13 years ago by ddbz    [ Reply ]
 trissi wrote:

yes, what a treat! I think I might like one other song by her, too.
 
{#Roflol}

Posted 13 years ago by MiracleDrug    [ Reply ]
Oh shit. I must have a fever. I actually am liking this.
I do not like any Tori amos songs ever. Until this.
I don't want to , but I do. 
Posted 13 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 planetclare wrote:
Wow, a Tori Amos song I can stand...
 
yes, what a treat! I think I might like one other song by her, too.
Posted 13 years ago by trissi    [ Reply ]
Nice Matt Chamberlain drummage there.
Posted 13 years ago by StoneyG    [ Reply ]
 romeotuma wrote:

 
Nice!  {Romeotuna supplies the dancing silicone party Barbie desribed in the lyrics!}  By the way, this is the first time I've (knowingly) heard Tori Amos.  Lyrics are great, music is good.
Posted 13 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Thank you for playing Tori! Such a great song too! This is why I listen to Radio Paradise... never know what I'll hear next, but I love it all!
Posted 13 years ago by ReneeB    [ Reply ]
Her two kids, in high school,
They tell her that she's uncool
'Cause she's still preoccupied
With nineteen, nineteen eighty-five...

Posted 13 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
One of her best tunes.
Posted 13 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
You are excuse - Bill!
Nobody is perfect!

PS
Tori certainly does not belong here!

PPS
FREE JULIAN...!
Posted 13 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
Wow, a Tori Amos song I can stand...
Posted 13 years ago by planetclare    [ Reply ]
GIRLI HYPE!
Posted 14 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
I've loved Tori Amos since I was 16.  Some of her old tunes pluck the strings of my soul.  Now that I'm "all grown up," I can access all the tenderness and sensitivities I used to hold via her music.  Timeless.
Posted 14 years ago by lysisphere    [ Reply ]
 annie_fannie wrote:


i've loved Tori since i was 14. everyone kept making these kate bush references, so i decided to check her out. blech! i don't even know how that comparison got started? women who sing emotionally with piano accompaniment are automatically all grouped together? does anyone consider content? kate's lyrics are far less poetic & more simplistic...and the melodrama in her videos...puhleeeeze.

 
Really?

I like both artists, but I've definitely never considered Kate's lyrics to be simple in any way.  She's written some pretty amazing ones - Like this, for instance.

Posted 14 years ago by ptooey    [ Reply ]
 Rick_V wrote:

Exactly.

 

i've loved Tori since i was 14. everyone kept making these kate bush references, so i decided to check her out. blech! i don't even know how that comparison got started? women who sing emotionally with piano accompaniment are automatically all grouped together? does anyone consider content? kate's lyrics are far less poetic & more simplistic...and the melodrama in her videos...puhleeeeze.

Posted 14 years ago by annie_fannie    [ Reply ]
jbunniii wrote:
I don't usually like Tori Amos, but this is not bad at all. She can't restrain herself from yodeling a few times, which lowers the rating a bit...

Now that's funny... I don't care who you are.

{#Lol}

Posted 14 years ago by Vandy005    [ Reply ]
What language is she singing in?
Posted 15 years ago by Exene    [ Reply ]
 brighthue wrote:
Not bad but, I prefer the real Kate Bush.
 
Exactly.

Posted 15 years ago by Rick_V    [ Reply ]
I don't usually like Tori Amos, but this is not bad at all.  She can't restrain herself from yodeling a few times, which lowers the rating a bit, but for the most part it's pretty chill.
Posted 15 years ago by jbunniii    [ Reply ]
I keep waiting for her to break into the chorus from "I Have The Touch" by Peter Gabriel.
Posted 15 years ago by newwavegurly    [ Reply ]
Never thought I'd be rating a Tori Amos song a 3. Haven't heard a good song off this album yet. She must be losing her touch.
Posted 15 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]

"Mainly the honesty of the decadence of that decade. There's the line and then, just when it all seemed clear you go and disappear. I knew a lot of great people in the eighties but at the time I didn't always understand them. Now, there's such a void in the art world, people with vision have physically passed on. It's also a stab at political correctness - you can't say this, you can't say that; now everybody has to be called a Spanish American, an African American and I mean... Oh bloody, fucking hell!!! I understand the abuses that have happened and I absolutely think recompense should be paid, but you don't do it just on a surface level. Everybody thinks that the debt has been paid to the 'quote unquote' Indians who had their land taken away from them because we call them Native Americans. It's hard when everything is so eggshell, eggshell, eggshell. I do miss the eighties. It was great, knowing that friends were on one hand dialing a charity and on the other hand doing a line of blow — but not lying about it, being honest. None of us are this light and dark fantasy. What's dark to you may be light to me and vice versa." -Tori Amos


Posted 15 years ago by Mandible    [ Reply ]
 goldberry wrote:

 One of the few really good songs from what was an otherwise disappointing album. Unfortunately, that dissatisfaction was a taste of what was to come from Ms. Amos. But if it means she's sober and happy, then I'm happy for her.


