My Tori Story

We all have a Tori story to tell. I have one to tell as well...:)

Before I discovered Tori's music, I would always listen to whatever music was playing. Ever since I was little, I loved listening to music. I would always listen to the radio, or play tapes my parents gave me. Besides that, I always had a weak spot for the piano. I always have been intrigued by it. I loved listening to music that had piano parts in it, and whenever I was near a piano, I just wanted to play it or at least just touch it. I never took lessons though, so I really don't know how to play the piano. Which is a shame, cause I love to play it. Whenever I DO play the piano, I calm down. It's such a great way of emptying my mind.

Anyway...it was late '96 when I discovered Tori's music. It was at our local library. I saw Under the Pink and Little Earthquakes there and somehow found the artwork for LE very intriguing. Nevertheless, I picked up UTP and decided to listen to it right there. As soon as I put on the headphones and Pretty Good Year started to play, it felt like I finally found the music I'd been looking for for so long. It was such a weird experience: it was like I already knew all the songs, but I just never heard them. Needless to say: I was hooked. I took the album home with me and for two weeks it was the only album I played. Not much later I bought the album and within weeks I collected the other two albums as well. Ever since then I started to collect everything that was out there. I wanted to find out more about this woman who could play the piano in such a wonderful way. I wanted to learn more about the woman who had touched me in so many ways with her music. I wanted to experience her live, meet her in person and tell her how much she has meant for me.

It wasn't till 2001 when I saw Tori in concert. A friend of mine, Sarah, informed me about the concerts dates and I was finally able to purchase a ticket myself. I was at row 23 or something, so pretty far back, but the experience itself was just so overwhelming. I finally saw her in concert myself. After reading so many concert experiences from other people I finally had my own experience. Of course, it wasn't enough. I wanted more, more, more! In 2003 I saw her in concert for the second time. I had pretty shitty seats and due to the fact that I had to work that day, I couldn't make it to the M&G. I wrote Tori a letter though and wanted to give it to her so badly. It contained everything that I wanted to say to her. Luckily, my dear friend Inge had seats close to the stage and she threw my letter on stage. The concert itself was yet another magical experience. Then, in 2005 I saw her in concert for the third and fourth time. This time I made it to the M&G and was even able to hand her a little drawing I made. The whole experience was mind blowing. I was just a few inches away from her, she talked to me, she signed my BFP cd. Again, it was so weird, yet so, so magical. Then in 2007 I saw her in concert one more time. She brought out the dolls, and we got Pip. The show was amazing, though it was a shame it was general admission. It was too hot, and since I'd been there for pretty much the entire day, it's wasn't much fun anymore towards the end. Missed the M&G cause she did one afterwards, at about 00.30, which was a little shame. Still no picture taken! I've also heard that this might be her final big world tour, so...let's just hope and pray that one day, maybe one day she will visit Holland again!

All in all Tori is just a huge part of my life. Her views on life and spirituality have, in a way, helped me to accept certain aspects about myself. I'm grateful for the fact that I got to know her music, cause without it, I wouldn't be the same person I am now. I'd love to meet her one day and drink a nice glass of wine together and discuss parts of life and music. One can dream...one can dream...:)

"...if there's just one person who knows how to get through to you, you've been healed..."