Meeting Tori's Parents

by joe

The evening of November 15, 2002 proved to be of the most memorable in my life. Not only did I see an astounding Tori performance, but I had the great, great honor of sitting behind her mother and father, Mary and Dr. Edison Amos. They were remarkably gracious and sweet people who are extremely proud of their daughter and really appreciative of her supportive fanbase. I simply wanted an autograph and to tell them how nice it was meeting them, but they pulled me into a fascinating and wonderful conversation that lasted nearly half an hour! I certainly didn't mind, as they enlightened me in many ways, offering unique perspectives on Tori's music and commercial success, as well as her place in music history.

They asked where I attended school and Dr. Amos placed great emphasis on the importance of an education and proceeded to list the college courses he takes for his own benefit as Tori's publisher (Sword and Stone), including Internet Law, as well as courses on MoneyPro and Quicken. I think it's very sweet that Tori managed to involve her parents in her career in this way. Her father seems especially enthused to be a part of it all.

He then went on to express is severe disappointment in what Americans listen to these days. "Teeny baby bopper junk" were the words he used. He also feels that very few musicians write "such intellectual lyrics like my daughter" and he believes that "Tori will endure music history, they will remember her in fifty years." I asked what his favorite songs by Tori were and he said "Winter, Silent All These Years - a magnificent song, Jackie's Strength, Gold Dust, 1000 Oceans. These are the songs that will remain timeless, that will never date."

In a wonderfully humorous moment he started bringing up Tori's single and album sales: "There was that one song that shocked us all because it was her biggest seller. Which one was it, Mama?" Mrs. Amos thought for a moment and, with wide eyes and southern twang, whispered: "Professional Widow! All those remixes!" Her father also mentioned that he thought five or six songs from "Y Kant Tori Read" remain her strongest songs and he's sad that they never picked up commercially, including "Cool On Your Island," "Floating City," and "Etienne," which he explained was about Joan of Arc.

He then took the set list out of his pocket, warned me that it may not remain the same throughout the show (it did, however), and began pointing to songs and explaining them to me! "Pancake, that's about pedophilia in the church. The 'pancake,' do you understand? The host." I was thrilled because I had never, in all my interpretative attempts, thought of that. "Spring Haze and I Can't see New York, they go together, see because NY deals with 9/11 and Spring Haze was inspired by JFK Jr's death."

I thanked them for their generous time and they encouraged me to see more shows (I told them I was at Riverside the night before and would be attending three more shows after that night, which made them happy). Fantastic, fantastic people. I'm so fortunate to have met and conversed with them. Such warm, inviting, proud people--it was truly amazing. Her mother cried during "Gold Dust" and "Black Swan" (which she dedicated to her mother) and it was very difficult for me to not do the same.

Now I just have to meet Tori herself... :-)