Maybe if she was a drunk crying her sorrow through her songs her music would be better. Just sayin'. Ya know, like some of the greats, musically. Unlike Tori.  Pure blech.


Posted 15 years ago by jadewahoo    [ Reply ]
one of the best songs off this album, imho.

kate bush? come on, Tori is a much more prolific songwriter and performer.
Posted 15 years ago by annie_fannie    [ Reply ]
Not bad but, I prefer the real Kate Bush.
Posted 15 years ago by brighthue    [ Reply ]
I believe her bass player (on the albums) is Justin Meldal-Johnsen of Beck and NIN fame.
Posted 15 years ago by derekd    [ Reply ]
 pedro wrote:
that bass line got me
 
Good catch - know who it is by chance?

Posted 15 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
I think she's impressive as singer, songwriter, and musician. 
Posted 16 years ago by anotherlistener    [ Reply ]

 One of the few really good songs from what was an otherwise disappointing album. Unfortunately, that dissatisfaction was a taste of what was to come from Ms. Amos. But if it means she's sober and happy, then I'm happy for her.


Posted 16 years ago by goldberry    [ Reply ]
dsr15 wrote:
It's hard not to like Tori 6
I love Tori, but this song is a 4 for me. Just doesn't grab me like the rest do. *shrugs*
Posted 17 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
that bass line got me
Posted 18 years ago by pedro    [ Reply ]
It's hard not to like Tori 6
Posted 18 years ago by dsr15    [ Reply ]
Dylan76 wrote:
Male Tori lover here.
Here too.
Posted 18 years ago by meloman    [ Reply ]
xsrossiter wrote:
The backup musicians are a lot better than she is.
I'm an avid Tori lover, and I only gave this song a 6. It's just not one of her best, but I wouldn't go as far as to say the back-up band is better than she is. I think they're all great. Tori included.
Posted 18 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
The backup musicians are a lot better than she is.
Posted 18 years ago by xsrossiter    [ Reply ]
tangent wrote:
While I have to be in the mood for Tori Amos, when I'm in the mood for her, she's excellent. When I'm not in the mood for her, she is grating. This song is just such a departure from her standard that it is refreshing and can be listened to even when not in a Tori mood. :)
Took the words right out of my (mind) mouth... I agree. This is a different side of her.. Like it.
Posted 18 years ago by Kite_Flyer    [ Reply ]
Dylan76 wrote:
Male Tori lover here.
Here too On a side note, isn't there just a smattering of an Alanis vibe going on? Doesn't bother me. Like it.
Posted 18 years ago by maLeFunKtion    [ Reply ]
hippiechick wrote:
Do you think there's a line: Tori haters are men, Tori lovers are women?
Male Tori lover here.
Posted 18 years ago by Dylan76    [ Reply ]
Overall, that may be the case but I'm male and own most of Tori's albums :) hippiechick wrote:
Do you think there's a line: Tori haters are men, Tori lovers are women?
Posted 18 years ago by archrrone    [ Reply ]
biztheclown wrote:
All of the people who hate Tori are probably the same tone deaf freaks who like Natalie Merchant.
What if you like them both?
Posted 18 years ago by ColoBacon    [ Reply ]
This is one of my favorites from Tori!
Posted 18 years ago by rabbitsongs    [ Reply ]
While I have to be in the mood for Tori Amos, when I'm in the mood for her, she's excellent. When I'm not in the mood for her, she is grating. This song is just such a departure from her standard that it is refreshing and can be listened to even when not in a Tori mood. :)
Posted 18 years ago by tangent    [ Reply ]
Do you think there's a line: Tori haters are men, Tori lovers are women?
Posted 18 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
whoa...unexpected, yet most appreciated.
Posted 18 years ago by chillynne    [ Reply ]
mybestimpression wrote:
tori amos is my heroine.
Mine too, and I think I just overdosed.
Posted 21 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
When Tori Amos comes on, I usually get a bad case of the heebie jeebies. However, I actually enjoyed this song.
Posted 21 years ago by the_om    [ Reply ]
Well, not liking Tori and Merchant is your prerogative. I think both of them are awesome. When Tori went techno I lost intrest, it just wasn\'t my thing. I still wanted my Corn Flake Girl. This song is a nice mix of both sounds for her. As far as Tori having bad lyrics, not likely. Read some of the stuff on her first album. Her range of theme alone is impressive. Very moving. Keep it up Tori.
Posted 22 years ago by Nighthawk    [ Reply ]
I have been a Tori fanatic for years, and it is good to hear her music coming from somewhere other than my own cd player. I even have a Tori autographed piano bench.
Posted 22 years ago by PandoraX    [ Reply ]
I have no talent in music and have made no money from my fans
Posted 22 years ago by jagla    [ Reply ]