Carnival (Natalie Merchant song)

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

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. 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."
• In 2010, the song was used in the film "The Halves".
• The song was remixed in 2009 for Capital City Pride in Des Moines, Iowa by headlining DJ and international producer, Joel Dickinson.

Tracklisting

1. Carnival (Edit)
2. Carnival (LP Version)
3. I May Know the Word

Personnel

• John Holbrook - Organ, Guitar (Electric), Engineer
• Katell Keineg - Vocals (bckgr)
• 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)
• Jennifer Turner - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocals (bckgr)

Charts

References