Was Britney Spear’s Rebellion Against Her “Pop Image?” Tori Amos Think So
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When someone as respected and beloved as Tori Amos comes to your defense, while you are attempting to reclaim yourself against a tsunami of criticism, then that’s something to be happy about. So is the case for the recently rehabbed pop sensation Britney Spears. Tori recently spoke up about Britney’s troubles and points to Britney’s label as being a part of the problem:
“Whether they’re selling perfume or a song, people have decided they’re a brand. Hollywood did a good job of creating icons in the 30s and 40s, they understood a story. Now, give ‘em a haircut and some clothes and they think they can pull off Aphrodite. Then you have situations like Britney shaving her head. I don’t think her sweet, saccharine image was close to who she really was, and she rebelled.”
Obviously, Britney’s image isn’t the only element in her fall from grace; Britney’s crumbling marriage, dealing with parenthood and substance abuse issues were a bigger part of the problem. But maybe, Britney’s has been trying to tell us something about herself all these years.
From her public kiss with fellow pop-rebel Madonna, to her shredding her pop-tart image for songs like “Toxic” and “I’m A Slave For U,” it’s clear that Britney’s much “darker” than her peers, and quite possibly, has felt trapped in a persona that didn’t closely match who she really was.
Tori Amos’ observations, though simplistic, may in truth be really insightful. More importantly, her experiences make her a credible witness to testify on Britney’s “troubled” behalf. Tori Amos has had her share of hard times too.
Despite their disparate musical stylings, Tori and Britney have a couple things in common and if Tori’s right, both performers began their careers as something different than who they were inside.
Amos began her career in an ill-conceived band in the mid-80’s called “Y Tori Kant Read.” She recorded one album and was tossed aside for being silly and derivitive of the whole 80’s synth sound - sort of like if Kate Bush sang for Duran Duran. This initial failure was likely her saving grace, as Tori was forced to find her own voice and sound. Which she did with great gusto, paving the way for many of the alternative female singer-songwriters who would come after her (Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, Fiona Apple and Alanis Morissette to name a few.)Â
Tori had great success in the early 90’s from her first solo album Little Earthquakes, the single “Silent All These Years” and later with “Cornflake Girl” and “Crucify” sealed her status as cult icon.  Despite writing quirky, off-kilter songs — on a piano no less — Tori has a rabidly loyal fanbase, has recorded over 10 albums, sold over 15 million records and her new and eagerly anticipated record, American Doll Posse is set to be released on May 1.Â
Tori, like Britney, knows personal heartache. During her early years in LA, Tori was raped by an acquaintence and wrote about her experience in her song “My And A Gun.” She’s done benefits for RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) a charity designed to help those who are struggling with sexual assault and abuse and has openly spoken out about her abuse in an effort to raise awareness.
Tori, having had her career sidetracked due to an ill-conceived image and having suffered personal trauma, gives her unique perspective to see through the b.s. in Britney’s life and maybe even offer a light at the end of the tunnel for Spears. If Britney can stay focused, and discover who she really is inside, maybe she can reach even greater success with a whole new image - one she can finally be true to.
It might be a stretch to imagine Britney becoming an indie icon like the outrageously talented Tori Amos - but stranger things have happened to lesser people.
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While I agree with you that Amos has a unique perspective on this, it’s difficult for me to see Britney having a budding artistic side yearning to breathe free.
Comment by Josh — April 6, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
It’s a stretch, but not entirely unimaginable. I like to think there’s a rabbit in her hate yet to be pulled. As far as tabloid knuckleheads go, I like Britney ten billion times more than Paris and her whore twin Lindsay.
What Britney lacks in talent, she makes up for in sheer balls-out “crazy.”
Comment by Dawn — April 6, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
Our culture is to blame for the way Hollywood is, not the other way around. We have seen that the image we had of the old stars of the 30’s and 40’s wasn’t always as pretty in real life, so now we want to see them all become train wrecks. Britney is doing exactly what our society wants her to do. Tori is not. People are more hostile towards Tori than Britney for the exact opposite, for becoming a responsible grown woman who can take care of herself and her family, and therefore no fun to gawk at, as with Britney. It’s sad because we are the ones who are the real mess.
