• AOL
  • MAIL
    • You might also like: 
    • Music | 
    • Movies | 
    • TV | 
    • Celebrity
    •  and More
    • Main
    • News
    • Features
      • The Hit List
      • Spinner Interview
      • Potent Quotables
      • Guest Blogger
    • Songs
      • MP3 of the Day
      • Listening Party
      • What's That Song?
    • Videos
      • The Interface
      • Sessions
      • Video of the Day
    • Our Widgets
      • iPhone App
      • Radio Toolbar
    • Send Feedback

    Spinner Exclusives

    • The Interface - Live Performances
    • Listening Parties - New CDS for Free
    • Spinner Radio
    • Listening Parties - New CDS for Free

    Features

    • Bad Song, Good Band
    • Bands With Brothers
    • Banned Bands
    • Outrageous Tribute Bands
    • Sad Songs
    • Worst Lyrics Ever

    All Categories

    • Spinner Says(7)
    • All About Jazz(26)
    • Clash of the Cover Art(1)
    • Lyrics(4)
    • Music A-Z(24)
    • New Releases(53)
    • Quizzes & Trivia(2)
    • Album(110)
    • Around the World(147)
    • Book Club(57)
    • Canada(318)
    • Celebrity Doppelganger(13)
    • Clash of the Cover Songs(45)
    • Coming Out Stories(20)
    • Concerts and Tours(1664)
    • Count Five(63)
    • Country(45)
    • Electronic(274)
    • Exclusive(2432)
    • Free MP3 Download of the Day(898)
    • Grammy Awards(87)
    • Guest Blogger(61)
    • Holy Hell(644)
    • I Fought the Law(31)
    • I Freakin' Love This Song(238)
    • Jazz(16)
    • Laugh, Rage, Cry(6)
    • Movies(163)
    • Music Appreciation(50)
    • New Music(304)
    • News(4711)
    • Politics as Usual(19)
    • Pop Culture(40)
    • Potent Quotables(613)
    • R.I.P.(184)
    • Road Report(17)
    • Rock Almanac(366)
    • Rock Hall(29)
    • RPM(25)
    • Schwag Hag(37)
    • Songs(201)
    • Spinner Interview(110)
    • Television(94)
    • The Chum Bucket(606)
    • The Crap Stack(17)
    • The Hit List(1128)
    • Total Dick Move(2)
    • Twisted Tales(125)
    • UK(512)
    • Video(923)
    • Video of the Day(707)
    • Wacked News(190)
    • What's That Song?(79)

    Brett Dennen With Natalie Merchant, 'Heaven' -- Song Premiere

    • Posted on Sep 1st 2009 10:30AM by Benjy Eisen
    • Comments (23)
    Print |  Email More
    It's been about six years since we've heard new music from Natalie Merchant, retrospectives, reissues, live performances and an appearance on the homeless benefit album 'Give Us Your Poor' notwithstanding. But along comes eternally optimistic singer-songwriter Brett Dennen and now Merchant is back in the spotlight on a new duet.

    The tune is 'Heaven,' which Dennen originally released last year on his sunny-side-up album 'Hope for the Hopeless.' That album title was even pulled from 'Heaven's' lyrics. Nonetheless -- and not surprisingly -- Dennen doesn't seem too upset about remaking it to include Merchant.

    "Working with Natalie was a dream come true," Dennen tells Spinner. "I've been a big fan for a long time. When I hear her sing my lyrics with her unmistakably beautiful voice, it is a profound encouragement."

    That's nice. It's also somehow cyclical: The song itself offers the listener profound encouragement in positing that there is, indeed, hope for the hopeless. Hopefully.

    Listen to 'Heaven'
    • Filed under: MP3, New Music, Exclusive
    • Share & Bookmark :
      Print |  Email More

    Reader Comments(1 of 2)

    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    miz898at 9-01-2009

    Beautiful song! Beautiful singers!

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    collinsat 9-02-2009

    god i forgot how much i love natalie merchant. that voice, my god that voice! what has she been doing?

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    Kathrynat 9-03-2009

    Beautiful! What's she been doing? I think taking time out to get married and have a baby. Taking things slow for a change.

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    BIG GEORGEat 9-05-2009

    I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO NATALIE MERCHANT FOR 20 YEARS, AND I DON'T THINK THERE IS A MORE DISTINCTIVE VOICE IN THE INDUSTRY. WISH I COULD SPEND TIME WITH HER, I LOVE HER MUSIC AND HER VOICE.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    mayasfashion2at 9-05-2009

    I saw Natalie in concert in the 90's and I have to say as much as I've always liked her voice, it was the most boring concert Ive ever been to.
    Very lackluster. She has a superb voice but as a performer didn't connect very well with the audience, at least that was my experience.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Waynebowat 9-05-2009

    Saw her w/Cowboys in Peekskill, NY about 3 1/2 years ago. Began well, but became repetititve-- I have to agree with above comment: boring: despite fact I, too, love her voice.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    UncleBigBadat 9-05-2009

    I think the only reason Norah Jones was popular is because she sounds so much like Merchant and Merchant wasn't around.....

