Tori Amos is bothering me

She won't get out of my head. She has been there for sixteen years. She torments me, yet I need her. I think she is one of the most brilliant songwriters out there; she has a way of grabbing you by the throat and making you listen. If you have the patience for her puzzles then you find yourself completely transported. She sends you running towards pain yet away from it at the same time. I don't know how to explain her effect on me without sounding crazy. I find her ability to reach so many people incredible, especially considering how abnormal her writing can be. I couldn't stand her when I was first introduced to her through "Crucify," which eventually became one of my favorite songs. Fifteen years later I'm still every bit as likely to not care for her work as I am to love it; however, I trust her 100% when it comes to music, and because of that I know she won't compromise her standards. If I don't like, chances are the problem is mine. She has issued a challenge and it's up to me to be smart enough to figure it out, appreciate it, and maybe even love it. There is only one song in her repertoire of over 500 songs that I have never been able to appreciate it. I won't tell you which one. Perhaps someday that will change, maybe not. I really hate it. =)

I met Tori on November 13th. After a 16 year wait I stood in line by her bus for three hours, jammed in with other adoring fans. I have tried this before with no luck, yet for the first time I was nervous all day at the prosect. I just had a feeling that would be the day, and it was. In fact, I was so nervous that I almost chickened out, yet I knew that would be a stupid thing to do, and a decision that would cause me much regret since she won't be touring for another 4yrs, at least. I was shocked by how low-key she was in person. She was kind, soft-spoken, and very approachable. I've heard this before but it's hard to believe when she is so off-the-hook creatively. I've always taken her for a nut, but there was no evidence of her onstage persona when she was talking to us outside the stage door. I am so thankful to have had the chance to meet her after being so deeply connected to her music for over half of my life. I'm also thankful that her songs have been with me for so long, but sometimes I wish she would just go away. Her lyrics constantly pop up, or a melody begins to swirl around in my head. Sometimes I won't evcen know which song these sounds come from, but I know it's her. I listen to hundreds of other artists but nobody else grabs me like Tori Amos does, and she drives me crazy.