Y Kant Tori Read was a 1980s pop band, fronted by (then unknown) singer-son… Read Full Bio ↴Y Kant Tori Read was a 1980s pop band, fronted by (then unknown) singer-songwriter Tori Amos. Despite the continuing obscurity of the band and the fact that it only produced one album, copies of the self-titled album now sell for huge amounts on eBay and the like. The band's overall sound was somewhat unique at the time, although later often compared to Pat Benatar's work from the same period. Y Kant Tori Read has thus been classified as everything from glam-influenced pop to semi-progressive rock.

Formed in 1984, the band originally consisted of Amos, Steve Caton, and several musicians that they worked with at the time. When they were signed to Atlantic Records through record producer Joe Chicarelli, only Amos and Caton were kept on in the band. Kim Bullard, later of Kajagoogoo, and Matt Sorum, later of Guns N' Roses, were brought in to flesh out the band for the album. The album, also called Y Kant Tori Read, was released in 1988 and was an unmitigated commercial failure. Amos herself has claimed that it moved less than 7000 units, including promotional LPs, cassettes and CDs, as well as vinyl "cut-out" (very discounted) copies.

Throughout most of the 1990s, as a result of Amos' successful solo career, copies of the album in its various formats would sell for hundreds and even thousands of dollars, particularly an unopened copy on compact disc in its original long box. At the time of release, cut-out copies on vinyl had been placed on sale for ninety-nine cents. A music video for their song "The Big Picture" was made, but the only member of the band featured was Amos.

Two singles were released. The first, "The Big Picture," was commercially issued exclusively as a 7" vinyl single (and without a picture sleeve.) A 12" vinyl promotional release did have a picture sleeve, however. The second single, "Cool on Your Island," was issued as a cassette single and 7" vinyl single, this time with a picture sleeve; and in various promo 7" vinyl singles, including as a B-side of labelmate Phil Collins' "A Groovy Kind of Love." Neither single was successful.

Atlantic Records fully abandoned promoting the record after only two months of release. At Amos' request, the album was not reissued for nearly thirty years, until digitally remastered and released exclusively on streaming services in 2017.

Amos continues to periodically perform "Cool on Your Island" and "Etienne" (from "The Etienne Trilogy") live, and has played "Fire on the Side and "On the Boundary" live at lease one time each.

Cool on Your Island
Y Kant Tori Read Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If you don't treat me better
Baby I'll just run away
Baby I don't know what drives you
To play all these silly games
C'mon baby
I'm much stronger than you know
Sometimes
I'm not afraid

To let it show

When will you wake up
I want you more than the stars
And the sun
But I can take only so much
Cool on your island
Is it cool on your island

I got a brand new dress babe
Could it make you want to try
I guess I didn't want to notice
The stars gone
From your eyes
C'mon baby
I'm much stronger than you know
Sometimes

I'm not afraid
To let it show

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Cool On Your Island" by Y Kant Tori Read express a relationship in which the singer is disillusioned with her partner’s behavior. She is upset and threatens to leave because she is tired of the games he is playing. The singer feels like she is stronger than she appears or lets on and is not afraid to be vulnerable either. She wants her partner to wake up and see the love and dedication she has towards him. The lyrics suggest that the guy has lost his spark, and the singer wants to reignite his passion towards her through a new dress she has bought in the hopes that it will make him realize what he is losing if he does not change his ways.

Overall, "Cool on Your Island" is a song about an unfulfilling relationship, where the singer wants to be loved more and treated better. The song is a call to action for the partner to step up and appreciate the love he has instead of taking it for granted. The chorus "Cool on your island" suggests that the singer feels isolated and distant from her partner, who has retreated back to his world, causing her pain and frustration.

Line by Line Meaning

If you don't treat me better
I need you to treat me better or else I will leave

Baby I'll just run away
If you continue playing these silly games, I will leave

Baby I don't know what drives you
I do not understand why you play these games

To play all these silly games
Why do you play all these unnecessary games with me?

C'mon baby
Come on, let's work this out

I'm much stronger than you know
I have a lot of inner strength you may not realize

Sometimes
Occasionally

I'm not afraid
I have no fear in showing my true feelings or thoughts

To let it show
I am not afraid to express my true thoughts or feelings

When will you wake up
When will you realize what you are doing wrong?

I want you more than the stars
I desire you deeply