Carnival (song)
Encyclopedia
"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
.
2. Carnival (LP Version)
3. I May Know the Word
1995 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
song written and produced by singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant
Natalie Merchant
Natalie Anne Merchant is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She joined the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and left it to begin her solo career in 1993.-Early life:...
and was the lead single from her debut solo album Tigerlily
Tigerlily
Tigerlily is an album written, produced, and performed by Natalie Merchant, released on June 20, 1995 . It is her first solo album after splitting from the 10,000 Maniacs...
.
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
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. 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
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to a carnival.
The video for the song, directed by Melodie McDaniel
Melodie McDaniel
Melodie McDaniel is a still life, celebrity, and advertising photographer and film director.- Biography :Melodie McDaniel graduated in 1992 from Art Center School of Design with a major in Photography and a minor in Fine Art...
, shows scenes of Merchant walking the streets of New York City taking street photographs
Street photography
Street photography is a type of documentary photography that features subjects in candid situations within public places such as streets, parks, beaches, malls, political conventions and other settings....
with a Leica M3
Leica M3
The Leica M3 is a 35 mm rangefinder camera by Leica AG, introduced in 1954. It was a new starting point for Leitz, which until then had only produced screw-mount Leica cameras that were incremental improvements to its original Leica...
.
Uses
- In 2000, the song was used in the Xena: Warrior PrincessXena: Warrior PrincessXena: Warrior Princess is an American–New Zealand supernatural fantasy adventure series that aired in syndication from September 4, 1995 until June 18, 2001....
episode "Antony and Cleopatra." - By her own request, this song was played at the funeral of convicted serial killerSerial killerA serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
, Aileen WuornosAileen WuornosAileen Carol Wuornos was an American serial killer who killed seven men in Florida in 1989 and 1990, claiming they raped or attempted to rape her while she was working as a prostitute...
after her execution in 2002. 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, IowaDes Moines, IowaDes Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
by headlining DJ and international producer, Joel DickinsonJoel DickinsonJoel Dickinson is a remixer, electronic music producer, recording engineer and DJ based in Minneapolis, MN. He has worked for Junior Vasquez on a number of projects in recent years. He is a founding member of the remix team Audio Assembly who have produced for artists such as Katy Perry and Lady...
.
Tracklisting
1. Carnival (Edit)2. Carnival (LP Version)
3. I May Know the Word
Personnel
- John Holbrook - Organ, Guitar (Electric), Engineer
- Katell KeinegKatell KeinegKatell Keineg , is a Breton-Welsh singer-songwriter, based in Dublin and New York.-Early life:Born in Brittany and raised in Cardiff, Katell Keineg is the second child and only daughter of Breton poet and playwright Paol Keineg and his then wife, Judith, a Welsh political activist and...
- Vocals (bckgr) - Barrie Maguire - Bass, Guitar (12 String)
- Natalie MerchantNatalie MerchantNatalie Anne Merchant is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She joined the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and left it to begin her solo career in 1993.-Early life:...
- 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)
Peak positions
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
15 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
10 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Pop Songs | 8 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
8 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop Songs | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs | 12 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1995) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 60 |