Crucify (song)
Encyclopedia
"Crucify" is a song by American singer-songwriter and musician Tori Amos
. It was released as the fifth single from her debut studio album Little Earthquakes
. It was released on May 12, 1992 by Atlantic Records
in North America and on June 8 by EastWest Records
in the UK.
. It was released as an EP
in the US and as a single in Europe and Australia. The song has been covered by Sharon den Adel
, vocalist of Within Temptation
, and Nolwenn Leroy
, french singer.
The EP version included a single remix, famous cover versions and "Winter", which was released earlier as a single from the album. It sold 450,000 copies in the US according to Soundscan as of 2005, coming close to a Gold certification. Although the EP sold extremely well it failed to chart on the Billboard 200.
UK CD single
Limited UK EP single
's show in May, 1992, and on CBS This Morning on September 9, 1992. She also played it on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on January 13, 1993, along with the song "Winter". Additionally, she played "Crucify" live on MTV
in 1992, as well as on Top of the Pops
.
, was released in 1992 as well. It was shot using the radio edit
of "Crucify" that can be found on the EP
and singles, but the version used on Tori's 2006 Fade to Red 2DVD set is an edited version of the remastered track that is found on the compilation Tales of a Librarian
. It includes images of Tori at the piano shot using overhead cameras, twin Toris who sing together at a counter, clothing "reminiscent of Anne Boleyn", and shots of Tori climbing into a bathtub fully dressed, then dancing in the wet dress.
Cindy Palmano has said that Atlantic Records finished the video because "I took it to a certain stage and then the record company wanted to edit it in a different way". Yet she approves of the bathtub sequence: "I like when she steps into the bath and comes out of the bath. It all looks really Hitchcock, I love it." (Palmano also directed the videos "Silent All These Years", "Winter", "China" and "Pretty Good Year", this last one from Amos' second album, Under the Pink
.)
The music video can be found on Little Earthquakes
, Tori Amos: Complete Videos 1991-1998
and Fade to Red
: Video Collection.
, which included remastered versions of many of her most popular songs. The original LP version of "Crucify" was one of them.
Amos has performed "Crucify" differently live in recent years. The verses are a lot slower and have some degree of repetition. One example of how she plays it now can be found on the Welcome to Sunny Florida
DVD
.
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 fifth 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 on May 12, 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 North America and on June 8 by 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.
Background
The song served as the fifth single from the album Little EarthquakesLittle 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 as an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
in the US and as a single in Europe and Australia. The song has been covered by Sharon den Adel
Sharon den Adel
Sharon Janny den Adel is a Dutch singer and composer, best known as the lead vocalist and one of the main songwriters in the Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation...
, vocalist of Within Temptation
Within Temptation
Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic gothic metal/rock band founded in 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. Their music is described as symphonic metal, although their earlier material, such as Enter, was gothic metal. In an interview, Den Adel said they fell into a...
, and Nolwenn Leroy
Nolwenn Leroy
Nolwenn Leroy, , is a French singer and songwriter, discovered by the French television reality show Star Academy. She is best known for her two Number One singles "Cassé" and "Nolwenn Ohwo!"....
, french singer.
The EP version included a single remix, famous cover versions and "Winter", which was released earlier as a single from the album. It sold 450,000 copies in the US according to Soundscan as of 2005, coming close to a Gold certification. Although the EP sold extremely well it failed to chart on the Billboard 200.
Track listing
US EP single- "Crucify" (Remix) – 4:18
- "Winter" – 5:41
- "Angie" (Mick JaggerMick JaggerSir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
) – 4:25 - "Smells Like Teen SpiritSmells Like Teen Spirit"Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band's second album, Nevermind , released on DGC Records...
" (Kurt CobainKurt CobainKurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
, Krist NovoselicKrist NovoselicKrist Anthony Novoselic II is a Croatian-American rock musician, best known for being the bassist and co-founder of the grunge band Nirvana. After Nirvana ended, Novoselic formed Sweet 75 and then Eyes Adrift, releasing one album with each band...
, Dave GrohlDave GrohlDavid Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
) – 3:17 - "Thank YouThank You (Led Zeppelin song)"Thank You" is a song written by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page that was released by English rock band Led Zeppelin on their 1969 album Led Zeppelin II.-Overview:...
" (Robert PlantRobert PlantRobert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
, Jimmy PageJimmy PageJames Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
) – 3:49
UK CD single
- "Crucify" (single edit) – 4:18
- "Here. In My Head" – 3:53
- "Mary" – 4:27
- "Crucify" (Alternate Mix) – 4:58 (mispressed as "LP Version" - actually Alternative Mix)
Limited UK EP single
- "Little Earthquakes" (live) – 6:58
- "Crucify" (live) – 5:19
- "Precious Things" (live) – 5:03
- "Mother" (live) – 6:37
Personnel
- Tori Amos – acoustic pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, vocals - Jef Scott – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Ed Green – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Paulinho Da CostaPaulinho Da CostaPaulinho da Costa is a Brazilian percussionist born in Rio de Janeiro, considered one of the most recorded musicians of modern times. Playing over two hundred percussion instruments, he has participated in thousands of recording sessions, Grammy Award-winning albums, hit songs, soundtracks, radio...
– percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - John Chamberlin – mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
- Eric Williams – ukuleleUkuleleThe ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
- Nancy ShanksNancy ShanksNancy Shanks is an American singer who is almost exclusively associated with singer Tori Amos. Nancy recorded her first solo album in 1973 on United Artist Records. She recorded her second album in 1988 in England on EMI Records with Rhett Davis and upon her return to America met Tori Amos as Tori...
(Beene), Tina Gullickson – backgrounds - John Beverly Jones – sound recording
- Leslie Ann Jones – assistance
- Paul McKenna – mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
- Davitt Sigerson – producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
- Ian Stanley – producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Charts
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... Singles Chart |
83 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 74 |
| Dutch Mega Top 100 | 79 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 17 |
| German Singles Chart | 84 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 25 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 16 |
| UK Singles Chart | 15 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks | 22 |
Live performances
Tori Amos performed "Crucify" on David LettermanDavid Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
's show in May, 1992, and on CBS This Morning on September 9, 1992. She also played it on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on January 13, 1993, along with the song "Winter". Additionally, she played "Crucify" live on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
in 1992, as well as on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
.
Music video
The "Crucify" video, directed by Cindy Palmano (photographer and video director) and Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, was released in 1992 as well. It was shot using the radio edit
Radio edit
In music, a radio edit is a modification to make a song more suitable for airplay, whether it be adjusted for length, profanity, subject matter, instrumentation, or form...
of "Crucify" that can be found on the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
and singles, but the version used on Tori's 2006 Fade to Red 2DVD set is an edited version of the remastered track that is found on the compilation Tales of a Librarian
Tales of a Librarian
-Live:-Others:-Charts:...
. It includes images of Tori at the piano shot using overhead cameras, twin Toris who sing together at a counter, clothing "reminiscent of Anne Boleyn", and shots of Tori climbing into a bathtub fully dressed, then dancing in the wet dress.
Cindy Palmano has said that Atlantic Records finished the video because "I took it to a certain stage and then the record company wanted to edit it in a different way". Yet she approves of the bathtub sequence: "I like when she steps into the bath and comes out of the bath. It all looks really Hitchcock, I love it." (Palmano also directed the videos "Silent All These Years", "Winter", "China" and "Pretty Good Year", this last one from Amos' second album, Under the Pink
Under the Pink
Under the Pink is the second solo album by singer-songwriter Tori Amos. Upon its release in January 1994, the album peaked at US #12 and on the back of the hit single "Cornflake Girl", the album debuted at UK #1, her highest-charting UK album debut to date. It had sold around 220,000 copies in the...
.)
The music video can be found on Little Earthquakes
Little Earthquakes (video)
Little Earthquakes is a VHS video released by singer/songwriter Tori Amos in 1992, which serves as Amos' first video release. The release contains all four music videos released in conjunction with Amos' debut solo album of the same name interspersed...
, Tori Amos: Complete Videos 1991-1998
Tori Amos: Complete Videos 1991-1998
Tori Amos: The Complete Videos 1991–1998 is a VHS cassette of all of Tori Amos's videos from Little Earthquakes through From the Choirgirl Hotel, with the exception of Professional Widow. The video collection was released in a standard-size hard plastic VHS case and a large soft plastic VHS case...
and Fade to Red
Fade to Red
Fade to Red: Tori Amos Video Collection is a double DVD set from recording artist and musician Tori Amos and was released by Rhino Entertainment on February 14, 2006. It featured music videos spanning 1992 to 2005, including the singles "Silent All These Years," "Crucify," "Cornflake Girl," and "A...
: Video Collection.
Later appearances of "Crucify"
In 2003, Tori Amos released the compilation album Tales of a LibrarianTales of a Librarian
-Live:-Others:-Charts:...
, which included remastered versions of many of her most popular songs. The original LP version of "Crucify" was one of them.
Amos has performed "Crucify" differently live in recent years. The verses are a lot slower and have some degree of repetition. One example of how she plays it now can be found on the Welcome to Sunny Florida
Welcome to Sunny Florida
Welcome to Sunny Florida is the name of a DVD and CD set released by singer/songwriter Tori Amos in 2004. The set features a live concert performance by Amos from her 2002 "Scarlet's Walk" tour, in support of her album by the same name. It was recorded live at Sound Advice Amphitheatre in West Palm...
DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
.