Tori Amos "Butterfly" (1995)

[rob76ify]

they like you better framed and driiiied..

i know, thx for upload...pretty voice.

[airsquad1]

Hello Lovely TORI,I saw You play Your Magic in Santa Barbara.Please Lovely LOVE TORI come back 2 Santa Barbara ASAP.When Tori PLAYS the WHOLE UNIVERSE STOPS 2 LISTEN 2 this Gorgeous Lovely Magical Light.

[psionicjake]

@mbop75 uh huh

[mbop75]

Tori takes her literary background and references sylvia plath poetry with "daddy if I can kill one man why not two'...Dr./Rev Edison Amos is the one who sold his daughter into the program.

[mbop75]

this song is about mind control programming and children raised in illuminati cult families. as youngsters, they are tortured put into cages with kittens and demanded to wring the kittens neck to break down their sensitivites. 'nurses'...they are poked and prodded with electroshocks

[sTapleEVA]

@mbop75 lol wtf

[mbop75]

@sTapleEVA that's my job. you're not the only one confused :) Happy Holidays!

[mbop75]

'general' is a reference to General Jim Joy (who she sings about on the Beekeeper album as well. "butterfly", framed and dried is a wink to the code name MK ULTRA monarch programming. Our gal, Tori has been through so much...

[xingxing14]

the best version

[gerizababe]

@mrzebra239--Y'know, I totally laughed out loud at the little thing and my friend and I decided to 'Rip Her to Shreds'. She threw a cd at us.

I asked her to tell me about this 'new artist' Tori Amos and she said 'Oh, she's this pianoist who is totally incredible. She's got this album, her second album I think. It's called American Doll Posse and she's a performance artist in it who has multiple personalities. Her other album is a journey across America with her husband writing songs.

[goodtimetone]

she is a rare beauty

[MrGregiish]

christ. this song is beauty personified. i have no idea what the lyrics are supposed to mean, but when set to this enchanting piano tingling, i simply dont care. i hope this video never goes away. never.

[IluvNY081]

mr. zebra, your a little nutty aren't ya? noone is a bigger tori fan than I am. And if someone new wants to discover her, what's wrong with that? they will read her fine print eventually.

[feenix789]

fifteen years...and it still gives me chills.

beautifully unsettling in its poetry and hypnotic melody.

[prettylidi14]

i remember those clothing outfits! Tori Amos gave me the idea of bringing back 90s clothes! WHo's with me???

[Lievekevonk]

@prettylidi14 I am!

[mjdre23]

I love this woman she is so talented it is a damn shame that young kids today are not blessed to hear her beautiful songs

[Hunter23akaGambit]

I absolutely love this song. I was a little obssesed with finding out what it was when i heard a little piece of the ending in the very last scene of "higher learning". I just never could quite figure it out. Thank god for the internet. Tori has this way about her that is so unique and diferent than every other singer. She draws you in with the beat and melody and keeps you coming back with the words. She is just like Sarah McLachlan in that way.

[IluvNY081]

i love me some 90's tori! she is tragically excellent.

[MrGregiish]

wow. i just sat at my desk for an hour, and could not resist clicking 'replay.' i always knew i loved this crazy bitch for something.

[MrGregiish]

for a long time, this has been my favorite tori jam. however, i very recently came across this performance, and i am, again, BLOWN AWAY. i have a similar story with her song 'abbey road.' but this song?... utter chills.... i love it. beautiful misery indeed.

[HymnusVitae]

I can't get over how brilliant this song is, specifically this performance.

[itchysun]

this song was featured on the Higher Learning soundtrack along with Losing my Religion.

[mrzebra239]

How is it that I have been one of the biggest Tori fans ever and have NEVER HEARD THIS SONG?!?!?!?!?! Is it on a single or something????? I need it... NOW~!!!

[verballyunspoken]

@mrzebra239 Its from the movie "Higher Learning"..its on the soundtrack.

[mrzebra239]

@verballyunspoken  Thanks!

[gerizababe]

@mrzebra239 just curious...How long have you been a Tori fan? This is old stuff, man. Please don't tell me that you're 16 and saying 'OH my god, there's this new artist, her name is Tori Amos, and she's AWESOME!! You have to hear her music. I am her biggest fan EVER.'

'Cuz I actually heard someone say that to her little friend in a music store about 3 years ago.

If you're really a huge fan, you would have know this song!

I have purchased EVERY SINGLE Tori album on release day.

[mrzebra239]

@gerizababe No, I am nearly 30 and have been listening to Tori since i was 14 (almost daily), that is why i was so shocked that i hadn't heard this! I thought i had heard everything. Oh, by the way, there is no need to be a hot shot ass, lol. Us Tori fans need to stick together.

Oh, and i hope you spit on the 16 year old or threw something at her or something-WWTD.

[BoysForPele1989]

@gerizababe What are you the Tori police? Police Yourself, honey. And... I'm not a fan; tori is my Witch-Sista. OOOOOoh

[zimmy81]

shes so good,probably one the best hybrid alien/humananiod entertainers of the that minute that day, i still love her

[airsquad1]

Talk about a VOICE from HEAVEN,and with LOVELY BEAUTY 2 WOW US ALL.Much Love,Happiness,Health 2all Beings of BEAUTIFUL LIGht.

[ceresasmom]

Is that the skirt from Boys for Pele album cover?

[amigoacid]

@ceresasmom yes it is ;)

[MrAssemblea]

nathalie giannitrapani! tori's fan. rai 2 x-factor!!!!

[jennie776]

"Daddy dear, if I can kill one man, why not two?"

Is a reference to Sylvia Plath's poem "Daddy" ("If I've killed one man, I've killed two")

Never realized until just now it suddenly hit me.

[cybersucka]

long time ago...this was on tha higher learning soundtrack...i love this song...

[goodtimetone]

its my favourite.....

[USCUSCTrojan]

This song was played in the movie Higher Learning. Great dramatic movie and song. Makes me cry every single time I see that movie. Butterfly is another song by Tori Amos which is included in that movie too. See Higher Learning and you will like Tori even more :)

[fivecougarzoz]

@USCUSCTrojan

Yeah it's a good movie and a perfect song for the sad moment at the end, it makes me think of how lucky I am at my uni, but how things could so easily go wrong ... it's powerful stuff

[airsquad1]

LOVELY MAGICAL TORI,I saw Y PLAY at the NOKIA Theatre.It WAS LOVE at FIRST SIGHT.PLEASE COME BACK BEAUTIFUL LOVE and PLAY for US.I LOVE YOU ALWAYS LOVE.This TIME I WILL BRING a HUGE BOUQUET of RED ROSES,Y HAVE THE WORD of MY SPIRIT,PLEASE COME back 2 LOS ANGELES SOON,T CARE BEAUTIFUL HONEY.

[digitalghost001]

She has beautifully expressive eyes.

[pvwj18]

LOOOOVE this performance...and the outfit:D



[drogoscg1]

It must be nice to understand her lyrics.  What the hell is she singing?

[MrMountainshore]

As much as it's obviously her choice, fans should be able to seek for the reason for it and to miss how she used to look as well.

I find it disappointing, because her music is THE ONE AND ONLY music that has ever inspired me so internally and has changed my values.

So paying a lot of money to fix your external look while the body is meant to do what it has to do, and stopping it to put plastic under the skin, is not what I personally expected her to do at all.

[StsSunnyCharlie]

love tori!

[diltupagalhai97]

i remember hearing this song for the first time. wow she brings such feelings.

[1480mathias]

Why don't you talk about the REAL ISSUE HERE ?!

some people cannot find this nor on the net neither in the stores...can't anyone give a free download adress...one that transfers to itunes directly instead of just showing a page you can't bring anywhere else ?!!!!!

[kariryanisabitch]

she would make a cute elf or fairy.

[Kimenvy]

A gift for the eardrums

[vilijemk]

She is like an Angel... Look at Toris Eyes....

[sargentwrecker]

As i set here ive got goose bumps listening to the song thinking about the movie and almost in tears this song is so powerful in a good way i cant explain it its shes perfect no matter what,shes very beautiful and people should listen to the music and not worry about if she had plasic surg, or not . The music is what its all about her voice the way she gets into our hearts with her words and music Tori please dont ever stop will all be here for you .

[sargentwrecker]

shes still a great singer after years shes proved her self well and shes still very beautiful her music really speaks for its self love you tori!

[WheelchairMania]

True, it was on that soundtrack, very fantastic song. She's the best.

[haynibabe]

i think the song was on a soundtrack (Higher Learning).

[Blomvik]

I do wish she had put this on one of her own albums. Amongst all her great music, this has been my personal favorite through the years.

[Semi76]

Don't you just love how she stares at the camera from 2:00 to 2:10?! And then around 2:40 again. That's magical!

[iaminvert]

Daddy dear, if I can kill one man why not two? :)

[richardpaulgriffin]

3 days before I was born. haha. (:

Love this song.

