Daily Open Thread for Wednesday, Feb. 20: Criminal

Here's your Daily Open Thread for Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013:

As usual, come discuss whatever your heart desires, or unload the depths of your despair, we are here for you either way, for better or for worse. Whether you get bored at work, have something on your mind, or just want to chat with all your favorite lovely Cagesiders on any topic you want -- even some wrestling!

Today, I would like to share a song and video that are arguably among my all time favorites. I say arguably, because I have a lot of favorites, which is kind of contradictory to the term at hand. But anyway, I digress, this song, a 1997 "alternative rock" song is one that speaks to me on so many levels, one that I love to sing, to listen to, to dance to; and the video -- well, let me just say, as an artist who's favorite major was visual communications -- I just dig the crap out of this video.

In a 2005 interview the artist conducted with Blender magazine, which she is often quoted from, she best described the song's primary concept as:

"...a description of feeling bad for getting something so easily by using your sexuality."

The song "was released as the third single from the album Tidal in September 1997, and is Apple's biggest hit, peaking at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as #4 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards and was nominated for Best Rock Song. The song was listed at number 71 on Blender magazine's 2005 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born". (the interview that the above quote was pulled from). It reached #55 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90's.

My personal favorite line in the song is, "So, what would an angel say? The devil wants to know." The video itself is nothing short of artistically fascinating in it's ability to communicate through visual media. Wiki sums it up all too short and sweet, but makes it easy to understand why I enjoy it:

The song's music video was directed by Mark Romanek and cinematographed by Harris Savides. The video features Apple sulking in various states of undress, and The New Yorker described her as "looking like an underfed Calvin Klein model." It explores themes of voyeurism and adolescence. In 1998, the video won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography.

Without further ado, I present to you a song by a woman who is ridiculously talented, (and although way too slender in this vid to meet my normal "type") I still think she is sexy as hell. Fiona Apple: "Criminal" Enjoy ~

Then, after checking that out, you should be sure to scroll on down through the thread, make a comment or two -- or dozens; revisit it throughout the day (and night). You will likely enjoy some of the usual gems from your fellow Cagesiders, including:

Match of the Day, Music Video Link of the day, Babe of the day, Bro of the day, Alison Brie gif of the day, AJ Lee pic of the day, Photo Caption of the Day, and more!

No matter what it is that draws you in, just come chill out with us. Give it a go, or comment, or lurk... 'til your heart is content! Lyrics below the line for those who want to follow along...

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"Criminal"

by ~ Fiona Apple

I've been a bad, bad girl
I've been careless with a delicate man
And its 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
'Till I'm good enough for him
I 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 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 redeemed
To the one I've sinned against
Because he's all I ever knew of love

What I need is a good defense
'Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal
And I need to redeemed
To the one I've sinned against

Because he's all I ever knew of love

Criminal lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

IMAGE ATTRIBUTION: Original Pastel on Emery Cloth via the DMA (DallasMuseumofArt.org) - "Femmes de Maison" translation: "Prostitutes" by: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec