God (Tori Amos song) explained

God
Cover:	Tamos-godmax.jpg
Caption:	US CD maxi-single
Type:	single
Artist:	Tori Amos
Album:	Under the Pink
B-Side:	"Home on the Range" (Cherokee edition) Piano Suite: "All the Girls Hate Her" / "Over It" "Sister Janet"
Studio:	The Fishhouse (New Mexico, US)
Genre:	Pop^[1]
Length:	3:58
Label:	Atlantic EastWest
Producer:	Tori Amos Eric Rosse
Prev Title:	Cornflake Girl
Prev Year:	1994
Next Title:	Pretty Good Year
Next Year:	1994

"God" is a song by American singer-songwriter and musician Tori Amos, released as a single from her second studio album, Under the Pink (1994). It was issued as the album's lead single in the United States on February 3, 1994, as the second single in Australia on May 2, and as the fourth single in the United Kingdom on October 3. The song reached number 44 on the UK Singles Chart as well as number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It became Amos's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 72.

Releases

The B-sides to the American release include Tori Amos' reworking of "Home on the Range" with new lyrics as well as a two-song instrumental piano suite. An American cassette single includes the B-side "Sister Janet". A different single was released in Europe on CD, vinyl, vinyl, and cassette. The single is a glossy, dual-sided picture disc. The various formats include ambient and jungle house remixes of the track by CJ Bolland, Carl Craig, and the Joy.

Reception

Stereogum and The Guardian both named "God" as Amos's third-greatest song.^{[2] [3]}

Music video

The accompanying music video for "God" directed by Melodie McDaniel features Amos in a variety of religiously-themed situations, such as a scene visually comparing a tefillin used by a rabbi with a basketball player using a belt while injecting drugs. The video is often remembered for scenes of Amos singing in front of a lit candle, dancing with a plethora of brown rats (possibly at the Rat temple); this was commented on in an episode of the television show Beavis and Butt-head, and parodying a snake cult.

Track listings

• US maxi-CD single; Australian CD and cassette single^{[4] [5] [6]}

1. "God" (LP version) – 3:55
2. "Home on the Range" (Cherokee edition) – 5:25
3. Piano Suite: "All the Girls Hate Her"
4. Piano Suite: "Over It"

• US cassette single^[7]

1. "God" (LP version)
2. "Sister Janet"

• UK and European CD single^[8]

1. "God" – 3:58
2. "God" (The Dharma Kayã mix) – 12:34
3. "God" (The Rainforest Resort mix) – 10:32
4. "God" (The Thinking mix 2) – 9:50

• UK 12-inch single^[9]

1. "God" (The Thinking mix 2)
2. "God" (a cappella vocal and Rain mix)
3. "God" (The Rainforest Resort mix)
4. "God" (The CJ Bolland mix)

• UK 7-inch picture disc and cassette single^{[10] [11]}

1. "God"
2. "God" (a cappella vocal and Rain mix)

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the Under the Pink album booklet.^[12]

Studios

• Recorded at The Fishhouse (New Mexico, US)
• Mixed at Olympic Studios (London, England)
• Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)

Personnel

• Tori Amos – writing, vocals, piano, production
• Steve Caton – guitars
• George Porter Jr. – bass
• Carlo Nuccio – drums
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion
• Eric Rosse – production, recording (guitars, other instruments), programming
• John Beverly Jones – recording (vocals, piano, percussion)
• Paul McKenna – recording (bass, drums)
• Kevin Killen – mixing
• Bob Ludwig – mastering

Charts

Chart (1994)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[13] ^[14]	65
UK Club Chart (Music Week)^[15]	43

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United States	January 10–11, 1994		Atlantic	^[16] ^[17]
	February 3, 1994
Australia	May 2, 1994		EastWest	^[18]
United Kingdom	October 3, 1994			^[19]

Notes and References

1. Book: Christensen, Thor. Gary . Graff . Daniel . Durchholz . 1998 . MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide . Tori Amos. . Detroit . 26.
2. Web site: The 10 Best Tori Amos Songs. Jonathan. Dick. Stereogum. June 18, 2014. September 1, 2023.
3. Web site: Tori Amos's 20 greatest songs – ranked!. Alexis. Petridis. The Guardian. August 17, 2023. September 1, 2023.
4. God. Tori Amos. 1994. US maxi-CD single liner notes. Atlantic Records. 85687-2.
5. God. Tori Amos. 1994. Australian CD single liner notes. EastWest Records. 7567856872.
6. God. Tori Amos. 1994. Australian cassette single sleeve. EastWest Records. 756785687-4.
7. God. Tori Amos. 1994. US cassette single sleeve. Atlantic Records. 4-87250.
8. God. Tori Amos. 1994. UK & European CD single disc notes. EastWest Records. A7251CD, 7567-85637-2.
9. God. Tori Amos. 1994. UK 12-inch single sleeve. EastWest Records. A7251T, 7567-856338-0.
10. God. Tori Amos. 1994. UK 7-inch picture disc single sleeve. EastWest Records. A7251-P, 7567-87251-7.
11. God. Tori Amos. 1994. UK cassette single sleeve. EastWest Records. A7251C.
12. Under the Pink. Under the Pink. Tori Amos. 1994. US CD album booklet. Atlantic Records. 82567-2.
13. Web site: The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 19 Jun 1994. ARIA. March 7, 2016.
14. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia.
15. The RM Club Chart. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). October 1, 1994. 6. May 20, 2023.
16. Label Tickled 'Pink' Over New Tori Amos Set. Flick. Larry. Larry Flick. Billboard. 105. 49. 78. December 4, 1993. The label will begin going for radio adds on the first single, 'God,' at alternative, college, and album alternative formats on Jan. 10..
17. Jodeci, NKOTB Step to Plate in January. Flick. Larry. Billboard. 106. 2. 10. January 8, 1994. The first emphasis track, 'God,' goes to alternative, AC, and pop formats Jan. 11..
18. Web site: New Release Summary – Product Available from: 02/05/1994 > Singles (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 220 – Week Ending 1st May 1994). ARIA. April 9, 2016.
19. Single Releases. Music Week. 27. October 1, 1994. June 24, 2021.