Born in Manhattan, New York, United States, Apple made her break into the music industry when a friend, who babysat for a record executive, handed her employer a demo. Apple's husky voice, nimble piano skills, and mature lyrics got the attention of Sony executive Andy Slater, who signed her to a record deal.
In 1996, Apple's debut album Tidal was released by a subsidiary of Sony. The album went on to sell 3 million copies (certified triple platinum) domestically.
"Criminal," the fourth single from Tidal, became Apple's breakthrough hit. The song garnered a great deal of attention, in part for its suggestive lyrics ("I've been a bad, bad girl...") but also for the controversial music video, directed by Mark Romanek. The video featured a waifish, half-dressed Apple surrounded by the aftermath of a party, including unconscious party-goers. The video received heavy rotation on VH-1 and MTV and gained the singer immediate notoriety. Years later, Apple said, "I wasn't (comfortable). And you can see that in the video. It's not sexy. It's disturbing."
Other singles from Tidal included "Sleep to Dream," "Shadowboxer," "Never is a Promise," and "The First Taste."
In 1998, she contributed two tracks to the Pleasantville soundtrack, "Please Send Me Someone to Love" and a cover of the Beatles hit "Across the Universe".
In 1999, Apple's second album was released with the name "When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He'll Win the Whole Thing 'fore He Enters the Ring There's No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might so When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and If You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where to Land and If You Fall It Won't Matter, Cuz You'll Know That You're Right" but it has just been commonly called "When the Pawn..." This album released the singles "Fast As You Can," "Limp," and "Paper Bag."
A third album, Extraordinary Machine, which was produced by Jon Brion, was submitted to Sony executives in May 2003. Sony was reportedly unenthusiastic about the finished product, and the project was shelved for over two years. In 2004 and 2005, tracks were leaked on the Internet in MP3 format and played on U.S. and international radio; subsequently, MP3s of the entire album believed produced by Brion (although he later claimed the leaked tracks were "tweaked" beyond his own work), went online. Although a website distributing the album was quickly taken offline via the DMCA copyright law, they soon reached P2P networks and were downloaded by fans.
In August 2005, the album was given a release date of October. Production had been completed by Mike Elizondo (though known for his work with hip-hop artists such as Dr. Dre, he had previously played bass for Apple on Pawn) and co-produced by electronica experimentalist Brian Kehew. Spin Magazine later reported: "Fans erroneously thought that Apple's record label, Epic, had rejected the first version of Extraordinary Machine... in reality, according to Elizondo, Apple was unhappy with the results, and it was her decision to redo the record, not her label's." Two of the eleven previous leaked tracks were relatively unchanged, nine were completely retooled, and one new song was also included. According to Elizondo, "Everything was done from scratch." Upon its release, the album became the highest-charting album of Apple's career (debuting at number seven), and before the end of 2005 had sold more than 300,000 copies in the United States alone.
It was revealed in late 2005 that Sony was initially unhappy with the work, and Apple and Brion sought to rework the album. Sony made caveats on the process, to which Apple balked. After a long period of waiting, she began an attempt to rework the album with close friend Kehew (also a friend and former roommate of Jon Brion). Elizondo was brought back as co-producer to complete the tracks he had begun with Brion and Apple. Despite suggestions that the album had caused a rift between Brion and Apple, they regularly perform together at Largo, a club in Los Angeles, including a joint appearance with Elizondo on bass just before the news broke of an official release. Apple went on a live tour to support the album in late 2005, and from early 2006 supported Coldplay on their tour of North America. The album has yielded four singles: "Parting Gift," "O' Sailor," "Not About Love," and "Get Him Back."
In 2006, a special edition version of "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" was released, with Fiona Apple contributing a version of "Sally's Song."
In January 2010, Fiona Apple and Jon Brion performed together at "Love and Haiti, Too: A Music Benefit", a charity concert for the people hurt by the Haiti Earthquake. Fiona sang a cover of "(S)he's Funny That Way", composed by Neil Moret, with lyrics by Richard Whiting, which is often associated with the singer Billie Holiday.
In June 2010, Fiona released a song titled "So Sleepy" produced by Jon Brion written by children involved with the non-profit organization 826LA. The song will be included in a compilation album released by the organization titled Chickens in Love. She also collaborated with Margaret Cho on Cho's album Cho Dependent.
