# Maybe California > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Maybe_California > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Maybe_California.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maybe_California > Source revision: 1348983440 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 2009 single by Tori Amos "Maybe California" Single by Tori Amos from the album Abnormally Attracted to Sin Released May 19, 2009 Recorded December 2007 Studio Martian Engineering (Cornwall)[1] Length 4:25 Label Universal Republic Songwriter Tori Amos Producer Tori Amos Tori Amos singles chronology "Welcome to England" (2009) "Maybe California" (2009) "A Silent Night with You" (2009) "**Maybe California**" is a song by American singer-songwriter and pianist [Tori Amos](/source/Tori_Amos) from her tenth studio album *[Abnormally Attracted to Sin](/source/Abnormally_Attracted_to_Sin)* (2009). It was released as a promotional single May 19, 2009 by [Universal Republic](/source/Universal_Motown_Republic_Group) as a digital download only. ## Background and release The song is a sparse ballad production featuring piano and vocals by Amos with light percussion and lush string arrangements. Thematically, the lyrics deals with a mother who has fallen into despair over the inability to care for her family's needs, and is contemplating suicide as a way out. Amos observed that women often quietly shoulder the burden of keeping a family intact, especially in times of emotional and financial strain, stating that *Maybe California* comes out of that kind of crisis:[2] The song is about the mother’s role in our new world, where so many men are losing their jobs and the women are not, because they’re cheaper. What is that doing to a home? If the mothers start breaking down then everything starts breaking down [...] We’ve all been in that place where you think "if i just take myself out of their life then it will be ok". It *is* an escape, but at the time when you don’t feel like there’s anything you can do, and maybe if you’re out of the way it could get bette, because there’s no solution. This is a political statement. In *Maybe California* it needs to be told from the personal.[3] Amos made the song, its video and ringtone available to download for free on [Mother's Day](/source/Mother's_Day) as a gift, so that mothers everywhere could "know that they are seen and appreciated".[4] A new version of *Maybe California* was recorded with a full orchestra as an iTunes bonus track for inclusion on Amos' 2012 retrospective release [Gold Dust](/source/Gold_Dust_(Tori_Amos_album)). ## Music video As with all the tracks on [Abnormally Attracted to Sin](/source/Abnormally_Attracted_to_Sin), Maybe California has an accompanying "visualette" composed of material filmed during Amos' previous tour supporting [American Doll Posse](/source/American_Doll_Posse). The video clip features Amos driving a car and pensively moving around a park, sidewalks, along the seaside and cliffs while wearing [Haute couture](/source/Haute_couture) clothes. The video culminates in Amos standing on the edge of a cliff and reaching out her arms, as if to give a hand.[5] The music video was included on a DVD accompanying the deluxe edition of the album. ## Reception The song was met with positive reviews by critics, who found the simple production and confessional content to be an enjoyable and touching return to the style of Amos' earlier recordings. Rolling Stone named *Maybe California* the standout track on the album.[6] PopMatters also said the song was a highlight, stating that "Perhaps most satisfying of all of it is the realization that [it] is as wrenching a song as she’s ever written, so quiet in its despair, but so clear at the same time".[7] BBC Music's review likewise stated that the simple ballad was archetypal Amos.[8] All Music Guide's review finds it to be "beautifully composed and delivered".[9] Slant Magazine's review called the song "a frankly stunning plea".[10] The reviewer for Wears The Trousers felt the song has "some genuinely touching moments but lyrically is perhaps too direct".[11] SPIN magazine, while negative in their review of the album, singled out *Maybe California* as the track to download.[12] ## Charts and certifications Although it did not chart anywhere else, *Maybe California* reached #1 in Portugal.[13] Title Chart Position "Maybe California" (2009) Portugal 1 ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Abnormally Attracted to Sin - Tori Amos | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/abnormally-attracted-to-sin-mw0000814895). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Maybe California by Tori Amos - Songfacts"](http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=15701). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["From the Fringes of the Milky Way: An Interview with Tori Amos"](http://www.polarimagazine.com/interviews/fringes-of-milky-way-interview-tori-amos/). 9 May 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Tori Amos Offers up "Maybe California" Tune as Mother's Day Gift!"](http://www.musicnewsnet.com/2009/05/tori-amos-offers-up-maybe-california-tune-as-mothers-day-gift.html). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnIYT2KbGSw) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Abnormally Attracted to Sin"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/abnormally-attracted-to-sin-20090518). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*. 18 May 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Tori Amos: Abnormally Attracted to Sin, PopMatters"](https://www.popmatters.com/review/93516-tori-amos-abnormally-addicted-to-sin/). 19 May 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["BBC - Music - Review of Tori Amos - Abnormally Attracted to Sin"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/rjhj/). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Abnormally Attracted to Sin - Tori Amos | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/abnormally-attracted-to-sin-mw0000814895). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Review: Tori Amos, Abnormally Attracted to Sin"](http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/tori-amos-abnormally-attracted-to-sin). *[Slant Magazine](/source/Slant_Magazine)*. 23 May 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["tori amos: abnormally attracted to sin (2009) « wears the trousers magazine :: a women in music compendium"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110718011703/http://www.wearsthetrousers.com/2009/04/tori-amos-abnormally-attracted-to-sin-2009/). *wearsthetrousers.com*. Archived from [the original](http://wearsthetrousers.com/2009/04/tori-amos-abnormally-attracted-to-sin-2009/) on 2011-07-18. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Tori Amos, 'Abnormally Attracted to Sin' (Universal Republic)"](http://www.spin.com/reviews/tori-amos-abnormally-attracted-sin-universal-republic/). 29 April 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Portugal Top 20 @ Top40-Charts.com - Songs & Videos from 49 Top 20 & Top 40 Music Charts from 30 Countries"](http://top40-charts.com/chart.php?cid=20&date=2009-05-08). Top40-charts.com. 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2011-10-14. ## External links - [Official music video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnIYT2KbGSw) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier)) - [Tori Amos' website](http://www.toriamos.com/) v t e Tori Amos Discography List of songs Studio albums Little Earthquakes Under the Pink Boys for Pele From the Choirgirl Hotel To Venus and Back Strange Little Girls Scarlet's Walk The Beekeeper American Doll Posse Abnormally Attracted to Sin Midwinter Graces Night of Hunters Gold Dust Unrepentant Geraldines Native Invader Ocean to Ocean The Music of Tori and the Muses In Times of Dragons Compilations Tales of a Librarian A Piano: The Collection Little Earthquakes – The B-Sides Live albums To Venus and Back The Original Bootlegs Legs and Boots Live at Montreux 1991/1992 From Russia with Love Diving Deep Live EPs Crucify Hey Jupiter Scarlet's Hidden Treasures Exclusive Session Flavor (Peter Rauhofer Mixes) Christmastide Singles "Baltimore" "Me and a Gun" "Silent All These Years" "China" "Winter" "Crucify" "Cornflake Girl" "God" "Pretty Good Year" "Past the Mission" "Caught a Lite Sneeze" "Talula" "Professional Widow" "Hey Jupiter" "In the Springtime of His Voodoo" "Spark" "Jackie's Strength" "Cruel"/"Raspberry Swirl" "Bliss" "1000 Oceans" "Glory of the 80's" "Concertina" "Strange Little Girl" "A Sorta Fairytale" "Taxi Ride" "Don't Make Me Come to Vegas" "Mary" "Sleeps with Butterflies" "Sweet the Sting" "Big Wheel" "Bouncing Off Clouds" "Welcome to England" "Maybe California" "A Silent Night with You" "Carry" "Flavor" "Trouble's Lament" "Cloud Riders" "Speaking with Trees" Other songs "Putting the Damage On" "Dātura" Videos Little Earthquakes Live from New York Complete Videos: 1991–1998 A Sorta Fairytale Welcome to Sunny Florida Fade to Red Live at Montreux 1991/1992 Tours 5 ½ Weeks Tour Night of Hunters Tour Gold Dust Orchestral Tour Unrepentant Geraldines Tour Native Invader Tour Related articles Piece by Piece Comic Book Tattoo Delirium Y Kant Tori Read Y Kant Tori Read "The Big Picture" "Cool on Your Island" "Blue Skies" RAINN The Light Princess Original Cast Recording --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Maybe California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maybe_California) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maybe_California?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.