Who recorded the hit single "Carnival" in 1995?

Natalie Merchant recorded the hit single "Carnival" in 1995. She wrote and produced the song as the lead single from Tigerlily, her debut solo album after leaving the alternative-rock band 10,000 Maniacs.

Merchant drew on an early experience in New York City when writing the song. She had first visited the city at age 16 after growing up in a rural environment, and the city's unfamiliar energy, people, and street life inspired the carnival-like imagery in the lyrics. That personal perspective gives the song its vivid sense of observation and wonder.

The song became one of Merchant's signature recordings, combining her distinctive alto voice with a polished adult-alternative arrangement. The album version runs nearly six minutes, while the radio edit is much shorter. Listeners sometimes associate "Carnival" with a group because Merchant was already well known from 10,000 Maniacs, but this release belongs to her solo career and was issued by Elektra Records.