Classical Composer Reacts to TORI AMOS: Flying Dutchman | The Daily Doug (Episode 596)

#toriamos #flyingdutchman
In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm listening to a beautiful and haunting song by Tori Amos. Flying Dutchman is from the early part of her career, but it was omitted from her debut album. I was made aware of this piece in March, when I reacted to it as part of my Fan Favorites series on Patreon. I hope you enjoy as much as I did!
Reference Video: • Flying Dutchman (2015 ...
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[@TheRealYTIAN]

As a father of a wonderful daughter who has her very special issues I always cry when I hear Toris "Winter".

[@spaceoddity8292]

me too! 🥲

[@RobertMichaelStewart]

My and my daughter's song for sure!

[@MrRSCHECK]

Tori Amos's B sides are incredible. I ate all her stuff up in college. Most of her best works were not the radio songs. Yes Anastasia from Under The Pink was one of my favorites as a classical music lover. Has great a piano solo, composition, orchestration & lyrics. Doug, as a composer, I think you would really enjoy that piece.

[@soggytom]

Yes, Anastasia just makes me melt. Good call.

[@kelley42]

It's true. Listen her b sides show her true range and skill, particularly from that era.

[@catherinerainville4232]

Agreed, 💯

[@brionneeley5660]

If you like Tori and classical music, you should check out her Night of Hunters album.

[@whatsleft100]

one called cooling is my favourite ,think it was b side to the single spark

[@DavidMichaelCommer]

She's stunningly talented. I'm glad at least a few people are discovering this later in her career.

[@angela_apple]

She has a devoted and vast legion of fans and we absolutely know her brilliance and I love to see her be discovered especially by those who can appreciate her virtuosity

[@sidhedanu]

Many of her best songs are b-sides: Cooling Take to the Sky Here. In My Head Beulah Land Never Seen Blue All the Girls Hate Her/Over It Sugar

[@markdrechsler5660]

Tori won a full musical scholarship at the Peabody Institute at age 5, and was kicked out at age 11 for “musical insubordination.” No wonder she’s wonderful. I just saw her live for the fifth time on her current “Ocean To Ocean” tour. Highly recommended that you see her perform.

[@HB-xf2xl]

She has a whole album of classical crossovers where she writes variations on 300-400 year old classical pieces. It's called Night of Hunters and it is a beautiful work with the string quartet Apollon Musagete and clarinetist Andre Ottensamer. It's a song cycle, you should check it out.

[@ElnaWrites]

Yes Star Whisperer is superb..a journey..story...life told.

[@phillip7645]

Thank you for sharing this reaction! I would love to see you do "Yes, Anastasia" next!

[@christopherreeves4818]

My own (long) Tori story here related to this song (I've written this elsewhere too). I saw Tori in concert dozens of times (50+ easy). Went backstage, front row, behind, spoke to her, had a phone call, (just one, so not multiple, to be clear). I loved her music beforehand, but then I was violently assaulted on a college campus. Jumped and beaten with a baseball bat, I was left for dead. It took me time in rehab, where I ended up doing rehab twice and the ongoing head trauma (TBI) would last a lifetime (don't ever take swings to the head with a bat). This song powered me through a lot of rehab. At a Tori show following later, I told her this story and handed her a letter thanking her. Three shows later, she gave me a hug in the welcome line (for Tori fans, you know about seeing her before the show for the line) anyway; later, after getting married, my then wife (she has since past away) and I went backstage in Florida. Then, again we were backstage a few weeks later in Norman, Oklahoma. We told her we were going to try for a child, and she provided us a "baby Natasha" doll, the character from Sesame Street and wrote on it "come baby come". It would be a few months later and she gave birth to her daughter, Natasha, and we had our son. Later on that concert tour she played "Flying Dutchman" (I believe it was Ames, Iowa, but I'd have to go back and look at the set lists), and said we all find strength in our stories. For me, the strength in the story was the "they say, your brain is a comic book tattoo and you'll never be anything." When the assault happened, I was a deans list college student looking to a law degree. The damage that it did made me continuing college impossible. "Your brain is a comic book tattoo And you'll never be anything/What will you do with your life?" meant something very different to me; people have told you it's over for you, but it isn't. And for me, the follow up message meant a different trajectory in my life, "'Cause they can't see what you're born to be/They can't see me" just because this happened may have permanently changed my life, but maybe the end result gave me something to be, and how I got her is just different. In the twenty years since then, I've found advocacy, parenting, and a trying to accept change. It's how lyrics can touch people in so many different ways. It would be four years ago, two years after I became a widow, that I finally met her daughter Natasha, a reminder of the doll we had from that show; one I still have with her signature and her writing on it; and for me, it was a bit like knowing a story before it happened; Tori had told us she wanted a child, and without telling us, gave us her name in a doll. Our children were born 1 year apart. I will always maintain that connection and it will always mean something incredibly important to me.

