"Carousel" is a song by Latin American recording artist Melanie Martinez. The song was featured on Martinez's debut EP, Dollhouse (2014) and her[a] debut studio album Cry Baby (2015). "Carousel" was released on September 1, 2014, as the second single from Dollhouse. A music video accompanying the song was released on October 15, 2014.[1] The song was used in the trailer for the fourth season of the horror anthology television series American Horror Story.
| "Carousel" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Melanie Martinez | ||||
| from the EP Dollhouse | ||||
| Released | September 1, 2014 | |||
| Genre | Indie pop | |||
| Length | 3:50 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Kinetics & One Love | |||
| Melanie Martinez singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Carousel" on YouTube | ||||
Background and composition
editIn 2014, the song was featured in a preview of season four of FX's horror anthology series, American Horror Story, with the theme also being a riff on the song.[2] Martinez told the Huffington Post that American Horror Story is "'absolutely, hands down' her favorite show" and mentioned that she contacted FX about the song as soon as she heard about the season's carnival theme. She later received a call from the network two days before the promo aired.[3]
"Carousel" is labeled as indie pop,[4] described by Martinez as, "My feeling in love with someone and being stuck on the same ride and trying to grab them but I never reach them".[5]
Critical reception
editLyndsey Parker of Yahoo! Music praised the song and Martinez, saying, "Melanie Martinez has moved on from The Voice to American Horror Story. And her new song and video are so good. The two-toned-haired Goth girl wonder, one of the most unique contestants to ever appear on The Voice ... While her new video for the song, out just in time for Halloween, isn't quite as twisted as anything on AHS, it's still totally creepy-cool, depicting a doomed romance that literally spins out of control at a dark, deserted Long Island carnival".[6]
Meaning
edit[7]The lyrics of Melanie Martinez’s “Carousel” highlight what can be felt when a person’s love is unrequited. The song mainly talks about a one-sided love affair where one party feels like they can never truly reach the other. The narrator in this situation seems to be frustrated as she realizes she is unable to move forward in the relationship. It is just like two points on opposing sides of a rotating circle
[8]The song portrays the pain of loving someone so deeply to the point that one feels trapped, yet is impossible to get their attention no matter how hard you try. Melanie uses a carousel to bring more significance to this kind of love that goes round in chase without end. Clearly, their relationship does not seem to work and is far from reality. However, the singer feels stuck and finds it difficult to move on.
Read more at: https://www.songmeaningsandfacts.com/carousel-by-melanie-martinez/
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Carousel" | 3:50 |
| Total length: | 3:50 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Carousel (Bobby Green Remix)" | 4:37 |
| 2. | "Carousel (Bleep Bleep Remix)" | 4:02 |
| 3. | "Carousel (Eric Sharp Radio Mix)" | 4:31 |
| 4. | "Carousel (SNBRN Remix)" | 5:41 |
| Total length: | 18:11 | |
Charts and certifications
edit
Chartsedit
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Certificationsedit
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Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | May 19, 2014 | Digital download | Atlantic | [citation needed] |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ Kelley Dunlap, "Premiere: Melanie Martinez’s “Carousel” Video Is Nightmarishly Cool", Buzzfeed, October 15, 2014
- ^ Marc Hogan, "That 'American Horror Story: Freak Show' Song is Melanie Martinez's "Carousel"" Archived 2016-10-30 at the Wayback Machine, Wondering Sound, September 8, 2014
- ^ Rachel Mcrady,"The Voice's Melanie Martinez Pens American Horror Story: Freak Show Theme Song "Carousel"", US Magazine, October 8, 2014
- ^ "Melanie Martinez's 'Carousel' Music Video Is Terrific Horror—Watch Now!". Popdust.
- ^ Jason Lipshutz, "Melanie Martinez EP Premiere: Hear 'The Voice' Alum's 'Dollhouse'", Billboard, May 13, 2014
- ^ Lyndsey Parker, "Freak Show: Melanie Martinez Unveils Frighteningly Great 'Carousel' Video", Yahoo, October 16, 2014
- ^ SMF (2019-09-18). ""Carousel" by Melanie Martinez". Song Meanings and Facts. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
- ^ SMF (2019-09-18). ""Carousel" by Melanie Martinez". Song Meanings and Facts. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
- ^ "Carousel Title Performance - Alternative" Archived 2015-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, Billboard, October 25, 2014
- ^ "Carousel Title Performance - Pop" Archived 2015-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, Billboard, October 25, 2014
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Melanie Martinez – Carousel". Music Canada. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
- ^ "American single certifications – Melanie Martinez – Carousel". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 1, 2016.