Fiona Apple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fiona Apple
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Apple performing in 2015
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart |
| Born | September 13, 1977 New York City, U.S. |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
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Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart (born September 13, 1977) is an American singer and songwriter. She is well-known for writing her own songs. From 1996 to 2020, she released five albums. All of her albums reached the top 20 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. By 2021, she had sold over 15 million records worldwide. Fiona Apple has won many awards. These include three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards.
Her first album, Tidal, came out in 1996. It featured songs she wrote as a teenager. The song "Criminal" from this album won a Grammy Award. Her second album, When the Pawn..., was released in 1999. It was also very popular and sold many copies.
Her third album, Extraordinary Machine, came out in 2005. She released her fourth album, The Idler Wheel..., in 2012. This album was praised by critics. Fiona Apple's fifth album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters, was released in 2020. It won two Grammy Awards. These awards were for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Performance.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Fiona Apple was born in New York City on September 13, 1977. Her mother, Diane McAfee, was a singer. Her father, Brandon Maggart, was an actor. They met while working on a Broadway musical. Fiona grew up in Harlem with her mother and sister. She spent her summers with her father in Los Angeles, California.
She went to private schools and was also homeschooled. Fiona learned to play the piano when she was a child. She started writing her own songs at age eight. When learning piano, she would turn guitar music into piano notes. She later played along with jazz songs. This is how she discovered Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. These singers became big influences on her music.
Career
Fiona Apple started her music career in 1994. She gave a demo tape to a friend. This friend then passed it to a music executive. The executive was impressed and signed her to a record deal.
1996–2001: Tidal and When the Pawn...
In 1996, Fiona Apple's first album, Tidal, was released. It was released by Work Records and Columbia Records. The album sold 2.7 million copies. It was certified three times Platinum in the U.S. The song "Criminal" became a big hit. It reached the Top 40 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Her second album, When the Pawn..., came out in 1999. Its full title is a very long poem. This poem earned it a spot in the Guinness Book of Records for 2001. The album used more expressive lyrics. It also experimented with drum loops. The album received good reviews from magazines like Rolling Stone. It sold one million copies in the U.S. The first song from the album, "Fast as You Can", reached the top twenty on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also became a Top 40 hit in the UK.
In 2000, Fiona Apple had a challenging concert in New York City. There were problems with the sound equipment. After touring for her second album, she moved to Los Angeles. She still lives there today.
2002–2010: Extraordinary Machine and Album Delays
During a break from music, Fiona Apple thought about stopping her recording career. She sang with Johnny Cash on a cover song. It was "Bridge over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel. This song was on his album American IV: The Man Comes Around. It was nominated for a Grammy Award. She also sang with Johnny Cash on "Father and Son".
Fiona Apple's third album was Extraordinary Machine. It was first produced by Jon Brion. Recording for the album started in 2002. It continued until 2003. In 2004 and 2005, some songs from the album were leaked online. Fans downloaded these songs. A fan group then started a campaign. They wanted the album to be officially released.
The album was largely redone by Mike Elizondo. It was also co-produced by Brian Kehew. Extraordinary Machine was released in October 2005. It debuted at number seven on the charts. It was nominated for a Grammy Award. The album was eventually certified Gold. Fiona Apple went on a live tour to promote the album.
In 2006, Fiona Apple sang on a song by comedian Zach Galifianakis. She also recorded a cover of "Sally's Song." This was for the soundtrack of the film The Nightmare Before Christmas. In May 2006, she honored Elvis Costello by performing his song "I Want You." In 2008, she recorded a duet called "Still I." In 2009, she covered two songs for an album about Cy Coleman.
In 2010, Fiona Apple performed at a charity concert. It was for people affected by the Haiti earthquake. She sang a cover of "(S)he's Funny That Way." In June 2010, she released a song called "So Sleepy." Children from a non-profit organization helped write this song. She also worked with Margaret Cho on her album Cho Dependent.
2019–present: Fetch the Bolt Cutters
In January 2019, Fiona Apple worked with King Princess on a new version of her 1999 song "I Know." She was also in a documentary called Echo in the Canyon. In November, she covered a Waterboys song for a TV show.
In March 2019, Fiona Apple hinted that she was recording a fifth album. In September 2019, she confirmed the album was almost finished. It was recorded with a band. She planned to release it in early 2020. On March 8, 2020, she posted a video. In it, she spelled out "M-Y-R-E-C-O-R-D-I-S-D-O-N-E." The album was titled Fetch the Bolt Cutters. It has 13 songs and was produced by Fiona Apple herself. It was released digitally on April 17, 2020. Music critics widely praised the album. At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, it won Best Alternative Music Album. The song "Shameika" won Best Rock Performance.
On June 17, 2020, it was confirmed that Fiona Apple played piano on Bob Dylan's album Rough and Rowdy Ways. In April 2021, she covered "Love More" by Sharon Van Etten. In December, she sang on a cover of "Silent Night" with Phoebe Bridgers. Fiona Apple also worked with Bear McCreary. She performed his song "Where the Shadows Lie." This song was for the TV series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Musical Style and Influences
Fiona Apple's music is often described as art pop and baroque pop. It also includes chamber pop, art rock, alternative rock, and jazz pop. Her music has roots in jazz and show tunes. She also takes inspiration from classic singer-songwriters from the 1970s. This mix became clearer on her second album, When the Pawn....
Philanthropy
On June 30, 2019, Fiona Apple promised to donate money from her song "Criminal." She pledged two years of earnings from TV and movie uses of the song. This money goes to the While They Wait fund. This fund helps refugees with basic needs and legal services. In 2020, it was shared that she donated $90,000. This helped 15 families. Since 2021, she has volunteered as a court watcher.
In June 2020, Fiona Apple also pledged two years of earnings from her song "Shameika." This money goes to the Harlem Childrens Zone.
Discography
- Tidal (1996)
- When the Pawn... (1999)
- Extraordinary Machine (2005)
- The Idler Wheel... (2012)
- Fetch the Bolt Cutters (2020)
Concert Tours
- The Extraordinary Machine Tour (2005-2006)
- The Idler Wheel Tour (2012)
Awards and Nominations
Fiona Apple's first album won her a Grammy Award. It was for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for "Criminal." She also won an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist in a Video. For When the Pawn..., she won the California Music Award. For Extraordinary Machine, she won an Esky Music Award. Fetch the Bolt Cutters won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. The song "Shameika" won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance.
See also
In Spanish: Fiona Apple para niños
Images for kids
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Apple performing in 2015
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Fans supporting Fiona Apple outside the NYC headquarters of Sony BMG Music Entertainment in January 2005.
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Apple performing in Seattle, Washington, 2006
