:When the Pawn...

The album's title is a poem Apple wrote in response to unfavorable reactions from readers of an unfavorable Spin cover story about her.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-11/28/003r-112899-idx.html |title=Fiona Apple: The Time Is Ripe |last=Harrington |first=Richard |date=November 28, 1999 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=G1 |access-date=September 18, 2017 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101191313/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-11/28/003r-112899-idx.html |url-status=live }} Richard Harrington of The Washington Post called it Apple's version of Chumbawamba's "I get knocked down, but I get up again".{{r|Harrington}} "It came from being made fun of," she said, "and then, of course, it becomes a thing I'm being made fun of for."Sutcliffe, Phil, "Hard Core Pawn", Q, March 2000, pp. 46-48

Upon its release, When the Pawn... broke the record for longest album title at 444 characters (previously held by a volume in The Best... Album in the World...Ever!),{{cite book|title=This Day in Music: An Every Day Record of Musical Feats and Facts: An Every Day Record of Musical Feats and Facts|last=Cossar|first=Neil|year=2010|publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=978-0-857-12362-6|page=395}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2014/06/guinness-book-of-world-records-music/worlds-longest-album-title|title=12 Guinness World Records That Exist For No Real ReasonWorld's Longest Album Title|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=2018-06-25|archive-date=2018-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625185437/https://www.complex.com/music/2014/06/guinness-book-of-world-records-music/worlds-longest-album-title|url-status=live}} though this record was subsequently broken. The full title is:{{bq|When the pawn hits the conflicts he thinks like a king{{Break}}What he knows throws the blows when he goes to the fight{{Break}}And he'll win the whole thing 'fore he enters the ring{{Break}}There's no body to batter when your mind is your might{{Break}}So when you go solo, you hold your own hand{{Break}}And remember that depth is the greatest of heights{{Break}}And if you know where you stand, then you know where to land{{Break}}And if you fall it won't matter, cuz you'll know that you're right}}

When the Pawn… came off the success and controversy of Tidal, her debut album. She had faced a lot of public scrutiny, specifically for her 1997 VMA speech, where she famously stated, "this world is bullshit". The speech urges viewers to be themselves and not compare or change themselves because of the media they are consuming. This outburst came as a response to backlash from her "Criminal" music video.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-14 |title=Fiona Apple's iconic "this world is bullsh*t" speech |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/fiona-apple-speech/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=faroutmagazine.co.uk |language=en-US}} She would continue to have a negative attitude towards the media. Fiona stated that writing music began as a response to fighting with her parents but became cathartic in her life. Apple writes her own music about past experiences she has dealt with. Many songs on the album speak about tumultuous relationships with others as well as with herself. The tumultuous relationship that inspired many of the songs on this album is thought to be with Paul Thomas Anderson.{{Cite web |last=Berman |first=Judy |title=Fiona Apple: When the Pawn... |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/fiona-apple-when-the-pawn/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} The two were together from 1997-2000 (during the making of this album). The couple began doing drugs together, where Apple would then start a long road of addiction and later recovery which affected later albums.{{Cite web |last=Haylock |first=Zoe |date=2020-03-16 |title=Fiona Apple Details Ugly Relationship With Paul Thomas Anderson |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/03/fiona-apple-paul-thomas-anderson-louis-ck.html |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Vulture |language=en}} When the Pawn… reflected all these circumstances around the production.

The first single, "Fast as You Can", was fairly popular and received moderate radio and video airplay. It reached the top 20 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and became Apple's first top 40 hit on the UK Singles Chart. The follow-up singles, "Limp" and especially "Paper Bag", which was nominated for a Grammy Award, were less successful. Apple's boyfriend at the time, filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, directed videos for all three singles.{{Cite web|last1=Sharf|first1=Zack|date=2017-10-04|title=The Complete Paul Thomas Anderson Music Video Collection, From Fiona Apple to Radiohead — Watch|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/10/paul-thomas-anderson-music-videos-watch-fiona-apple-radiohead-haim-1201883640/|access-date=2020-06-17|website=IndieWire|language=en|archive-date=2020-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619034625/https://www.indiewire.com/2017/10/paul-thomas-anderson-music-videos-watch-fiona-apple-radiohead-haim-1201883640/|url-status=live}}

In 2019, Apple collaborated with King Princess on a cover of "I Know". The song was released for Spotify's RISE program on January 25.{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/01/25/688618778/king-princess-and-fiona-apple-collaborate-on-new-version-of-i-know?t=1548436537592 |title=King Princess and Fiona Apple Collaborate on New Version of 'I Know' |newspaper=NPR |date=25 January 2019 |access-date=2019-01-25 |archive-date=2019-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126000950/https://www.npr.org/2019/01/25/688618778/king-princess-and-fiona-apple-collaborate-on-new-version-of-i-know?t=1548436537592 |url-status=live |last1=Lorusso |first1=Marissa }}

A reissue by Vinyl Me Please was announced in 2020 featuring a new cover chosen by Fiona herself, marking the album's first ever vinyl pressing.{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B_2iKffp8y_/ | title=VMP on Instagram: "♟ at long last... 'When the Pawn' is here on 180g black vinyl for the first time ever. With a new cover picked by Fiona Apple herself, and a special price for VMP members." }}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 79/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/when-the-pawn/fiona-apple |title=Reviews for When The Pawn... by Fiona Apple |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=April 6, 2016 |archive-date=November 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107153814/http://www.metacritic.com/music/when-the-pawn/fiona-apple |url-status=live }}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/when-the-pawn-hits-the-conflicts-he-thinks-like-a-king-mw0000035134 |title=When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King... – Fiona Apple |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=April 6, 2016 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |archive-date=April 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404183132/http://www.allmusic.com/album/when-the-pawn-hits-the-conflicts-he-thinks-like-a-king-mw0000035134 |url-status=live }}

| rev2 = Chicago Sun-Times

| rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4514532.html |title=Fiona Apple, 'When the Pawn . . .' (Clean Slate/Epic) |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=November 14, 1999 |access-date=October 17, 2016 |last=Reed |first=Bobby |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118101527/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4514532.html |archive-date=November 18, 2018 |url-status=dead}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = A

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/the-guardian-fri-feb-25-2000/ |title=Wounded to the Core |magazine=The Guardian |date=February 25, 2000 | last=Mulholland| first=Gary}}

| rev5 = The Independent

| rev5score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/the-independent-2000-album-reviews/The_Independent_Sat__Feb_26__2000_.jpg/ |title=Fiona Apple 'When the Pawn...' |magazine=The Independent |date=February 26, 2000 | last=Perry| first=Tim}}

| rev6 = Los Angeles Times

| rev6score = {{rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-nov-09-ca-31465-story.html |title=Assured Apple Challenges Her Audience |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 9, 1999 |access-date=April 6, 2016 |last=Gardner |first=Elysa |archive-date=April 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421013646/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/nov/09/entertainment/ca-31465 |url-status=live }}

| rev7 = NME

| rev7score = 5/10{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com:80/reviews/reviews/20000315080021.html |title=Fiona Apple – When The Pawn... |journal=NME |date=March 15, 2000 |access-date=April 6, 2016 |last=Martin |first=Piers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000604111619/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/20000315080021.html |archive-date=June 4, 2000 |url-status=dead}}

| rev8 = Pitchfork

| rev8score = 8.0/10 {{small|(1999)}}{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/247-when-the-pawn/ |title=Fiona Apple: When the Pawn... |work=Pitchfork |date=November 9, 1999}}
9.4/10 {{small|(2019)}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/fiona-apple-when-the-pawn/|title=Fiona Apple: When the Pawn... |work=Pitchfork|date=24 March 2019}}

| rev9 = Q

| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |url=http://www.qonline.co.uk:80/reviews/server.asp?id=18741 |title=Fiona Apple: When The Pawn Hits The Conflicts... |journal=Q |issue=162 |date=March 2000 |access-date=August 30, 2018 |last=Aizlewood |first=John |page=101 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001121083400/http://www.qonline.co.uk/reviews/server.asp?id=18741 |archive-date=November 21, 2000 |url-status=dead}}

| rev10 = Rolling Stone

| rev10score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/when-the-pawn-hits-the-conflicts-he-thinks-like-a-king-244877/ |title=When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King... |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 25, 1999 |access-date=January 4, 2023 | last=Sheffield | first=Rob}}

| rev11 = Slant Magazine

| rev11score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/fiona-apple-when-the-pawn/ |title=Review: Fiona Apple, When the Pawn |work=Slant Magazine|access-date=November 1, 2002 | last=Cinquemani| first=Sal|date=November 2002 }}

| rev12 = Spin

| rev12score = 8/10{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HJbW_6l-uRUC&pg=PT2 |title=Fiona Apple: When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King / What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight... |journal=Spin |volume=15 |issue=12 |date=December 1999 |access-date=April 6, 2016 |last=Weisbard |first=Eric |page=215 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201148/https://books.google.com/books?id=HJbW_6l-uRUC&pg=PT2 |url-status=live }}

| rev13 = The Village Voice

| rev13score = A−{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv200-00.php |title=Consumer Guide: Cleanup Time |work=The Village Voice |date=March 7, 2000 |access-date=April 6, 2016 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044140/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv200-00.php |url-status=live }}

}}

In comparison to Apple's debut album Tidal, Harrington stated, "When the Pawn is a decidedly more mature work that trades in youthful melodrama for somber ruminations on shattered relationships and romantic obsession".{{r|Harrington}} In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, Jenny Eliscu states that Pawn is "more musically complex and melodically advanced" than the previous album, while focusing on Apple's "sultry voice and moody piano playing".{{r|Eliscu}} Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone gave the album three-and-a-half out of five stars, calling it "richer, deeper and stronger than Tidal, in every way", with "a far more muscular approach to both the songs and the singing".{{r|Sheffield}}

Entertainment Weekly{{'}}s David Browne awarded the album an A grade, praising Jon Brion's production as well as Apple's songwriting: "Apple hasn't gained much in psychic confidence following the success of Tidal. On When the Pawn..., Apple presents herself as a mental shambles, and she's more than happy to tell us about it."{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/1999/11/12/when-pawn |title=When the Pawn... |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=November 12, 1999 |access-date=April 6, 2016 |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist) |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415003734/http://www.ew.com/article/1999/11/12/when-pawn |url-status=live }} Pitchfork originally gave the album a score of eight out of ten, with reviewer Chip Chanko praising Apple's lyrics, writing: "[Apple] seems older. Her voice is full of a heartfelt soul that seems almost timeless. While Billie Holiday would never have considered the possibility of lines like, 'It won't be long till you'll be/ Lying limp in your own hand,' Apple executes them flawlessly with a modern passion."{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15003-when-the-pawn |title=Fiona Apple: When the Pawn... |work=Pitchfork |access-date=January 21, 2016 |last=Chanko |first=Chip |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611015221/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15003-when-the-pawn |archive-date=June 11, 2007 |url-status=dead}} Amy Linden of Vibe wrote: "When the Pawn... is full of images that resonate. Apple's a sad, sultry woman with a sense of who she is—even if that person isn't someone she wants to be. Once again, her pain brings us joy."{{cite journal|journal=Vibe|first=Amy|last=Linden|date=December 1999|page=257|volume=7|number=10|title=Fiona Apple - 'When the Pawn...'|issn=1070-4701}} In contrast, Piers Martin of NME rated it a 5 out of 10, calling it Apple's "second album of Amos-aping MTV-branded Lilith Fair fodder."