The Every Single Night Songfacts reports that Apple began recording new material for her fourth album The Idler Wheel… in the late 2000s, keeping her sessions secret, even from her label, Epic Records. She opted to produce the album with her touring drummer, Charley Drayton, rather than her longtime collaborator Jon Brion. Executives at Epic only discovered that Apple had recorded an album in early 2012 when she presented it to them. It was released on June 19, 2012, to success, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200. The album sold 72,000 copies in the first week and was nominated for Best Alternative Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards. In 2020, the album was placed at number 213 on the list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone.
In 2020, Apple's fifth studio album, "Fetch the Bolt Cutters", was released to universal acclaim. The artist earned two Grammy Awards for the album: Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Performance for the lead single "Shameika."
On The Bound
Fiona Apple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hail the pages turning
And the future's on the bound
Hell don't know my fury
You're all I need, you're all I need
You're all I need, you're all I need
You're all I need, you're all I need
You're all I need and maybe some faith would do me good
I don't know what I'm doing, don't know, should I change my mind?
I can't decide, there's too many variations to consider
No thing I do don't do no thing but bring me more to do
It's true, I do imbue my blue unto myself, I make it bitter
Baby, lay your head on my lap one more time
Tell me you belong to me
Baby, say that it's all gonna be alright
I believe that it isn't
You're all I need, you're all I need
You're all I need, you're all I need
You're all I need, you're all I need
You're all I need and maybe some faith would do me good
And maybe some faith would do me good
The opening lines of the song, "All my life is on me now, Hail the pages turning, And the future's on the bound, Hell don't know my fury" depict the feeling of being overwhelmed with the responsibilities of life. The metaphor of the pages turning symbolizes the passing of time, and the future being on the bound suggests a sense of urgency to keep up with it. The mention of "hell" not knowing the singer's fury suggests that they are willing to push through any obstacle in their way.
The repeated line "You're all I need" throughout the song can be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be directed towards a specific person, expressing the singer's reliance on them for support, comfort, and guidance. Alternatively, it could be directed towards a higher power, suggesting that faith is needed to help navigate the challenges of life.
The lines "I don't know what I'm doing, don't know, should I change my mind? I can't decide, there's too many variations to consider" reflect the singer's uncertainty about the future and the different paths they could take. The use of repetition in this section adds to the feeling of being stuck or lost.
The final verse, "Baby, lay your head on my lap one more time, Tell me you belong to me, Baby, say that it's all gonna be alright, I believe that it isn't" presents a contrast between the desire for comfort and reassurance, and the singer's belief that everything will not be okay. The use of the word "baby" suggests an intimacy and vulnerability in the relationship between the singer and the person they are addressing.
Line by Line Meaning
All my life is on me now
I am responsible for everything in my life and the choices I make.
Hail the pages turning
Acknowledging the ever-changing nature of life and the need to adapt and evolve.
And the future's on the bound
The future is rapidly approaching and I need to be ready for it.
Hell don't know my fury
My anger and frustration are intense and overwhelming, even to the point that hell itself would struggle to contain it.
You're all I need, you're all I need
The love and support of someone special is a crucial anchor in my life.
You're all I need and maybe some faith would do me good
While love is important, having faith in something greater than oneself can also provide comfort and guidance.
I don't know what I'm doing, don't know, should I change my mind?
Feeling lost and unsure about the choices I've made and whether I should reconsider.
I can't decide, there's too many variations to consider
Overwhelmed by the complexity of life and the many possible paths to take.
No thing I do don't do no thing but bring me more to do
Every action I take seems to create more work and more challenges to overcome.
It's true, I do imbue my blue unto myself, I make it bitter
Admitting that my own negative thoughts and emotions can contribute to my own suffering.
Baby, lay your head on my lap one more time
Seeking comfort and intimacy with a loved one.
Tell me you belong to me
Desiring reassurance and commitment from a partner.
Baby, say that it's all gonna be alright
Seeking hope and optimism in the face of uncertainty and fear.
I believe that it isn't
Despite the desire for hope, acknowledging that things may not turn out alright.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Fiona Apple Maggart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind