The thing about Bessie Smith is how strong her voice was! Listen to how booming her voice sounds here. Now consider the quality of technology. I can't imagine how much more powerful her voice must have been in person.
This was very early sound film. Trying out an orchestra and singer in scene. Also fixed 🎥. Sound was new & novelty: movie musicals became even more popular during the depression: sparkling cheerful entertainment....
Years ago, I was changing channels and happened to catch this. And then it disappeared back down the rabbit hole. And now, thanks to the internet, I can play it whenever I want. Life is good.
@Cindy Roll check out Blind Willie McTell, Robert Johnson and also the old Alan Lomax recordings that were made in the deep south at the prison work camps.... some real and true unfiltered blues from them, as well as from Robert Johnson, Son House, Charlie Patton, Sonny Terry & Brownie Maghee, etc.
L'immense representante du veritable art si original du peuple noir americain. Une voix a la fois puissante, emouvante et d'une pulsation devastatrice. La seule cantatrice qui a chaque fois m'arrache des larmes... depuis 60 ans. Peut-etre parce qu'on l'a laissee mourir en lui refusant l'acces a un hopital apres un grave accident de la route. Mais sa voix fortifiera mes derniers jours et resplendira dans l'eternite.
When I look those videos and hear those songs, I cant help my self and always feel sadness and peace in same time. How those people lived their life, and how they are in history, everyone of them with own dreams and desires, some of them achieved great things and left their marks in history, others just vanished without anyone remember them, or know about their existence right now. Just sad and mesmerizing what life is. Enjoy it while it last folks.
There is one room microphone (you get a glance at about 2 minutes). So, Bessie's voice is mixed with a choir- maybe 20 voices, and good ones- and she rules the day. The Queen, then and now.
Bessie Smith was incredibly beautiful 😻 and had a very raw contralto singing voice. She’s tall, she got the looks and she can sing. She left this world way too soon. RIP Bessie.
The only film of this most magical singer performing. Almost certainly recorded live and as a single track, the effortless ease of her performance is astonishing - she doesn't look like she's even trying very hard ! She was a truly wonderful vocalist and I will never tire of listening to her.
You don't Sing like that unless You have felt the pain,,,, it is a fascinating Film too , Thank you so much for posting , And Thank you for the Music , without This , and the Later Soul movement , There would NEVER be a Mod Culture . 200Kid.
Bessie sang the blues bared raw to the bone and with a dark undertone that no one else could match. She could make you feel it in your soul. An incredible talent.
It's hard to imagine that my grandparents were once toddlers, during this time. Anyway, I had the pleasure of singing this in high school with my female ensemble. It was always one of my favorite songs to perform
Probably .. respectfully I am not a fan of Janis Joplin. She just copied black women's voices and screamed and got a wide white audience for it. Note that she attracted all white audiences.
Thank God I stumble back across Jill Scott, which reminded me of sweet bessie smith. God bless her soul and let her music be discovered until the Lord returns
Bessie é um alívio para minha dor. Sempre que estou triste escuto ela, é como que se eu ganhasse força através da força dela. Bessie, você foi uma mulher tão forte! Que bom que tua arte vive nesse mundo ♡
As a kid, when I heard it for the first time on the Encarta encyclopedia right around the 1:05 mark, I lost my mind. That raw blues voice was everything to me.
Born and raised in St.Louis Missouri, I just give praise to God for My People . They are so strong , meaningful, and inspiring elements of this whole journey we all are on..
In 1929, Smith made her only film appearance, starring in a two-reeler, St. Louis Blues, based on W. C. Handy's song of the same name. In the film, directed by Dudley Murphy and shot in Astoria, Queens, she sings the title song accompanied by members of Fletcher Henderson's orchestra, the Hall Johnson Choir, the pianist James P. Johnson and a string section-a musical environment radically different from that of any of her recordings.
Pure awesomeness that James P Johnson was the piano player, which explains why the sound of the piano intro reminded me so much of his style of playing. He was a hell of a blues and stride pianist in his own right and composed alot of songs that became standards to other blues and jazz artists, especially Caralolina Shout and a few others, but also was a major influence on Fats Waller, Jimmy Yancey and a few others.
I have listening the blues for about 60+ years - that does make me an expert, far from it. But in my world there is Miss Bessie at the top and everyone else ain't even close. I mean she is in another blues solar system.
I never heard anything like this, I got goose pumps from the beginning to the end and i still have them just thinking about the song. if they called it the blues this is the real deal, it is like getting on a roller-coaster. just unbelievable the way she sings, the choir, the melody , everything..
Taking that jazz history class was the best decision I’ve made in my academic career
She doesn't just sing it. She drags it, stands it up, spills some on ya shoes...
