Agreed on all counts. But it actually gets deeper if you consider *when* she was doing what she was doing. This is a woman of color during the height of Jim Crow. And by all accounts, she got dragged through it. But the power that you mention in her voice was reflected in her as a person. She was strong, intense, and defiant to her challengers, while still channeling the most shining inner beauty. Just one example of her spirit: At age 12 she was scheduled to give a performance. Before the performance started, her parents were moved from the front row to the back to make room for white people. Nina refused to perform until they were restored to their original seats, and the eventually were. Aged 12!
Cannot BELIEVE you doing Nina. The High Priestess of soul. My dad turned me onto her when I was 10 (I’m 58 now) and I turned all my college friends on to her. The reediest most soulful voice. Sends chills up my spine. This is Grown Ass Woman music.
What you may not know about Nina is her prowess as a classical piano virtuoso which translates to her uniqueness as a vocalist. Dang i love her. In my books, I've noticed all the greatest singers are awesome instrumentalists.
Nina wasn't the first to do this, but her version became the definitive one. After this, everyone copied this dramatic arrangement, and this song quickly became part of the early civil rights movement. Try her doing "Mississippi Goddamn", her cover of "My Baby Just Cares For Me", "Sinnerman", and her original version of "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood". Also try other songs written by the great Anthony Newley, "What Kind Of Fool Am I", "Who Can I Turn To", and my least favorite "Candy Man", all done by the great Sammy Davis Jr.
There are no words to describe what Nina Simone does to me. Everything I’ve ever heard from her is S tier. She is a genius of the highest order. Her voice carries so much depth of emotion. Like the weight of history is in her timbre. I recommend every song she has ever done. Try: I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl, Sinnerman, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free, I Put A Spell On You, Since I Fell for You, To Be Young Gifted and Black. Also every cover she did of Porgy and Bess, also Mississippi God Damn is a great protest song in the aftermath of the Baptist Church Bombing. Just listen to everything she has ever done.
Endless greatness from her. 100% I have the same reaction in this song where that big band kicks in and most singers would get drowned out and she just rides it.
Just doesn't get any better than this. Words can't describe how perfect this arrangement and performance are. Miraculous. Heavenly. Inspired. Proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. That music is the eternal language. Beautiful beyond words.
Wow you are really getting into some interesting music. Spliting off into R&B, Jazz, Soul, Motown its really nice to hear your take on this music. Keep it up.
That is the definition of "SOUL!" I have always loved this version of this song. You can almost see the smoke swirling in some dimly lit club somewhere off Bourbon Street.
There could be no better start to the week than Nina Simone!!! This song has been covered by countless artists, but I've always considered Simone's version the standard. It was truly destined to be hers. "Feeling Good" was co-written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, the latter being my favorite film composer of all time. Together they wrote the music for "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," including the dreamy song "Pure Imagination." Next by Nina Simone - "Sinnerman." You've never heard anything like it! It's just amazing.
First time I had heard Nina Simone was at the ending of the movie Before Sunset. You can't help but smile when Julie Delpy's character is describing how Nina was in concert. It's right before such a good ending but to really appreciate it, you'd have to watch Before Sunrise, then imagine waiting 9 years and then watch Before Sunset. Loved it.
Nina. A true force of nature. You can't mess with her music and you don't mess with her as a person. This is a classic, and that horn section just adds the sass to her delicious raw power. Andy's "Good Lord, dude" sums it up perfectly.
Thanks A&A!!! Been waiting for this. For me “Sinnerman” is transcendent. A ten minute banger. Some days I need a nap after listening. Appreciate you two putting this and yourselves out there.
Alex, great opening comments. I was in a band once and we thought we were all so good, then we had a female singer audition with us and bam! She was so good that we all felt like just backup musicians that were a dime a dozen. A great singer trumps it all!
Miss Simone was a genius: composer, arranger, pianist, singer. And her activism! I grew up listening to her and have loved her forever. This is one of my favorites ❤❤❤
My favorite Nina Simone performances are from her album live at Carnegie Hall. That has the best version of Mississippi Goddamn and Pirate Jenny. She stuns the audience with both. Her dialog intro to Mississippi Goddamn is hilarious.
This was written for a Broadway show, and Nina included it on her 1965 album "I Put a Spell On You." Lots of folks have covered this, but Queen Nina's is absolutely my favorite version. S-tier.
"it feels freeing" ... pretty much says it all. The power of a voice to move you into an entirely different frame of mind. freeing, inspiring, and powerful. Magnificent!
