Fiona Apple (Maggart) was born September 13, 1977 in New York. By the time Fiona turned 20, she had a critical and commercially successful debut LP, and had been portrayed as everything from a victimized and tormented singer to a ungrateful, aloof musical artist. Although Fiona's willingness to speak her mind in public or through her music has turned heads away, she has allowed it to maintain her credibility. With parents in the entertainment field (her mom is a singer, and her father is an actor), Fiona started playing the piano when she was 8 years old and writing songs in her early teens. Her teen years also included an incident when Fiona was raped. Fiona was also in therapy by age 10 for behavior that was considered antisocial: "Basically, I was young and I wasn't running around with a yo-yo and a jump rope all the time, so people thought there was something wrong with me. I refused to go to school for weeks straight 'cause everyone was calling me "dog of the school," crazy, weird, stupid. When I switched to an alternative school, my principal thought that I was emotionally disturbed. Which I am." (Spin magazine) When Fiona was 16, she decided to move to Los Angeles where her father lived and ended up finishing her entire senior year of high school in 2 months with home study. She also made a demo consisting of 3 of her songs and 78 copies of the demo for distribution. But when Fiona returned home to New York for the holidays, 1 tape made it to the right person, Andy Slater. Slater is now Fiona's manager and producer, and Fiona is left with 77 demo tapes no longer needing distribution.
Fiona signed with Sony Music after she headed out to Los Angeles at the age of 16 to pursue her music and then returning to New York.
Fiona's debut LP, Tidal, was a success with critics who compared her with Liz Phair, Alanis Morissette, P.J. Harvey, Tori Amos, and other notable female singers with angst in their lyrics and pain in their vocals. With the track "Shadow Boxer" getting play on radio and video channels, Fiona's music became more widespread.
Fiona's touring and other sultry live appearances made her an even bigger musical force as she participated in the successful Lilith Fair tour, toured with The Wallflowers, and had her first Top 10 pop hit with "Criminal."
Fiona won a MTV Video Music Awardfor Best New Artist ("Sleep To Dream"). Fiona was most remembered for her acceptance speech: " "This world is bulls---, and you shouldn't model your life about what you think that you think we think is cool, and what we're wearing, and what we're saying and everything. Go with yourself." The speech and intensity of her appearance had Fiona explaining her thoughts throughout the end of the year. In a Rolling Stone magazine interview at the end of the year, Fiona reflected on her MTV speech:"I just had something on my mind and I just said it... and that's really the foreshadowing of my entire career and my entire life. When I have something to say, I'll say it." Fiona hit the Top 40 with "Criminal."
In Spin magazine, Fiona stated: "It's psychologically and chemically impossible for me to be happy, I know I'm going to die young." Fiona helped out People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for the impending, annual Thanksgiving turkey feast. A recorded message on PETA's phone line had Apple stating her opposition to the slaughtering of turkeys for Thanksgiving. The message also singled out Butterball with a request to call the company and complain about their phone message which gives ideas on cooking their turkeys. As Apple stated on the message, "...millions of people are learning that a vegetarian diet is the healthy choice for themselves, the earth, and the animals."
Fiona finished the year on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine when she was named Artist of the Year. Fiona also won a Billboard Music Video Award for Best New Artist Clip (Pop/Rock). Fiona hit the Top 10 with "Criminal." Readers of Rolling Stone named "Criminal" Best Single of the Year and Fiona the Best Female Performer of the Year.
New Fiona tracks could be heard on the soundtrack to Pleasantville with her versions of the Beatles' "Across The Universe" and "Please Send Me Someone To Love."
Fiona was listed on the infamous yearly "Worst Dressed Women" list. She was nominated for 3 California Music Awards including Outstanding Album.
Fiona stopped her New York performance in New York because of technical problems. After performing for 40 minutes, Apple left the stage and it was later announced that the show would not proceed.
Fiona won a California Music Award for Outstanding Female Vocalist.
Fiona was nominated for a Billboard Music Video Award for Best Pop Clip of the Year ("Fast As You Can").
Fiona performed on ReAct Now: Music & Relief - a benefit program shown on music video channels to raise money for those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
As Fiona's third LP sat on the shelves of Sony Records since 2002, various "Free Fiona" protests developed on the streets in front of Sony Record's New York office and on the Internet. The revised LP, Extraordinary Machine, was finally released on October 4th.
Note: Song title and position links lead you to the song's Top 40 chart run (from the ARC Weekly Top 40) and LP links take you to Amazon.com for that LP (often including track listings and sound samples).
Fiona Apple (Maggart) was born September 13, 1977 in New York. By the time Fiona turned 20, she had a critical and commercially successful debut LP, and had been portrayed as everything from a victimized and tormented singer to a ungrateful, aloof musical artist. Although Fiona's willingness to speak her mind in public or through her music has turned heads away, she has allowed it to maintain her credibility. With parents in the entertainment field (her mom is a singer, and her father is an actor), Fiona started playing the piano when she was 8 years old and writing songs in her early teens. Her teen years also included an incident when Fiona was raped. Fiona was also in therapy by age 10 for behavior that was considered antisocial: "Basically, I was young and I wasn't running around with a yo-yo and a jump rope all the time, so people thought there was something wrong with me. I refused to go to school for weeks straight 'cause everyone was calling me "dog of the school," crazy, weird, stupid. When I switched to an alternative school, my principal thought that I was emotionally disturbed. Which I am." (Spin magazine) When Fiona was 16, she decided to move to Los Angeles where her father lived and ended up finishing her entire senior year of high school in 2 months with home study. She also made a demo consisting of 3 of her songs and 78 copies of the demo for distribution. But when Fiona returned home to New York for the holidays, 1 tape made it to the right person, Andy Slater. Slater is now Fiona's manager and producer, and Fiona is left with 77 demo tapes no longer needing distribution.
# 53 Singles Artist of the Year
# 81 Singles Artist of the Year
# 113 Singles Artist of the YearNovember 9: Fiona released her sophomore LP: When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He'll Win the Whole Thing 'Fore He Enters the Ring There's No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights And if You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where to Land And if You Fall It Won't Matter, 'Cuz You'll Know That You're Right with the Top 40 single "Fast As You Can." Apple said that the title of the LP is from a poem she penned: "I knew I didn't want to make it into a song, but I needed to write something for myself to remind me that everybody who was making fun of me wasn't right..."
March 26: When the Pawn... was certified platinum.