[LiquidEye]

Wow, I feel old.

[haynibabe]

still one of my favourites!

[digitalghost89]

this is an amazing song!

her wave at the end is so cute ^^ hehe

[arimababy]

great song!! Love Tori Amos

[PRetTYFaCE716]

gosh...

the feelings i feel listening to this song.

its beautifully miserable

[cyanidechrist]

@PRetTYFaCE716 You said it man, beautifully miseralbe. That first piano riff draws me into myself.

[PanthORandPonAY]

@PRetTYFaCE716 That describes the way I feel when I hear Tori...EXACTLY.

[korinne09]

prodigious talent, and she conveys it better than most artists.

[jasminemists]

It's on the Higher Learning soundtrack.

[jjmathews5]

just surfing tori and can't stop watching all the old amazing videos of hers. i've seen her over 30 times and just watching her old stuff brings back such amazing and power memories for me.  i love her.

[yvetteclaire]

Gives me goosebumps too. She has an incredible, spine tickling voice. Tori is amazing.

[Blomvik]

Amazing performance! And that suddenly laud "WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" @ 3:02 always makes me laugh, haha

:)

[TOPHERHARPER]

chills!

[GreenHypnotic]

this song gives me goosebumps..the song is so nostalgic

[Moviestar20]

I love this song^^

and it was sung the year I was born!!!

[tempotantrum]

Seriously? Plastic Surgery? Who cares... I don't. Ppl need to STFU about that shit. This isn't TMZ. Function over fashion and the function is MUSIC. Plastic surgery is FASHION. Everyone ages. Who cares? I don't. Tori's MUSIC has supplanted the useless, infantile, shallow, dysfunctional and meaningless mainstream 'fashion' and 'image' artists for 17 years.

[BoysForPele1989]

@tempotantrum exactly, do they even comprehend the lyrics. Obviously Tori is about substance. It's very sexist. As a feminist, her choices as a woman are her own to make. I don't understand how their are Tori fans who don't get that when body snarking her. She's a musician people, save it for Entertainment tonight.

[tempotantrum]

Watch a Paris Hilton or Pussy Cat Dolls vid to see young pretty faces. They're not as pulchritudinous as Tori however. Tori's music is an ensuant elixir to that miasmatic din.

[ethicalhankylinen]

exorbitantly meretricious language fail.

[ozabobododo]

I totally agree. It's so sad that the MTV generation listens to music with their eyes. You have to be marketable to sell your music. That is why we have all these Britney Spears types that can't sing but can sell sex. Is this the porn or music industry? It reminds me of how everyone judged the older women from Scotland who wasn't so easy on the eyes but very easy on the ears. Being a musician, I mostly listen to my favorite songs with my eyes closed except for when I'm driving of course.

[tempotantrum]

Tori is aging fine by me, regardless of her appearance. But then again, I prefer to LISTEN to MUSIC, instead of WATCHING VIDEOS. I still love Mozart and I'm sure he looks like a few ounces of dust right now. No one cares! FAACCCKKKK!

Thx ToriVid. Great channel!

[longlonggone]

This is why I love Tori Amos. This is the top of the mountain!

[daviddean789]

who gives a shit whether or not she had plastic surgery, it is her business!!!!!

[almostvanilla]

How can she make a cuter song?

[Eponine24601]

I wouldn't put it past her, but this is pretty darn cute.

[bjorkent]

I actually find this song really disturbing...

[Eponine24601]

I would agree that it is quite disturbing when you look into the metaphor but I can't help but break a smile when she says "gumdrops".

I think it attests to her songwriting ability when she can write something with a fairly bouncy melody and cutesy words while crafting lyrics that take you to a far higher level. Good stuff.

[SmackLoons]

...and I can't imagine that Tori did it for any other reason but to look younger; otherwise, if she disliked her eyes/brow area she'd have had it done much sooner. For a more youthful look, peels, fillers such as collagen and restylane, &other skin treatments have shown success. Even Botox in small amt's, can work for this. But not cutting-specially a brow lift that sends your hairline skyward and necessitates wigs. Her decision; I respect that but I LOVED Tori's magical old face and I miss it.

[SmackLoons]

She's definitely had plastic surgery; her eyebrows and hairline are each half an inch higher than they used to be. Her nose and mouth are blessedly the same, but a brow lift pulls up the outer corners of the eyes, changing their look to a more catlike affect. I am biased, cuz except for useful things like nose jobs and fixing actual deformities or scars, I passionately dislike plastic surgery. Why? Cuz it doesn't work, at least not for making you look younger.

