Pick Word #37 - Ophelia

1. Natalie Merchant - Ophelia
2. Marila Hackman - Ophelia

3. Borough - Ophelia

4. Orchidee Noire - Ophelia

5. Dance for the Dying - Ophelia

Not Hamlet's Wife: 15 Years To Natalie Merchant's "Ophelia"

I first heard Natalie Merchant's amazing voice on the TV, when she and her former band 10000 Maniacs covered Patti Smith's song "Because The Night" on MTV Unplugged. I haven't heard a lot of her music since that early 90's, but when I put her second solo album named Ophelia, which was released 15 years ago on 19 of March, 1998, I fell in love with her music again. Ophelia was produced by the British composer Gavin Bryars and it is rich in instrumental arrangements and co operations with other artist such as Karen And Don Peris from The Innocence Mission and N'dea Davenport from the Brand New Heavies. This is not a concept album, as many think, but Natalie Merchant tries to show the female standpoint, who looks at the social structure and finds out some of the opportunities are closed. In a certain sense, it holds a Feminist point of view and was quit rare in that time. Here are five songs from this album, hoping you'd like i

Album Rating: 7/10

Kind And Generous

Ophelia

King Of May

Break Your Heart (With N'dea Davenport of Brand New Heavies)

The Living

Carnival (Pick word #1)

Carnival is a festive season occurs usually on February all around the globe. It usually involves public celebrations on street, wearing masks and preforming some sorts of dance and musical shows. Carnival has fascinated some of the artists below, so here are five songs written on it from different prespectives. Enjoy

1) Mark Lanegan - Carnival (Taken from Whiskey For The Holy Ghost, 1994)

In 5 words: King of pain visits carnival
Favourite line: For girls are sad in their eyes, They're all standin' around being hypnotised

2) The Cardigans - Carnival (Taken from Life, 1995)

In 5 words: Such fun to party with Nina Persson
Favourite line: Carnival came by my town today, Bright lights from giant wheels

3) Tim Buckley - Carnival Song (Taken from Goodbye And Hello, 1967)

In 5 words: Such a great lose, what a song
Favourite line: The singer cries for people's lies, He will sing for the day to bring him night

4) David Byrne - Carnival Eyes (Taken from Rei Momo, 1989)

In 5 words: Life of a carnival girl
Favourite line: Carnival girl, where do those eyes come from? What is inside there? So far away

5) Natalie Merchant - Carnival (Taken from Tigerlily, 1995)

In 5 words: Feels like in Brazil's carnival
Favourite line: I've walked these streets, In a spectacle of wealth and poverty