"Concertina" is a song written and performed by American singer/songwriter

Tori Amos Tori Amos (born Myra Ellen Amos; August 22, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She is a classically trained musician with a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Having already begun composing instrumental pieces on piano, Amos won a full ...

, released as the fourth and last single from her 1999 album ''

To Venus and Back ''To Venus and Back'' is a double album by American singer, songwriter and pianist Tori Amos. Released on September 21, 1999, it comprises her fifth studio album and first live album. The first disc, entitled ''Venus: Orbiting'', shows Amos i ...

''. The commercial CD single was released in February 2000.

Background and release

The title of the song refers to the musical instrument concertina. The lyrics use it as a metaphor to describe the experience of discomfort and unease in a social setting, likening it to being a squeezebox. When recording the song, Amos wanted to combine the acoustic piano with electronic drums, as she felt the dichotomy complimented the themes of the lyrics, which describe sensory discomfort in a "fierce calm" and being changed "particle by particle". In the interview for her cover story in '' Alternative Press'' in October 1999, Amos commented on the content of the song: Since 1999, the song has been featured in all of Amos' world tours, except the 2005 Original Sinsuality Tour in support of

The Beekeeper ''The Beekeeper'' is the eighth studio album by singer-songwriter Tori Amos. It deals with the topics of death, adultery and romantic conflict, and makes brief reference to ancient Gnostic mysticism from the ''Apocryphon of John''. Sonically, ...

. ''Concertina'' was included on the setlist for the DVD release of Amos' concert for Live from the Artists Den in 2010.

Track listing

Enhanced CD single, February 8, 2000: # Concertina (The single mix) 3:58 # Famous Blue Raincoat (Live) 5:24 # Twinkle (Live) 2:49 # Music video for " Glory of the 80s" Promotional CD single, February 8, 2000: # Concertina (The single mix) 3:57 # Concertina (The album mix) 3:57

Promotion and chart performance

No music video was filmed for the song. A promo CD single featuring both the single and album mix of the song was released to radio stations. ''Concertina'' was performed live on the television show Later... with Jools Holland. The song was featured in setlists during Amos' 1999 concert tour in support of the album.

References

External links

Tori Amos official website
{{authority control Tori Amos songs 2000 singles Atlantic Records singles Songs written by Tori Amos 1999 songs