[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Natalie Merchant — The Work Song [live]
Album: AAA Radio Sampler
Avg rating:
5.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 250









Released: 1996
Length: 3:48
Plays (last 30 days): 0
share tweet wikiwebsitesearchamg
cd
mp3
search
(no lyrics available)
Comments (67)add comment


TED 2010 Natalie Merchant ©Suzie Katz #9314_R by Suzie Katz
https://www.flickr.com/photos/flyinghorsepix/

©Suzie Katz #9314 


Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
Oh? that's where she has been...
Posted 14 years ago by More_Cowbell    [ Reply ]
 iyermish wrote:
I love Natalie ... but this is NOT her kind of song ...
 
I completely agree. She has a lovely and beautiful voice when applied to genres appropriate for her sound. This is like Michael Jordan trying to play baseball. Or, maybe more accurately it's like Michael Jordan trying to race the Tour de France. Culinarily, it's the equivalent of maple syrup on anchovies.

The Work Song has a pedigree, an etymology unique to a specific ethnic, American experience which does not belong to Natalie Merchant. She lacks any and all authenticity. It is so much more than just a "catchy little ditty." It is powerful. It is poignant. I grew up on a steady diet of the The Work Song  as conceived by Oscar Brown, Jr. & Nat Adderly. I had to turn RP off momentarily while I put that version on so I could cleanse my palette.

Bill, please put the Oscar Brown, Jr. version into your rotation!
 


Posted 14 years ago by xc_para_puravida    [ Reply ]
That last note put me off my coffee. God.....bad.
Posted 14 years ago by Jazbo    [ Reply ]
 sadds97 wrote:
Natalie Merchant - awesome. End of discussion.  
 
She sounds like a goat. And not in a good way.
Posted 14 years ago by Papernapkin    [ Reply ]
 BWGunner wrote:

Anyone else hear Ted Nugent's Straglehold here? I thought she was doing a cover for a moment and was interested...then realized she wasn't, and completely lost interest.

 
Sums up my listening experience precisely.

Posted 14 years ago by WayUpNorth    [ Reply ]
 sadds97 wrote:
Natalie is the BEST. What a voice!
 
{#Yes}

Posted 15 years ago by DaMoGan    [ Reply ]
Natalie is the BEST. What a voice!
Posted 15 years ago by sadds97    [ Reply ]
I just vomited in my mouth a little
Posted 15 years ago by Mandible    [ Reply ]
 lawman wrote:
I obviously don't know enough about your local culture you guys.

I gave this a 7 right at the kick-off: for chrissake, any song that starts with these swinging riffs has gotta be good! And she has a great, lush voice, with a great band behind her. Whoever she is.

I'm with the guy who Whoops about 4 seconds in.

Totally agree with you - only just heard this for the 1st time, and it does grab you, for all the reasons you state. I may only whoop at the end though...... 


Posted 15 years ago by SparkyMarky    [ Reply ]
 jagdriver wrote:

Well, I'm not a NM hater like many RP listeners, but this is a lame version of a great song.

Check out Paul Butterfield's version on the revolutionary East <—> West release.
 

Written by Nat Adderley.
Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
I obviously don't know enough about your local culture you guys.

I gave this a 7 right at the kick-off: for chrissake, any song that starts with these swinging riffs has gotta be good! And she has a great, lush voice, with a great band behind her. Whoever she is.

I'm with the guy who Whoops about 4 seconds in.

Posted 15 years ago by lawman    [ Reply ]
 kerr wrote:

what... sadiM gniK?

 

 HA HAH AHHHA HHAAAAHAAAAAAHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!
Posted 15 years ago by Tagish_girl    [ Reply ]
I'm not a big NM fan, but this is a fine song on it's own. Lucky for me I've never heard the original. 
Posted 15 years ago by pianocomposer    [ Reply ]
You're kidding, right?
Posted 15 years ago by xc_para_puravida    [ Reply ]
 skdenfeld wrote:
Song = Cool
Natalie = Isn't
 
Well, I'm not a NM hater like many RP listeners, but this is a lame version of a great song.

Check out Paul Butterfield's version on the revolutionary East <—> West release.
Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
 Bocephus wrote:
She's King Midas in reverse...{#Eyes}
 
what... sadiM gniK?

Posted 15 years ago by kerr    [ Reply ]
 BWGunner wrote:

Anyone else hear Ted Nugent's Straglehold here? I thought she was doing a cover for a moment and was interested...then realized she wasn't, and completely lost interest.


 

THAT'S what i thought it was.  Thanks.
...oh yeah and incredibly grating, -1, blah blah blah.

Posted 15 years ago by govna    [ Reply ]
Why can this woman not enunciate?  I know this song, and I still can't understand what she's singing.
Posted 15 years ago by queenjill    [ Reply ]

Anyone else hear Ted Nugent's Straglehold here? I thought she was doing a cover for a moment and was interested...then realized she wasn't, and completely lost interest.


