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."
Why Try to Change Me Now
Fiona Apple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I walk in the rain
I've got some habits
Even I can't explain
Go to the corner
I end up in Spain
Why try to change me now
I've got daydreams galore
Cigarette ashes
There they go on the floor
Go away weekends
Leave my keys in the door
Why try to change me now
Why can't I be more conventional
People talk
People stare
So I try
But can't be
'Cause I can't see
My strange little world
Just go passing me by
So let people wonder
Let 'em laugh
Let 'em frown
You know I'll love you
Till the moon's upside down
Don't you remember
I was always your clown
Why try to change me now
Don't you remember
I was always your clown
Why try to change me
Why try to change me now
The song "Why Try to Change Me Now" by Fiona Apple is a cover of a song originally written for Frank Sinatra. The song is about accepting oneself and living life in one's own way, rather than trying to conform to societal norms. The first verse talks about the singer's sentimental nature and habits that are difficult to explain, such as walking in the rain and ending up in Spain. The chorus emphasizes the idea that the singer should not be changed or judged for who they are.
In the second verse, the singer talks about how they have daydreams and cigarettes and leave their keys in the door. They also express a desire to be more "conventional," but feel that they can't because they live in their own "strange little world." The final verse encourages others to let the singer be who they are and not try to change them. The singer expresses their love for someone who has always accepted them for who they are and remembers being their "clown."
The song is a poignant reminder to embrace individuality and not strive to fit into a certain mold. The lyrics are reflective and introspective, urging listeners to value themselves for who they are rather than trying to change to impress others.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sentimental
I am easily affected by my emotions and express them in my behavior
So I walk in the rain
Rain feels soothing to me, making me feel comfortable and giving me solace
I've got some habits
I have a few routines in my behavior
Even I can't explain
I don't always understand why I have these routines
Go to the corner
I try to isolate myself from others
I end up in Spain
I find myself lost in my own thoughts
Why try to change me now
I am who I am, and I don't see the point in trying to be someone else
I sit and daydream
I often get lost in my own imagination
I've got daydreams galore
My imagination is very active, and I have many vivid fantasies
Cigarette ashes
I smoke and am not always careful with my smoking habits
There they go on the floor
I am not always mindful of my surroundings and can be a bit careless
Go away weekends
I don't always enjoy going out and socializing
Leave my keys in the door
I am absentminded and forgetful
Why can't I be more conventional
I sometimes feel conflicted about my non-traditional behavior and wish I could be more like everyone else
People talk
I am aware that others judge and gossip about me
People stare
I sometimes feel self-conscious and uncomfortable in social situations
So I try
I attempt to fit in and be more conventional
But can't be
I ultimately fail at conforming to expectations
'Cause I can't see
I don't understand why others want me to behave differently
My strange little world
My way of thinking and behaving is unique to me and not easily understood by others
Just go passing me by
I feel like I'm often ignored or overlooked because of my differences
So let people wonder
I don't care what others think of me
Let 'em laugh
I have a good sense of humor and don't mind being the butt of jokes
Let 'em frown
I am used to others disapproving of my behavior
You know I'll love you
I am a loyal friend, partner, or loved one
Till the moon's upside down
I will always be faithful, no matter what
Don't you remember
I used to be the person you knew and loved
I was always your clown
I was always the one to make you smile or laugh, and I still am
Why try to change me
I am content with who I am, and you should be too
Why try to change me now
I have always been this way and will continue to be, so don't try to change me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Cy Coleman, Joseph Mccarthy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind