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Rachael Yamagata — Paper Doll
Album: Happenstance
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 502









Released: 2004
Length: 5:09
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Only daughter,
you got your ticket too soon.
Holy Water,
'cause everybody's getting ruined.
They are waiting to see what you do.
Too long, waiting.
Everybody's cleared the room.

And they'll dress you up;
Stand you in all the right places.
Words like honey,
smile as they change your faces;
With no regard for you at all.
and you find,
that they treat you like a paper doll.

And they'll dress you up
for the flight.
Like Ophelia,
you wave goodnight.
With the earth and sky,
you cheer and sigh;
writhe as all your days go by
and,
laugh as you die.
(As you die...)

sweet softer shoulder;
sweet suger safe.
sweet softer shoulder;
sweet suger safe.

Everybody
has got their own life philosophy.
And I can't wait
'til I find one coming for me.
Oh, the bridge is narrow,
you better not look down,
'cause as soon as you jump over,
you won't find nobody around.
Oh, the bridge is narrow
and you've got so far to fall,
and you know down in dirty water's
no place for a paper doll.
Comments (72)add comment
 KudaRey wrote:

If Jeff Buckley came back as a female singer and guitarist. I mean that as a big compliment. 



She's playing the piano 
Posted 1 year ago by severbalu567    [ Reply ]
If Jeff Buckley came back as a female singer and guitarist. I mean that as a big compliment. 
Posted 1 year ago by KudaRey    [ Reply ]
need more women and guitars
Posted 1 year ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
diggin the guitarwork here. reminds me of Jason Isbell's back up
Posted 6 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 jt1 wrote:


I think we can safely assume that Fred is not a member of the Rod Stewart fan club.

 
Who knows?  Six beers in and opinons shift.  
Posted 6 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Love her. Great song!!
Posted 6 years ago by Segue    [ Reply ]
 jt1 wrote:


I think we can safely assume that Fred is not a member of the Rod Stewart fan club.

 

Who do you think stole Rachel Hunter from Rod?  
Posted 7 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Really like this.  Solid 7 rating from me with this first listen.  
Posted 7 years ago by AbileneTexas    [ Reply ]
 DaidyBoy wrote:
Hot and sultry.  Just how I like it. This gets a firm 7 at least from the Bristol office.  I might buy this album ....
 
Definitely more hot and sultry than other stuff I've heard from her. Verging on Lucinda Williams territory.
Thumbs up.
Posted 7 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Hot and sultry.  Just how I like it. This gets a firm 7 at least from the Bristol office.  I might buy this album ....
Posted 7 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Sing it, Rachel!!! Nice buildup to the bridge!!!
Posted 11 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
I am really really liking this today...makes me wanna hear all her stuff, make a nice Sunday project of it...
Posted 11 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:

That simile is supposed to be a compliment? {#Stupid}
Rachael Yamagata's got a number of things that the drunken old gravedigger hasn't: she can write, she can sing in tune, and she doesn't sound like she's singing in a Glasgow howff after 10 pints of heavy and a packet of Embassy Regal. Oh, and she's not irredeemably naff.

Not that this song is much to write home about, IMO, but most of the other songs of hers played on here have been pretty good.

 

I think we can safely assume that Fred is not a member of the Rod Stewart fan club.
Posted 11 years ago by jt1    [ Reply ]
 slowhand wrote:
Wow this is awesome...delivery and timing is like a young Rod Stewart - but female. 9 on first listen!
 
That simile is supposed to be a compliment? {#Stupid}
Rachael Yamagata's got a number of things that the drunken old gravedigger hasn't: she can write, she can sing in tune, and she doesn't sound like she's singing in a Glasgow howff after 10 pints of heavy and a packet of Embassy Regal. Oh, and she's not irredeemably naff.

Not that this song is much to write home about, IMO, but most of the other songs of hers played on here have been pretty good.

