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"Professional Widow" is a 1996 song written by American singer-songwriter Tori Amos. It is a harpsichord-driven rock song and was included on her third album, Boys for Pele (1996).

"Professional Widow"
Single by Tori Amos
from the album Boys for Pele
ReleasedJuly 2, 1996 (1996-07-02)
GenreAlternative rock
Length
  • 4:31 (album version)
  • 8:08 (remix)
Label
  • Atlantic
  • EastWest
Songwriter(s)Tori Amos
Producer(s)Tori Amos
Tori Amos singles chronology
"Talula"
(1996)		 "Professional Widow"
(1996)		 "Hey Jupiter"
(1996)

"Professional Widow" was released on July 2, 1996, as the third single from the Boys for Pele album in the US, containing remixes by the house music producers Armand van Helden and MK. The single reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. In Italy, the original version peaked at number two in October 1996.

An edited version of the Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix of "Professional Widow" was originally released as a double A-side single with "Hey Jupiter" in Europe and Australia. On December 30, 1996, the single was released as an A-side in the United Kingdom as "Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)", which topped the UK Singles Chart in January 1997 and reached the top 20 in Finland, Iceland, Ireland and Norway. This release contained additional remixes of the track by Mr. Roy.


Lyric


"Professional Widow" is rumored to be about the American songwriter Courtney Love, widow of songwriter Kurt Cobain.[1] Love said she had "never figured out" if she was the professional widow of the title. In 1996, Amos said she had never met Love and that the song was about her own experience and "the part of myself that's Lady Macbeth". In a 2003 television interview, when the host said the song was inspired by Love, Amos interrupted with "allegedly" and smiled.[1]


Remix


"Professional Widow" was remixed by the American DJ Armand van Helden. Van Helden said that Amos was contractually entitled to approve all remixes, and when the remix became popular in Europe, she called to thank him.[2] In a 1998 interview with Music & Media, Amos said: "It did kick my ass a bit [...] I know what Van Helden took and what he did and I think he did some very clever things. Obviously they're two different pieces of work, the original 'Professional Widow' is such a different read and I loved the fact that he didn't try and retain that at all, he went completely to the other pole."[3]


Critical reception


Scottish newspaper Aberdeen Press and Journal said the song is "excellent".[4] Justin Chadwick from Albumism wrote in his retrospective review of Boys for Pele, "Though much of the world is more familiar with the propulsive, dancefloor-filling Armand Van Helden remix of 'Professional Widow', its original incarnation featured here is noteworthy for its much-debated allusions to none other than Courtney Love."[5] Neil Z. Yeung from AllMusic described it as a "powerful dose of industrial-piano ferocity that holds nothing back in its demands for peace, love, and a little something extra."[6] The Daily Vault's Sean McCarthy said it is one of the most "straightforward" songs of the album.[7] Alan Jones from Music Week deemed the remix as a "brilliant reworking"[8] and remarked that "it is as different from the rest of the album as chalk is from cheese."[9]

Tim Jeffery from Record Mirror's Dance Update rated it five out of five, adding, "Needless to say, any lyrical subtlety has gone out of the window on this remixed package but that's not the point really. MK and Armand Van Helden pick and choose which of Tori's lines to chop up into bits and loop over their own music — Helden's is by far the most inventive with loads of strange synth sounds over a Bucketheads-style groove and a terrific atmospheric drop in the middle. A big club hit for sure but it'll be radio that decides this record's success or otherwise."[10] Cynthia Joyce from Salon noted that Amos' "penchant for abrupt endings and ad nauseam repetition; still surfaces on more experimental songs" like "Professional Widow".[11]


Music video


A music video was made for the "Star Trunk Funkin' Mix", but it was simply a collection of clips from other Tori Amos videos edited together. It is the only video from between 1991 and 1998 that does not appear on Tori Amos: Complete Videos 1991-1998.

One can see Amos playing "Professional Widow" live on the Welcome to Sunny Florida DVD. The performance features Jon Evans on bass and Matt Chamberlain on drums, while Amos plays the piano. This version mutes out any instances of "fucker," and the last word, "cock".


