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."
I'm an Extraordinary Machine
Fiona Apple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I certainly haven't been spreading myself around
I still only travel by foot and by foot it's a slow climb
But, I'm good at being uncomfortable
So I can't stop changing all the time
I notice that my opponent is always on the go
And won't go slow so as not to focus and I notice
From whence he came
But, he's no good at being uncomfortable
So he can't stop staying exactly the same
If there was a better way to go, then it would find me
I can't help it the road just rolls out behind me
Be kind to me, or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it
I'm an extraordinary machine
I seem to you to seek a new disaster every day
You deem me due to clean my view and be at peace and lay
I mean to prove, I mean to move in my own way
And say I've been getting along for long before you came into the play
I am the baby of the family, it happens so
Everybody cares and wears the sheep's clothes while they chaperone
Curious, you're looking down your nose at me while you appease
Courteous to try and help but let me set your mind at ease
If there was a better way to go, then it would find me
I can't help it the road just rolls out behind me
Be kind to me, or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it
I'm an extraordinary machine
Do I so worry you?
You need to hurry to my side
That's very kind
But it's to no avail
And I don't want the bail
I promise you everything will be just fine
If there was a better way to go, then it would find me
I can't help it the road just rolls out behind me
Be kind to me, or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it
I'm an extraordinary machine
If there was a better way to go, then it would find me
I can't help it the road just rolls out behind me
Be kind to me, or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it
I'm an extraordinary machine
The lyrics of Fiona Apple's "Extraordinary Machine" tell a story of a person who is constantly changing and evolving, even if it means being uncomfortable. The singer claims to not have been "shopping for any new shoes" or "spreading [herself] around," meaning she hasn't been seeking out new experiences in a frivolous way. But she still only travels by foot and acknowledges that it's a slow climb. However, she's good at being uncomfortable and can't stop changing all the time.
The singer then notes that her opponent is always on the go and won't go slow so as not to focus. Her opponent will hitch a ride with anyone as long as they go fast. However, the opponent is no good at being uncomfortable and can't stop staying exactly the same. The singer then asserts that if there was a better way to go, it would find her. She can't help it, the road just rolls out behind her. She asks to be treated kindly or meanly, as she'll make the most of it because she's an extraordinary machine.
The singer seems to recognize that she comes across as seeking a new disaster every day, and people want her to clean her view and be at peace. However, she means to move in her own way and show that she's been getting along for long before anyone else came into the picture. She notes that she's the "baby" of the family and people wear sheep's clothes while she's chaperoned around. The singer wants to set someone's mind at ease and asserts that everything will be fine. The song is ultimately an anthem to being true to oneself and not letting anything hold you back from your own journey.
Line by Line Meaning
I certainly haven't been shopping for any new shoes
I haven't been making any major changes to my life
And I certainly haven't been spreading myself around
I haven't been trying to do too many things at once
I still only travel by foot and by foot it's a slow climb
I am struggling to make progress, despite my efforts
But, I'm good at being uncomfortable
I am used to facing challenging situations
So I can't stop changing all the time
I feel the need to constantly evolve and improve
I notice that my opponent is always on the go
I see that other people are always rushing around
And won't go slow so as not to focus and I notice
They are too busy to pay attention to their surroundings
He'll hitch a ride with any guide as long as they go fast
They will follow anyone who promises quick results
From whence he came
But they don't really know where they are going
But, he's no good at being uncomfortable
They are not accustomed to stepping outside their comfort zone
So he can't stop staying exactly the same
So they remain stuck in their ways
If there was a better way to go, then it would find me
I believe that I will find the right path for me eventually
I can't help it the road just rolls out behind me
I am constantly moving forward, even if it is slow or difficult
Be kind to me, or treat me mean
I can handle whatever comes my way
I'll make the most of it
I will find a way to turn any situation to my advantage
I'm an extraordinary machine
I am a resilient and adaptable person
I seem to you to seek a new disaster every day
Others may think that I am always looking for trouble
You deem me due to clean my view and be at peace and lay
You think I need to take a step back and relax
I mean to prove, I mean to move in my own way
I am determined to follow my own path, regardless of what others think
And say I've been getting along for long before you came into the play
I have been managing just fine without your help or input
I am the baby of the family, it happens so
I am the youngest in my family
Everybody cares and wears the sheep's clothes while they chaperone
Others may try to control or influence me, while pretending to have my best interests at heart
Curious, you're looking down your nose at me while you appease
You may be pretending to be kind, while actually judging me
Courteous to try and help but let me set your mind at ease
I appreciate your attempts to help, but I am confident in my own abilities
Do I so worry you?
Are you concerned about me?
You need to hurry to my side
Are you trying to intervene in my life?
That's very kind
I appreciate your concern
But it's to no avail
But I don't really need your help
And I don't want the bail
I don't want to be rescued or saved from anything
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Fiona Apple Maggart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind