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. In the lyrics, the protagonist compares the many colorful sights and sounds of day-to-day life in New York City to a carnival. Merchant was inspired to write the song after visiting the city for the first time when she was 16, claiming she was fascinated with the residents' unusual lifestyles, as she has grown up in the country.[1]

This article is about the song by Natalie Merchant. For other songs of this name, see Carnival (disambiguation).
"Carnival"
U.S. CD single
Single by Natalie Merchant
from the album Tigerlily
B-side"I May Know the Word"
Released1995
Recorded1995
Length
  • 5:59 (album version)
  • 4:01 (edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)Natalie Merchant
Producer(s)Natalie Merchant
Natalie Merchant singles chronology
"Carnival"
(1995)		 "Wonder"
(1995)
Music video
"Carnival" on YouTube

The single was released to US radio in summer 1995 and reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Merchant's highest-charting solo single in the US. It is also her most successful hit in Australia, peaking at number 24 on the ARIA Singles Chart, and her third-most successful song in Canada (after "Wonder" and "Jealousy"), where it reached number 17. The single received a radio edit cutting the song down from the six-minute LP version. 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.

Track listings

US CD single[2]

  1. "Carnival" – 5:59
  2. "I May Know the Word" – 8:01

US cassette single[3]

A. "Carnival" (album version) – 5:59
B. "I May Know the Word" (album version) – 8:07

European and Australian CD single[4]

  1. "Carnival" (edit) – 4:02
  2. "Carnival" (LP version) – 5:59
  3. "I May Know the Word" – 8:07

Personnel
  • Jennifer Turner – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals
  • John Holbrook – organ, electric guitar, engineer
  • Katell Keineg – background vocals
  • Barrie Maguire – bass, 12-string guitar
  • Natalie Merchant – vocals, piano, organ, vibraphone
  • Peter Yanowitz – percussion, drums
  • Mike Spenser – bass, electric guitar
  • Eric Henderson – electric guitar

Charts

References
  1. "Carnival by Natalie Merchant Songfacts". Songfacts. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  2. Carnival (US CD single disc notes). Natalie Merchant. Elektra Records. 1995. 2-64413.CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. Carnival (US cassette single cassette notes). Natalie Merchant. Elektra Records. 1995. 4-64413.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. Carnival (European & Australian CD single liner notes). Natalie Merchant. Elektra Records. 1995. EKR 203CD, 7559 64404-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. "Australian-charts.com – Natalie Merchant – Carnival". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  6. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2819." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  7. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2795." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  8. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 2734." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  9. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (21.10. '95 – 27.10. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). October 21, 1995. p. 26. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  10. "Natalie Merchant Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  11. "Natalie Merchant Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  12. "Natalie Merchant Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  13. "Natalie Merchant Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  14. "Natalie Merchant Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  15. "RPM Top 50 Alternative Tracks of 1995". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  16. "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Longboredsurfer.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
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