Intimate Portrait on Lifetime - Natalie Merchant, aired 1999. Narrated by Janeane Garofalo.

[@douglasj2254]

I had the privilege of meeting Ms. Merchant many years ago. I saw the Maniacs play at a relatively small venue and, during the intermission, went out of my way to sneak back stage like a silly, lovestruck teenager. I was twenty-one at the time. She was perfectly kind and friendly to me. After telling the (bouncers or stage crew?) not to throw me out, she asked me to sit down and chat. I spent a few minutes just talking with her and I left even more enamored with her than I had been before. When leaving, I asked if she would sign my hand. She smiled and said she would rather sign something that wouldn't get washed away. We couldn't find any paper so she grabbed a coffee filter! She signed the filter and drew a little doodle. She's a cool lady.

[@lorettanericcio-bohlman567]

So frickin jealous

[@johnfahey6102]

Saw her perform several years back, and at one point during the show she asked if anyone in the audience played the piano. A local school music teacher raised his hand; she brought him up on stage, handed him some sheet music, and actually let him play a couple of songs with the band. You can imagine the reaction from the audience. I'd never seen anything like that before, and I haven't seen anything like it since. What a wonderful memory.

[@Mmmyess]

I've seen that sort of thing in several concerts. It is very carefully rehearsed.

[@kimgordon3695]

Like seeing Robert Zimmerman play at the UIC Pavilion under a blue spot...

[@airwkyPLOW]

Google fan plays with band. U2, Green Day, Foo Fighters have all done and do it…

[@uncledude9424]

TigerLily was absolutely one of the greatest albums of our time. Right up there with Ten by Pearl Jam. Not a single bad song. Everyone tells a touching story.

[@colleenlichtenfeld9664]

Agree

[@auggieeast]

It's great but I've come to prefer most of the versions on Paradise Is There. Love the extra singers.

[@todbeard8118]

Being a 10000 Maniacs fan makes me a bit biased but thought she was the prettiest woman in the world and still do.

[@doubletake1238]

She is one hot Sicilian. I come from a family of them, but Natalie is perfection.

[@kensellers4082]

@@doubletake1238 I think Ms. Merchant is also half Irish.

[@wesleybrown4397]

Me too

[@doubletake1238]

@@kensellers4082 Or Lithuanian or something, but looks like her Sicilian side, not Irish.

[@kensellers4082]

@@doubletake1238 That’s like hot sauce and cold beer, as people say about people, who are “half Gaelic and half garlic.”

[@SharynGensch]

Literally cannot imagine living my life without her voice. My absolute favorite.

[@sanjeevjagtiani9192]

I’m so glad that I’ve had the chance to listen to Natalie for these past 35+ years and see her perform live. So glad I found this.

[@lathamarea1437]

I had the pleasure of meeting Natalie as her driver from airport to Hotel..truly a class act..What a super surprise to hand me a backstage pass for me and girlfriend, ( handwritten and signed using her luggage tag) to her concert we already had tickets to..A memory for a lifetime..

[@brendanatale7504]

Wow....how neat is that 😍

[@alandehn8541]

You were so blessed! What a talent she is!. I never get tired of hearing her sing.

[@mikedowd66]

I met Natalie twice, backstage at an REM concert in 85 (the maniacs were fronting on the Document tour) and then in 2000 on the the streets of Chelsea, Manhattan. Both times she was friendly and gracious when I approached her to thank her for her beautiful music. A classy sparkling gem and incomparable talent.

[@gwendolynkaren5933]

Rem spring of 84

[@JWHusby]

Very nice story. The Work Tour (Document) was '87. I saw them at the MSU Auditorium on Natalie's birthday. Micheal wheeled out a cake and sang her happy birthday. Not nearly as cool as your story, but it's what I got.

[@bmw3842]

Natalie is the real deal. A true artist.

[@claramarshall8921]

She did become a renaissance woman! Love her. Her music is such an important part of my life!

[@dragonlady2264]

I only discovered Natalie today! And I am hooked. What a beautiful gift to humanity! 💗🙏🏼💗

[@flyfish1995]

dragonlady2264 Where have you been for the last 30 years?

[@DavidLopez-rk6em]

@@flyfish1995 natalie has been around for almost 40 years now!

[@michaelk622]

That’s awesome! I hope her music brings you as much joy as it has me.

[@TheKavvz]

Well you've just found your diamond in the rough. Enjoy! And don't listen to what the pundits say about her as a solo artist. She is every bit as brilliant and talented without 10,000 Maniacs behind her. Cheers and stay safe. :)

[@deepcoolclear]

After you've discovered natalies 10,000 maniacs and solo career, check out her successor Mary Ramsey who is also a beautiful and talented singer

[@jondavis1923]

This woman is absolutely beautiful and mesmerizing!! Her voice while singing and talking about her life. Everything about her Is just fascinating!! GOD created a beautiful soul when he created Natalie!!

[@davez4177]

Ophelia is in my top 5 albums of all time, and that's holding company with Abbey Road and Dark Side of the Moon. I think it is the most underrated masterpiece I've ever heard.

[@angelikkax6353]

Yes! Agreed. It's wonderful!

[@ericrusso6250]

It's one of my favorites too!

[@erinjohnston8078]

Two days ago “Kind and Generous” dropped into my awareness from the ethereal like a volt of sunshine - a true gift that shifted me from a place of fear and reactivity into loving awareness. I had known the song well some 20 years ago but had not thought of, or heard it, in so long. “These are the Days” had been my source of joyful uplifting, like a golden thread woven through my darkest times - a beacon of light, “You'll know it's true that you are blessed and lucky It's true that you Are touched by something That will grow and bloom in you” Listening to Ophelia now, newly downloaded, and feeling the depth of expression from a kindred soul sister, I rejoice. Watching this, I just love her! Her authenticity, her voice and her unique expression amazes me, inspires me. What a gift we have in Natalie Merchant! I want to thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! xx

[@mikewoodson6930]

A life lesson in 38 minutes. Should be required watching. Bravo Natalie, beautiful. Can’t wait to see your next chapter.

[@charlesmessmer37]

someone needs to add her to the Hall Of Fame! She deserves it.

[@auckland18]

"Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record," according to the criteria. She's been eligible only since 2021 as a solo artist so give it time. I'd love to see in inducted.

[@kimgordon3695]

Donald J will do it

[@MrDLOC11]

Natalie was queen of college alternative rock in the eighties. R.E. M. were the kings, and they are already in the R&R Hall Of Fame 🤨🤨🤨

[@tarp11z]

She is too good for that riffraff.

[@mistersixpence]

Truly inspirational. 10000 Maniacs MTV Unplugged is one of the best acoustic sets ever alongside REM. In My Tribe, Blind Man’s Zoo and Our Time in Eden are all fantastic. Natalie’s ‘Tigerlily’ is outstanding. Her voice is unique and sublime. A hugely talented beautiful individual.

[@awickedtribe]

Natalie is my favorite female singer of all time and in the top five of my all-time singers period, right there with the best. I have every album she's put out and love every one of them.

[@shiminachtailer2290]

Me tooo

[@markfairfield1552]

Saw her for the only time in London 2014 and she was mesmerising. , beautiful soulful and unforgettable

[@MrDLOC11]

A first wave american alternative artist of great depth with an unmistakable voice, Natalie is hero to many. 🎵💜🎶💙👏👏👋👋

[@billwilson5341]

"Hero"? Really?

[@VitalityMassage]

It's so cool to see where Natalie came from and how she's evolved. She's so deep and amazing and an old soul.

[@cardo1111]

Good stuff, thanks for posting it 👍🏽

[@kevinv6455]

I don't think she will ever be an old soul she is very talented

[@MrDanny68]

carnival....... always brings tears in my eyes love the feelings she bring in to the song. love from Copenhagen /Denmark

[@lorettamurphy7119]

I have loved Natalie from Way Back and Michael Stipe..You both come together so Well..🎼🙏

[@damien1166]

I remember re-wiring a really rich guy's house in Bath England and he was showing off his amazing sound system with speakers in every room. The music he was playing was Natalie Merchant. Hooked forever, my favorite musician and what a voice!

[@Vitagirl]

Amazing artist!!

[@johnalden5821]

I first saw her and the Maniacs in Athens during the "whirling dervish" days, and they were electrifying and unique. Years later, I used to walk my infant son to sleep on my shoulder to her solo music. I just have a tremendous amount of respect for her musical integrity and creativity. It has always drawn me. She looks for the truth, and then turns it into a song.

[@constancemiller3753]

My son is reading 'Wonder' in class. I told him it was a song and introduced him to Natalie Merchant. I'm so glad she's out there, being out there.

[@aservantinbabylon]

Always loved that woman, such a great example of true, strong, feminine womanhood......she is smart, classy, sexy, talented without every being trashy or "sexualized". A great inspiration.

[@craigbendall3716]

Another living national treasure

[@jacquelinewilliams6713]

Such an 'AMAZING' spiritual story teller.... 'Pure of Heart'

[@phillipwilson4000]

Natalie seems like an old soul; someone who’s found herself awkwardly stuck living in the pre-50 body of a perfect stranger. Today she’ seems so comfortable in her own skin. So natural and charismatic, Finally home in herself.

[@Lord_Dillinger]

Came across this and her music, forgot how much I liked it back in the day...

[@jenniferwellman5311]

I loved seeing 10,000 maniacs so, years ago, it was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. Favorite song, “Verdi cries”

[@seanmcmanamon2670]

She is so unguarded in this interview. Seems comfortable talking to Janeane. Its refreshing.

[@mikefisher4834]

They most likely knew each other before they were both famous is why she’s so comfortable💯

[@satchmo2]

What an absolutely amazing woman

[@MichaelMurphy-tu1bb]

A true once in a lifetime artist....

[@waynephillips5013]

Have been listening to Natalie and transfixed by her voice and her words since I was in college in the late 80s. Every now and then I get a good reminder (like with this 1999 broadcast watched here in 2022) of what it was about her that spoke to me then and still does today.

[@llrblaylock9451]

Lady Natalie Merchant is one of my favorite song poets. I will never forget seeing her in concert. Her songs are so amazingly beautiful. She sang lyrics to one of my favorite poems, " Margaret are you grieving..." All I could do was to cry.😢 Love the meditative spins, she's so cool!❤❤❤

[@pamelaolson5614]

Love her voice. I love Janine Garafalo too.

[@michellefernandez3736]

OMG THANK YOU SOOO VERY MUCH FOR POSTING THIS! I've been OBSESSED with Natalie and 10,000 Maniacs for Years❤❤❤

[@dianecook8026]

Michelle Fernandez me too! We named our daughter Natalie because we love her so much. Our daughter is a senior in college now,, 21 years later❤️

[@michellefernandez3736]

@@dianecook8026 OMG I almost named my daughter, who is also 21 & a senior, Natalie too. In honor of the great Natalie but my husband didn't care for it. So, I made sure my daughter loved the music, which happily she does.❤

[@azzureasthesky]

have you seen her photo on the Ophelia album? she is real and stunning.

[@rickthompson2520]

A pure soul , how can you just not love her

[@shannonsmith2642]

Very nostalgic takes me right back to 94-95.

[@soniasonia2518]

Thanks for the posting. I seriously enjoyed it, especially as a fan of Natalie and Janeane Garofalo.

[@johndistaso6353]

Wonderful to see this again. Thanks for posting. It captures her brilliance.

[@jojogalit2750]

Natalie thank you very much for sharing your talent to us, you rock girl 💪

[@ldbass62]

Wonderful story! Thank you for sharing this.

[@nancys7450]

One of the best compliments I ever received was in college when someone told me that my voice sounded like Natalie's. I wish! But the compliment lingers anyway.