Posted 15 years ago by BWGunner    [ Reply ]
She's King Midas in reverse...{#Eyes}
Posted 15 years ago by Bocephus    [ Reply ]
 justlistening wrote:
Guess that means I should cut the Mariah/Celine lovers more slack since music is obviously a personal choice!
 
I'm sorry, you're not permitted to comment on this board if you have such a reasonable point of view. /end sarcasm
Posted 16 years ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]

quite lame


Posted 16 years ago by Jazbo    [ Reply ]
...yeah, i can imagine this playing at a department-store perfume counter...
Posted 16 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
Amazing voice but not for boogie-blues songs
Posted 16 years ago by panoskatos    [ Reply ]
Natalie Merchant - awesome. End of discussion.  
Posted 16 years ago by sadds97    [ Reply ]
 jagdriver wrote:

Yeah, I don't get it. I like usually her stuff and didn't realize she's the equivalent of Mariah/Celine in the ears of RP listeners.

That said, I couldn't help but think back to Paul Butterfield's definitive version of this song.

 

Wow, never thought of the Mariah/Celine comparison.  I have always thought of Celine as overrated (understatement) (a female Michael Bolton!).  Mariah, while you may not like her music or the diva - gotta respect that vocal range.

I like Natalie quite a bit, but I think you're right about the fact she's some people's equivalent to Mariah and Celine.  Hmm.....  Guess that means I should cut the Mariah/Celine lovers more slack since music is obviously a personal choice!  The Michael Bolton lovers on the other hand......
Posted 16 years ago by justlistening    [ Reply ]
 keller1 wrote:


Lotta people apparently do.

I thought Tiger Lilly was a pretty good CD, and I like this version of this tune. Based on the listener ratings, though, I'm outvoted.
 
Yeah, I don't get it. I like usually her stuff and didn't realize she's the equivalent of Mariah/Celine in the ears of RP listeners.

That said, I couldn't help but think back to Paul Butterfield's definitive version of this song.

Posted 16 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]

