"Spark"

“How many fates turn around in the overtime? Ballerinas that have fins that you'll never find. You thought that you were the bomb, yes well so did I. Say you don't want it, say you don't want it. Say you don't want it again and again. But you don't, don't really mean it. Say you don't want it this circus we're in. But you don't, don't you don't really mean it.”

THE MUSIC: According to the Music Genome Project, the song features a subtle use of vocal counterpoint, a subtle use of vocal harmony, acoustic rhythm piano, interweaving vocal harmony, demanding instrumental part writing, a twelve-eight time signature, minor key tonality, mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation, an emotional female lead vocal performance and triple note feel.

THE FACTS: "Spark" is the lead single off of From the Choirgirl Hotel, Tori’s fourth studio album. A departure from her previous albums, it was much more lavishly produced and a very radio-friendly project featuring a full rock band sound (instead of Amos' usual minimalist piano sound). The song became a hit after its release in June 1998 (becoming her last UK Top 40 hit to date, as well as her highest charting US single, reaching #49). Tori had this to say about the video (watch it here), which has been described as ‘disturbing’: “A parallel. obviously. People have said to me that they found the video disturbing. I guess facing Death is just that. I didn't want a play by play on film of the literal meaning of Spark ... I've said before that Spark is about a girl having a Really Bad day ... Water. The rhythm of the water in the tropics where I wrote 'Choirgirl' was the element that brought me strength to my woman, who was truly in NO MAN'S land after losing the baby ... The ominous pulse of the video was no different than the feeling I had the day. Spark is based on Death Lurking...”

YOU are one of Tori’s grittier songs, one which is to her stories of miscarriage what “Me and a Gun” was to her rape. Either you’re in a bad spot right now or you are angry by nature, it’s safe to say that there are quite a few demons eating at you. This, in turn, causes you to rage at the world. Perhaps you’ve lost something or someone you believed to be very important to you. Perhaps you feel you have failed yourself and those around you. In any event, you seem to be experiencing a meltdown. This is somehow connected to another constant in your life, which seems to be the issue of addiction. Whether it’s a controlled substance of some sort or people or just the high of life, you can’t seem to shake it. The world overwhelms you and, at the same time, fascinates you; you struggle to recover your peace of mind, but each time you are drawn back in, and each time you vow it will be the last time. This trait is coupled with your desire to project a strong, independent image. You are not likely to cut yourself any slack, even at times when you are so messed up you’d clearly need a break. Throughout your life you’ve strived to be the best at whatever you endeavored and this has exerted a lot of mental strain on you. Naturally, although not very healthily, the only moments when you really feel free to be your own person are those when you indulge in your addiction of choice. Your breakdowns, rare as they may be, are therefore strong and violent, taking everybody by surprise, including yourself.