Tori Amos - The Wrong Band

The fist time I heard "The Wrong Band" it was not sung by Tori Amos, but by a classmate who sang this fragile little gem, accapella, on stage. I never noticed she had such a great voice and she really put all her emotions in it. I was lucky enough to be given a tape of the concert of that evening, because it so happened to be that I was performing "Love Cats" by some British band called The Cure. We'll get to that another day, I promise...
While listening to the tape, it actually brought me to tears several times. (thanks for that Melissa!)

I already was a huge fan of "Cornflake Girl" and "Winter", so of course I had to put some money aside to buy the cd "Under The Pink" (by the way, can someone please explain to me, why there wasn't a "mid-price" catalogue during these expensive school-days? Kids are spoiled nowadays!)
I soon fell in love with half of the songs on the album, but "The Wrong Band" stood out for me. Her distinctive voice combined with the subtle piano-riffs and the lyrics, has made this one of those special songs for me. It was one of these coming-out or coming-of-age songs, I so desperately needed to hear every day, during a very difficult period in my youth. Tori said to me that, although we were in the wrong band, it was time to open my eyes and don't be afraid. Maybe she was right? Ooh yeah she was right!

Tori once mentioned in one of her interviews that the song is actually about a prostitute who had a fall out with one of her pimps and therefore had to fly to Japan and start a new life.

Have a listen and let me know what you think of this song. Be honest...




I think it's perfectly clear
We're in the wrong band
Ginger is always sincere
Just not to one man
She called me up
And said you know that i'm drowning
It's the dog trainer again
He says that he thinks that she needs more hands

I think it perfectly clear
We're in the wrong band
Senator let's be sincere
As much as you can
He called her up
And he said the new prosecutor
Soon will be wanting a word
So she's got a soft sport for heels and spurs
And there's something believin
In her voice again
Said there's something believin instead of just leavin

And she gets her cigars
From the sweet fat man
I think it's perfectly clear
We're in the wrong band
Heidi shays she'll be sincere
As much as she can
I called her up
And I said you know that I'm drowning
Put on your raincoat again
Cause even the sun's got a price on it
And there's something believin
In her voice again
Said there's something believin instead of just leavin

She said it's time I open my eyes
Don't be afraid to open your eyes
Maybe she's right
Maybe she's right
Maybe she's right
Maybe she's right