[@soggytom]

A mere sampling of the brilliance and aching beauty of Tori's art, best exemplified by her first two albums, "Little Earthquakes" and "Under The Pink".

[@Jedi71]

I Can't See New York is incredible.

[@dr.s.]

She's amazing. There is a beautiful live album and DVD of her performanes at the Montreux Jazz Fesival in 1991 and 1992, most of the songs are from Little Earthquakes. It's just her and the piano.

[@Wungolioth]

Thank you for covering this one, it's one of my favorites and I've been trying so hard to get anyone to check out the B-sides. In a similar vein, you might want to check out Yes, Anastasia. If you wanted to listen to a few more non-LP tracks, I would highly recommend the following; Take To the Sky, Upside Down, Here In My Head, Thoughts, Ode To the Banana King, Part 1, The Pool, Song For Eric, Sister Janet, just to name a few, and she's done many covers that are incredible, Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana, Angie by The Rolling Stones, A Case of You by Joni Mitchell, Famous Blue Raincoat by Leonard Cohen, Time by Tom Waits, and Real Men by Joe Jackson, all personal favorites.

[@TiLeo]

Tori Amos is a force of nature.

[@lancepatton6607]

Silent all these years is a breathtaking track on this album. I highly recommend it.

[@marcvolgers8352]

My favorite Tori Amos song, goosebumps guaranteed (and maybe even a little tear ;-) ! It was a B-side but deserves a LOT more. I love this live version with the Dutch(!) Metropole Orchestra: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpe8aIlma56rasU . And now I'm going to listen to Dougs reaction!

[@whatsleft100]

wow what a track

[@codice_pin]

Thank you so much for this insight. I really appreciate how you point out this aspect of the song. I love Tori Amos so much. If there’ll be another episode it would be great. How about her song Yes, Anastasia?

[@codice_pin]

@@rieracris Thought she deserved no less than she'd give

[@codice_pin]

@@rieracris her blood’s on my hand. It’s kind of a shame. Cause I did like that dress. 👗

[@damiankarras]

There have been times when I’ve called Little Earthquakes my favourite album of all time. A reaction to Winter would be amazing. Also the live song Cooling.

[@auralfixxation6702]

Little Earthquakes and Boys For Pele are just amazing.

[@nornog]

I love Tori! I have been waiting for you t do some of her stuff, I have seen her live now 4 times will be 5 this summer!

[@mpa2nd]

You have to review "Yes Anastasia" by Tori.....it is phenomenal

[@catherinerainville4232]

YES!!

[@whig01]

That and Datura.

[@LeeHardingakaFirmament]

Really awesome to see you giving time to Tori - a genuinely gifted, clever, prolific artist. I always thought this really strong track should’ve been on the original (admittedly faultless) “Little Earthquakes” album but “Flying Dutchman” counts as one among many incredible b-sides she’s released. As mentioned by others here, you really should check out “Yes Anastasia” from “Under The Pink” - I think you’d definitely approve.

[@jenica1388]

She performed this song and others with the metropole orchestra and it was stunning. She’s incredibly talented

[@danhurley2274]

Thanx for sharing this great reaction to an amazing track. I know of some Tory Amos' material but I have not heard this one before. Wowsers!!! what a beautiful track!

[@danielmoonen1891]

Hi Doug. What a wonderful surprise you're doing a track by the truly special Tori Amos. Looking forward to you reacting to more music by her. Along these lines I would strongly recommend the music by the Danish musician Agnes Obel. In particular her album "Aventine" is mesmerising. Of that album I would particularly recommend the title track or "Fuel To Fire". Thanks again and all the best wishes.👍

[@elizabethhubbard8151]

I want to learn to appreciate this song more :) the colors I see it in are purple and yellow gold and blue in the background like a Smokey blue atmosphere. The boat is purple and the music is yellow gold and the background is murky hazy blue

[@hansmoerenhout]

Love Tori! And yeah I often refer to her as the American answer to Kate Bush. Love to see you do some more of her work, be it classic tracks like Winter, the intense Me and a Gun. Her version of LedZep’s Thank You is awesome, or more unknown work like Toast, or so much more… amazing artist having a huge discography. Thanx for now, great reaction!

[@MissLoonasSpeech]

Tori Amos is IMO one of those artists whose live performances are superior to their studio albums, most likely because of her exceptional improvisatory talent! Even though I usually prefer songs played by a full band, my favourite live performances are from 1996/1997, when she was only accompanied by her guitarist. She is also a master at mixing her own songs with excerpts of songs by other artists. In this context and since you brought up Kate Bush, I'd like to mention a live performance, in which Tori mixed excerpts of Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" and Kate Bush's "Running Up that Hill" with her own song "God": kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqSThp2fqK9gjqM BTW, in one of her probably least known/most obscure cover versions, "If 6 Was 9" by Jimi Hendrix, which was only included on a special edition of a maxi-single, she played her piano via a Marshall-amp. (At least that's what I read in an interview with her back in the early nineties.) Out of the versions you find on youtube, this seems to be the only single clip with the original (others have either vocals or music removed): kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6vHc6Orl6p_mqM

[@cuckoofan]

On this same limited edition of "Cornflake Girk", she also covered Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" for which she did an amazing job (just like Siouxsie & the Banshees who did it very differently). Her cover of Joni Mitchell's "A Case of you" is also great. I'm glad I bought this special edition as, surprisingly, they didn't include those covers on the "Under the Pink" remastered edition bonus cd, so it's the only way to listen to them in good sonic conditions. And the packaging of this limited digipack is so beautiful! Probably one of the "must have" for the toriphiles collection!

[@camillabergroth7282]

Best voices ever .seen her live performance once in Norway in Norwegian woods festival

[@tombigbee37riusa]

I was a different person before Tori....she brought out something i cant explain....i fell in love with her music ...not like a trend or like oh thats cool it became a part of who i was ....her music in the late 90s and early 2000s wasnt popular in my friend circles and i took alot of abuse and ribbing because of her....but that made me stronger and more willing to stand up for what i like love and believe

[@magicbrownie1357]

"This is very good. I'm enjoying this." Hear, hear!

[@jefflucas653]

I always love seeing reactions to Tori, in case you ever need a resource to see or hear just the piano when listening to her... YANTA, here on youtube, does wonderful transcriptions and performances of her piano work.

[@danielhartung-schuster5916]

I have to admit that this is my generation and I totally have forgotten Tori Amos.....my oversight....not her lack of talent. I love that you mentioned Kate Bush in your review because if if heard this on the radio blindly I might have guessed this was Kate. Great song selection, great review....I am now going to have to review more Tori on my own. I am sure I will be pleasantly surprised by how much I know but had forgotten. Thank You Doug.

[@musicbybackinnyc1]

This is one of my favourite songs of hers love it’s atmosphere and this was a b-side lol

[@museinglis1979]

I like the irony in that he’s analyzing her music however Tori Kant read 🎶! 😂

[@chriswallbruch9523]

So glad you were able to experience her! I’ve been a fan since 1994 and am now a band director. Her music is so satisfying and meaty and is always incredibly sophisticated. She comes from an impressive lineage - she was admitted to the Peabody Institute at age 5 (youngest person ever) and was eventually tossed for wanting to do her own thing, lol. She’s great!

[@merlinscat]

Love this album not a bad track on it

[@jtsiren1676]

Well alright! I appreciate this and all future Tori Amos listens with you, Doug.

[@ElnaWrites]

I hope you delve into Night of Hunters album. Based on classical greats and her take on them.

[@RobertMichaelStewart]

In my humble opinion Little Earthquakes is the best album ever by a female artist.... Under the Pink is maybe the second.

[@juliaschulze290]

This made me appreciate this song even more, thank you! I really would like to hear your thoughts about "Yes Anastasia" by Tori, as it is a very unusual and unique piece of music.

[@jasonsgroovemachine]

One of my favorite things about your videos isn't that you actually get into the theory end of things a bit... but seeing when something catches you off guard. Especially with tunes like this that I've been familiar with for a while.

[@loisrabies8713]

I binged on her for so many years.

[@adrianholmes9519]

Interesting to compare Tori and Kate Bush. To my mind, Tori is the better performer, and a more passionate and darker spirit. Kate Bush is more accessible and has more creative flights of imagination. Just my opinion - I love them both.

[@cuckoofan]

Just a question: Have you seen Kate Bush live? I did (both times: in 1979 and 2014) and saw Tori Amos live 3 times. Really nothing to compare, I can assure you. I love much of Tori Amos's work (not all because her evolution is not consistent enough for me), but except for her "Under the Pink" tour (which was faultless), I really didn't like Tori Amos in a live situation despite her obvious talent. Meanwhile, seeing Kate Bush live is a unique and magical experience (especially in 1979). Not just a "concert" but rather "something" never achieved by anybody else in a pop concert situation. Okay, she rarely goes on stage, but one can understand why after living such an experience. I don't see Tori as more "passionate" (both are, but differently) or less accessible (I see KB as even more "obscure", perfectionist and disciplined. Tori is more extrovert and deals better with improvisation). And in terms of "dark spirit", I couldn't choose between both. Maybe Kate Bush seems to have a more positivist approach at the end of the day, but both deal very cleverly and creatively with very obscure areas. Maybe Tori's personal experiences seem to be more included into her work while Kate Bush's work seems more inspired by abstract or intellectual (books, films, documentaries) sources of inspirations. Like you, I love them both, but I never felt really disapointed by Kate Bush while some of Tori's aspects of her carreer drive me to prefer the english one. I just wish she had done a bit more and Tori maybe a bit less... 2 of the best artists in pop anyway, for sure!

[@adrianholmes9519]

@@cuckoofan Very interesting to hear your thoughts, and, no, I have never seen Kate Bush live. I saw an early (I think her first) KB concert on the TV, and have seen maybe a little elsewhere, but, as you say, there isn't a lot. Whereas, there are a lot of live concert recordings of Tori Amos, and I've heard a few, plus seen some short videos of live performances. So your experience of both live clearly outweighs mine by a good margin. I agree with your comments on Tori's improvisation and extroversion, Kate Bush's positivism, and your insight into their similarities as well as the differential in sources of inspiration. For me, the heights that Tori gets to are worth the misses (as I see them), and I do see lesser work as well as wonderful work in Kate Bush. I suspect we are more in agreement than not, and we certainly agree that they are 2 of the best artists we have been blessed with.

[@cuckoofan]

@@adrianholmes9519 I do agree with your conclusion. Cheers and thanks for this respectful and kind reply!🙂

[@adrianholmes9519]

@@cuckoofan Thanks to you too - so nice to converse with a kindred spirit (on this at least!)

[@almandragoran]

@@cuckoofan It’s of course a matter of taste, but Tori is a universally acclaimed live performer. While I have no doubt that Kate’s shows in 1979 and 2014 were great, I don’t think you can really compare Tori and Kate when it comes to performing live. Tori has been a consistently amazing live performer for more than 30 years, with 15 tours under her belt. It’s where she really excels and it’s the foundation of her artistry. Tori is a live performer who releases albums in order to have material to play live, while Kate is a consummate studio artist who occasionally performs her music live.

[@kelley42]

I love when listeners eventually get to this moment, particularly about this song.

[@luemmel5]

The first three Albums are out of this world! Boys for pele even is still my favourite Album of all time! Also in this league: Joanna Newsom - Ys, Agnes Obel

[@DirectorCalva]

The version in the Gold Dust album with a real orchestra is also very good.

[@jenica1388]

She has a classical album called night of hunters. She even brought a string quartet on tour for that album. It was magical

[@jacquesjrviens3384]

Little earthquake is unbelievable !!! The song Winter is breathtaking.

[@eddieaicken5687]

Never heard this song before, as it wasn't on the original release. Little Earthquakes is such an amazing album though. For a single solo female artist, the only other album I'd put above it is The Kick Inside by Kate Bush.

[@johanbruinenberg4401]

Indeed, little earthquakes is great album, not a little earthquake at all!!! its a big one😊

[@jessicahimmel7867]

Absolutely love Tori ❤The best of the best. Can't wait to see her again in 2 weeks! US tour starts in a couple days!

[@SilentAssassin01234]

We're waiting for a Bjork reaction!

[@cristinaminter7544]

Her song , "Sister Janet" is also incredible.

[@orfeocookie]

Your claim that she programmed the orchestra is wrong. Several Little Earthquakes have an actual orchestra.

[@KathleenMandell]

I love when y’all discover Tori! What took ya so long? Lol

[@jamietingey7498]

Legit yo. Why so long?

[@spaceoddity8292]

love when you smile while she´s do her magic! Saludos desde Argentina

[@alansmith8195]

Never heard this before, I shall buy👍 Also, I notice Seconds Out behind you.... Hope, Dance on a Volcano/Los Endos from this live album is coming up for your reaction soon.

[@ClawHammermusic]

There is an incredible live version of this song out there.

[@sjogre7789]

LOVE T❤RI AM❤S!!!! Her live recordings are amazing!! Still need to see her live.

[@Yupppi]

I heard another Tori Amos on Rick Beatos channel and I listened to a bit. After this one I'm just puzzled why I haven't listened to her more. And back in the day. I know she got really big and I noticed a lot of women especially enjoying her music, but somehow I never got to it. I thought it would be just another record label female singer or something. But in fact she's an amazing artist and I was proven completely wrong. She has such strength in expression with just voice and piano, the music lives.

[@Levi6110]

That’s a deep cut

[@joshuayeager3686]

I’m a fan of Tori’s music since my high school days when Little Earthquakes first came out. As far as some specific songs that are really worth reviewing, I’d heavily recommend “Professional Widow”, “Winter”, “Jackie’s Strength” and the entire “Under The Pink” album. Enjoy.

[@KathleenMandell]

One of Tori’s best songs.

[@AnyRoadAnyTime]

Good one! But her live performances are where she truly shines. Maybe next time.

[@richpeltier9519]

One of my favorite albums, but my CD is older than the remaster that contains this track. Pretty sure I've heard it before and love it. So much great material on the album, but Little Earthquakes will always be my favorite. Her album of covers (Strange Little Girl) is amazing as well, giving her unique interpretations of classic songs, with the aid of an incredible band. 🤘😍🤘 Rich the Ancient Metal Beast

[@dhaudio8897]

You should react to the live version of Winter by Tori. It's beautiful

[@garywatson]

I think the comparisons with Kate Bush are natural and I love them both but one key difference I think, is that Tori has clearly been wounded many times in her life and sings from a damaged, recovering, defiant, abuse victim perspective. You don't get any of that from Kate. And not that I'm an expert, but I think Tori is a more talented piano player/composer.

[@patrussell1792]

Hi Doug, new subscriber here. I really enjoy watching your reactions, and your enthusiasm for the music and musicality of the pieces you react to. I also appreciate how you share your knowledge of music with your audience. Thank you for putting in time to do background work on these pieces you react to. I have heard ‘Flying Dutchman’ many, many times. But I hadn’t heard the backstory until you shared it. I wonder if you’ve ever reacted to multiple covers of the same track. It would be fascinating to see your take on how different artists arrange, break, or mimic another writer/performers piece. I would love to see your reaction to Jeff Buckley covering “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen; followed by KD Lang covering “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen; followed by “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. Finally… if that’s a bad idea, can I put in a request for you to react to Jeff Buckley’s version of “Hallelujah”? 😂 It is remarkable.

