Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Carnival (Natalie Merchant song)

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B-side
  
"I May Know the Word"

Format
  
Single

Genre
  
Rock

Released
  
1995

Recorded
  
1995

Length
  
5:59 (album version) 4:01 (edit)

"Carnival" is a 1995 song written and produced by singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant and was the lead single from her debut solo album Tigerlily.

Contents

The single was released to U.S. airwaves in the summer of 1995 and went straight to the number 10 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, thus becoming her highest-charting solo single. The single received a radio edit cutting the song down from the six-minute LP version.

In the lyrics, the protagonist compares the many colorful sights and sounds of day-to-day life in New York City to a carnival.

The video for the song, directed by Melodie McDaniel, shows scenes of Merchant walking the streets of New York City taking street photographs with a Leica M3.

Uses

  • In 2000, the song was used in the Xena: Warrior Princess episode "Antony and Cleopatra".
  • Prior to her execution in 2002, this song was requested by serial killer Aileen Wuornos to be played at her funeral. In 2003, the song was used in Nick Broomfield's documentary Aileen: Life And Death Of A Serial Killer. The song also serves as an entrance theme to a fictional Wuornos in American Horror Story: Hotel, portrayed by Lily Rabe.
  • In 2010, the song was used in the film The Halves.
  • The song appeared in the Hindsight episode "Tragic Kingdom".

    • Track listing

    1. Carnival (edit)
    2. Carnival (LP version)
    3. I May Know the Word

    Personnel

  • Jennifer Turner – Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocals (background)
  • John Holbrook – Organ, Guitar (Electric), Engineer
  • Katell Keineg – Vocals (background)
  • Barrie Maguire – Bass, Guitar (12 String)
  • Natalie Merchant – Vocals, Piano, Organ, Vibraphone
  • Peter Yanowitz – Percussion, Drums
  • Matt Henderson – Bass, Guitar (Electric)
  • Eric Schenkman – Guitar (Electric)

    • References

    Carnival (Natalie Merchant song) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA