Format CD, Cassette Label Atlantic Records | Length 4:31 (LP version) Writer(s) Tori Amos | |
Released July 2, 1996 (US)
December 30, 1996 (UK)
February 24, 1997 (Australia) Genre Alternative rock
Speed garage (Armand Van Helden remix) |
"Professional Widow" is a 1996 song written by singer-songwriter Tori Amos. It is a harpsichord-driven rock dirge and was included on her 1996 album Boys for Pele. The eponymous "professional widow" is widely rumoured to be Courtney Love, widow of Kurt Cobain, whom Trent Reznor blames for the destruction of the friendship (whatever its extent) between himself and Amos. In 1999, Reznor's band Nine Inch Nails released a single called "Starfuckers, Inc.", with "Starfucker" being a word that appears in "Professional Widow".
Contents
- Personnel of original recording on Boys for Pele
- CD single
- 12 single
- Cassette single
- Compilations
- Video
- Covers
- Remixes
- References
Lyrically the song borrows directly from the short story "The Sphinx" by Edgar Allan Poe. Specifically the lyric "what is termed a landslide of principal proportion" is taken from the line "what is termed a land-slide, of the principal portion of its trees"; and the lyric "prism perfect" from the line "in shape a perfect prism."
"Professional Widow" was released in July 1996 as the third single from the "Boys For Pele" album in the US, containing remixes by house music producers Armand van Helden and MK. The single reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
An edited version of the Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix of "Professional Widow" was originally released as a double A-side single with "Hey Jupiter" in Europe and Australasia. In December 1996, the single was released as an A-side in Europe, under the expanded title "Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)", and reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1997. This release contained additional remixes of the track by Mr. Roy.
Personnel (of original recording on Boys for Pele)
CD single
- "Professional Widow" (LP Mix) – 4:31
- "Professional Widow" (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix) – 8:08
- "Professional Widow" (MK Mix) – 7:20
- "Professional Widow" (Just Da Funk Dub) – 3:44
- "Professional Widow" (MK Vampire Dub) – 6:56
- "Professional Widow" (Armand's Instrumental) – 5:35
- "Professional Widow" (Bonus Beats) – 4:31
12" single
- "Professional Widow" (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix) – 8:08
- "Professional Widow" (Just Da Funk Dub) – 3:44
- "Professional Widow" (MK Mix) – 7:20
- "Professional Widow" (MK Vampire Dub) 6:56
CD single
- "Hey Jupiter" (The Dakota Version) – 6:03
- "Professional Widow" (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix) (Radio Edit) – 3:45
- "Sugar" (Live) – 5:43
- "Honey" (Live) – 4:19
12" single
- "Professional Widow" (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix) – 8:08
- "Hey Jupiter" (The Dakota Version) (Radio Edit) – 4:14
- "Talula" (BT's Synethasia Mix) – 11:27
Cassette single
- "Hey Jupiter" (The Dakota Version) – 6:03
- "Professional Widow" (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix) (Radio Edit) – 3:45
CD single
- "Professional Widow" (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix) (Radio Edit) – 3:45
- "Professional Widow" (Mr Roy's 7" Edit)
- "Professional Widow" (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix) – 8:08
- "Professional Widow" (Mr Roy's Cosmic Cottage Mix)
- "Professional Widow" (Just Da Funk Dub)
12" single
- "Professional Widow" (Mr Roy's Cosmic Cottage)
- "Professional Widow" (Mr Roy's 7" Edit)
- "Professional Widow" (Armands Star Trunk Funkin' Mix)
- "Professional Widow" (Just Da Funk Dub)
Cassette single
- "Professional Widow" (Mr Roy's 7" Edit)
- "Professional Widow" (Armands Star Trunk Funkin' Mix)
Compilations
Following the release of Boys for Pele, on which it first appeared, "Professional Widow" has been featured on several releases.
Video
A video was made for the "Star Trunk Funkin' Mix," but it was simply a collection of clips from other Tori Amos videos edited together. It is the only video from between 1991 and 1998 that does not appear on Tori Amos: Complete Videos 1991-1998.
One can see Amos playing "Professional Widow" live on the Welcome to Sunny Florida DVD. The performance features Jon Evans on bass and Matt Chamberlain on drums, while Amos plays the piano. This version mutes out any instances of "fucker," and the last word, "cock".