You know what "feels good"? When the boys take one of your artist recommendations. Nina is an absolute legend and you'll discover she is far from a one hit wonder. Next legend you haven't hit yet....B.B. KING ! THE THRILL IS GONE. He has plenty of songs but this is his best known work.
Feeling Good was my introduction to Nine Simone years back and her power and emotion was incredible ... and then one day I heard her playing Sinnerman and it was like nothing i'd heard before ... the building and building of passion and plea knocked me out 🙂
I love everything about that track. All my God what a great Arrangement what a great Arrangement. And she just gives it justice as a tremendous platform. That's what's going on there. It's a two-way street but she just takes over and it's good for everybody. Wow. I could listen to that over and over and over.
She kills this one! I think the next track you should react to is "I Love You Porgy", Nina's take on Porgy and Bess, a Rogers and Hammerstein Broadway musical.
I've been waiting for this ever since I started watching this channel! Thank you, Alex, for appreciating the Queen of Soul like she should be appreciated.
Been waiting for you to listen to Nina!!! There’s simply no one else like her. Her delivery & passion stir my soul like no other! Hope you continue to react to her…you’ll never be disappointed.
Nina Simone was the whole package. That smokey, honest voice, her very intense performances and masterful keyboard work (she was a concert pianist of the first order). No one like Nina.
Did you notice the change from “You know how I feel” to “I know how I feel” when she sang about feeling free? It’s subtle, but essential. Nina Simone knows how she feels about being free, and that means everything. Thank you for your reaction. It’s S Tier!
She is simply one of a kind - every song (original or cover) she does is simply phenomenal. What to check next is a tour de force - '22nd Century' - just 9 minutes of a high priestess at her pulpit. I have no idea how she even conceived of this song & arrangement.
Her acapella opening to this song gives me chills every time I hear it, and I've been listening to her sing that song for over fifty years. I've never heard anyone like her.
Who ever has the courage to cover this song ~ good luck! I've heard Michael Buble try... but could only hear Nina singing. Love that you're reacting to the music from your grandparents time!
Nina's one of my top artists. Everything she touched was golden, with perfect imperfections and an upswell of soulful truth. You guys should check out her arrangement of "Sinnerman".
Many years ago her song My Baby Just Cares For Me was used in a perfume commercial. People were mesmerized and the song was even in the charts, decades after she recorded it. She also played the Dragon in Pete Townshend’s musical Iron Man.
I discovered Nina through a song called “Lilac Wine”. It’s also the song that led me to Jeff Buckley. TBH, I like Jeff’s version even better. This would be a great song for you to cover with either artist.
Nina Simone and this song are so good together. it came out in 65 but it feels more like the songs from the 40's and 50's before rock n roll that artist like Nat King Cole or Dinah Washington would've done.
Love it when an artist ignores trends and sing in their natural voice, play music that compliments the lyrics, and let the emotion become the conductor of the orchestra.
Great song the original version was by Anthony Newley who wrote the song with Leslie bricusse for their musical The Roar of the greasepaint the smell of the crowd
A great song and S tier song that sits above all other S tier songs for sure. Another classic from Nina is her version ox Strange Fruit a song that has me in tears every time I hear it
Every time I hear this sublime record I recall my father once remarking, "If that's what she sounds like when she's feeling good, I wouldn't want to be around her when she's feeling bad".
Love Nina. I read her biography 30 years ago after my wife introduced me to her music. It can't really be categorized or put in a box. It's jazz+R&B+Nina's magic.
To me, this performance achieves the highest limit of what a song can do. It will not be topped... but I sure hope that musicians keep trying. Another song that achieves this: I'll Take You There, by the Staple Singers. Don't miss it.
Uuuuuhhh,... Nina Simone is with Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan the Triada of "Ladies of Jazz". Nina in particular had a dirty unique style. All a jazz queen. My recomendación is "Sinnerman". Saluts guys in a "Stormy Jazz Monday".
The best version of this song, hands down. It always amuses me when people think she wrote this song. It was written by 2 middle-aged , so white I'd call them Caucasian in the early 60's. I understand the confusion, but TOWER OF POWER told me that the funk is not in your blood, it's in your soul.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
The timber and emotion that come from her seemingly effortless voice is incredible. Thanks gentlemen!🖖🏼
Piss Bloomers Bloomers Piss
Agreed on all counts. But it actually gets deeper if you consider *when* she was doing what she was doing. This is a woman of color during the height of Jim Crow. And by all accounts, she got dragged through it. But the power that you mention in her voice was reflected in her as a person. She was strong, intense, and defiant to her challengers, while still channeling the most shining inner beauty. Just one example of her spirit: At age 12 she was scheduled to give a performance. Before the performance started, her parents were moved from the front row to the back to make room for white people. Nina refused to perform until they were restored to their original seats, and the eventually were. Aged 12!
