Things to love about “Mr. Zebra”:
- It’s wonderfully short; at less than two minutes (Closer to 1:30), it certainly leaves you wanting more.
- There’s something about that “Figure it out” line, with the piano forcing it down, turning it into four plateaus (“Fig Ure It Out”) that then hits bottom and bounces back with the “She’s-” that immediately follows, the bounce underscored by the brass.
- The brass arrangement! I love brass when it’s well done, and here it’s especially well done, subtle yet firmly present, offering an unusual sound in pop music but also a comforting nostalgia.
Without a doubt, my favorite Tori Amos song… Not that that’s an admittedly long list, I admit, but still.