Brett Dennen With Natalie Merchant, 'Heaven' -- Song Premiere
- Posted on Sep 1st 2009 10:30AM by Benjy Eisen
- Comments (23)
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.
Reader Comments(1 of 2)
miz898at 9-01-2009
Beautiful song! Beautiful singers!
collinsat 9-02-2009
god i forgot how much i love natalie merchant. that voice, my god that voice! what has she been doing?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.....
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.
Eric K Adelmanat 9-05-2009
Beautiful and great to see her back and look forward to the album (cd)
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.
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
michaelat 9-05-2009
GREAT lyrics - great voice - raspy like amy
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.
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.
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.
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.