Criminal (song)
Encyclopedia
"Criminal" is a 1997 piano rock
song by Fiona Apple
. Apple described the song as a description of "feeling bad for getting something so easily by using your sexuality." It 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". It reached #55 on VH1
's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90's.
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
.
covered Apple's single "Criminal" for her album "Leavin'". Natalie took her own spin on the song giving it a more Motown feeling to it.
Piano rock
Piano rock, sometimes referred to as piano pop, is a style of popular music that is based around the piano—and sometimes piano-related instruments such as keyboards–with piano typically replacing rhythm guitar as the rhythm instrument...
song by Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple McAfee Maggart is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Apple met international acclaim for her 1996 debut album, Tidal, which was a critical and commercial success...
. Apple described the song as a description of "feeling bad for getting something so easily by using your sexuality." It was released as the third single from the album Tidal
Tidal (album)
Tidal is the first album by American singer-songwriter Fiona Apple, released by Work Records and distributed by Epic Records in the United States on July 23, 1996 . It peaked at number 15 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and up to October 2005 had sold 2.7 million copies in the U.S. according to Nielsen...
in September 1997, and is Apple's biggest hit, peaking at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, as well as #4 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance was an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to female recording artists for works containing quality vocal performances in the rock music genre...
at the 40th Grammy Awards and was nominated for Best Rock Song. The song was listed at number 71 on Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
magazine's 2005 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born". It reached #55 on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90's.
Music video
The song's music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was directed by Mark Romanek
Mark Romanek
Mark Romanek is an American filmmaker, whose directing work includes feature films, music videos and commercials.He wrote and directed the critically acclaimed 2002 film One Hour Photo starring Robin Williams...
and cinematographed by Harris Savides
Harris Savides
Harris Savides is a contemporary American cinematographer. Notable films include Gus Van Sant's "young death" trilogy , The Game, Zodiac and American Gangster....
. The video features Apple sulking in various states of undress, and The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
described her as "looking like an underfed Calvin Klein model." It explores themes of voyeurism
Voyeurism
In clinical psychology, voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature....
and adolescence
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
. In 1998, the video won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography
MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography
The following is a list of MTV Video Music Award winners for Best Cinematography in a Video. Madonna is the biggest Winner in this category with 3 wins....
.
Charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 21 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40 | 17 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 18 |
Cover versions
In 2006, singer Natalie ColeNatalie Cole
Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
covered Apple's single "Criminal" for her album "Leavin'". Natalie took her own spin on the song giving it a more Motown feeling to it.