On November 9th, 1999 Fiona Apple released her sophomore album, When the Pawn. Nobody embodies feminine rage quite like Fiona Apple in this album. The listener is taken through different phases of love, and anger. This album is remarkable both from a musical standpoint, and an emotional one. With a strong influence from jazz and Fiona Apple’s signature singer-songwriter style, When the Pawn experiments with mixing different genres to accompany Fiona’s deep and smoky voice. You can feel the emotional distress in Fiona’s voice as each song builds up. The use of percussion in this album also really stands out. The complex drum patterns follow Fiona’s vocals perfectly, pushing the emotion of the songs while still keeping Fiona’s voice at the forefront. When the pawn is a great way to get into Fiona Apple’s music.
Here are a few stand out songs from When the Pawn.
To your love: One of the strongest songs from when the pawn. Repetition works in favor of this song as the continued piano and drums in this song work together to bring out the grating tone of the vocals. Fiona Apple’s melodic voice works against the grating tones in this song and it somehow works.
“I just need to be reassured
Do you just deal it out
Or can you deal with all that I lay down?”
Paper Bag: Paper bag is the most popular song to come out of when the pawn. It’s incredibly captivating and keeps the listener engaged the entire time. With a mix of its strong lyricism and memorable melodies, it’s not surprising Paper Bag is a fan favorite.
“Hunger hurts and I want his so bad, oh, its kills me
‘Cuz i know i’m a mess he dont wanna clean up”
A Mistake: Fiona Apple uses A Mistake to show off her incredible vocal skills and range. It’s maybe not the most memorable song to come out of the album, but there’s a certain eerie feeling that makes it stand out from the rest.
“‘Cause I’m full as a tick
And I’m scratching at the surface
And what I find is mine”
Fast as you can: Fast as you can is the most chaotic song on the album. It’s fast paced and has a captivating piano riff played throughout. This song brings a sense of confusion which pairs perfectly with the lyrics and message of the song.
“My Pretty mouth will frame the phrases
The will disprove your faith in man”
Get Gone: Get Gone perfectly encapsulates rage into a song. This song starts off with a sweet melody and soft drum beat, and builds up to a catchy chorus. It’s not an incredibly complicated song, but it gets the point across in an interesting way.
“How many times can it escalate
‘Till it elevates to a place I can’t breathe?”
I know: I know is one of the most slept on songs in this album. It’s a bit slow, but it’s not boring in the slightest. The lyrics are beautifully written and the essence of a woman and her piano brings this song to life. I know is the perfect end to an incredible album.
“While you try to find
The lines to speak your mind
And pry it open, hoping for an encore”
Although some songs on this album are stronger than others, it’s still worth it to listen to the whole thing all the way through. Even after 30 years, this album has absolutely no skips. If you haven’t already, I would highly recommend taking a listen to this incredible When the Pawn.
