Orton moved to East London at the age of fourteen. During her early career she was more interested in acting. She first gained notice in 1995 for her vocals on the Chemical Brothers' track "Alive Alone" and is well known for her collaboration (stemming from a relationship) with William Orbit in which she lent her voice for the Strange Cargo albums. The collaboration with Orbit called SuperPinkyMandy, though of excellent sound, was only released in very limited numbers in Japan.
Orton's first solo album, Trailer Park, was released in 1996. It earned her nominations for two Brit awards (best British newcomer, best British female), and the Mercury Music Prize in 1997, was well received by critics, and sold modestly, selling 300,000 copies and reaching sixty-eight in the U.K. The album was produced by Andrew Weatherall, whom she selected based on his production of one of her favourite records at the time, Primal Scream's "Screamadelica".
Central Reservation, her second album (proper), released in 1999, helped Orton build on the success of her debut. Although retaining the electronic edge of the former, this record showed a notably more acoustic side with several tracks consisting purely of Beth's vocal accompanied by a solitary acoustic guitar, with subject matters becoming more introspective. The album also featured notable contributions from folk musician Terry Callier, Dr Robert, and Ben Harper. Several tracks were produced by Ben Watt of Everything but the Girl. The album earned Orton a second Mercury Music Prize nomination and won her Best Female at the 2000 Brit Awards.
In July 2002, she released the album Daybreaker, which again blended the early electronica style, with up tempo pop songs and acoustic ballads. It featured guest appearances from musicians such as The Chemical Brothers, Emmylou Harris, whom she met at Lilith Fair, Ryan Adams, and Four Tet. It was a great commercial success, reaching the top eight of the U.K. album chart, but received mixed reviews from the press.
Her fourth studio album, Comfort of Strangers, was released in February 2006. The release saw her move away from the electronica element that she is usually associated with, to a more stripped down traditional alt-folk album. This followed an extended absence since her previous release, partially a result of several failed production attempts, and the parting of ways between her and Heavenly. The album was produced by Jim O'Rourke.
In 2012 Beth's 5th album Sugaring Season was released, on the ANTI- label, and was followed by a tour of Europe.
In 2016 Kidsticks, Beth's 6th album, was released.
Beth has also collaborated with American pop artist Beck on his Midnite Vultures album, providing vocals on the track "Beautiful Way". She is also known for her own singles, "Stolen Car," a hit in college circles and "She Cries Your Name", once featured in the TV show Roswell in the "Cry Your Name" episode. She also wrote songs for the Erin Brockovich soundtrack.
Beth Orton's brother, Rupert Orton, is the guitarist/manager for British rock'n'roll band The Jim Jones Revue.
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Petals
Beth Orton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They'd been held to the stem as though holding their breath
Collectively they agree to exhale and be free
Now one after another they tumble silently
Oblivious to me
The ashes of last night
Sigh into a heap
Petals pour from themselves in a synchronized swim
Disintegrate integrate with resigned grace
Lining up to jump they remind me of tears
Sudden and many fall
I look to you
Your empty chair
And then I remember why there's lilac in the air
My tears well up and cry for you
My tears well up and cry for you
My tears well up and cry for you
My tears well up and cry for you
There's wet in my hair and I never knew
My tears well up and cry for you
My tears well up and cry for you
My tears well up and cry for you
My tears
My tears
My tears
My tears
My tears
These are my tears
My tears, my tears
My tears
The imagery of petals falling and disintegrating creates a vivid representation of loss and sorrow in Beth Orton's "Petals." The synchronized swim of the petals gives them a sort of beauty and purpose, as if they are finally free from their enforced attachment to the stem, but they are oblivious to the singer's own grief. The ashes of "last night" could represent the remnants of something that has ended, adding to the sense of finality and sadness. However, as the petals disintegrate and line up to jump, they remind the singer of tears, which suggests that the petals themselves could represent something emotional that is falling apart.
The empty chair and the lilac in the air suggest a sense of absence, possibly indicating that the singer has lost someone dear to them. The repeated refrain of "my tears well up and cry for you" creates a haunting effect, as if the grief is overwhelming and impossible to ignore. The use of "my tears" emphasizes the personal nature of the mourning, as if the singer has been left alone with their feelings of sadness.
Interestingly, the metaphor of falling petals is quite common in literature and music. It can represent the fleeting nature of beauty and life, the inevitability of change, and the idea that all things must come to an end. Additionally, Beth Orton has cited Joni Mitchell as an influence on her work, which is evident in the emotional depth and introspection of "Petals." "Petals" was released in 2016 as part of her album "Kidsticks," which was produced in collaboration with Andrew Hung of the band Fuck Buttons.
Line by Line Meaning
Petals pour from themselves in a synchronized swim
The petals fall effortlessly in unison.
They'd been held to the stem as though holding their breath
The petals had been clinging to the stem for too long.
Collectively they agree to exhale and be free
The petals let go and surrender to the inevitable.
Now one after another they tumble silently
The petals fall in a serene fashion.
Oblivious to me
The petals fall without care for the observer.
The ashes of last night
The remnants of past experiences.
Sigh into a heap
They accumulate as a sign of the past.
I am woken in a moment as they break the air
The petals and their fall snap the observer out of their trance.
Disintegrate integrate with resigned grace
The petals fall while accepting their fate.
Lining up to jump they remind me of tears
The petals resemble tears as they fall in orderly fashion.
Sudden and many fall
The petals tumble in abundance.
I look to you
The observer turns to someone who is significant to them.
Your empty chair
The physical representation of the absence of the other person.
And then I remember why there's lilac in the air
The scent of the flowers triggers a memory for the observer.
My tears well up and cry for you
The observer is overwhelmed with emotion for the other person's absence.
There's wet in my hair and I never knew
The observer is crying without realizing it.
My tears
The overflow of emotions from the observer.
My tears
The observer's intense feelings of loss.
My tears
The observer's deep sadness.
My tears
The observer's expression of grief.
My tears
The observer's uncontrollable emotions.
These are my tears
These tears represent the pain felt by the observer.
My tears, my tears
The observer's tears will not stop falling.
My tears
The observer's sorrow and heartbreak.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREW KIN YIP HUNG, BETH ORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stephenzaccardelli5863
Back 2 her roots Tree roots .Petals love the vocals on this
@czteryable
best one from the new album :)
@GamerBeckTheStampede
Beautiful. <3
@Monty-or9sb
Oh Yeaahhhh
@L3dtube
i miss you
@onebasmusic9951
@@listen to more music of Beth Orton>>>
https://www.onebas.com/artist/334/Beth+Orton