"Adult contemporary" comes to mind.
Posted 16 years ago by element1    [ Reply ]
Song = Cool
Natelie = Isn't
Posted 16 years ago by skdenfeld    [ Reply ]
fletch wrote:
She is a true genius. I appreciate her driving prose, her unique singing style, and her willingness to tackle issues no one else will touch such as child abuse, illiteracy, and alcoholism. But this song blows goats.
ha!
Posted 16 years ago by Papernapkin    [ Reply ]
jbro wrote:
natalie merchant? breaking rocks? on the chain gang?!?!? my bs meter is in the red.
No kidding. Natalie, you're about as far from blues-worthy as possible. STFU and sit down.
Posted 16 years ago by Excelsior    [ Reply ]
She is a true genius. I appreciate her driving prose, her unique singing style, and her willingness to tackle issues no one else will touch such as child abuse, illiteracy, and alcoholism. But this song blows goats.
Posted 16 years ago by fletch    [ Reply ]
Old_Pool_Skunk wrote:
Sorry Natalie, you ain't been workin, or slavin'. Aching for better pitch and another latte, maybe.
hear hear
Posted 16 years ago by cirruss    [ Reply ]
AaronOfMackenzie wrote:
Just try to picture yourself with bleeding ears being subjected to 20 year old (and never any good) Corey Hart songs day after day.
What market are you in that you need to ever be subjected to Corey Hart, at all? Where I live (yes, in Canada), we only really have two English language stations. The local station is horrible, they play new country, classic rock, the odd hair-metal band, and that's it. No Corey Hart though. The other station is CBC. Again, no Corey Hart. Anywhere else I've ever been has more variety in radio stations, making your Corey-avoiding much easier. Frankly, there's enough good Canadian music now that the over-regulation of Canadian radio is hardly noticeable to me. Of course we still have to listen to Celine Dion and Bryan Adams, but guess what, they get airplay in the US too. Canadian radio isn't bad because it's over-regulated, it's bad because it's radio, and most pop music sucks.
Posted 16 years ago by Ag3nt0rang3    [ Reply ]
out_to_lunch wrote:
I HATE Natalie Merchant.
Lotta people apparently do. I thought Tiger Lilly was a pretty good CD, and I like this version of this tune. Based on the listener ratings, though, I'm outvoted.
Posted 16 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
natalie merchant? breaking rocks? on the chain gang?!?!? my bs meter is in the red.
Posted 16 years ago by jbro    [ Reply ]
Lovely, distinctive voice.
Posted 16 years ago by FlamingLotus    [ Reply ]
I'm loath to say anything negative about any artist or any recording--but this one may be a mismatch between artist and material.
Posted 16 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
I HATE Natalie Merchant.
Posted 16 years ago by out_to_lunch    [ Reply ]
I need a negative rating scale for Natalie Merchant! Eeeeeeew! On a positive note, it'll only last a few minutes, and if I ever need some perspective, I need only to tune into just about any over-regulated Canadian station to realize that we RP listeners are lucky indeed. Just try to picture yourself with bleeding ears being subjected to 20 year old (and never any good) Corey Hart songs day after day.
Posted 16 years ago by AaronOfMackenzie    [ Reply ]
Sorry Natalie, you ain't been workin, or slavin'. Aching for better pitch and another latte, maybe.
Posted 16 years ago by Old_Pool_Skunk    [ Reply ]
sirrus wrote:
She hasn't been workin' hard enough to hit that last note...
Oof, you are so right. Ouch!
Posted 16 years ago by DoctorHooey    [ Reply ]
Every once in awhile an artist chooses to do a song that he/she just shouldn't do.This is one of those cases.Where is her Manager?NM doing the blues?Sorry.
Posted 16 years ago by boober    [ Reply ]
ekeyte wrote:
Apparently Natalie Merchant sits on either extreme of everyone here. You love her or you hate her. I love her.
Yeah, and I love the other 9,999 maniacs too.
Posted 16 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
I guess the thing that bothers me the most is that she sounds like she is trying to make her voice sound different than it is. I tell both my daughters all the time when they sing, do not try to make your voice sound like some breathy pop singer that you have heard. Let your natural voice shine through.
Posted 16 years ago by LPCity    [ Reply ]
Natalie Merchant? Are you kidding? Needs to sung in baritone to be even remotely authentic!! Please play a better version of this!
Posted 16 years ago by xc_para_puravida    [ Reply ]
Her voice makes me grit my teeth.
Posted 16 years ago by Beez    [ Reply ]
sirrus wrote:
She should work a little hard to hit that last note.
...she's tired, man!..
Posted 16 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
She hasn't been workin' hard enough to hit that last note...
Posted 16 years ago by sirrus    [ Reply ]
...resisting the impulse to bump this down a point - truthfully, it's no worse than marginal, sucko-barfo wouldn't be fair...
Posted 17 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
TheLib wrote:
I would suggest downloading this to /dev/null.
Got my secret decoder ring out but still have no idea what you just said. Something about not liking the tune, presumably.
Posted 17 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
keller1 wrote:
Anybody found anywhere to download this?
I would suggest downloading this to /dev/null.
Posted 17 years ago by TheLib    [ Reply ]
mandolin wrote:
...i actually liked, or at least remained neutral, on natalie merchant's work with 10,000 maniacs, but for some reason the preponderance of her solo efforts leave me with an overwhelming the-emperor's-not-wearing-any-clothes vibe...
my sentiments exactly!
Posted 17 years ago by marzipanic    [ Reply ]
ktnsb wrote:
I'm sorry. Natalie Merchant doing The Work Song is practically a definition of incongruity. Like Kenny G playing Coltrane, or Arnold Schwarzenegger doing Hamlet. Way, way out of her reach.
Yup, nice instrumental arrangement, substitute a baritone sax for Natalie, then you'd have something.
Posted 17 years ago by healyf52    [ Reply ]
Anybody found anywhere to download this?
Posted 17 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
Apparently Natalie Merchant sits on either extreme of everyone here. You love her or you hate her. I love her.
Posted 17 years ago by ekeyte    [ Reply ]
...if it were played only once, i'd let it slide, but again so soon?.. 3 -> 2
Posted 17 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
great...she'll be covering Mustang Sally next.. :(
Posted 17 years ago by LongGoneDaddy    [ Reply ]
A good backing band, and a singer who understands the song... Blues is for everyone, friends - and Natalie knows what she's doing - she didn't just pick out a pop song, put together a screaming kick ass band, and just sort of waffle her way through an old standard. This is great stuff.
Posted 17 years ago by shayde    [ Reply ]
...i actually liked, or at least remained neutral, on natalie merchant's work with 10,000 maniacs, but for some reason the preponderance of her solo efforts leave me with an overwhelming the-emperor's-not-wearing-any-clothes vibe...
Posted 17 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
ktnsb wrote:
I'm sorry. Natalie Merchant doing The Work Song is practically a definition of incongruity. Like Kenny G playing Coltrane, or Arnold Schwarzenegger doing Hamlet. Way, way out of her reach.
exactly.
Posted 17 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
I'm sorry. Natalie Merchant doing The Work Song is practically a definition of incongruity. Like Kenny G playing Coltrane, or Arnold Schwarzenegger doing Hamlet. Way, way out of her reach.
Posted 17 years ago by ktnsb    [ Reply ]
The (it doesn't quite) Work Song
Posted 17 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
I take back that whole thing about her only having one song, albeit a good one. She has two, and they're both good.
Posted 17 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
I love her rendition of this song!!!
Posted 18 years ago by rabbitsongs    [ Reply ]