Customer Reviews

Talula

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought Tori Amos's 'Talula' in high hopes, even when I saw the remix. I thought it would sound like the great "Crucify" and "Hey Jupiter" remixes from previous singles. Well, I was wrong. The final track, "Talula (BT's Synethasia Mix)" is abhorrent. Clocked at a vile 11:27, it utterly destroys Tori's talent with dance beats and pure trash. It is a disgrace to humanity. Aside from that remix, the rest of the single is wonderful. "Talula" is considered one of Tori's best songs, and the b-sides are great. "Samurai" has a beat that will get your foot tapping and Tori's sugary vocals and piano will relax you. "Frog On My Toe" is slower and you can hear much of Tori's classical influence in the song as she serenades us with typical Tori lyrics. Her cover of "London Girls" is outstanding. I would've given this single the top rating, but that misanthropic remix kept me from it. I give this single 4 stars.

"Talula" is one of Tori's best, most memorable songs, and this CD maxi single contains what I consider to be the best available version of the song--the Tornado album version from the movie "Twister." The original version on the Boys For Pele album opens differently and always seems a bit off-kilter to my ears; I much prefer this more familiar version. As for the remix of the song also included here, it seems rather pointless to me to have a track over 11 minutes long that basically repeats one line over and over again. I'm not a big fan of remixes to start with, and I certainly do not dance, so perhaps those who are so inclined will enjoy the extended remix much more than I did. I really enjoyed the three other, previously unreleased songs. "Samurai" is a nice, rather calm song that highlights Tori's great singing voice. "Frog on My Toe" is definitely a keeper, calling to my mind the kind of style and substance found on Tori's first CD Little Earthquakes. "London Girls" is a real gem; Tori seems to indulge herself and have some fun performing this cover song. Whenever Tori covers someone else's work, the music seems to become her own--that is the mark of a very accomplished performer. I would put this CD maxi single high on my list of must-have Tori Amos CDs.

This CD is only worth it for Frog On My Toe because you *legally* can not get it anywhere else. It is such a beautiful song and reminds my of a lullaby. It is so beautiful. I personally do not c are much for the other songs, other than talula, but this CD has one of the best tori covers ever. I love this cover.

Even if you are not one to purchase singles, this one is worth it for its amazing additions to the Tori b-side universe, particularly (in my fairly silly opinion) Frog on My Toe, which goes beyond adorable. Also, you get to hear Tori's voice at what may well be its purest. Lovely collection.

This single presents a nice oportunity of balancing the pros and cons or Tori's music: it contains Tori's songs, a song in collaboration, a cover and two remixes.
"Frog on my toe" would stand for her classical me-and-my-piano style which she abandoned after BOYS FOR PELE. It is sweet, with a little touch of ironic melancholy.
"Samurai" was written in collaboration with bass player George Porter Jr. It seems more as if she was improvising. Sometimes her improvisations are disastrous. (The "Merry widow version" of "Professional widow" might even have been nice when she fist played it, live. Released in disc, it is a fiasco. I like it, or used to, I admit; but it is really bad.) It is not the case here. I think this song is a favorite to only a few people; I'm one of them.
"London girls" is another Chas & Dave cover (the other is "That's what I like Mick", in the "Caught a lite sneeze" US single). Cute.
There are two versions of "Talula" in this single. The tornado mix is a lame attempt at including the song in the TWISTER soundtrack. Tori replaces the original introduction by words which are supposed to link it with the movie but that have nothing to do with the rest. Besides, the little noisies and thingies added by Brian Transeau, otherwise and excellent remixer, seem to hold it back, instead of making it faster. The drums and percussion of the original version mingle with the other instruments in a far better way. One cannot put a pop beat to a song with such vocal lines and think it will fit. As for the dance mix, it is good and bad. As a dancefloor piece, it is one of her best - which, truth be said, are not many -; as a re-mix of a preexisting song, it fails to take advantage of the variety and density of its original. The "Professional widow" and "In the springtime of his voodoo" remixes are equally bad for the same reason.
This disc is most likely to be appreciated by Tori Amos fans only. Still, it is varied without lacking cohesion, and both enhances and contrasts to BOYS FOR PELE.

I loved this cd. See we did a dance to this song at our school, the dance was great and everyone said that the music was just right. At a dance concert, there is always jazzy and hip hop music, but when it comes right down to songs like Talula, Little Earthquakes and London Girls, they just seem to move you some how better than any other peice of music. Its a shame that Tori Amos isn't nominated for more music awards. I thought though that they could have done without the remix, bad idea, very bad idea.

I have to say that I love anything Tori does. And I really enjoy it when she goofs off and is just"herself" on her albums, instead of being the so called "Norm" of what an album is suppose to be. For that is a true artist! Only a true fan would enjoy the talks, the thrilling power, and breaths she takes when singing a song. I'm glad she doesn't hide it. I have this album and it is a nice break from the studio "perfection" recording. It is nice to hear someone be human and themselves. For that is what has made Tori, Tori and has gotten her where she is today. Highly recommend this and other Tori singles that are full of this fun stuff, if your open minded.

It is a pesonal belief of mine that YOU ARE ALL SILLY! This is Tori Amos you speek of, and i cannot think of one of her songs that isn't an absolute gem. The woman may be COMPLETELY BATTY, but you can still hear true genious pouring out of all of these songs. Than again, for some it may be be more of an aquired taste. This is a wonderful single, i know this because it is. BUY IT! IT NEEDS YOU! RUN!

Talula Part 1 by Tori Amos has to be the strangest import by my favorite singer/songwriter. Talula is an awesome dance track from Boys for Pele, worth buying for that song alone. The b-sides are a bit off-kilter, Samurai and London Girls are probably her weakest leftovers. Frog on my Toe is gorgeous and haunting, definitely a keeper. This is a mixed bag so decide for yourself.

Her B sides are often her most impressive. This fact is no less, maybe even specially true, for this single.