Professional Widow

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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

"Professional Widow" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Tori Amos, released on her third album, Boys for Pele (1996). It is a harpsichord-driven rock song with lyrics rumored to have been inspired by the American songwriter Courtney Love.

"Professional Widow" was released as the album's third single on July 2, 1996, by

MK. It 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 released as a double A-side single with "Hey Jupiter
" in Europe and Australia.

On December 30, 1996, van Helden's remix was released as a single in the UK as "Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)". It topped the UK singles chart in January 1997 and reached the top 20 in Finland, Iceland, Ireland and Norway. In 2022, Rolling Stone named the remix the 109th-greatest dance song.

Lyrics

"Professional Widow" is rumored to be about the American songwriter Courtney Love, the widow of the Nirvana songwriter Kurt Cobain.[1] Love said she had never determined if she was the "professional widow" of the title.[1] 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. In Europe, the remix became more widely known than the original song.[2]

Van Helden said that Amos was contractually entitled to approve all remixes, and called to thank him when his became popular in Europe.[3] 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 [...] I loved the fact that he didn't try and retain that at all, he went completely to the other pole."[4]

Critical reception

Scottish

Money for Nothing" as a Sting song, and the lady's sampled voice is just incidental to the handbag-heaving beat and bassline."[11]

Alan Jones from

Salon noted that Amos' "penchant for abrupt endings and ad nauseam repetition; still surfaces on more experimental songs" like "Professional Widow".[15] Kevin Newman from Smash Hits named it the best track of the album with "Caught a Lite Sneeze", describing it as "more-Björk-than-Björk".[16] In 2014, Stereogum ranked the song number 10 on their list of the 10 greatest Tori Amos songs,[17] Mixmag featured it in their list of the best basslines in dance music in 2020,[18] and in 2023, The Guardian ranked the song number five on their list of the 20 greatest Tori Amos songs.[19] In 2022, Rolling Stone
named the "Professional Widow" remix the 109th-greatest dance song.

Music video

A music video was made for the "Star Trunk Funkin' Mix", comprising clips from other 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.

A live performance is featured on the Welcome to Sunny Florida DVD. It features Jon Evans on bass and Matt Chamberlain on drums, while Amos plays the piano. This version mutes the words "fucker" and "cock".

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.[30]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[59]
"Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" 		Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[60]
"Professional Widow" 		Silver 200,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[61]
"Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" 		Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States "Professional Widow" July 2, 1996 CD Atlantic [62]
United Kingdom "Hey Jupiter" / "Professional Widow" July 22, 1996
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 EastWest [63]
"Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" December 30, 1996 [64]

See also

  • List of number-one dance singles of 1996 (U.S.)
  • List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance chart

References

  1. ^ a b c "11 diss tracks that are probably about Courtney Love". The A.V. Club. March 21, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  2. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ Stratton, Sally (March 28, 1998). "Amos Adds Rhythm to Her Blues". Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 13. p. 12.
  5. Aberdeen Press and Journal
    . December 26, 1996. p. 8.
  6. ^ Chadwick, Justin (January 18, 2021). "Tori Amos' 'Boys for Pele' Turns 25 — Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  7. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "Tori Amos – Boys for Pele". AllMusic. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  8. ^ Verna, Paul (January 27, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Albums" (PDF). Billboard. p. 105. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  9. ^ McCarthy, Sean (February 18, 2005). "Boys For Pele – Tori Amos". The Daily Vault. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  10. Irish Times
    .
  11. Irish Times
    .
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. Salon. Archived from the original
    on September 3, 2000. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  16. ^ Newman, Kevin (January 31, 1996). "Albums: Best New Album". Smash Hits. p. 53. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  17. ^ Dick, Jonathan (June 18, 2014). "The 10 Best Tori Amos Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "The Best Basslines In Dance Music, According To You". Mixmag. May 7, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  19. ^ Petridis, Alexis (August 17, 2023). "Tori Amos's 20 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  20. ^ 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)
  21. ^ 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)
  22. ^ 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)
  23. ^ 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)
  24. ^ 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)
  25. ^ 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)
  26. ^ 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)
  27. ^ 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)
  28. ^ 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)
  29. ^ 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)
  30. ^ 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)
  31. ^ "Tori Amos – Hey Jupiter / Professional Widow". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  32. ^ "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  33. ^ "Tori Amos – Hey Jupiter / Professional Widow" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  34. ^ "Tori Amos – Hey Jupiter / Professional Widow" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  35. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9726." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  36. ^ "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.
  37. ^ "Tori Amos: Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  38. ^ "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  39. ^ "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  40. Dagblaðið Vísir
    (in Icelandic). February 21, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  41. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Professional Widow". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  42. ^ "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.
  43. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 45, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  44. ^ "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  45. ^ "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)". VG-lista. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  46. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  47. ^ "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  48. ^ "Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  49. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  50. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  51. ^ "Tori Amos Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  52. ^ "Tori Amos Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  53. ^ "Tori Amos Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  54. ^ "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.
  55. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Club Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-44.
  56. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997". ARIA. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  57. ^ "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.
  58. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. January 17, 1998. p. 27.
  59. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  60. ^ "British single certifications – Tori Amos – Professional Widow". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  61. ^ "British single certifications – Tori Amos – Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  62. ^ "Professional Widow". Amazon. 1996. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  63. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. July 20, 1996. p. 46. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  64. ^ "BPI > Certified Awards > Tori Amos". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
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