Comment by Jerry (Stinky) — April 6, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
ooops. i have to make one small correction. tori was never , ever ‘raped’. women can claim anything, and they are born liars and manipulators
Comment by john harris — April 7, 2007 @ 9:16 am
^ fuck that.
From the only interview Tori Amos ever gave with specifics about it, which was an interview she did with Joe Jackson of the Irish music magazine Hot Press, with the publication date of February 23, 1994.
The Hurt Inside
[...]
“I’ll never talk about it at this level again but let me ask you. Why have I survived that kind of night, when other women didn’t”, she says.
“How am I alive to tell you this tale when he was ready to slice me up? In the song I say it was ‘Me and a Gun’ but it wasn’t a gun. It was a knife he had. And the idea was to take me to his friends and cut me up, and he kept telling me that, for hours. And if he hadn’t needed more drugs I would have been just one more news report, where you see the parents grieving for their daughter”.
“And I was singing hymns, as I say in the song, because he told me to. I sang to stay alive. Yet I survived that torture, which left me urinating all over myself and left me paralysed for years. That’s what that night was all about, mutilation, more than violation through sex”.
“I really do feel as though I was psychologically mutilated that night and that now I’m trying to put the pieces back together again. Through love, not hatred. And through my music. My strength has been to open again, to life, and my victory is the fact that, despite it all, I kept alive my vulnerability”.
For definition of ‘rape’ see:
http://thedent.com/rape.html
Marion
Comment by Marion, Berlin Germany — April 7, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Do not be concerned with #4’s comment…he is a known troll and ignorant stalker who has tried to bring attention to himself for years in various Tori forums and got kicked out for abuse. For the love of god ignore him.
Comment by blah — April 7, 2007 @ 10:44 am
Great article! The correlations between the two women are very insightful.
Comment by datura — April 7, 2007 @ 10:47 am
John Harris,
You’re a dickhead. I hope you are never raped,
I guess.
Comment by Dawn — April 7, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
I think that is an interesting theory about Britney. Since she was in the Mickey Mouse club, her whole image has been controlled by someone else. What adolescent wouldn’t be affected by that-the whole point of adolescence is to find out who you are and strive for independence. Tori struggled with a strict religious household,so I am sure she can understand. I also agree with #3; we put people on a pedal and hope they fall. Also, for #4, how do YOU know Tori wasn’t raped?
Comment by Kristie — April 7, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
i just wrote a longer entry about this ‘john harris’ creature, but you know what? why the hell should we even address that being with the importance of a piece of belly button lint?
this is about tori amos. the goddess. the one who deserves attention and praise.
american doll posse is going to be a STRONG rung on her discography ladder. the songs are all so varied and intense. i hear The Beatles and original interpretations of her America.
droooooooooooool.
:]
Comment by pork — April 7, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
One correction: Tori’s first band was not “Y Tori Can’t Read”, it was “Y Kant Tori Read”. Small thing, just saying. ^_^
That’s a really interesting perspective on the whole thing, gives food for thought! I never would have expected to hear Tori stand up for Britney Spears, so that’s really a surprise, a good one, though.
Comment by Nicole — April 7, 2007 @ 5:54 pm
She did so get raped, or why did a reputable music magazine print that story?
Brittany was a mess from the get go, and now she’s peaked. It happens to all Trailer Trash when the hit their mid twenties earlyh tirties.
Comment by Marcie — April 8, 2007 @ 2:12 am
Was Britney Spears’ Rebellion Against Her “Pop Image?†Tori Amos Think So
When someone as respected and beloved as Tori Amos comes to your defense, while you are attempting to reclaim yourself against a tsunami of criticism, then that’s something to be happy about. So is the case for the recently rehabbed pop sensation Br…
Trackback by dirtyrottengossip.com — April 8, 2007 @ 3:40 am
I think the idea that this ISN’T what’s going on is kind of ludicrous, really. Imagine having to look sexy all the time. Imagine having to take hundreds of photos like the one at the top of the page to sell sell sell. Nearly, if not, all photos of Britney Spears carry the same message as her persona certainly does: sex sells. And an artistic persona is never totally under your own spell, particularly when you’re Britney Spears. The record company has to throw their own spin on things to make sure you’re just sexy enough and you hit all the right media hot points. Tori Amos is a tried & true performer who has worked her way to where she is. Britney Spears is someone who has had to maintain a very specific image to keep with the status quo. Once everyone– even her close fans– got to the point where they weren’t buying it anymore, all hell broke loose. This is someone who has been keeping up appearances day after day for about a decade. I mean, isn’t she sort of the poster girl of pop idols? What kind of “responsibility” comes with that? I have a virtually impossible time believing that you can make it that high by being yourself.
