MUSIC INSIGHT
by publisher Karin Sawetz
October 2010
Karin Sawetz is journalist, media researcher and fashion scientist (Mag. Dr. phil.).

Re-listen: 'Criminal' by Fiona Apple from the album 'Tidal' (July 1996)

"I’ve been a bad, bad girl…" sings Fiona Apple

On 7 October 2010, a good old friend reported from the premiere of the Austrian movie about female prostitution entitled 'Tag und Nacht' ('Day and Night'), directed by Sabine Derflinger. Derflinger is one of the rare female directors who get the chance to produce a movie. The money for film productions in Austria comes mainly from governmental institutions, which has to do with Austrian media politics in general. Sabine Derflinger says in an interview that where money is, females are rare; these power structures are reflected in the governmental film support policy.

My old friend reported that most of the guests at the premiere liked the movie, although some meant that the director has painted the cliché of men and women roles too dull. I added for consideration: "Probably this was the reason why they have got the money to produce the movie."

Some hours later, by surfing through the TV channels, I saw the two 'Tag und Nacht' actresses Anna Rot and Magdalena Kronschläger giving a music tip with the argument that Fiona Apple's role in the music clip is similar to their in the movie.

Video: Grammy-award winning track 'Criminal' by Fiona Apple from the album 'Tidal' (1996), directed by Mark Romanek who has worked with musicians like Macy Gray, David Bowie, Red Hot Chili Peppers, to name a few. On his website, Mark Romanek announces a new movie based on the non-fiction bestseller 'A Cold Case' by New Yorker magazine journalist Philip Gourevitch with Tom Hanks in the starring role.

On last.fm, Fiona Apple is cited that she said years later about the work on the music clip: "I wasn’t [comfortable]. And you can see that in the video. It’s not sexy. It’s disturbing."

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