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In press materials for Boys For Pele, Amos said of this song: "It's really about a relationship. And she's kind of given herself away, so she's trying to get pieces back in any way she can. I mean, whoever works at that point. And if it's Inana or whoever. And if it works calling her in the church, to evoke a little ass, then you go for it."
As you can tell, Tori is evasive regarding who specifically inspired the song, if anyone. The likely candidates are:
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, who had a quick affair with Tori. When Tori mentions "My own Pretty Hate Machine," it's a reference to the first Nine Inch Nails album: Pretty Hate Machine.
Her former producer Eric Rosse, who she dated and went through a painful breakup. She uses the sneeze as a metaphor for the idea that he was her soul mate, and she begins to think that perhaps he wasn't after all: "Sometimes men like to think they're the flu, but sometimes they're just a h'achoo!" (thanks, Sara - Fareham, United Kingdom)
This was the first song ever made widely available on the Internet. Amos offered it as a free download. (thanks, Josh - Pittsburgh, PA)
Comments (4):
Randy Newman
Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.
Chris Tomlin
The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.
Dean Pitchford
Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in
Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."
Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"
With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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