Posted 15 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]


 

Well, this is the point, while my opinion concerning the album Elephants is not favorable, for some accumulated reasons, also now must say, being this the first hearing of the song Paper Doll, that i consider, on some aspects, much better obtained;
dont know if the musicians of the support-band are the same ones of the album Elephants  (i think that not), what it is certain is that, for me, musically this album Paper Doll  (Happenstance)  2004 is very superior;
Also the production (John Alagia) and record in Paper Doll are a lot better;
Finally the register of voice, hmm, i find here that it continues to have a deficit, lacks any thing, so that the final result of the junction voice + instruments results in any fantastic thing;
We will see in the future if Rachel will do better to surprise the audience.

** 5 / 6 **



Posted 15 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
I'm definitely coming around to pro-Rachael side. It took a while, but this tune sent me over the edge. Bravo! More rocking Rachael stuff please.
Posted 15 years ago by HarrO    [ Reply ]
 Roverfish wrote:

..and, for the record, I hear Shannon Hoon.
 
That's funny, I kind of was thinking Blind Melon too, but also am reminded of Ray La Montagne.

Posted 16 years ago by S-curvy    [ Reply ]
LOVE this tune. She's amazing. Thanks, Bill.
Posted 17 years ago by agnes    [ Reply ]
slowhand wrote:
Wow this is awesome...delivery and timing is like a young Rod Stewart - but female. 9 on first listen!
Well, that pretty much ruins it for me. No, the art stands on its own, independent of comparisons. Still a most excellent tune. ...and, for the record, I hear Shannon Hoon.
Posted 17 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
I\'m loving this. 8
Posted 17 years ago by coffee-eyes    [ Reply ]
slowhand wrote:
Wow this is awesome...delivery and timing is like a young Rod Stewart - but female. 9 on first listen!
Great observation!
Posted 17 years ago by Monkeysdad    [ Reply ]
This is a good album. Great cut from it.
Posted 17 years ago by stevo_b    [ Reply ]
Wow this is awesome...delivery and timing is like a young Rod Stewart - but female. 9 on first listen!
Posted 17 years ago by slowhand    [ Reply ]
i missed it. she sings on jason mraz's 'did you get my message' (mr. a-z album) too :) :)
Posted 18 years ago by canadianbug    [ Reply ]
wow i'm not a huge fan of female artists...but i REALLY like this one's voice. song got me interested from the beginning. i'd like to hear more.
Posted 18 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
Wonderful tune! In fact the entire CD is great! Happy Friday fellow RPers
Posted 18 years ago by Jacksonstat    [ Reply ]
Finally, a Norah Jones I can get behind! 8
Posted 18 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
Mmmmm...Rachael..... 9.
Posted 18 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
she's great..sings on Ray Lamontagne's new one too I believe.
Posted 18 years ago by ploba    [ Reply ]
Wow. This surprised me. Really has soul.
Posted 18 years ago by elvenwise    [ Reply ]
chick's got soul...
Posted 18 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]
I had to stop doing chores to see who this was...very nice, thanks....
Posted 18 years ago by eman    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
I seriously don't understand the modern aversion to melody. This is not a song. This is noodling around. It's like modern paintings in that respect--all form, no content. Sure, the colors are nice and as an experiment it is totally valid to call it art. But at some point, you have to connect to people.
"modern aversion to melody", "It's like modern paintings" ? You sound like my grandfather back in the sixties who didn't understand, "all those new fangled ideas".
Posted 18 years ago by Coppertop    [ Reply ]
Roverfish wrote:
Yeah, I saw her in Austin a couple weeks ago, and she was awesome. Great power all the way through. Other than a beer spill on one of her amps, the show was really impressive. Certainly a likeable tune.
Caught the same show. My first introduction to her. It was a great show, (considering we were all melting in the 105 Texas sun) and I have been hooked on this album, which she so graciously signed for me, ever since!
Posted 18 years ago by freeone1    [ Reply ]
psycholynx wrote:
Those high notes sound like Shannon Hoon.
I was just trying to figure out who the high-note vocals reminded me of; and yep, that's it. Nothing wrong with a female Shannon Hoon (as long as she doesn't OD). physicsgenius wrote:
