China (song)
Encyclopedia
"China" is a song by American singer-songwriter and musician Tori Amos
. It was released as the third single from her debut studio album Little Earthquakes
. It was released January 20, 1992 by Atlantic Records
in the US and EastWest Records
in the UK. It was the first song written for Little Earthquakes and was originally titled "Distance"; a recurring lyric and theme in the song., It was also originally submitted to the Library of Congress
in 1987.
This song did not take off very well as a single. When Amos' fame reached its peak in the mid-1990s, copies of the single often sold for $30–50, but now can be found on eBay
for ten dollars or less. It was highly sought after because the B-side "Humpty Dumpty" was not released elsewhere, even on Amos' B-sides compilation More Pink: The B-Sides, nor on her retrospective boxed set A Piano: The Collection
).
Alternately, the B-side "Sugar" has become one which has appeared in various formats more than any of Amos' other B-sides. It was included on the B-sides album More Pink: The B-Sides in 1994. A live version appeared as a B-side on the single Hey Jupiter
in 1996; a different live version appeared on the live disc to her 1999 2-CD set To Venus and Back
. This is ironic considering Amos' contention that she wrote the song at the last minute in an attempt to have a full set of songs for record producers.
7" single/Cassette single
Tori Amos
Tori Amos is an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. She was at the forefront of a number of female singer-songwriters in the early 1990s and was noteworthy early in her career as one of the few alternative rock performers to use a piano as her primary instrument...
. It was released as the third single from her debut studio album Little Earthquakes
Little Earthquakes
-B-sides:The album is also known for its collection of B-sides. The four songs recorded with Davitt Sigerson that did not make it to the final version of the album were included on the singles released from Little Earthquakes....
. It was released January 20, 1992 by Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in the US and EastWest Records
East West Records
East West Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, and operates under WMG's Independent Label Group.-History:...
in the UK. It was the first song written for Little Earthquakes and was originally titled "Distance"; a recurring lyric and theme in the song., It was also originally submitted to the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
in 1987.
Background
The song is often cited as one of Amos' least abstruse and most traditional ballads. It is a lament about lost love with lyrics like "Sometimes I think you want me to touch you/How can I when you build the great wall around you?" This particular lyric likely inspired the cover art of Amos standing at an upside-down teacup shaped wall. This visual theme also occurred in the music video, which showed Amos lamenting on a rocky beach in England.This song did not take off very well as a single. When Amos' fame reached its peak in the mid-1990s, copies of the single often sold for $30–50, but now can be found on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
for ten dollars or less. It was highly sought after because the B-side "Humpty Dumpty" was not released elsewhere, even on Amos' B-sides compilation More Pink: The B-Sides, nor on her retrospective boxed set A Piano: The Collection
A Piano: The Collection
A Piano: The Collection is a five-disc box set spanning the first 15 years of the solo career of American singer and song-writer Tori Amos. Released on September 26, 2006 by Rhino Records as part of the contract Amos negotiated with Warner Bros., the set consists of classics, rarities, demos,...
).
Alternately, the B-side "Sugar" has become one which has appeared in various formats more than any of Amos' other B-sides. It was included on the B-sides album More Pink: The B-Sides in 1994. A live version appeared as a B-side on the single Hey Jupiter
Hey Jupiter
"Hey Jupiter" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Tori Amos. It served as the fourth single from her album Boys For Pele and was Amos' first EP since 1992's Crucify. The Hey Jupiter EP features a remixed version of "Hey Jupiter" followed by 4 live tracks recorded during her...
in 1996; a different live version appeared on the live disc to her 1999 2-CD set To Venus and Back
To Venus and Back
To Venus and Back, the fifth album released by singer and songwriter Tori Amos, is a two-disc album set including a studio album and a live album. The first disc, titled Venus: Orbiting, features eleven original songs that finds Amos experimenting heavily in electronica...
. This is ironic considering Amos' contention that she wrote the song at the last minute in an attempt to have a full set of songs for record producers.
Track listing
CD single/12" single- "China" – 5:01
- "Sugar" – 4:27
- "Flying Dutchman" – 6:31
- "Humpty DumptyHumpty DumptyHumpty Dumpty is a character in an English language nursery rhyme, probably originally a riddle and one of the best known in the English-speaking world. He is typically portrayed as an egg and has appeared or been referred to in a large number of works of literature and popular culture...
" – 2:52
7" single/Cassette single
- "China" – 5:01
- "Sugar" – 4:27
Charts
| Chart (1992) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 51 |