Fiona Apple and Female Vulnerability
Photo by FRANK OCKENFEL
With the release of her debut album, Tidal, in 1996, singer-songwriter Fiona Apple created a tidal wave — literally — by beautifully articulating female vulnerability in her lyrics. Often accompanied by her piano, Fiona sings about her personal experiences in love and life. Her lyrics read like poetry; using profound imagery, metaphors and similes to explore themes of radical vulnerability, living without regret and the struggle of being taken seriously at a young age.
Fiona has denied the superficiality that comes with being a public presence. She openly embraces her identity as a sensitive and introverted overthinker, and that’s what makes her so relatable. In a culture where many women are criticized for being “too emotional,” Fiona has crafted her emotions into a powerful weapon. She’s avoided the “larger-than-life” ideal that many celebrities strive for, and she hasn’t been swept away by stardom, despite living most of her life in the limelight — at age 19, her hit single, “Criminal,” sent her into mainstream success.
This authenticity can be found in her infamous acceptance speech at the 1997 VMAs, where she publicly condemned Hollywood and its artificiality.
“Everybody out there that’s watching this world — this world is b*llshit. You shouldn’t model your life about what you think that we think is cool and what we’re saying and what we’re wearing and everything. Go with yourself,” Apple said. Her words resonate as a rebellious act of self-expression — which many described as “career suicide,” though she proved them wrong.
Now decades into her career, Fiona’s success hasn’t slowed down. She has released a total of five albums, and each one is more experimental than the last. Her range is evident when you contrast tracks like the soft, whispery “I Know” from her 1999 album When the Pawn… and the passionate, unrestrained “I Want You To Love Me” from her 2020 album Fetch the Bolt Cutters. Through it all, Apple refuses to conform to your expectations — and she often goes beyond them.
Her music addresses the duality between speaking her mind and being silenced. In her song “Under the Table” from her 2020 album Fetch the Bolt Cutters, she responds to those who attempt to silence her: “Kick me under the table all you want / I won’t shut up.” Apple sings.
“My whole life people have been saying, ‘Why are you so angry?’ I do kind of come off a bit intense … but I think it’s good if I appear a bit angry. People are so complacent. I’ve gotten this far because of my willingness to make myself vulnerable,” Fiona told Interview Magazine.
Fiona Apple’s influence is undeniable. Artists like PJ Harvey, Björk, Olivia Rodrigo and Phoebe Bridgers have cited her as an inspiration, amongst many others. Despite being out of the spotlight for a handful of years, Apple has secured her spot as a key figure in the empowerment of female vulnerability, expression and empowerment.
Her unapologetic expression of complex emotions such as anger, insecurity and sadness, has created a blueprint for a new generation of artists. Fiona Apple’s legacy isn’t only found in her poetic lyricism, but the permission she grants to others to be themselves.
If you’re ready to take a deep-dive into Fiona Apple’s discography, I recommend the following tracks: “The Way Things Are,” “Ladies” and “Fast As You Can.”