I seriously don't understand the modern aversion to melody. This is not a song. This is noodling around. It's like modern paintings in that respect--all form, no content. Sure, the colors are nice and as an experiment it is totally valid to call it art. But at some point, you have to connect to people.
i seriously dont understand why you continue to listen to this station maybe its a masochistic thing since your ratings distribution and invariably negative comments highly suggest you dont like most of the music here or something i dunno but if its the masochism thingy theres really no need to share it with the rest of us so please please do us all a favor and stfu kthxbye
Posted 18 years ago by drover    [ Reply ]
Great slide work here.
Posted 19 years ago by eddief    [ Reply ]
naughteragain wrote:
I've seen her live about five times now... believe me, POWER is not a problem for her.
Yeah, I saw her in Austin a couple weeks ago, and she was awesome. Great power all the way through. Other than a beer spill on one of her amps, the show was really impressive. Certainly a likeable tune.
Posted 19 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
Those high notes sound like Shannon Hoon.
Posted 19 years ago by psycholynx    [ Reply ]
i just saw her live after being a midly obsessive fan of the song "the reason why" -- trust me, if you get a chance-- her and ryan adams are playing together all summer long. the show is just fan-f%#%3-tastic. woah, nice follow-up with ashley macisaac-- bringing it back to 96, bill!
Posted 19 years ago by ortenzia    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
I seriously don't understand the modern aversion to melody. This is not a song. This is noodling around. It's like modern paintings in that respect--all form, no content. Sure, the colors are nice and as an experiment it is totally valid to call it art. But at some point, you have to connect to people.
I dont understand the modern aversion to the ancient notion that the world is made up of "Earth, Fire, and Water" oh yeah, cause things change.... i dont see "physics" just doing the same old thing. well music has changed too bud. She carries a melody just fine, there is plenty of content. just cause you can't identify with the content doesn't mean it isnt there.
Posted 19 years ago by fortyonejb    [ Reply ]
I've seen her live about five times now... believe me, POWER is not a problem for her. Roverfish wrote:
Yeah, a major recording contract with RCA and I'm sure she's out back shredding it so she can go back to singing school. Genius. Sometimes "soft and sultry" beats "blow the doors out"...considering the instrumental energy roiling under the surface and eventually breaking through, her understated singing actually makes a nice constrast.
Posted 19 years ago by naughteragain    [ Reply ]
I like it. I was surprised to find nobody had mentioned a similarity to Jeff Buckley, like "Last Goodbye". Well, that's what I hear anyway.
Posted 19 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
I seriously don't understand the modern aversion to melody. This is not a song. This is noodling around. It's like modern paintings in that respect--all form, no content. Sure, the colors are nice and as an experiment it is totally valid to call it art. But at some point, you have to connect to people.
To each his own... I must say that this song (and most of her music) has certainly made a connection with me. I think that because of the form and "experimental" nature her music connects with people. Besides, most of her music is influenced by classic music styles such as blues and jass. Obviously a different heritage than the classical style you're comparing her music to. Maybe you're just generalizing rather than speaking of this song in general. There are a lot of successful bands out there (Cake for instance) that are much worse in this category!
Posted 19 years ago by supremo    [ Reply ]
Transdermal Celebration?
Posted 19 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
colt4x5 wrote:
i think she sounds good. at the risk of starting a rumble, i think she sounds better than a bunch of female singers who've gotten better receptions here. (now i'll run.)
i agree - just added a few of her tunes to the old ipod - I find myself listening to them much more than I thought I would
Posted 19 years ago by kars    [ Reply ]
nothing world rocking but enjoyable nonetheless
Posted 19 years ago by stickittotheman    [ Reply ]
i think she sounds good. at the risk of starting a rumble, i think she sounds better than a bunch of female singers who've gotten better receptions here. (now i'll run.)
Posted 19 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