[@jefferyjacobson3290]

You rock 😮

[@theholyghost]

She’s very special.

[@999mmj]

Thrilled to see all of this

[@CreachterZ]

I’m still waiting for her to seek me out, knock on my door, and ask me to marry her in the most romantic way. Hasn’t happened yet, but I haven’t given up hope!

[@messner1486]

Carnival is in my best liked songs playlist, one of those songs that you never tire of listening to and such a beautiful sensuous soul to behold performing her songs

[@MrWayne6363]

Thanks for uploading this. I've always been an admirer of Natalie. For an old guy, this was refreshing.

[@julianwells4055]

What a voice! What a talent!

[@charleskuntz3457]

Thankyou natalie youve made it a better place

[@brendanatale7504]

What a beautiful person ❤amazing story....absolutely 💘I'm going to start listening ...to all her music 🎶

[@cerriberry6835]

I can’t belive I’ve not heard of this woman before in all of my 54 years! Also someone that dances the same way as I do lol....I am always made fun of lol. Anyway she is hauntingly beautiful and her songs are too they make me shiver all over. She is a maze ing! WOW is all I can say. Carnival is my favourite so far and how clever and insightful is that writing. I only hope she comes to England to sing! If I could afford it ( I might win the loto) I would come to America just to hear her....... I genuinely feel like Ive missed out. She is so understated which perhaps is too understated in its self....I can’t belive she is not on our TV’s more. I love, love, love, love this woman and her music. More more more more PLEASE 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💕🙏🏻💕💕🙏🏻💕🇬🇧✌🏻 New SUB x

[@documax123]

She was made to sing. She is it, is song, is singing. Thoroughly. And thoroughly committed.

[@rsan9854]

SHE IS SO AWESOME!

[@auckland18]

Agreed. I got into 10K Maniacs and her solo material maybe 20 years ago; there is something mesmerizing about her and her music. I could listen to her music or an interview with her all day.

[@johnmcnulty4425]

Great story! You always learn so much more. Hope she's well today.

[@TheFinnmacool]

That was great. Thx. "Culture of hope." Brilliant.

[@jeffreyd3352]

Thanks for sharing! Natalie has been a true inspiration for me since 1985, when Wishing Chair came out, and I have never stopped listening. She and 10,000 are the creme da la creme...

[@cmb1313]

Tigerlily is one of my all time favorite albums. I can't believe that the guitarist had only begun playing a year earlier!

[@PanosaoVento]

She is unique.

[@tubeyou89119]

"Responsibility is underrated thing in this country..." It's more true today.... everyone has this and that rights, but zero responsibility nowadays.

[@unite4peace88]

Artists give us something, and hopefully we give them something as fans, but what Natalie did for me was transform me from the person who thought the only passion worth having was connecting music with love. Love songs were the only things to evoke such passion from my soul. But Natalie changes that. Her music helped me see great passion can be present even when I wasn’t focusing on the love I felt for someone else. This is a great power, one she is the master of.

[@rhondabaroli2683]

Alway s been big time fan . ..super talented spiritual lady. Enjoyed listening to her story I didn't know much about her

[@lenklaif5661]

I had the pleasure/honor/thrill of seeing 10,000 Maniacs at Nietzsche's bar in Buffalo when they first left home. There was nothing like her.

[@41clover]

Wow. I've been a Natalie fan since Wishing Chair, and I never knew she had spinal meningitis. It changed her career.

[@matthewweng8483]

The first time I listened to ‘In My Tribe’ back in college, I remember realizing that music had radically changed in some intangible, yet powerful way - that album was like a bubble that existed completely extraneous of everything else. All of her songs live in that bubble... The only other album that hit me that deeply was ‘Holy Smoke’ by Peter Murphy.

[@gwendolynkaren5933]

Love peter Murphy

[@MsJLD1234]

One of my favorite people. I just adore her voice, music and, although I do not know her in the least, I just love her creative and caring soul.

[@jaredcoderre3062]

She’s an amazing artist.

[@greasyflight6609]

I always loved her...80s crush

[@walterpankratz3309]

I love the family story, and h jo w she loves music, such a lovely voice! I absolutely love Natalie! Her voice and her beauty!

[@sadiqqdaoud4210]

I am enamored by her and I've always been since the time I found all 10,000 of them. Katrina's fair sounded like a foreign language to me but I got lost in it and I loved that. My current fan favorite is My mother the war.

[@sheldoncooper1134]

Natalie is an amazing singer. I have always had a interesting connection to people who I find later are left handed. I learned that she is left handed. Left handed people are usually very talented, from my observation and experience. Judy Garland was left-handed among many gifted lefty's!

[@paulschneeman1476]

Oh my gosh, great piece about a great person.

[@mikefisher4834]

I didn’t know about Natalie Merchant until she went solo I had heard of 10,000 maniacs but only the name I never heard any of their music💯

[@mikeromero8598]

What a beautiful voice and person .Reminds me of a past girlfriend I once knew.

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

Michael Stipe has always spoken as if he is incredibly impressed with himself. That said, Murmur is in my opinion the one of the best albums ever made.

[@pepper1188]

She was his beard it seems😒

[@markwhitman9542]

I think he sounds ruminative & thoughtful, not 'full of' himself...

[@Uhohlisa]

@@pepper1188 he’s bi

[@spaceghost8995]

@@Uhohlisa AND?

[@gwendolynkaren5933]

@Jim Allen yeah it does

[@dathorndike4908]

I know John Lombardo. He lives here in Buffalo now and I see him at the same bar I go to every so often. We've talked some. Heard him sing, too. He looks good for his age.

[@deadhorse1391]

I met Natalie Merchant when as teens we both worked in a health food store in New York. We hit it off right from the start and had heady summer that we spent every day together, I told her if we weren’t in Heaven we could see it. Finally summer ended and I was set to go to school in Cambridge, I begged her to come with me but she had just started singing in the band Still Life and she begged me to stay I didn’t. We kept in touch over the years as she hit it big, she got married and so did I. I had a career I loved and she was…Natalie Merchant ! Finally a few years ago I got a call from her, she was doing a show in my town and wanted to know if I wanted to get together for dinner? Of course We met at this little restaurant that I knew had a good vegan menu as I knew she had become a vegan. When she came in I swear to god she was lit in a beam of light from heaven ( she later told me it was just a street light ) At first it was kind of awkward but soon it was just like the old days with us laughing and her singing softly…I told her if this wasn’t heaven we could see it from here…she winked and laughed. Finally the restaurant was closing and we had to leave,I walked her to her car with us dancing along the sidewalk We get there and she kisses me good night and asked me if I ever think about her much I told her “ occasionally “ and we laughed she kissed me again and told me she still “ occasionally “ thinks of me and how things might have been I told her she has never been out of my thoughts

[@alexnutcasio936]

What year was this reunion? Sounds like there was still a flame of enchantment going on. Why no hook up?

[@deadhorse1391]