Comment by Ben — April 11, 2007 @ 2:45 am
I think Britney has been unfortunately rail-roaded in her career and her own voice of who she is has been drowned out by those who have vested interests in her ability to create a female/male frenzy with regard to this larger-than-life image which is a hell of a thing to carry off repeatedly; if you’re not a reflection of this outward image internally then you become a timebomb and one day it’s going to go off with heavy consequences that are emotionally shattering for you as a person, which is the most important thing, preserving your sanity, your soul, it doesn’t matter that you are dwindling in the public interest becaue your image has gone off centre, because someone else will come along and continue that false projection, therefore, Britney becomes another used performer, not valued for her real qualities, whether they be vulnerability, shyness or low key. I’d rather know that Britney than the Britney that’s groomed to perfection, so Tori’s comment is spot on correct. My thoughts are with Britney at this time. Cher x
Comment by Cher — April 18, 2007 @ 5:38 am
I don’t think its any big surprise when celebrities go off the rails like that.Its hard out here for a pimp.I’ve fairly recently realized that what these people do even the ones like brit who you wouldn’t imagine have a whole lot of talent–its hard work.The hours are crazy you have no privacy people treat you really really weird you cant trust any one cuz everyone wants something from you.People like britney just barely get to be human alot of the time.I used to think that I wanted that life cuz I didn’t understand what it was about I thought it was just looking hot and everybody loving you but it is hard enough dealing with life as a normal person without having the entire world in youre sh*% 24/7 watching you following you snapping pictures everbody thinking you owe them something.Brits just a child really and I don’t think she even has any real sense of herself at her core.Tori I’d say has always had more of a sense of herself and there being at least one or two people in her life that she can trust like her father, her mother, bean.I don’t think brit has anyone in her life that she can really trust like that at all.Tori has a spirituality to her that is empowering and frankly the woman is astronomicaly talented like definitly.Not just anyone can do what Tori does.With britney well thats another story.As far as Tori’s image goes I think its a very organic one whereas britneys is rather plasticine.I respect the fact that as Tori has grown as an artist and as a person she has openly established and acknowledged a boundary between the Tori we see her ‘performance-self’ as she calls it and her own personal self.The human Tori I’d call it.It is a little bittersweet that idea becuase I’ve always thought of Tori as being very raw very real.Thats what we all love about her.At the same time a person has to have some room to breath.Really a person like Tori may even have more pressure to deal with than a Brit.Torisimage is almost messianic its a great resposibility I think sort of a mixed blessing.So I understand her wanting to take a step back maybe draw a little line in the sand.Its the healthy thing to do.Really it’s nothing all that new.that line has always been there,in her lyrics certainly.She has said as much herself.She understood at a very young age that she had to be careful with the things she was trying to commuincate.There had to be boundaries in place.But again these boundaries are organic textured flexible.Tori has alot of respect for her fans and for herself and her family and thats why she does things the way she does.Its difficult for me to explain but tori talks about is these archetypes like aphrodite.The reason they are archetypes is because they are very very pure very primo stuff.You cant really expect thet of a human being.A human being is much more complicated.I think what britney and her fans are having to deal with now is the fact that she is human.A human being is a very special very preciuos sort of thing and kind of fragile.Its one thing to chanel a certain kind of energy on stage but to have to do the same thing in your daily life well that kind of stress is what ultimately shortens peoples lives in one way or another because they aren’t gods.Britney isn’t aphrodite at least not that and that alone.Theres some other stuff going on there and shes got to deal with it—obviously.She’s got to make room for the rest of her or at least rather more than she has.I feel sorry for her that she has so many people in her life but maybe not very good people.I’m glad Tori stood up for her somewhat.I hope rehab did her some good.
Comment by ash — April 21, 2007 @ 4:08 pm