I keep going down the ’90s rabbit hole, I don’t know why, but these songs continue to pop up in my memory.
The Singer
Fiona Apple is an American singer and songwriter. She played classical piano from an early age and started to compose at eight years old. She has received various awards, including three Grammys.
The Album
Tidal is Fiona’s debut album. It was released on July 23, 1996.
She started to compose these songs when she was a teenager. One of the singles in this album is Criminal. She received a Grammy Award for this song, for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, and also was nominated for Best Rock Song.
The Song
Criminal is Fiona’s biggest hit. According to the singer, it took her only 45 minutes to write it, and she claims that the song is “a description of feeling bad for getting something so easily by using your sexuality”.
The video of this song was always on MTV, in the mid-90s. When the music channel played music (the good old days). It stuck with me because of her voice. She has a soulful and dark voice.
Now, reading the lyrics I can appreciate her songwriting and poetic skills, and to think that she was in her teens when she wrote this, makes me value the song and Fiona much more. The lyrics are about cheating on a guy and feeling bad after, wanting to redeem herself with him to not lose him.
Fiona Apple is still doing music, and also she participates in philanthropic events, helping in different ways.
Lyrics
I’ve been a bad, bad girl
I’ve been careless with a delicate man
And it’s a sad, sad world
When a girl will break a boy just because she can
Don’t you tell me to deny it
I’ve done wrong and I want to suffer for my sins
I’ve come to you ’cause I need guidance to be true
And I just don’t know where I can begin
What I need is a good defense
‘Cause I’m feelin’ like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I’ve sinned against
Because he’s all I ever knew of love
Heaven, help me for the way I am
Save me from these evil deeds before I get them done
I know tomorrow brings the consequence at hand
But I keep livin’ this day like the next will never come
Oh, help me, but don’t tell me to deny it
I’ve got to cleanse myself of all these lies ’til I’m good enough for him
I’ve got a lot to lose and I’m bettin’ high, so I’m beggin’ you
Before it ends just tell me where to begin
What I need is a good defense
‘Cause I’m feelin’ like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I’ve sinned against
Because he’s all I ever knew of love
Let me know the way
Before there’s hell to pay
Give me room to lay the law and let me go
I’ve got to make a play
To make my lover stay
So, what would an angel say?
The devil wants to know
What I need is a good defense
‘Cause I’m feelin’ like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I’ve sinned against
Because he’s all I ever knew of love