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Total ratings: 3148
Length: 6:54
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A virtual stage it seemed to me
Makeup on their faces
Actors took their places next to me
Well I've walked these streets
In a carnival of sights to see
All the cheap thrill seekers
The vendors and the dealers they crowded around me
Have I been blind
Have I been lost inside myself and my own mind
Hypnotized mesmerized by what my eyes have seen
Well I've walked these streets
In a spectacle of wealth and poverty
In the diamond market
The scarlet welcome carpet that they just rolled out for me
And I've walked these streets
In the madhouse asylum they can be
Where a wild eyed misfit prophet on a traffic island stopped
And he raved of saving me
Have I been blind
Have I been lost inside myself and my own mind
Hypnotized mesmerized by what my eyes have seen
Have I been wrong
Have I been wise to shut my eyes and play along
Hypnotized paralyzed by what my eyes have found
By what my eyes have seen
What they have seen
Have I been blind
Have I been lost have I been wrong
Have I been wise have I been strong
Have I been hypnotized mesmerized
By what my eyes have found
In that great street carnival
In that carnival
Odd....when I went to Urban Dictionary and typed in INSIPID the first listing appeared to be about your post....https://www.urbandictionary.co...
So you dont like her. Then don't listen. Who cares what you think.
The instrumental parts between the bass and guitar on this performance are tasefully awesome!
Wow I don't see it at all. Hunter (with Wagner) added an episodic, original, thrilling dual-guitar intro to Reed's simple three chord anthem. In this Merchant song, the guitarist is just soloing over the (three-chord?) changes of the original song.
People have commented on the guitar on this song... and really, if you listen to the whole album i.e. the Tiger Lily album where this song came from, the guitar work is awesome.
A different guitarist on the album. The fantastic Jennifer Turner was on the studio recording. For me, this live version really lacks those iconic licks throughout the song.
Pretty cool guitar on this track, nice bass too.
In virtuosity, this live performance equals Reed's version of Sweet Jane from Rock and Roll Animal.
Word! I was just about to mention that. The bassist is likely Steve Gustafson who is a founding member of 10,000 Maniacs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Lame.
What I don't understand is the appeal of this INSIPID woman. Go ahead. Google it. Go to Urban Dictionary. If you can spell INSIPID the first listing will be Natalie Merchant.
….blahblahblah….
Odd....when I went to Urban Dictionary and typed in INSIPID the first listing appeared to be about your post....https://www.urbandictionary.co...
Prophet.,,,,,I thought you thought she was saying, "crazy oddball financial gain"....wow....
Yup, too fast in typing, and lyrical spellcheck. Thanks for the correction. Smarty pants......
Exactly my thoughts too. Though with age I got myself liking her more (found her really annoying when I was young).
Very nice groove and bass too.
So the lameness (of Natalie Merchant) grates at times.
If you'll merely turn your eyes to the average rating of this song, you'll notice that your opinion, however ... loud, is a minority, at least for this one. I submit for your consideration ... that maybe it's just you.
What I don't understand is the appeal of this INSIPID woman. Go ahead. Google it. Go to Urban Dictionary. If you can spell INSIPID the first listing will be Natalie Merchant.
Billbecca and RP can slip into a set Dave Matthews (ack) or Hootie and the Counting Crowfish and make it work and maybe even enjoyable and always sneaks in there with some gem by DS or Mark Knopfler who is not my cuppa tea .... but there are apparently no redeeming qualities to this lame, pretentious former star of 10,000 Maniacs. I don't get it. Do you?
It's no joke that we count on RP in any and all life events, and when I send my tithe I have a story for Billbecca about that. So at some point, we feel perhaps proprietary to RP with all due respect and show gratitude for the EXCEPTIONAL LEVEL OF ARTISTRY AND PUBLIC SERVIE exemplified here.
So the lameness (of Natalie Merchant) grates at times.
I would tend to agree and add Bob Dylan, but this is one of a few very good tunes to my ears.
What I don't understand is the appeal of this INSIPID woman. Go ahead. Google it. Go to Urban Dictionary. If you can spell INSIPID the first listing will be Natalie Merchant.
Billbecca and RP can slip into a set Dave Matthews (ack) or Hootie and the Counting Crowfish and make it work and maybe even enjoyable and always sneaks in there with some gem by DS or Mark Knopfler who is not my cuppa tea .... but there are apparently no redeeming qualities to this lame, pretentious former star of 10,000 Maniacs. I don't get it. Do you?
It's no joke that we count on RP in any and all life events, and when I send my tithe I have a story for Billbecca about that. So at some point, we feel perhaps proprietary to RP with all due respect and show gratitude for the EXCEPTIONAL LEVEL OF ARTISTRY AND PUBLIC SERVIE exemplified here.
So the lameness (of Natalie Merchant) grates at times.
haretic wrote:
I will say, though, that it seems to me that singers who have strongly "affected" sounding voices seem to limit significantly the range of songs they can perform convincingly. (I have no idea whether Natalie Merchant deliberately projects that sort of "echo-y" sound into her singing or if it is just a natural quality of her voice). In many songs she sings, I do find her voice is a distraction from the song, regrettably.
Ms. Merchant wrote this song, and it is by far my favorite of the songs I've heard her sing. The lyrics are perfectly suited to her hauntingly emotive, sadly atmospheric delivery. (I do not hear any "phoned in" quality at all)!
I would also rate the studio version a 10. I do usually rate a live version slightly higher, 'cuz it's live!