[@madonnko]

I wish I hear one Tori reaction video where she is NOT compared to Kate Bush. I love both of them but never felt they have something similar.

[@enkiitu]

Go and check Winter live and you'll see who she really is. Especially if you watch Me and a Gun right before. Good luck with the tears, though. She destroys you.

[@twelvewingproductions7508]

13:39 It's actually never a good thing. The worst card in the tarot deck is death... reversed. Stagnation. It's almost worse to have this card when in bliss than it is in sorrow. Stagnation in sorrow is a motivation for change. Stagnation in ecstasy is a horrible fate. Love your reviews. So thoughtful. I'm here binge watching some of your older videos after having stumbled across you. Keep it up.

[@jamesfink9658]

Remixes and remastered versions are very rarely better than the original. I have all of her original cd singles and they are all superior to the versions on subsequently released compilations.

[@MrRSCHECK]

Tori's early albums, especially the first, you can see the Kate Bush influences. Even by the album cover. Over time Tori mixes up her vocal range more and really develops her own unique identity. I noticed over time how many metal heads loved Tori by her aggressive approach to the piano and by her Led Zeppelin influences.

[@kaerbear]

I love this song and have been a fan of hers FOREVER and I didn’t know this story. Thank you! My teenage daughter makes fun of the chorus when she wants to annoy me 😂❤ Anyway! Speaking of Tori and Kate Bush and beautiful, literary, musical prodigies, have you done a video on Joanna Newsom? You should!

[@kaerbear]

Sapokonikan might be a good start.

[@anonymousee716]

i like your sweatshirt, Doug.

[@jasonarthurs3885]

Steam your drapes bro!

[@sidneyvandykeii3169]

Suggestion for Metal Monday: The song Bodies by Drowning Pool. We all feel anger and would like to lash out at times. I am curious about Doug's reaction to the lyrics/message as much as the music. All you Patreon people help me out please.

[@sidneyvandykeii3169]

@-Mr_Doug_Helvering. suck it scammer

[@metaltildeth6783]

Hey... it's been eight months since you reacted to Megadeth's 'In My Darkest Hour'. We need some more Megadeth.

[@museinglis1979]

Hello, Mr. Zebra 🦓! 😅

[@kkjj4508]

Hate hit, DO ONE ON SASSY AND HER INCREDIBLE VOICE.

[@saturninebear]

What an interesting choice. A great track, though.

[@r1p2m32]

The composer of Kate Bush found another as good a singer... Enjoyable!

[@Fenyxfire]

Tori writes her own music

[@enado18]

What’s the album beside Meddle, the one like a moon?

[@stephenhillier3522]

That'll be "The Raven that Refused to Sing" by Steven Wilson. Definitely worth a few listens. Doug has already covered "Drive Home", and probably the title track.

[@enado18]

@@stephenhillier3522 I just listened to it and wasn't impressed, but I'm glad I can stop wondering what sounds hide behind this cool cover. Thanks for sharing the info, it's much appreciated. Have a great day!

[@stephenhillier3522]

@@enado18 If it's not your taste, that's fine. I've always thought "Drive Home" had the potential for wider appeal, but much of it is very much Steven Wilson in full-on prog mode. Plus some Radiohead thrown in for a laugh.

[@oldblindhoneybastard7392]

Hey Doug, I sent you an email I believe someone’s out there trying to scam people using you’re a good name

[@jimschender4497]

🏳‍🌈

[@catherinerainville4232]

Wish there was less talking in the beginning…

[@faolanliath6687]

Tori is a scary lady. Talented: but scary.

[@fireengine77]

😂 😂😂

[@massimotoccafondi4288]

Hi Doug! Could you Listen & React to the first album by Hatfield & the North? or something by Soft Machine? I love your "reactions"... Part 2 .I'm trying to convince you!!!

[@luthierjustin1]

I’m the biggest Tori fan, she’s amazing