Amen.
👏👏👏
Her voice is so rich and earthy, you just feel it reaching into you.
Cannot BELIEVE you doing Nina. The High Priestess of soul. My dad turned me onto her when I was 10 (I’m 58 now) and I turned all my college friends on to her.
The reediest most soulful voice. Sends chills up my spine. This is Grown Ass Woman music.
Her voice is like smokiest tenor saxophone playing blues.
What you may not know about Nina is her prowess as a classical piano virtuoso which translates to her uniqueness as a vocalist. Dang i love her. In my books, I've noticed all the greatest singers are awesome instrumentalists.
Nina wasn't the first to do this, but her version became the definitive one. After this, everyone copied this dramatic arrangement, and this song quickly became part of the early civil rights movement. Try her doing "Mississippi Goddamn", her cover of "My Baby Just Cares For Me", "Sinnerman", and her original version of "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood". Also try other songs written by the great Anthony Newley, "What Kind Of Fool Am I", "Who Can I Turn To", and my least favorite "Candy Man", all done by the great Sammy Davis Jr.
Sinnerman is mindblowing
It’s like she’s the orchestra and they sing. Amazing. She means every word. 🔥
Her SINNERMAN is also iconic - and I especially like how they used it in the remake of THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (MGM Distribution, 1999).
She is in the documentary called Summer of Soul. She stole the show. It was soooo good!
Never heard this song or artist, but what a revelation! Damn.
Nina Simone is a legend. Welcome to the club.
There are no words to describe what Nina Simone does to me. Everything I’ve ever heard from her is S tier. She is a genius of the highest order. Her voice carries so much depth of emotion. Like the weight of history is in her timbre. I recommend every song she has ever done. Try: I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl, Sinnerman, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free, I Put A Spell On You, Since I Fell for You, To Be Young Gifted and Black. Also every cover she did of Porgy and Bess, also Mississippi God Damn is a great protest song in the aftermath of the Baptist Church Bombing. Just listen to everything she has ever done.
Agree 100%.
Perfect description.❤
Same!! Woman was a goddess. 🤘🤘🔥
Endless greatness from her. 100% I have the same reaction in this song where that big band kicks in and most singers would get drowned out and she just rides it.
Just doesn't get any better than this. Words can't describe how perfect this arrangement and performance are. Miraculous. Heavenly. Inspired. Proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. That music is the eternal language. Beautiful beyond words.
Amen! Absolutely!
i've never heard any other version of this than her version, and i'm perfectly fine with that.
Wow you are really getting into some interesting music. Spliting off into R&B, Jazz, Soul, Motown its really nice to hear your take on this music. Keep it up.
That is the definition of "SOUL!" I have always loved this version of this song. You can almost see the smoke swirling in some dimly lit club somewhere off Bourbon Street.
There could be no better start to the week than Nina Simone!!! This song has been covered by countless artists, but I've always considered Simone's version the standard. It was truly destined to be hers. "Feeling Good" was co-written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, the latter being my favorite film composer of all time. Together they wrote the music for "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," including the dreamy song "Pure Imagination." Next by Nina Simone - "Sinnerman." You've never heard anything like it! It's just amazing.
Soul and brilliance off the charts. My god I was lost in the sauce. Such a talent. This is to good. ❤❤❤❤ S is not even good enough.
This is 'different-level' music.. your entire spirit can feel it :)
My late husband loved this song. You should also check out her song Sinnerman.
Omg, Nina Simone. She is freaking phenomenal. More Nina!
First time I had heard Nina Simone was at the ending of the movie Before Sunset. You can't help but smile when Julie Delpy's character is describing how Nina was in concert. It's right before such a good ending but to really appreciate it, you'd have to watch Before Sunrise, then imagine waiting 9 years and then watch Before Sunset. Loved it.
I forgot about that scene. Love that trilogy.
Beautiful scene. You’re gonna miss that plane!
Love that movie and that scene.
Nina. A true force of nature. You can't mess with her music and you don't mess with her as a person. This is a classic, and that horn section just adds the sass to her delicious raw power. Andy's "Good Lord, dude" sums it up perfectly.
Definitely S-tier! Amazing song!! I've never heard this song ever before. But I will now NEVER forget the first time I heard it. Hence...S-tier.
I was introduced to Nina Simone in 2011 while watching show Person of Interest.
SinnerMan was my introduction. Blown away.
That should be the next.
A giant and an icon. One of the greatest English language singers of the 20th century.
Thanks A&A!!! Been waiting for this. For me “Sinnerman” is transcendent. A ten minute banger. Some days I need a nap after listening. Appreciate you two putting this and yourselves out there.
I havent watched this yet but I KNOW that you all are just gonna love it. Such a powerful cut.
Please do SINNERMAN next!!!
One of the greatest songs ever recorded by one of the greatest female vocalists. Anyone who disagrees is just...wrong.
Alex, great opening comments. I was in a band once and we thought we were all so good, then we had a female singer audition with us and bam! She was so good that we all felt like just backup musicians that were a dime a dozen. A great singer trumps it all!
Miss Simone was a genius: composer, arranger, pianist, singer. And her activism! I grew up listening to her and have loved her forever. This is one of my favorites ❤❤❤
The High Priestess of Soul Nina Simone. Next up Sinnerman
My favorite Nina Simone performances are from her album live at Carnegie Hall. That has the best version of Mississippi Goddamn and Pirate Jenny. She stuns the audience with both. Her dialog intro to Mississippi Goddamn is hilarious.
Sounds interesting. I'll take the recommendation even if they dont !
That was amazing! My first time as well, I can't wait to see what you hit next by Nina Simone!
Just discovered this amazing talent recently. You have to hear "Nobody's Fault But Mine" So raw and soulful.
I was introduced to this song from the movie Point of No Return with Bridget Fonda. Love this song.
Mississippi Goddamn is one of her best.
Awesome song! Hadn't heard it before. Thanks for bringing it to light.
This was written for a Broadway show, and Nina included it on her 1965 album "I Put a Spell On You." Lots of folks have covered this, but Queen Nina's is absolutely my favorite version. S-tier.
"it feels freeing" ...
pretty much says it all. The power of a voice to move you into an entirely different frame of mind. freeing, inspiring, and powerful.
Magnificent!
You know what "feels good"? When the boys take one of your artist recommendations. Nina is an absolute legend and you'll discover she is far from a one hit wonder. Next legend you haven't hit yet....B.B. KING ! THE THRILL IS GONE. He has plenty of songs but this is his best known work.
Feeling Good was my introduction to Nine Simone years back and her power and emotion was incredible ... and then one day I heard her playing Sinnerman and it was like nothing i'd heard before ... the building and building of passion and plea knocked me out 🙂
Oh, her mid-tone vibrato makes my heart flutter along with it! Then, the scatting is so satisfying.
I love everything about that track. All my God what a great Arrangement what a great Arrangement. And she just gives it justice as a tremendous platform. That's what's going on there. It's a two-way street but she just takes over and it's good for everybody. Wow. I could listen to that over and over and over.
No body and I mean nobody has that smoke in their voice. Miss Nina Simone, for real!
Emotional moving
Vocally controlled power
Musically both strong and subtle
That's a Classic
She kills this one! I think the next track you should react to is "I Love You Porgy", Nina's take on Porgy and Bess, a Rogers and Hammerstein Broadway musical.
I'll be 70 in July. This was MY parents music. I love big bands, black or white, as they were WAY back in the day. Moves you if you're alive.
Must have played this track a thousand times and it still goes straight up my back as soon as she opens her mouth ....sublime...
I've been waiting for this ever since I started watching this channel! Thank you, Alex, for appreciating the Queen of Soul like she should be appreciated.
Been waiting for you to listen to Nina!!! There’s simply no one else like her. Her delivery & passion stir my soul like no other! Hope you continue to react to her…you’ll never be disappointed.
S tier all the way. You could die to this and be happy going.
I was thinking of asking you to cover this literally two days ago. Creepy. Keep it up guys, Sinnerman is also an amazing nina simone track
This is one of her more bombastic songs, but she also has a lot of emotional, heartwrenching tracks that cut to the core.
Nina Simone was the whole package. That smokey, honest voice, her very intense performances and masterful keyboard work (she was a concert pianist of the first order). No one like Nina.
Did you notice the change from “You know how I feel” to “I know how I feel” when she sang about feeling free? It’s subtle, but essential. Nina Simone knows how she feels about being free, and that means everything. Thank you for your reaction. It’s S Tier!
She is simply one of a kind - every song (original or cover) she does is simply phenomenal.
What to check next is a tour de force - '22nd Century' - just 9 minutes of a high priestess at her pulpit. I have no idea how she even conceived of this song & arrangement.
Awesome!!!!!! Never heard the whole song before. Thanks for reviewing this one!
Her acapella opening to this song gives me chills every time I hear it, and I've been listening to her sing that song for over fifty years. I've never heard anyone like her.