I will say, though, that it seems to me that singers who have strongly "affected" sounding voices seem to limit significantly the range of songs they can perform convincingly. (I have no idea whether Natalie Merchant deliberately projects that sort of "echo-y" sound into her singing or if it is just a natural quality of her voice). In many songs she sings, I do find her voice is a distraction from the song, regrettably.
Ms. Merchant wrote this song, and it is by far my favorite of the songs I've heard her sing. The lyrics are perfectly suited to her hauntingly emotive, sadly atmospheric delivery. (I do not hear any "phoned in" quality at all)!
I would also rate the studio version a 10. I do usually rate a live version slightly higher, 'cuz it's live!
Who would you owe a Natalie Merchant album to anyhow? That seems like a strange debt.
Testify!!!!!
Your back must be bruised from all the patting.
I always thought she was singing about Mr Coffee all these years .....guess she wasn't as I looked up the lyrics here for the first time.
No. Let's go full barrel.
Natalie: I need chewing gum.
Me: What flavor?
Natalie: I don't care, any flavor.
(20 minutes later)
Me: Here's your gum Ms. Merchant.
Natalie: Oh, call me Natalie. What flavor is this?
Me: Spearmint
Natalie: I HATE spearmint! Go back and get me cinnamon - and I need a box of tampons (I am not making this up!)
Anyway, she was a bit of a c—t, and I don't use the term loosely. Robert Buck was really cool however. He said at some point that day, "She's just being an a-hole because she signed a deal for a solo album and she's leaving the band after the next few gigs."
So many memories.
***************************************************************
sweet story...Why didn't you offer to install one of the tampons? Or two?
Same story at George Mason University, when she came to Patriot Center in early 1990s. My buddy, who DJ-ed for the college radio asked if he could interview here and Ms. Merchant was also rude to him.
Pretty cool guitar on this track, nice bass too.
could be the wine but I don't think so
any way I really like this song
Natalie: I need chewing gum.
Me: What flavor?
Natalie: I don't care, any flavor.
(20 minutes later)
Me: Here's your gum Ms. Merchant.
Natalie: Oh, call me Natalie. What flavor is this?
Me: Spearmint
Natalie: I HATE spearmint! Go back and get me cinnamon - and I need a box of tampons (I am not making this up!)
Anyway, she was a bit of a c—t, and I don't use the term loosely. Robert Buck was really cool however. He said at some point that day, "She's just being an a-hole because she signed a deal for a solo album and she's leaving the band after the next few gigs."
So many memories.
***************************************************************
sweet story...Why didn't you offer to install one of the tampons? Or two?
Steve Howe?
well said
Interesting music, thanks.
wgsu_1978 wrote:
Good show otherwise. Tired of her voice quickly after, though.
Good show otherwise. Tired of her voice quickly after, though.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aileen_Wuornos#Execution:
Wuornos requested that Natalie Merchant's song "Carnival" be played at her funeral. Merchant commented on this when asked why she permitted "Carnival" to be played during the credits of the documentary Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer:
When director Nick Broomfield sent a working edit of the film, I was so disturbed by the subject matter that I couldn't even watch it. Aileen Wuornos led a tortured, torturing life that is beyond my worst nightmares. It wasn't until I was told that Aileen spent many hours listening to my album Tigerlily while on death row and requested "Carnival" be played at her funeral that I gave permission for the use of the song. It's very odd to think of the places my music can go once it leaves my hands. If it gave her some solace, I have to be grateful.
Prophet.,,,,,I thought you thought she was saying, "crazy oddball financial gain"....wow....
Wow. . .lots of diametrically opposed opinions here :-) I was actually going to check out this guitarist because I find this playing to be totally rocking and inspiring!
OMG
I can't stand her music -- usually -- but I always enjoyed this little ditty.... this version, though, wowee... it's horrid...
Less frequent bitching, please!
The intro to this reminds me of Kathleen Edwards' Goodbye, California, another gem of a singer that RP introduced me to.
The funky instrumental underpinnings get the hips moving and the shoulders swaying, and Ms. Merchant (the c--t described below) has an opportunity to loosen her vibrato voice and flow with the stream ............
+1
Tip of the hat my lady...you have been found.
Guitar player has the touch too.
just
don't
like
this
song.
The funky instrumental underpinnings get the hips moving and the shoulders swaying, and Ms. Merchant (the c--t described below) has an opportunity to loosen her vibrato voice and flow with the stream ............
Should have the opportunity to meet her some day - you might change your tune. Sophomore year in college and the 10,000 Maniacs were playing at our school. I was tasked with following her around all day and being her personal secretary. She put me through my paces and had me running around all day - I think just to prove some point which I could never figure. Stuff like,
Natalie: I need chewing gum.
Me: What flavor?
Natalie: I don't care, any flavor.
(20 minutes later)
Me: Here's your gum Ms. Merchant.
Natalie: Oh, call me Natalie. What flavor is this?
Me: Spearmint
Natalie: I HATE spearmint! Go back and get me cinnamon - and I need a box of tampons (I am not making this up!)
Anyway, she was a bit of a c—t, and I don't use the term loosely. Robert Buck was really cool however. He said at some point that day, "She's just being an a-hole because she signed a deal for a solo album and she's leaving the band after the next few gigs."
So many memories.
md1ncb wrote:
On the other hand, in view of the tampon shopping, she may have just been having a bad week. I understand a little tetchiness can sometimes occur at those times.
Strange that someone named Sasha couldn't figure that out. Perhaps Natalie should have let this clown continue to refer to her as Ms. Merchant. At least Natalie had a reason for acting self important.