Natalie Merchant in Concert.
Natalie Merchant was born in Jamestown, N.Y to Italian parents (real name Mercante before it was anglicized). When she was a child, her mother listened to music and encouraged her and her siblings to study music. As the years went on, she went with her mother to both classical and rock concerts. Her mother later married a jazz musician and as a result, that was the music she became to love the best.
Leading a somewhat sheltered life, Merchant discovered singer/songwriters like Bob Dylan at the age of 18. She was not allowed to watch TV after the age of 12. The news on TV nor newspapers were encouraged in her home. She would drop out of High School and enter a local College where she worked in a health food store.
In 1981, she started singing with Still Life which became 10,000 Maniacs. In this band she was the lead singer and primary lyricist, all the while still attending Jamestown Community College. An accomplished singer and pianist, she would play on seven studio albums before announcing that she was leaving the group in 1993.
Her first album, "Tigerlilly" produced "Beloved Wife" and was featured in the movie "Message in a Bottle". The album was a critical and commercial success. The album would go on to sell over 5 million copies, and continues to be Merchant's most successful album to date.
In the album "Ophelia", Merchant the music contained lush arraignments with symphonic arrangement composed by British composer Gavin Bryars. She would invite various musicians to her home studio to record songs with her on this album. On this album, she recorded one of her most popular songs, "Kind and Generous".
In 2003, Merchant met Daniel de la Calle and had a daughter named Lucia. She would get divorced by 2012. She would have a romantic relationship with Michael Stipe of REM. Stipe credits Merchant for many of his songs becoming politicized in the late eighties.
Merchant has been a liberal activist for much of her life. She has protested with fellow lefty Mark Ruffalo against oil and the drilling of it. She has teamed up with left wing loon Michael Moore and Ruffalo to protest former president Trump outside his New York City apartment.
Politics aside, I think Natalie Merchant is the best voice in Rock- Progressive- Folk. Her vocal range is outstanding and rivals Anne Lennox of the Eurythmics. Animated and pure, dedicated to her singing, Merchant wowed the audience last night at the beautiful NJPAC in Newark, NJ. For almost three hours she consumed the almost cult like audience, who are deeply dedicated to her and her music. Coming back from a severe spinal condition, Merchant is back, all the way back.
Without shoes, Merchant danced and sung barefoot for most of the night. Her dancing reminded me of a woman dancing at Woodstock in the 60'; almost like an Indian Tantra. She used hand motions to get her through the high notes, banged on her hips to feel the beat. But make no mistake about it, when she sang "Wonder", she was incredibly sexy with her hip movements and her dance motions.
Natalie Merchant is a rare breed. She is graceful and elegant, and yet she is down to earth and hippish. She is a kind and generous woman who by her words is grateful to have her voice and hand movement back. Apparently she was very ill and lost both her voice and movement in one hand after her operation a few years back.
Backed by an orchestra and several guest stars, it is difficult to dislike Ms. Merchant both as a person and an entertainer. I strongly suggest seeing her if you can; her concert is that good!
Natalie Merchant, 10,000 Maniacs, Bruce Springsteen, Patty Smith, Jamestown, NY, Carol Burnett, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, NJPAC, Newark, NJ, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, "Wonder".
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