In one week, I have listened to over two hundred minutes of Fiona Apple. It’s safe to say I admire her raw vocal talent. With five albums spanning from the modern decade to the late 1990s, Apple has appealed to different generations through jazz-inspired music. Here are some of my favorites.
Paper Bag
“Paper Bag” remains a favorite, with over 70 million listens on Spotify. From her 1999 album When The Pawn, Apple perfectly portrays vulnerability. This emotional lyric-based song about loving a man who isn’t deserving resonated with many listeners. The track introduced me to Apple’s catchy piano chords and smooth, low vocals. I recommend it for fans of deep emotional lyrics and art-pop.
Hunger hurts, and I want him so bad, oh, it kills
‘Cause I know I’m a mess he don’t wanna clean up
I got to fold ’cause these hands are too shaky to hold
Hunger hurts, but starving works when it costs too much to love
Paper Bag by Fiona Apple
I Want You to Love Me
I spent a lot of listening minutes on listening to “I Want You To Love Me,” from Fetch The Bold Cutters (2020). Apple’s effortlessly longing for a partner is a joy to hear. The calm piano mixed with the drum symbols brings harmony to wanting to be with someone. Apple emphasizes the message of longing through long notes and vocal vibrato, intensifying the emotional desire. The lyrics of:
But I know a sound is still a sound
Around no-one
And while I’m in this body
I want somebody to want
And I want what I want
And I want
You
To love me
I Want You To Love Me by Fiona Apple
Get Gone
Another hit from her album When The Pawn (1999) portrays Apple rejecting a man’s advances. It provides a ballad of a woman standing her ground and not letting an unworthy person into their life. The sharp piano chords, the loud drums, and Apple’s raspy vocals tie the song into a perfect mix of empowerment and openness. A definite listen for fans of power ballads and female empowerment.
Cause I do know what’s good for me
And I’ve done what I could for you
But you’re not benefiting
And yet I’m sitting, singing again
Get Gone by Fiona Apple
Criminal
The song from her 1996 album Tidal portrays Apple’s guilt in participating in improper behavior. Her stance on not wanting to commit to somebody but using sexuality to her advantage brings an intense feeling of guilt. The Grammy-winning rock ballad resonates with people who want to find motivation that does not depend on intense sexual desire. Not only are the instrumentals instant and well executed, but the lyrical content remains one of Apple’s best works.
I’ve been a bad, bad girl
I’ve been careless with a delicate man
And it’s a sad, sad world
When a girl will break a boy just because she can
Criminal by Fiona Apple
With multiple albums, a powerful voice, and literary genius, Apple’s talent emerges through her music. I am happy to spend many hours listening to her content and hope Coog Radio readers can enjoy it as well.