@ I I haven’t seen Natalie since that night but of course we have kept in touch , as always it has been sporadic. She is obviously a busy woman, we won’t talk for months then she will call me three times in a weekend, she has always had trouble sleeping so often it will be late at night, I’ve told her that it’s fine Have to admit it is now causing some problems with my wife who I love deeply She used to tell people that I used to date Natalie Merchant , and I would joke that was before I upgraded , laugh and give my wife a hug. She liked that. She doesn’t do that anymore I noticed that she no longer has Natalie on her pandora music list. I sell antiques and vintage clothing, like Natalie’s mother did before she passed. I recently did a large show in the Northeast and I usually camp out in my transit van. When I mentioned this to Natalie in our last phone call she got irate and asked why I didn’t tell her before because she would have loved to have gone. She said it would have been like when we used to go camping in my old VW van as kids. She admitted to me something she often dreams about. I do too I have another show toward the end of October ( around her birthday) and it looks like she is going to go with me! Of course I’m beyond happy but I’m scared too. Probably the feeling of a recovered alcoholic that hasn’t had a drink in years when he finds that bottle he hid in the attic and forgot haven’t seen Natalie since that night but of course we have kept in touch , as always it has been sporadic. She is obviously a busy woman, we won’t talk for months then she will call me three times in a weekend, she has always had trouble sleeping so often it will be late at night, I’ve told her that it’s fine Have to admit it is now causing some problems with my wife who I love deeply She used to tell people that I used to date Natalie Merchant , and I would joke that was before I upgraded , laugh and give my wife a hug. She liked that. She doesn’t do that anymore I noticed that she no longer has Natalie on her pandora music list. I sell antiques and vintage clothing, like Natalie’s mother did before she passed. I recently did a large show in the Northeast and I usually camp out in my transit van. When I mentioned this to Natalie in our last phone call she got irate and asked why I didn’t tell her before because she would have loved to have gone. She said it would have been like when we used to go camping in my old VW van as kids. She admitted to me something she often dreams about. I do too I have another show toward the end of December and it looks like she is going to go with me! Of course I’m beyond happy but I’m scared too. Probably the feeling of a recovered alcoholic that hasn’t had a drink in years when he finds that bottle he hid in the attic and forgot

[@Mike___Kilo]

Love Natalie's voice. And her accent???

[@jeffreycraven8154]

Haven't hear heard voice in years. Loved her sound.

[@rossmurray6849]

My all-time favourite song is Natalie's Thick as Thieves, from the album Ophelia. I've never been able to figure out the meaning of the lyrics. I recognise lots of references to the Book of Genesis, but never having read that it doesn't help me figure out the meaning of the song. It's the music alone that always has me in raptures. The strong melody on the piano opposed to the screaming, chaotic lead guitar draws me in every time.

[@michaeldavis146]

Inanananana, Mer (cury) chant . Maiden of Mercury . The Mercuritor of God. When she says in the song , I may know the Word . She's talking about kicking it with Jesus . Who's Mercury . She's not lying .

[@rossmurray6849]

@@michaeldavis146 Thanks.

[@arricammarques1955]

Natalie and Janeane resemble each other.

[@bayosborn8099]

Gem so natural😍

[@lorettanericcio-bohlman567]

Have loved this sentient being forever. 26 Oct puts her in Scorpio ♏️. 4 Nov puts me there too 💕

[@rkbartlettservices]

Always liked her with The Maniacs but Tigerlily was out of the park and a CD I still put on regularly

[@barbaraanderson4381]

You are Renowned ❤

[@timothysafar4804]

Such a sweetheart 💕 you are a beautiful woman in every respect such a gift 🎁 to the human race ! Thank you natalie for all your music and your works on inviroment issues .❤

[@apolloguitars]

"Everyone should be more responsible." Yes!

[@saravivien_]

god she’s so underrated i love her

[@11Garrett11]

I sang Michael Stipe’s part in ‘A campfire song’ at the Mann music center in Philadelphia with Natalie in June 1993 right before they broke up. It remains the highlight of my life🎉

[@kimgordon3695]

How cool!

[@rhondarandall4500]

I had no clue that Natalie was in a relationship with Michael from REM Gosh just 2of my favourite performers❤

[@salvadorchika2570]

Ela é espetacular!Maravilhosa!!!

[@autobahnmensch]

been a fan since 1990-something.. one of the most amazing artists of our time - Gulf of Araby gets me in the feels every single time

[@MadderMel]

So very unique and such a beautiful soul !

[@tionajohnson6892]

She saved my life!

[@musicguy20]

Something so magical and real about her but yet like a dream.

[@fabrizioalpino9928]

Wonderful artist and woman , I love her deeply

[@farewell_to_normalcy9352]

I remember watching 10,000 Maniacs unplugged when it first aired, and I probably was around 8-9 and I thought Natalie was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. HUGE crush on her. Now, I’m older , and even she is older. But she’s still a fox 🦊

[@derekrolle6705]

An incredible story.