Is Natalie Merchant to blame....

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Is Natalie Merchant to blame for grunge singing? That is, the particulary annoying, clenched-teeth groan that we're still hearing from the likes of Creed? From Pearl Jam, to Collective Soul, to Alice in Chains and STP, Silverchair, etc., they've all employed this modern moan... but was Natalie Merchant the first ventriloquist?

― Andy, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

No. Why do you ask? Sh e sings like Morrisey. BLame Cobain.

― Mike Hanley, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

No, man, Morrissey is a ringing meadowlark compared to her bellowing dirge...

― andy, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

This is too easy: blame Cher.

Listen to Eddie Vedder. Then listen to Cher. It's undeniable.

― Nitsuh, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Andy, the answer is no.

Nitsuh, that is hilarious, and, I believe, accurate.

― Sean, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Furthermore, this also let's us blame Cher for Natalie Merchant! Everyone wins!

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Lets blaem Cher for baggy ass view on that horrid video where all the Navy seals wanted to do her

― Mike Hanley, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Let's not

― mark s, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Her singing on early 10,000 Maniacs records is most... unusual. As if the Cocteau Twins were American, maybe. Interestingly, the first I ever heard of Francoise Hardy was in a review of the first Maniacs record, which said the lead singer might as well be singing in French, like Ms. Hardy. I hadn't heard the Maniacs yet and had no real desire to at the time... But I did hurry back to the thrift shop to get Francoise. Who sounds nothing like Natalie, perhaps thankfully. She always sounded like Debby Harry's kid sister to me.

― X. Y. Zedd, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two months pass...

natalie merchant is wonderful. thats all there is to say! :-)

― ciaobella, Sunday, 30 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I never thought about Cher before - that's a good point. I personally always compared Eddie Vedder to Michael Bolton. I don't actually remember Natalie Merchant's vocals very well. I think my sister has an album. I'll ask to hear it next time I visit.

― sundar subramanian, Sunday, 30 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

the first time my dad heard pearl jam he thought eddie vedder sounded like richie havens. i still think he's off his nut (just say no, kids) but he's right in that both make monumentally boring, "righteous" music.

nathalie merchant is too negligible to warrant hate or love or for me to scratch my balls for that matter.

― jess, Sunday, 30 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

How about Natalie Merchant / Nanci Griffith comparison?

― the pinefox, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Hey, what's all this Vedder-hating about? He's as great rock n' roll shouter in the classic tradition. His quieter stuff singing can be quite lame, but I see the Merchant similarity. And Merchant is undeniably talented. 10,000 Maniacs were great, and her her first solo was tops, especially the gorgeous "Seven Years" -- a perfect snippet of true anger, in comparison to Alanis's cartoony poutings.

― Jack Redelfs, Sunday, 7 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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