[kctoeknee]

Not on any of Tori's CDs....

[Solomoreno]

Is this on any of Tori's albums? Or just the Higher Learning soundtrack?

[amylh322]

Just Higher Learnng - except she did do it in concert a lot so it'll be on some bootlegs - i'll have to have some help with which ones. You can go check some of the really detailed web sites and see what boots it turns up on!

[Solomoreno]

That sucks because I'd have to go and buy the whole album and the only other good song on it is that one by RATM. Shhh...I'm hunting bootlegs...

[MatMurk]

That's not true there's a lot of good songs on the Higher Learning soundtrack. Both this And Tori's Losing my Religion cover is on it, Raphael Saadiq's "Ask Of You", Eve's Plum has a really good song on it (that is practically impossible to find) Zhane, Liz Phair, Ice Cube, and a bunch more. Besides you can buy it used off Amazon for $2, so it's not like you'll be making a huge investment. Take care.

[Amaria4]

24.fev is my birthday!!

Incredible....lovely song...

[coffeescup]

women aren't bitches.

[nottheredbaron]

to think that something THIS incredible

was on Jay Leno

bring back the 90s pleeeeeeease

[mtthwdyr]

Brinking on beautiful madness. Like, RIGHT there. Delicious.

[MatMurk]

Definitely my favorite Tori song, and one of my favorite songs period. Higher Learning had one of the best soundtracks ever. It was as diverse as the movie itself. Seemed like each song had a touch of magic to it...

[dierretaylor]

AGREED!

[agatisch]

she is great pianist!

[GDGspire]

This is such an awesome video. You can see her begin to shift from Pink to Pele......

[amylh322]

That's true - good thought!!

[crashtammie]

I love her. Asolutely beautiful!

[TheMindBogglers]

Where can I find this song? iTunes is not helping.

[wildeaxi]

The album version is on the Higher Learning Soundtrack. Track 12. It's on amazon.

[cp99992001]

Anyone know where i can find a version of this that is just the piano music? No offense to Tori but its an amazing piano piece..i hate having to hear her sing over it.

[SilveryScream]

are you serious?

[nottheredbaron]

Bee Sides sheet music

[sarahvidaurreta]

ilove tori amos! beautiful song "butterfly" its a ost higher learning

[EricStiven]

Work that Bosendorfer Tori .......... You are one of the greatest ...... saw you at Hill Auditorium at The University of Michigan in 1997 .... my friend Karen and I camped out for tickets and it was worth it ......... Eric Stiven

[TheObnubilators]

she's really weird.... i like it!!

[amylh322]

She really looks better as she ages! I think she stays out of the sun - sigh. I'm just going to have to be an age spotted old lady! :)

[donnerbrandpear]

Also, plastic surgery. And botox. And wigs.

[amylh322]

I doubt she's had plastic surgery. The wigs... well, that's her thing, I like her better w/o them, but whatever makes her happy! That's pretty much how i feel about people in general - we should dress to please ourselves, not others. Just my $0.02 :)

[donnerbrandpear]

I hope you're right. Because when I look at her lovely face here and her face now, I can't help but think that something more than age is the reason for the change. She looks like she has had a lot done, which--if true--is sad because she would have been a gorgeous old woman.

[KaidtFace123]

I really think some of it is her weight now. She's tiny. She was never so skinny, and I think her gaunt face makes her seem different. I don't know, though, I think maybe some other factors too but people sometimes forget her quite different size now... She's lovely now though, too. I love Tori always, I can't believe she's like, 46... she's amazing.

[fatchan]

You lose collagen as you age which makes the face look hollow...sadly. She is definitely skinnier but everybody looks a bit more gaunt as they age (unless they pack on a ton of weight)

[luxcretia2]

which reasonable person cares wether she`s had this or that or not?if done and she pleases better herself, good.

she is pretty and she has a beautiful voice in particular.period.

[amylh322]

Oh wow! I remember watching this over and over with my Tori girls, trying to figure out her skirt :-D I think we decided it used to be a pair of sweat pants that were cut!:) (and i think she wore it on one of the singles from Pele??) She's so stylish now but her "old" outfits were always fun! And the song? LOVE IT!!!

[agnosticangel1]

She's said several times that all her lyrics have meaning for her (they usually change over time), but she expects each listener to have different understandings of her songs.

If her lyrics seem opaque to you, maybe you shouldn't try to decipher every hidden meaning, every little reference, in her songs

[naoumliotas]

To me the lyrics have to do with the idea of wanting someone to be as you want him/her to be (same as the magazine concept in 'Hey Jupiter')... a static image with no life - no chance to disagree then eh? So it's a butterfly that somebody prefers framed and dry... Prefaring the image than the soul of things (more or less).

