Rediscovering America’s First Civil Rights Protest Song: Strange Fruit (Billie Holiday)
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- Опубліковано 15 лют 2023
- #strangefruit #billieholiday
In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm going back to one of the more important songs of the 20th century as we listen to Billie Holiday's original recording of Strange Fruit. This song is widely considered to mark the start of the Civil Rights era in America, as it depicts and protests the lynching of Black Americans. Billie risked a great deal to record and perform this song, showing great courage and trueness of heart. It is my honor to present some of the song's context and listen to it with you.
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Thank you for bringing this very important protest song to us. It has long been a painful favorite of mine. It always blew my mind that she sang this song when it was truly dangerous for her to sing it. The government (Hoover) and many nightclubs tried to stop her from singing it, but she refused to let anyone or anything stop her. Brave and beautiful woman. RIP Lady Day 🙏
Thank you for posting this, Doug. There are a handful of songs that transcend how we normally absorb, process, and evaluate music. "Strange Fruit" is one of them. It's one of the most important pieces of American art of any sort.
She had very little luck in the life she was given, exploited by almost everyone who crossed her path and by bad luck itself.
But there was something inside her, far greater than the misery that stubbornly wrapped her like a shroud in such a hurry to take her to her death as at the same time kept her alive for misfortune to break her again and again without end, that it was the life she felt vibrating within her as the reflex act of breathing and being able to sing against the injustice of all nature such as the tormenting false human relationships of personal or social exploitation and racism.
I heard this song for the first time tonight, performed by Nina Simone and it really caught me off guard with raw emotion. My first thought was that this has to be Grammy material knowing the era it came from, this was real music because it had a real message and was sung by a true hero knowing there would be repercussions. Some say this song was the start of the civil rights movement, this is turning into quite a history lesson for me.
We can become numb to the depths that mankind is capable of... one of the most important roles of artists is to be our collective conscience, to depict the blissful ideal and to hold a mirror to that which falls short. Songs like this one remain a constant reminder.
if you want to read about how bad Billie Holiday was harrassed by the government, read the book Chasing The Scream by Johnn Hari, she was the first victim of the drug war
Wonderful Doug, I remember. my dad listened to Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Harry Belafonte they all had a huge following in the UK with sell out tours. With no Jim Crow Laws in the UK or Europe they were treated as royalty Billy played the Royal Albert Hall on Valentine’s Day 1954, she was overwhelmed by the warmth of the reception. She loved “the awareness” of English audiences and their appreciation of her music. “I want to settle in Britain, because I love the people. They call me an artist not just a singer,” she said. It is so sad how her life ended but she left a huge legacy and earned the respect she disserved albeit after her death.
It’s poetry - poetic justice
❤ new biography Billie Holiday Jazz Singer adds details on Lady Day and her activism too
This is such an impactful song,I have this on an old 78 and the crackling of an old record adds something to it when played.Too bad some people/labels were too cowardly to play/record it.
I don't know how you made it through this one while keeping your composure. I know i didn't. This is what is being banned in schools where I live. Thank goodness for you, Doug. I hope all parents listening pass this along to their children - regardless of how difficult it may be to approach the subject matter. It needs to be heard.
Really puts things into perspective. Her final notes bring tears.
Thank You Doug. To include this iconic song from a iconic singer. RIP Billie Holiday.💔💔 Billie Holiday will live on through her music.
Brave and heroic black women and men's history must be heard. That some politicians can try to use the subject as a political football is abominable.
I know every word, thank you Doug!
Not one I hum along to, agreed...
But certainly one that always makes me drop whatever I'm doing, sit down, listen and contemplate. And no matter how often I've heard it, sends shivers down my spine every single time.
Thank you, Doug, for posting this video and informing me and everyone else about the background to this song.
My sister and I have performed this song- it is a classic of the Jazz era. The music and Billie Holiday's singing is incredibly prolific. Doug mentioned about the back story, the song also has some interesting dynamics that I endeavored to transcribe into electric Jazz Guitar for our performance. It is a treasure with deep meaning, thank you for sharing with us DD
Hi JPF. Why do you make this about you ? This is so representative of most comments on UA-cam : not commenting the video, but advertising oneself. So childish. So Millennial... Say Hi to your therapist on my behalf... (if you don't have one, you need one...).
@@junger000Your comment is more of a reflection of your need for a therapist than his 😳
I first heard Nina Simone's version & was deeply moved, however it was John Martyn's interpretation that inspired me to do a painting, of the same name. I later found this original & love it's starkness.
Stark and dark. I think she kept it very basic in order for the message to stay the focus of the piece. She wanted the words to hit us full force, and they certainly do. I get a little sick, but I sing along every time.
THANK YOU
Thank you, Doug for this powerful snippet of AMERICAN history.
It needs to be played, not just in February, I find it odd that Black History Month is the shortest month we have. Indicative
Like you say - such an important - but, beautiful song . And a very good - interesting reaction Doug! If you want to do another oldie - how about Leadbelly?
Very moving.
Shivers. Hair on end.
How can you sing so lovely about this Topic?
A sinister masterpiece.....thanks, Doug.
Thank you Doug, such a powerful song by Billie Holiday. You should also check out a modern version by Siouxsie and the Banshees from their 1987 album Through the Looking Glass.
As powerful as this recording is I find Nina Simone's rendition so much more so. It has rage.
Agreed. Rage and lament. Nina's middle wail shatters my soul every time i hear it.
Jeff Buckley's version on Live from Siné is incredible as well. Hits differently for obvious reasons, but equally as moving.
Joe Bonamassa/Beth Hart covered this too. Joe‘s wailing guitar makes the song so heart rendering. Beth‘s vocal does the song justice too.
Joe Bonamassa/Beth Hart covered this too. Joe‘s wailing guitar makes the song so heart rendering. Beth‘s vocal does the song justice too.
Amazing song from an amazing artist. I first heard Billie when I was about 10 and fell in love. But it was years before I heard this. She is just so f*cking good man. So, so good.
Amazing emotive song, love it.
My first time hearing this song 🥺
A real spiritual song.
People may want to go back and visit Lady Sings The Blues, a film biography of Billie Holiday starring Diana Ross. A great film, it has its flaws, but also some powerful scenes, worth watching.🎼🎙️
Hey Doug, Strange that You mentioned old recordings. Moments ago I was listening to Gene Austin's "Tonight You Belong To Me".
EXCELLENT!!!Choice.
There is a plaque on the building where the Cafe Society was. Somewhere I have a photo of it.
Yo Doug you should definitely check out Masayoshi Takanaka! Can’t go wrong with his Bu-Beleza Pura Taj Mahal live 2008. His music is just so nice. One of the greatest guitar virtuosos.
I am 73 years old i learn as a young girl black had no one to turn to police. Judy and lawyer was connecting to kkk. Blacks Don't hate. We all learn from this .we all need to.
Don't know if any Nina has been done but Mississippi God Damn, would be nice to hear, Simone is a special artist.
Thanks Doug. You could listen to one of Robert Johnson's blues songs during Black History Month.
Hey Doug, thank you for all your lovely videos! Have you ever considered doing one about anything by Nina Simone?
I like your cap. Natty. You mention "social performances." What other kinds are there?
Better late than never: Alabama from John Coltrane!
Future reaction. La Grange by ZZ Top.
This song destroys me. The horror.