Who ever has the courage to cover this song ~ good luck! I've heard Michael Buble try... but could only hear Nina singing. Love that you're reacting to the music from your grandparents time!
Nina's one of my top artists. Everything she touched was golden, with perfect imperfections and an upswell of soulful truth. You guys should check out her arrangement of "Sinnerman".
Many years ago her song My Baby Just Cares For Me was used in a perfume commercial. People were mesmerized and the song was even in the charts, decades after she recorded it.
She also played the Dragon in Pete Townshend’s musical Iron Man.
Damn, what a song! Love her! Her powerful voice, her band was excellent, too. Just amazing.
You guys are really sticking your toe in the water now. Nina changed my life. She isn't just music, she is greatness!
Surprised that you’ve covered Nina Simone. Since you enjoyed this song, I would recommend Mississippi Goddamn by her, as well as context for the song.
I had the pleasure of seeing Nina live in London about 35 years ago. Great talent!
But you can always hear the bit of sadness in Nina's soul.
I discovered Nina through a song called “Lilac Wine”. It’s also the song that led me to Jeff Buckley. TBH, I like Jeff’s version even better. This would be a great song for you to cover with either artist.
“Love O’love”
Just Nina and her piano. No studio frills. Powerful and fragile.
Nina knows how I feel 🤗 Awesome song 🥰
Such a unique voice, NOBODY sounds like Nina! “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” should be next.
Brilliant. Unmatched.
That's a song you just have to put on replay every time. Extraordinary.
Probably just me but this song would fit so well as a James Bond opening
Sinnerman next! Nina has soooo many good songs.
Damn! Haven't heard this in 40 years.
Thanks.
I wonder how much longer she held that last note past the fadeout. What a song!
And all of this just because they wouldn't let her be a concert pianist! Amazing talent and surreal performer.
An EPIC (that word needs more syllables to describe her) talent!
Nina Simone and this song are so good together. it came out in 65 but it feels more like the songs from the 40's and 50's before rock n roll that artist like Nat King Cole or Dinah Washington would've done.
Love it when an artist ignores trends and sing in their natural voice, play music that compliments the lyrics, and let the emotion become the conductor of the orchestra.
Great song the original version was by Anthony Newley who wrote the song with Leslie bricusse for their musical The Roar of the greasepaint the smell of the crowd
Never knew that Anthony Newly and Leslie Bricusse write this sing. Thanks for the info.
There are singers, and then there are artists who use singing as their instrument.
S for sure guys. This is so powerful and brings tears to my eyes every time
She was a phenomenal artist. Next you should check out Sinnerman.
This was Nina's manifesto. Her declaration.
To many it is an unforgettable song and voice. Perfection.
If you’re in any way unfamiliar with Nina Simone, she was the subject of an episode of the PBS series American Masters. Well worth your time.
A great song and S tier song that sits above all other S tier songs for sure. Another classic from Nina is her version ox Strange Fruit a song that has me in tears every time I hear it
Great song. Glad to see you guys branching out into some jazz.
She's the best. You guys should really check out Nina singing 'I wish I knew how it would feel to be free" - unbelievable!
Nina is is both incredibly soulful and otherworldly all at once. Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair should be next by her.
I Put a Spell on You is the name of ALBUM. The song is Feeling Good
Soak it in, gentlemen. Feel the power. Nina ❤️
Thanks, btw.
I’ll be on a King’s X mission next. Summerland by King’s X.
Every time I hear this sublime record I recall my father once remarking, "If that's what she sounds like when she's feeling good, I wouldn't want to be around her when she's feeling bad".
Sinnerman next. Nina dials it up to 11 on that one
Love Nina. I read her biography 30 years ago after my wife introduced me to her music. It can't really be categorized or put in a box. It's jazz+R&B+Nina's magic.
To me, this performance achieves the highest limit of what a song can do. It will not be topped... but I sure hope that musicians keep trying. Another song that achieves this: I'll Take You There, by the Staple Singers. Don't miss it.
Yessssssssss!!!
Uuuuuhhh,... Nina Simone is with Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan the Triada of "Ladies of Jazz". Nina in particular had a dirty unique style. All a jazz queen. My recomendación is "Sinnerman". Saluts guys in a "Stormy Jazz Monday".
What a superb vocalist and performer was Nina💜
The best version of this song, hands down.
It always amuses me when people think she wrote this song. It was written by 2 middle-aged , so white I'd call them Caucasian in the early 60's. I understand the confusion, but TOWER OF POWER told me that the funk is not in your blood, it's in your soul.