[nihon98]

Poetry needs deeper understanding, guys. Tori's lyrics can be cryptic, enigmatic at times, but they're never desperate and/or meaningless.

[Katecow2010]

This is such a beautiful song, I just heard in on the Higher Learning movie and i fell in love with it. I'm having trouble understanding the meaning of the song...to me it is "Desperately random". Do any of you have some ideas as to the meaning of this song?

[eternalfootman13]

People make a tacit assumption that deep and seemingly profound lyrics equates to being relevant and interesting.

I agree with you. It is a desperate attempt. She is an amazing songwriter and her piano and bridges are so memorable but her words are quite pretentious.

[Integrity79]

Look at her playing that piano within an inch of it's life?!!! I don't know how she does it. I've always wanted to play piano.

[TTLYPerfect]

I've always felt that same desire...Thanks for posting such a kind and honest comment!

[neoliberalism]

This is such a quintessential Tori song. The rhythm, lyrics, topic, vocal range, haha.

Utterly beautiful.

[StrangeLittlePoet123]

there are also a lot of references to sylvia plath's poetry in this one too.

[LoFizz]

My first thought when I heard this was, 'Daddy'.

[davidvonbarany]

and Madonna is also always refering to Sylvia Plath :)

[KingLegend1990]

Anyone Got This Track?

If So Holla Bak At Me On My Page!

[brightlights456X]

I got, just heard it in "Higher Learning"

[tempotantrum]

Yes.

I said.

[StrangeLittlePoet123]

great film and a great song too one of my faves of the "b"s

[WasteFaced]

tori is infinite

[Jolycola]

Simply the most amazing performance I have seen in a very long time. She is truly in a class of her own. Thank you ever so much for posting it.

[SmileUBetch]

the movie was higher learning. fell in love with this song. and now i listen to alot of tori amos. she's great...and i never would have known if it wasnt for this song

[seattletaytay]

I love her but she sometimes looks like she's going to swallow the mic whole...this is an amazing song I remember first hearing on a movie ending credits

[ajschramm]

I never tire of this performance of Butterfly! One of my favs!

[jessicatron]

yeah me too. i had this on vhs years ago- it's worn out. lol

[goodtimetone]

she gave me a hug once

[mistac27]

Can I touch you?

[ENeithneYA]

GOSH,I'm freakin jealous.

[strychnine76]

yes....many many chills

[kittenmow]

This song always gives me chills.

[goodtimetone]

a brilllllllll song

she gave me a hug once

very pretty woman

[holdtheline]

she's the greatest! stunning performance

[goodtimetone]

brill............ just great

[herhorizon]

I'm pretty sure this was a Jay Leno taping. He was quite amazed at this performance, too if I remember well.

The song is from the motion picture soundtrack to 'Higher Learning'.

[Sensationnelle]

Yeah that was a good movie but sad ending I cried at the end.

[emmakorhonen]

oooooooooooooh!

I love this song! <3 I WANT!!!

also... ahhhh Tori... I WANT!!! XD

*kidnaps Tori*

[SallyEngrave]

love this song..

[coolgirly08]

love this song its just so beautifully random!!

[pumpkinpjays]

One of her best TV appearances! Does anyone know where this was taped?

...well, nurses smile...

[NutsAboutHarry]

one of my favorite tori songs ever.

[propertyofranger]

I love this song so much, and this version is particularly wonderful. Oh, I love ths woman. :o)

[aftieaftea]

higherlearningsoundtrack?

[tempotantrum]

HF'NS! Thanks for this toriffic post.

The best song of '94 by far. This song is a stand-out on the 'Higher Learning' soundtrack.

[dioseolo]

a piece of heaven...

[Thomimas2]

As a german, I don't really understand the pictures which she creates...

[Tagtraum909]

I'm so sorry her images are hard to follow, although I can certainly why they would be for someone who's native language is not english. As a german major currently reading Kafka and Mann I can completely understand. I've listened to all of her songs about a bazillion times now and would be happy to give some explination, if you would ever like. :)

Marianne

[Minorke]

Don't feel bad, I'm a born and raised american and I don't understand her images half the time.

Not that that takes away from how beautiful her music is. Her music literally saved my life.

[amylh322]

I don't think it's a Nationality thing :) She translates well in some places and poorly in the same. She lives in England but grew up in the US, so... heck if i know :)