Carnival (Natalie Merchant song)

"Carnival"
Single by Natalie Merchant
from the album Tigerlily
B-side	"I May Know the Word"
Released	June 5, 1995 (1995-06-05)
Studio	Bearsville (Bearsville, New York)
Length	5:59 (album version) 4:01 (edit)
Label	Elektra
Songwriter(s)	Natalie Merchant
Producer(s)	Natalie Merchant
Natalie Merchant singles chronology
"Carnival" (1995) "Wonder" (1995)
Music video
"Carnival" on YouTube

"Carnival" is a song written and produced by singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant and was the lead single from her debut solo album, Tigerlily (1995). In the lyrics, the protagonist describes a street scene as a carnival. Merchant was inspired to write the song after visiting New York City for the first time when she was 16, claiming she was fascinated with the residents' unusual lifestyles, as she grew up in rural areas.[1]

The single was released in the United States in July 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 reached number 17 in Canada. 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,^[citation needed] 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

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the US CD single liner notes.[2]

Studios

• Recorded at Bearsville Studios (Bearsville, New York)
• Additional recording at The Club House (Germantown, New York)
• Mixed at Sony Studios (New York City)
• Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)

Personnel

• Natalie Merchant – writing, vocals, piano, organ
• Katell Keineg – background vocals
• Jennifer Turner – electric guitar
• Barrie Maguire – bass guitar
• Peter Yanowitz – drums
• Adrián López Guevarra – percussion
• John Holbrook – mixing, engineering
• Todd Vos – assistant engineering (Bearsville)
• Paul Antonell – assistant engineering (The Club House)
• Andrew Page – assistant engineering (Sony)
• Bob Ludwig – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[5] 24 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] 17 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[7] 30 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[8] 6 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[9] 28 US Billboard Hot 100[10] 10 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[11] 8 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[12] 8 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[13] 12 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[14] 6

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[15] 28 US Billboard Hot 100[16] 60 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[17] 18 Chart (1996) Position US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[18] 29 US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)[19] 68

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	June 5, 1995	Progressive rock alternative radio	Elektra	[20]
	July 1995	Cassette		[21]

References

1. "Carnival by Natalie Merchant: Songfacts". Songfacts. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
2. Carnival (US CD single disc notes). Natalie Merchant. Elektra Records. 1995. 2-64413.
3. Carnival (US cassette single cassette notes). Natalie Merchant. Elektra Records. 1995. 4-64413.
4. Carnival (European & Australian CD single liner notes). Natalie Merchant. Elektra Records. 1995. EKR 203CD, 7559 64404-2.
5. "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. Retrieved June 9, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
16. "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Longboredsurfer.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
17. "The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 51. December 23, 1995. p. YE-77.
18. "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 33.
19. "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Mainstream Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 30.
20. "New Music for June". Radio & Records. No. 1096. May 26, 1995. pp. 78, 83.
21. McKenna, Jerry (July 29, 1995). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 30. p. 119. Look for high debuts next week from [...] and 'Carnival' by Natalie Merchant (Elektra/EEG). Both tracks have just been released as cassette singles.