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    Linnat 9-05-2009

    Beatiful. This gives me the chills...that is how wonderful this song is! It's great to hear Natalie Merchant's voice again & together with Brett, they truly are angelic...Thank you...this song and your voices are exactly music at its best :) and exactly what we need now.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    Eric K Adelmanat 9-05-2009

    Beautiful and great to see her back and look forward to the album (cd)

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Steve-a-rinoat 9-05-2009

    Natalie, please keep singing and singing - sing anything, all the time, as much as you can. Unique voices (Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, k.d. lang) such as yours are impossible to duplicate. Write more, sing more, come see us more often. Never doubt that you have a fan base - everyone I know stops to listen any time your songs are played.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    S321Saintat 9-05-2009

    So women who have voices that sound like Bob Dylan is something YOU look forward to? Please....but then anyone who thinks Dylan was a SINGER is/was out of their minds. I prefer women whose voices can stand on their own (Jennifer Nettles, that group of women from Ireland)

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    jrzyat 9-05-2009

    I love her voice,her lyrics always have a strong message she is fabulous.10,000 manics I remember I had to take a song and talk it like a speech back in h.s when I said 10,000 manics my teacher rolled her eyes and said "this should be good,then asked if it was aproprate for school.I told her is was about child abuse she loved it once I was done.Words cant say how wonderful her messages are.the voice is just a pleasent plus

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    amyintheskyat 9-05-2009

    Dear Brett and Natalie,

    If this song doesn't inspire people
    to help those who have found the
    opposite of heaven on earth,
    then your fans have a listening
    problem...myself included.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    budat 9-05-2009

    great voice crummy lyrucs, the only way to sell a song is to sing about sadness. the political messages in music ruin it for me . songs should be uplifting.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Christineat 9-05-2009

    I liked the song when it was just Brett Dennen. I like Natalie Merchant, and all, but the song was magical enough for me with just Brett Dennen. I'll stick to the original version.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    michaelat 9-05-2009

    GREAT lyrics - great voice - raspy like amy

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Robertat 9-05-2009

    Brett Dennan is an immature clown.Listen to the guys lyrics. He is an utter fool. Wake up Brett!!!! We don't live on fantasy island, you have to deal with the real world.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXat 9-05-2009

    What a sappy, cheesy song. And, I can think of a lot of other singers who are way, way better than Natalie Merchant. Johnette Napolitono of Concrete Blonde, Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star, Amy Winehouse, and Faith Hill, just to name a few. Natalie Merchant is mediocre, at best.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Valann Geysenat 9-22-2009

    Natalie's voice is versatile, husky, lush, soft and smooth, high, low and smoky. She is also a highly intelligent individual, and extremely talented.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    sheribat 9-06-2009

    I really like the song Heaven with both Natalie and Brett. Each of them is a soulful person and the message they bring should be listened to and understood.

    Reply
    12 Next >

    Add your comments

    • New Users
    • Returning Users
    • AOL/AIM Screenname

    If you are posting a comment for the first time, please enter your name and email address in the fields above. Your name will be displayed with your comment. Your email address will never be displayed.

    Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Off-topic, promotional or otherwise inappropriateinappropriate comments will be removed.

    When you enter your name and email address for the first time, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, as well as a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

    Follow US

    Facebook
    Twitter
    RSS
    • Contact Us
    • Send News Tips
    • Advertise with Us

    Shop Now

    Listen to Full CDs

    • Hot Chip, 'One Life Stand'
    • Sade, 'Soldier of Love'Massive Attack, 'Heligoland'
    • Return of the Wu & Friends
    • Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
    • All Spinner Full CDs

    Relevant Posts

    • Dave Matthews Band Invite Esteemed 'Special Guests' for Summer Tour (14 days ago - 1 Comment)
    • Fatboy Slim and Wife Zoe Ball Welcome Baby Girl (25 days ago - 1 Comment)
    • Brett Dennen to Broadcast New Year's Eve Concert Online (47 days ago - 4 Comments)
    • David Byrne Announces Upcoming Album With Fatboy Slim (57 days ago - 0 Comments)

    Billboard

    • 1: Break, Three Days Grace
    • 2: Uprising, Muse
    • 3: Your Decision, Alice In Chains
    • 4: If You Only Knew, Shinedown
    • 5: (If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To, Weezer
    • See All Top 100 Rock Albums at

    Hottest Artists on Tour: Lady GaGa, Taylor Swift, Pink, Black Eyed Peas, Kid Cudi,

    Also on AOL

    Quick Links

    • Celebrity Tattoos
    • Celebrities Without Makeup
    • Slipknot Masks
    • Christmas Music
    • 50s Music
    • 60s Music
    • 90s Music
    • 70s Music
    • 80s Music
    • Best Songs Of 2008
    • Horrorcore
    • Michael Jackson Songs

    Also on AOL Music

    • Concert Tickets
    • Country Music
    • Grammys
    • Hip Hop Music
    • Lyrics
    • Metal Music
    • Music News
    • Music Videos
    • New Music Releases
    • Online Radio
    • PopEater

    Blogs on AOL

    • Autoblog
    • Be Red
    • BloggingStocks
    • Cinematical
    • DownloadSquad
    • Engadget
    • Fanhouse
    • Joystiq
    • StyleList
    • TMZ

    More on AOL

    • African-American Culture
    • AOL Video
    • Breaking News
    • CityGuide
    • Food
    • Love
    • Media Player
    • Musica Latina
    • Pixcetera
    • Singles
    • Wallet Pop

    More on AOL

    • Television
    • Movies
    • Money
    • Mapquest
    • Horoscopes
    • Health
    • AOL Latino
    • Games
    • SHOUTcast

    Help Links

    • Advertise With Us
    • Mail
    • Notify AOL
    • Privacy Policy
    • Search
    • Terms of Service
    • Trademarks
    • Follow Spinner on Twitter
    • The Interface
    • Free Mp3
    • Full CDs
    • RSS
    • Terms of Use

    Spinner.com © 2009 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.