It’s often said that challenging times are when artists go to work. Sometimes we’re looking for someone else to channel our feelings and say what others are thinking, and sometimes we just want the musical equivalent of a warm hug. Tori Amos accomplishes both on her newest single, “Stronger Together.”
Amos is best-known for a string of albums in the mid-to-late ‘90s that included songs such as “Silent All These Years” and “Cornflake Girl.” She won audiences over with her incredible mezzo-soprano vocals and unique piano style, all while tackling social issues, religion and other topics that many artists shy away from.
In a social media post, Amos described the album as “a story that parables the current dangerous times we are in — where democracy itself is on the line.” This is made pretty clear by the first couple of lines in the song: “In menacing times / Stripped of rights / And diabolical crimes / You know all about it / We've been trapped in darkness.”
Soon, though, something fascinating happens. She’s addressing her daughter, both in character within the context of the song, and in real life. Amos’ daughter Tash contributes backing vocals, and they sing together: “We found we could tackle it / And we could talk about it / And we could cry about it.” The song morphs into a message about leaning on each other during difficult times, having empathy and teaching the next generation to be resilient. It's a classic, and powerful, Amos twist, and makes for a powerful song as well.
Since her 1992 debut solo album Little Earthquakes, Amos has never gone more than four years without releasing a record. All of her releases have been generally well-reviewed, and she continues to tour. Her upcoming 18th album, In Times Of Dragons, which will include this song, will be released on May 1.