Impact and legacy


American magazine Rolling Stone ranked "Professional Widow" number 109 in their list of 200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time in 2022.[12]


Track listings



Personnel


Personnel are lifted from the Boys for Pele album booklet. The album version includes the cry of a bull, which is credited as "bull" in the booklet.[23]


Charts and certifications



Release history


Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States "Professional Widow" July 2, 1996 CD Atlantic [54]
United Kingdom "Hey Jupiter" / "Professional Widow" July 22, 1996
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 EastWest [55]
"Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" December 30, 1996 [56]

See also



References


  1. "11 diss tracks that are probably about Courtney Love". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  2. "The Remix Hits of 1996" (PDF). Music Week. December 14, 1996. p. 36. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  3. Stratton, Sally (March 28, 1998). "Amos Adds Rhythm to Her Blues". Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 13. p. 12.
  4. Aberdeen Press and Journal. December 26, 1996. p.8 . Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  5. Chadwick, Justin (January 18, 2021). "Tori Amos' 'Boys for Pele' Turns 25 — Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  6. Yeung, Neil Z. "Tori Amos – Boys for Pele". AllMusic. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  7. McCarthy, Sean (February 18, 2005). "Boys For Pele – Tori Amos". The Daily Vault. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  8. Jones, Alan (December 28, 1996). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  9. Jones, Alan (February 8, 1997). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  10. Jeffery, Tim (June 15, 1996). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  11. Joyce, Cynthia. "AMOS 'N' RANDY". Salon. Archived from the original on September 3, 2000. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  12. Dolan, Jon; Lopez, Julyssa; Matos, Michaelangelo; Shaffer, Claire (July 22, 2022). "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  13. Professional Widow (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Tori Amos. Atlantic Records. 1996. 2-85499.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Professional Widow (US 12-inch single sleeve). Tori Amos. Atlantic Records. 1996. 0-85499.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. Hey Jupiter / Professional Widow (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). Tori Amos. EastWest Records. 1996. A5494CD, 7567-85494-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. Hey Jupiter / Professional Widow (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Tori Amos. EastWest Records. 1996. A5494T, 7567-85493-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. Hey Jupiter / Professional Widow (UK cassette single sleeve). Tori Amos. EastWest Records. 1996. A5494C.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big) (UK CD single liner notes). Tori Amos. EastWest Records. 1996. A5450CD, 7567-85450-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big) (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Tori Amos. EastWest Records. 1996. A5450T, 7567-85451-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big) (UK cassette single sleeve). Tori Amos. EastWest Records. 1996. A5450C, 7567-87038-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. Professional Widow (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Tori Amos. EastWest Records. 1996. 7567-85478-9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. Professional Widow (French maxi-CD single liner notes). Tori Amos. EastWest Records. 1996. 7567-85445-9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. Boys for Pele (US CD album booklet). Tori Amos. Atlantic Records. 1996. 82862-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. "Tori Amos – Hey Jupiter / Professional Widow". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  25. "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  26. "Tori Amos – Hey Jupiter / Professional Widow" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  27. "Tori Amos – Hey Jupiter / Professional Widow" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  28. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9726." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  29. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 4. January 25, 1997. p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  30. "Tori Amos: Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  31. "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  32. "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  33. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 209 Vikuna 20.2. '97 – 26.2. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 21, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  34. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Professional Widow". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  35. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 40. October 5, 1996. p. 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  36. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 45, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  37. "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  38. "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)". VG-lista. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  39. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  40. "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  41. "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  42. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  43. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  44. "Tori Amos Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  45. "Tori Amos Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  46. "Tori Amos Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  47. "The RM Club Chart of the Year 96" (PDF). Record Mirror. January 11, 1997. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via Music Week.
  48. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997". ARIA. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  49. "1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  50. "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. January 17, 1998. p. 27.
  51. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  52. "British single certifications – Tori Amos – Professional Widow". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  53. "British single certifications – Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  54. "Professional Widow". Amazon. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  55. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. July 20, 1996. p. 46. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  56. "BPI > Certified Awards > Tori Amos". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 11, 2016.



На других языках

- [en] Professional Widow

[ru] Professional Widow

«Professional Widow» (с англ. — «Профессиональная вдова») — песня американской певицы Тори Эймос, была выпущена в 1996 году на альбоме Boys for Pele. Композиция представляет собой рок-панихиду, Эймос исполняет её на клавесине. По слухам, название — «Профессиональная вдова», было намёком на вдову Курта Кобейна Кортни Лав, которую фронтмен группы Nine Inch Nails Трент Резнор обвинял в разрушении дружбы между ним и Эймос[1]; на альбоме Nine Inch Nails The Fragile 1999 года появляется песня «Starfuckers, Inc.», название которой может восходить к тексту «Professional Widow».


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