A Pinoy Blog About Nothing

Women Who Rock

Two reasons for this week’s theme: International Women’s Day was last Tuesday and my favorite redhead is back with a new album. As I’d like to say, some of the best females I know are women. ;) In the words of our modern day sage, Melanie Marquez: “For every great man, is a woman’s behind.” Or whatever she meant. And so here’s a toast to the awesome ka-womyn-nan in our lives, definitely women who keep our lives interesting and serve as our inspiration.

Tori Amos and her Bosendorfer is back with The Beekeeper. It is essentially a concept album but then again all of Amos’ album doesn’t lack concepts or themes running through them. This time around she seems to be inspired by the Gospel of Mary Magdalene and of course, her perennial favorite, embracing sensuality in the face of Catholicism even daring to go back to the Garden of Eden. Gardens, flowers, bees, hence beekeeper. Get it? I should know. Tori told me so. Seriously she did.

I picked up the one with the bonus DVD where Amos explained the inspiration of the album and the songs. I know that’s a cop out. Like poems, songs take on a life of their own once another person reads or hears it and having the author explain it is a bit like cheating - you’re supposed to infuse your own meaning to these songs. Then again, Amos’ songs aren’t the most approachable of works. There’s a reason you very rarely hear her songs on the radio.

The Beekeeper isn’t Amos’ best album but it’s certainly very strong. I think that distinction’s reserved for her first three - Little Earthquakes, Under the Pink and Boys for Pele. She has scaled back a bit on producing these songs and we get a Winter-y/Pretty Good Year feel. That’s not to say there aren’t any gems in here. Out of the 19 (!) tracks I liked Parasol, Hoochie Woman, Goodbye Pisces, Witness and Sleeps with Butterflies. Amos is still best when she’s being playful with the melodies and her lyrics.

So here’s a couple of Tori’s tracks off that album along with more women who rock:

1. Tori Amos - Hoochie Woman
2. Tori Amos - Goodbye Pisces
3. Janis Joplin - Piece of my Heart
4. Mojofly - Mata
5. Kitchie Nadal - Bulong
6. Color it Red - Paglisan
7. Sarah McLachlan - Sweet Surrender
8. Natalie Merchant - Wonder
9. Liz Phair - Polyester Bride
10. Julia Fordham - Girlfriend
11. Fiona Apple - A Better Version of Me
12. Billie Holiday - Blue Moon

Launch player.