~ Aimie Mann ~


Borrowed from:  www.elch.flapman.de/links.htm
Created by: Deborah J. Watson
as a project for 
MUSC/WOMS 302
Russell E. Murray, Jr., Instructor
Spring 2003

Borrowed from:  www.elch.flapman.de/links.htm

In her own words:
"What makes a great song is not necessarily a page straight from your diary. Whatever you write about, whatever brought you to write about that topic, you also always have to apply that to yourself."
Biography:
Born:  September 8, 1960 in Richmond, Virginia, USA
As a female singer-songwriter and guitarist, Aimee Mann is a somewhat concealed member of Pop music.

    Aimee Mann was born in early September in 1960 in Richmond, Virginia.  Coming of age in the late 1970’s created an interest and love of music.  To which Mann was driven to enroll in the Berklee School of Music in Boston.  She ended up dropping out to start her very first band, the Young Snakes, who were inspired by punk rock music.  Mann eventually dropped the Young Snakes to join her first claim to fame, ‘Til Tuesday, in 1983 as lead vocalist.
    Just two years later, ‘Til Tuesday would release their first album--Voices Carry, the same name of their most known single.  The mid-80’s were a time period of spiked manes and hair metal.  ‘Til Tuesday were played often on Music Television, and would soon have a slot on the Top 10.  Unfortunately, the subsequent album would not have the same level of success.  However, while in the band, Mann discovered her true calling in life--song-writing.  As she was given greater song writing duties in the late 80’s, sales increased.  But the taste of independence was not yet quenched for Mann and she was driven to leave the band in 1990.
    Although she battled for a few years with her label, she was able to release her debut solo album, Whatever, in 1993.  A Rolling Stones writer describes the album as “a simple and direct guitar-based album, which offered songs like the accusatory “I should have known” and the introspective “4th of July.”  It appears that her lyrics, as with each of her albums is what made Whatever stand out.
    Regrettably, just as the album was released, her label, Imago went broke.  A battle with recording labels seems to be a war Aimee Mann has had to struggle with for most of her career as a musician.  With some time, and a bit of searching, she was able to get signed to Geffen Records.  In 1995, she released her 2nd album, I’m With Stupid.  This album seemed a bit more sad and dense, according VH1.  However, shortly afterwards, her label Geffen, was taken over by Interscope Records.
    Interscope Records felt that Mann needed to spice up her music, making it more commercial.  Once again, she found herself in a struggle with her record label.  To which Mann would buy back the rights to her own album.  As the independent women that she is, Aimee Mann would go on to great her own label, SuperEgo Records with former ’Til Tuesday bandmate, Michael Hausman.  The first album released in 2000 from her own label was titled, Bachelor No. 2.  Nine of the songs were used on the soundtrack to Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia, which starred Tom Cruise.
    Interestingly enough, it was Aimee Mann’s music that inspired the flick.  Even in the notes that accompany the soundtrack, P.T. Anderson lauds Aimee’s praises.  Clearly, he felt, as all her fans feel, an attachment to her lyrics.  There is something about them, to which everyone can relate.  In fact, the entire movie was spawned from a single lyric of a song, “Deadly” :  Now that I’ve met you, would you object to never seeing me again?”--also a quote by a main character in the film, Claudia.  Included on this soundtrack is a more somber remake of “One” and the Grammy nominated “Save Me.”
    After the release of Magnolia, Mann went on tour with her husband, Michael Penn.  On tour, she performed vaudeville type shows.  In 2002, Aimee Mann released her next album on her label, Lost in Space, which can be described as a concept album.  Mann relates that the album’s theme is, “...feeling isolated and cut off from other people and yourself, trying to make connections to people and failing.”  In fact, the album explores some of the darkest areas of the psyche--feelings of alienation and addiction.  Titles such as, “High on Sunday 51” resonate this them with choruses like “Let me be your heroin.”  A similar example, “This is how it goes” states “cause it’s all about drugs, it’s all about shame.”  As evident by her label’s name (SuperEgo) and by the themes of her latest album, Aimee Mann likes to explore the mind and write corresponding poetry, and melodies to match what she writes.  This album is best listened to in its entirety to fully understand its theme.  Mann has shown that she has no plans to leave the music industry; this independent and talented singer-songwriter will remain in the pop music world for a long time.

Works or Recordings:
Lost in Space:  Released 2002 by Superego
Bachelor No. 2:  Released 2000 by Superego
I'm With Stupid:  Released 1995 by Geffen
Whatever:  Released 1993 by Geffen

To view a list of song titles for each of Aimee Mann's Albums-- Click Here

Links:  (Some pages may be viewed more easily in Internet Explorer)
An Extensive Biography: All Sheet Music/Guitar Chords: Good Fan Site: A Good Review of Lost in Space: An album list and much more information:
Audio Clips:

To hear some samples of Aimee Mann's Music:

Sources:
Offical Website of Aimee Mann Rolling Stone Online Biography VH1 Online Biography
Back to: My Home Page
Comments, suggestions, or requests to djwatson@udel.edu.
"http://udel.edu/~djwatson/aimeemann.html"
Last updated May 19, 2003.
Copyright Deborah Watson, Univ. of Delaware, 2003.