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."
Shadow Boxer
Fiona Apple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a cruel thing to pretend
What a cunning way to condescend
Once my lover, and now my friend
Oh, you creep up like the clouds
And you set my soul at ease
Then you let your love abound
Oh, it's evil babe
The way you let your grace enrapture me
When well you know I'd be insane
To ever let that dirty game recapture me
You made me a shadowboxer, baby
I wanna be ready for what you do
Well I've been swinging around me
'Cause I don't know when you're gonna make your move
Oh, your gaze is dangerous
And you fill your space so sweet
If I let you get too close
You'll set your spell on me
So darlin' I just wanna say
Just in case I don't come through
I was onto every play
I just wanted you
Oh it's so evil, my love
The way you've no reverence to my concern
So I'll be sure to stay wary of you, love
To save the pain of once my flame and twice my burn
So I'm a shadowboxer, baby
I wanna be ready for what you do
And I've been swinging around at nothing
I don't know when you're gonna make your move
Yeah I'm a shadowboxer, baby
I wanna be ready for what you do
And I been swinging around me
'Cause I don't know when you'll make your move
"Shadowboxer" is a song written and performed by Fiona Apple, released as her debut single in 1996. The lyrics detail a complicated relationship with a former lover who has now become a friend, but who still has the power to manipulate and hurt the singer. The song begins with a sense of betrayal and anger, with the singer describing the "cruel" and "cunning" way that her former lover has treated her. Despite this, she also acknowledges the way he can put her at ease with his presence, only to then knock her down again with his manipulative behavior. The use of the metaphor of a shadowboxer reflects the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of trying to anticipate and brace oneself against the other person's actions, without ever truly being able to escape their hold.
The lyrics also delve into the idea of power dynamics in relationships, with the singer acutely aware of her own vulnerability and the way her former lover can take advantage of it. She tries to stay one step ahead by being "wary" of him and staying "ready for what you do", but ultimately seems resigned to the fact that he may still end up hurting her. There is a sense of resigned defiance to the song, with the singer acknowledging the ways in which she has been hurt in the past, but still refusing to completely give up on the idea of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Once my lover, now my friend
Acknowledging a relationship changed
What a cruel thing to pretend
Acknowledging false friendship
What a cunning way to condescend
Acknowledging toxic behavior
Once my lover, and now my friend
Repeating the acknowledgement
Oh, you creep up like the clouds
Acknowledging unpredictability
And you set my soul at ease
Acknowledging relief from tension
Then you let your love abound
Acknowledging positive emotions
And you bring me to my knees
Acknowledging vulnerability
Oh, it's evil babe
Acknowledging deceitful behavior
The way you let your grace enrapture me
Acknowledging manipulation
When well you know I'd be insane
Acknowledging self-awareness
To ever let that dirty game recapture me
Acknowledging the risk of being deceived again
You made me a shadowboxer, baby
Acknowledging defensive behavior
I wanna be ready for what you do
Acknowledging preparation for potential harm
Well I've been swinging around me
Acknowledging restlessness
'Cause I don't know when you're gonna make your move
Acknowledging unpredictability
Oh, your gaze is dangerous
Acknowledging the risk of falling for someone
And you fill your space so sweet
Acknowledging attraction
If I let you get too close
Acknowledging vulnerability
You'll set your spell on me
Acknowledging the power of attraction
So darlin' I just wanna say
Acknowledging warning
Just in case I don't come through
Acknowledging the unknown future
I was onto every play
Acknowledging awareness
I just wanted you
Acknowledging the depth of feelings
Oh it's so evil, my love
Acknowledging the manipulation
The way you've no reverence to my concern
Acknowledging disregard for feelings
So I'll be sure to stay wary of you, love
Acknowledging caution
To save the pain of once my flame and twice my burn
Acknowledging past hurt
Yeah I'm a shadowboxer, baby
Repeating the defensive acknowledgement
I wanna be ready for what you do
Repeating preparation for potential harm
And I been swinging around me
Repeating restlessness
'Cause I don't know when you'll make your move
Repeating the unpredictability
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bjorklikeskidneys8496
[Verse 1]
Once my lover, now my friend
What a cruel thing to pretend
What a cunning way to condescend
Once my lover, and now my friend
Oh, you creep up like the clouds
And you set my soul at ease
Then you let your love abound
And you bring me to my knees
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, it's evil babe
The way you let your grace enrapture me
When well you know I'd be insane
To ever let that dirty game recapture me
[Chorus]
You made me a shadowboxer, baby
I wanna be ready for what you do
I've been swinging around me
'Cause I don't know when you're gonna make your move
[Instrumental break]
[Verse 2]
Oh, your gaze is dangerous
And you fill your space so sweet
If I let you get too close
You'll set your spell on me
So darlin', I just want to say
Just in case I don't come through
I was on to every play
I just wanted you
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh it's so evil, my love
The way you've no reverence to my concern
So I'll be sure to stay wary of you, love
To save the pain of once my flame and twice my burn
[Chorus]
So I'm a shadowboxer, baby
I wanna be ready for what you do
And I've been swinging around at nothing
I don't know when you're gonna make your move
Yeah I'm a shadowboxer, baby
I wanna be ready for what you do
And I've been swinging around me
'Cause I don't know when you'll make your move
@slimshady-rc4vy
Full lyrics because the description is missing half of it:
Once my lover, now my friend
What a cruel thing to pretend
What a cunning way to condescend
Once my lover, and now my friend
Oh, you creep up like the clouds
And you set my soul at ease
Then you let your love abound
And you bring me to my knees
Oh, it's evil, babe, the way you let your grace enrapture me
When well you know I'd be insane to ever let that
Dirty game recapture me
You made me a shadowboxer, baby
I wanna be ready for what you do
And I've been swinging around
Cause I don't know when you're gonna make your move
Oh, your gaze is dangerous
And you fill your space so sweet
If I let you get too close
You'll set your spell on me
So darlin' I just wanna say
Just in case I don't come through
I was on to every play
I just wanted you
But oh, it's so evil, my love, the way you've no
Reverence to my concern
So I'll be sure to stay wary of you, love
To save the pain of once my flame and twice my burn
So I'm a shadowboxer, baby
I wanna be ready for what you do
And I've been swinging around
At nothing I don't know
When you're going to make your move
Yeah I'm a shadowboxer, baby
I wanna be ready for what you do
And I've been swinging around
Cause I don't know
When you're going to make your move
Have fun singing along!
@chavezibarradara7218
They say you’re stuck with the music you listen to while you’re 14-17 years old and all I can say is, I’m glad it’s Fiona Apple
@KawaiiKasai
Made me into an Extraordinary Machine ❤️
@LorindaTV
💯
@monicapyle
Wow that's so true. I'm stuck in the 90's (I graduated in 1999). I can't relate to today's music whatsoever.
@Abbaddonna
Not true at all
@deningunapartefilms8257
Amén!!!
@TheRose081
She was ahead of her time, especially during the mtv music academy awards in 1997. She's right when she said the world was bull shit in her speech when she was getting the award. The crowd boooed but she was right all along.
@dionmcgee5610
She usually is. A very intelligent human being with little or no ability to B.S. Did her own thing then, still does today with a new album out, even. If people don't like her because she's too dark, then what kind of boring crap are they listening to?
She's right after Tori Amos. Right before the Beatles & Black Sabbath section.
@elmarbeau
she said the truth: look what we have now in art??? music and Pop or even rock dissapeared... a lot of auto tunes and millis vanillis... and Max Martin!
@jodip1661
She was warning us.