Poopy.
Posted 19 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste    [ Reply ]
Coppertop wrote:
She does grow on you but really needs to work on the voice. It has NO power to it.
Yeah, a major recording contract with RCA and I'm sure she's out back shredding it so she can go back to singing school. Genius. Sometimes "soft and sultry" beats "blow the doors out"...considering the instrumental energy roiling under the surface and eventually breaking through, her understated singing actually makes a nice constrast.
Posted 19 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
She does grow on you but really needs to work on the voice. It has NO power to it.
Posted 19 years ago by Coppertop    [ Reply ]
I like this one more each time I hear it. Rod Stewart? Pre-disco days Rod (Gasoline Alley, etc) was as good as they come, so we should take those RS comments as a compliment to this fine singer.
Posted 19 years ago by bwanab    [ Reply ]
Algee wrote:
No,no,no...you have to listen to the entire album to get this woman. She came out of te Chicago blues scene and was inspired by Ricki Lee Jones (like who isn't?) and sounds a lot like Fiona Apple but in a good way. She may not have the range of an Amy Lee or the finesse of a Sarah McLachlan, but I like her willingness to "be" the song like she's channeling Billie Holiday or something.
i'd vote: fiona apple meets melissa etheridge meets, um, my friend cubby?
Posted 19 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
No,no,no...you have to listen to the entire album to get this woman. She came out of te Chicago blues scene and was inspired by Ricki Lee Jones (like who isn't?) and sounds a lot like Fiona Apple but in a good way. She may not have the range of an Amy Lee or the finesse of a Sarah McLachlan, but I like her willingness to "be" the song like she's channeling Billie Holiday or something.
Posted 19 years ago by Algee    [ Reply ]
This one is growing on me. Started as a 4, but might be moving north of decent. Unique voice. Not good. Not bad. But distinctive.
Posted 20 years ago by samrex    [ Reply ]
WOW! Rod Stewart's new album is awesome! Too bad he's gotta change his name to sell it.
Posted 20 years ago by neuraljazz    [ Reply ]
I really like this one. It's ballsy and not typical chick music (whatever that is...). My gf likes it too cause she has a crush on woman named Rachel so she's partial to anything Rachel right now. Tasty slide guitars. 8O
Posted 20 years ago by Daveinbawlmer    [ Reply ]
I like it...... so there
Posted 20 years ago by Huey    [ Reply ]
If it were possible (only in my dreams), I would say that Janis Joplin and Led Zepplin got together and had offspring of Japanese descent; and this song was the result.
Posted 20 years ago by hunterinoz    [ Reply ]
this was good at the beginning, but not so much toward the end.
Posted 20 years ago by PattonFever    [ Reply ]
filmgeek65 wrote:
Rod Stewart, anyone?
I'm with ya.
Posted 20 years ago by lotus_65    [ Reply ]
trekhead wrote:
I think I'll write a book and call it " MY UNOBTAINABLE RACHAELS". That's Ms. Rae/ Food Network, and now, Ms. Yamagata.... Darlin's...bodubbem.
I'll be first in line when your book is published.
Posted 20 years ago by Thor    [ Reply ]
I seriously don't understand the modern aversion to melody. This is not a song. This is noodling around. It's like modern paintings in that respect--all form, no content. Sure, the colors are nice and as an experiment it is totally valid to call it art. But at some point, you have to connect to people.
Posted 20 years ago by physicsgenius    [ Reply ]
I think I'll write a book and call it " MY UNOBTAINABLE RACHAELS". That's Ms. Rae/ Food Network, and now, Ms. Yamagata.... Darlin's...bodubbem. (A 9)
Posted 20 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
This is really nice 8)
Posted 20 years ago by blythemeteor    [ Reply ]
ptooey wrote:
She has a, umm........stimulating voice, doesn't she?
Correcto mundo..she really caught my "ear"...
Posted 20 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
She has a, umm........stimulating voice, doesn't she?
Posted 20 years ago by ptooey    [ Reply ]
Rod Stewart, anyone?
Posted 20 years ago by filmgeek65    [ Reply ]
Who plays the guitar?
Posted 20 years ago by sans    [ Reply ]
Mmmmm... aural sex. =P~
Posted 20 years ago by Thor    [ Reply ]
Well, you just go ahead and play more Rachael, I like what I hear...
Posted 20 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
Thanks for adding this one, Bill. I thought you were gonna spike all my Rachael submissions.
Posted 20 years ago by drover    [ Reply ]