Tori Amos wrote "Siren" specifically for the 1998 Great Expectations movie, based on the Charles Dickens novel with the setting bumped to 1990s New York instead of 1861 London. I haven't seen the movie, but from the Wikipedia summary, I don't want to. It looks like this song refers to a major character who often seductively teases a childhood friend of hers. Um, ick?
Without that context, though, the song seems to refer to someone who wittingly lies to themselves: "And you know you're gonna lie to you." Whoever it is also probably plays with relationships, considering the "almost in love". It still doesn't make much sense unless you know its background, though.
Tori Amos's voice reminds me of Eowyn and Plumb, the traditional mature "rougher" vocals for rock, but it has a delicate quality, too. It's quite pretty, if a little hard to hear atop the music.
The rock style vocals do fit, since "Siren" definitely qualifies as piano rock. The piano flows swiftly and harmonizes Tori Amos's voice in a way that makes it above average. Other than that, it's pretty much basic beats, with what sounds like a tambourine and a violin (or other stringed instrument) for some of the song.
Overall, it's an enjoyable listen if you enjoy quick-tempo piano rock and female rock vocals more like Pat Benatar than Mariah Carey. It isn't anything that could probably draw you in if you generally dislike this sort of thing.
Lyrics: 3/5
Music: 4/5
Vocal(s): 4/5
Overall: 7/10
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ReplyDeleteWhy, thank you, Anonymous! :-D
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ReplyDeleteThank you. :)
ReplyDeleteI think motherhood inspired Amos to produce a cover album, recording songs written by men about women and reversing the gender roles to show a woman's perspective
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