On the U.S. Billboard 200, When the Pawn... debuted at number 13 with 103,000 copies sold in first week.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/61124/nickelback-debuts-right-on-top|title = Nickelback Debuts 'Right' on Top|magazine = Billboard|date = 12 October 2005}} On March 26, 2020, When the Pawn.. was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum - Fiona Apple |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=fiona+apple#search_section |publisher=RIAA |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125061007/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Fiona+Apple#search_section |url-status=live }}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Fiona Apple, except as noted; arrangements and orchestration by John Bainbridge.

| total_length = 42:39

| title1 = On the Bound

| length1 = 5:22

| title2 = To Your Love

| length2 = 3:40

| title3 = Limp

| length3 = 3:29

| title4 = Love Ridden

| length4 = 3:22

| title5 = Paper Bag

| length5 = 3:39

| title6 = A Mistake

| length6 = 4:56

| title7 = Fast as You Can

| length7 = 4:38

| title8 = The Way Things Are

| length8 = 4:16

| title9 = Get Gone

| length9 = 4:07

| title10 = I Know

| length10 = 4:55

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Bonus track {{nobold|(Japanese Edition Bonus Tracks)}}

| title11 = Across the Universe

| length11 = 5:07

| title12 = Never is a Promise (Live)

| length12 = 6:12

| total_length = 53:57

}}

• Fiona Apple – piano, vocals, synthesized bass {{Small|(track 7)}}
• Jon Brion – "all other instruments"{{Refn|bass, keyboards, vibraphone, guitars, drums, percussion}} {{Small|(except "Love Ridden")}}
• Mike Elizondo – bass {{Small|(except "I Know")}}
• Matt Chamberlain – drums, percussion {{Small|(except "A Mistake", "I Know")}}

• Mike Breaux – woodwinds (1, 3, 7)
• Patrick Warren – Chamberlin (2, 3, 7, 9), Wurlitzer (3, 7)
• Charlie Bisharat, Eve Butler, Susan Chatman, Armen Garabedian, Berj Garabedian, Gerardo Hilera, Peter Kent, Brian Leonard, Robert Peterson, Michele Richards, Edmund Stein, John Wittenberg – violin (4, 9, 10)
• Robert Becker, Denyse Buffman, Scott Haupert, Maria Newman – viola (4, 9, 10)
• Larry Corbett, Paula Hochalter, Suzie Katayama, Daniel Smith – cello (4, 9, 10)
• Greg Cohen – bass guitar (10)
• Jonathan "Butch" Norton – drums, percussion (2, 3)
• Jim Keltner – drums (10)
• Wendell Kelly, Jean Martinelli, John Noreyko, Paul Loredo – horns (5)

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Jon Brion – producer, mixing engineer, assistant engineer
• Rich Costey – mixing engineer
• Eddy Scheyer – mastering engineer
• Ian Sefchick – mastering engineer (2020 LP)
• Tom Banghart, Rob Brill, Greg Collins, Bryan Jackson, Steve Mixdorf, John Tyree – assistant engineer
• Fiona Apple – design, cover art concept

{{div col end}}

{{col-begin}}

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{{col-end}}

{{certification Table Top}}

{{certification Table Entry|title=When the pawn|type=album|artist=Fiona Apple|relyear=1999|region=Japan|award=Gold|certyear=2007|certmonth=1|access-date=October 20, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Fiona Apple|title=When The Pawn|award=Silver|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2025|accessdate=January 10, 2025|id=20677-7050-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Fiona Apple|title=When the Pawn|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1999|certyear=2020|accessdate=March 29, 2020}}

{{certification Table Bottom| nosales=true|streaming=true}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Discogs master|type=album|88826|name=When the Pawn...}}
• {{MusicBrainz release|mbid=7c91e407-028c-4c22-ae5e-ebdda29858f3|title=When the Pawn…}}
• {{Metacritic album}}

{{Fiona Apple}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1999 albums

Category:Albums produced by Jon Brion

Category:Epic Records albums

Category:Fiona Apple albums