Natalie Merchant Outfits, 1998 | The short film for Natalie Merchant’s 1998 album Ophelia provides a visual portrayal of Merchant’s socially aware, feminist sound through her theatrical interpretation of the characters mentioned in the title song. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia is a young woman surrounded by powerful men who all abuse and exploit her — expecting her to simultaneously act in the conflicting roles of noblewoman, daughter, sister, and lover — until she finally descends into madne

This week’s Motherland 20th offering is a performance of “Tell Yourself” from a truly acoustic benefit to renovate the historic Shaker Meeting Hall at Watervliet, NY. Thank you to my helpmate who directed the audience sing-a-long. #motherland #20years | Natalie Merchant