Carousel (Melanie Martinez song)

Lore & Background

In 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. 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.

Martinez described "Carousel" as, "My feeling in love with someone and being stuck on the same ride and trying to grab them but I never reach them." The music video, released on October 15, 2014, was noted by Lyndsey Parker of Yahoo! Music as "totally creepy-cool, depicting a doomed romance that literally spins out of control at a dark, deserted Long Island carnival."

Reader's Guide

"Carousel" marks a significant moment in Melanie Martinez's early career, bridging her debut EP and album while gaining exposure through its association with American Horror Story. The song's indie pop style and carnival-themed lyrics, inspired by the show's fourth season, helped establish Martinez's distinctive aesthetic. Critical reception was positive, with Yahoo! Music praising both the song and its video as "creepy-cool." The track's use in the trailer for American Horror Story: Freak Show introduced Martinez to a broader audience, leveraging her personal connection to the series. Its legacy lies in its role as a promotional tool for a major television series and as a early example of Martinez's artistic vision.

Did You Know?

• The song was used in the trailer for the fourth season of American Horror Story.
• Martinez contacted FX about the song after hearing about the season's carnival theme.
• The music video was released on October 15, 2014.
• Martinez described the song as about being stuck on a ride and unable to reach a loved one.