Said perfectly
Damn
Yyyaaassss 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
The thing about Bessie Smith is how strong her voice was! Listen to how booming her voice sounds here. Now consider the quality of technology. I can't imagine how much more powerful her voice must have been in person.
Bessie Smith performed in the era before microphones and amplification.. She was so loud she could be heard 2 NYC blocks away.
This was very early sound film. Trying out an orchestra and singer in scene. Also fixed 🎥. Sound was new & novelty: movie musicals became even more popular during the depression: sparkling cheerful entertainment....
@@MarinCipollina I believe it.
I would like to see more blues singers glom the vibe she put out. Seems like her legacy has been forgotten or worse, ignored.
Imagine how great it would sound if it was autotuned!
Years ago, I was changing channels and happened to catch this. And then it disappeared back down the rabbit hole. And now, thanks to the internet, I can play it whenever I want. Life is good.
It's crazy that we're creeping up on this beautiful performance being a century old...
Is it actually her?
@@crystal1799 in the flesh
Its not a century yet
@@grammaticalchainsaw7318 That's why I said "creeping up on." If only you were Reading Comprehension Chainsaw.
100 years yet timeless.
Queen Latifah did an amazing job playing this beautiful queen 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
Looks just like her
Yes she did.
Film?
@@310sektion3 yes its called "Bessie"
@@michellewilliston1937 one place you can see it is HBO on demand.
Her voice literally sends chills down my spine! And what’s also amazing is that we can watch 94 year old footage of someone singing
I'm sure that like almost all filmed singing till quite recently, they were lipsyncing.
@shostakovich99 it was the 1920s even if it was prerecorded that's her voice and it would have been necessary for the film
Get it bessie. I show your music to everyone they think im insane coz its so old. I tell them taste has no time fellas!!!
Ah, that voice just melts my soul. 🫠
Can you imagine hearing this live oh my god the energy of the entire room singing holy crap!!!
That's what I was thinking. I wish this audio was remastered really well
Absolutely amazing
I know right?
My Grandma was born the year this was recorded... she died at 92 .. Amazing ❤
Almost 100 years and still so few singers have even come close to this queen!
This is the blues raw and unfiltered like it should be
Check out Blind Blake. He plays a mean guitar too.
I am going to right now. Thanks. :)
Thanks!!! I went there, too!
this is the real deep sound and level of blues in the soul that no money could ever buy and no Hollywood studio could ever imitate.
@Cindy Roll check out Blind Willie McTell, Robert Johnson and also the old Alan Lomax recordings that were made in the deep south at the prison work camps.... some real and true unfiltered blues from them, as well as from Robert Johnson, Son House, Charlie Patton, Sonny Terry & Brownie Maghee, etc.
L'immense representante du veritable art si original du peuple noir americain. Une voix a la fois puissante, emouvante et d'une pulsation devastatrice. La seule cantatrice qui a chaque fois m'arrache des larmes... depuis 60 ans. Peut-etre parce qu'on l'a laissee mourir en lui refusant l'acces a un hopital apres un grave accident de la route. Mais sa voix fortifiera mes derniers jours et resplendira dans l'eternite.
When I look those videos and hear those songs, I cant help my self and always feel sadness and peace in same time. How those people lived their life, and how they are in history, everyone of them with own dreams and desires, some of them achieved great things and left their marks in history, others just vanished without anyone remember them, or know about their existence right now. Just sad and mesmerizing what life is. Enjoy it while it last folks.
Myslím,že byli šťastní i bez technických vymožeností této doby a troufám si říci,že šťastnější,než lidé dnes
Right! The circle of life is a blessing. But the awareness of it can be a curse.
"St.Louis Blues" she sang is so good that you'll watch it over and over again in awe. Her sad death brought tears to my eyes.
All of these voices was so STRONG!!
So much pain, gravitas, restraint. She is so careful and considered. Melodic, adaptable. A master with no existing doubt.
jfc the voice on Bessie Smith
the hardest of metalheads and i've got a shiver going down my spine
How wonderful this film survives. So much early film was lost or destroyed.
There is one room microphone (you get a glance at about 2 minutes). So, Bessie's voice is mixed with a choir- maybe 20 voices, and good ones- and she rules the day. The Queen, then and now.
she sings with such ease, she has so much control. definitely earned the title of empress of blues and so much more
This brings tears to my eyes , the rawness of this is what’s missing in a lot of today’s music , may her legacy live on
Last one was Janis..
@@soulvaccination8679 amy winehouse
I Love how she’s crooning with her Beer in Hand! 🍺
Janis Joplin idolized her and purchased a tombstone for her grave.
Just learned that. It's why I searched this 😆
She paid for half of it, a former employee of Bessie paid the other half. "Weird History" posted a video on her yesterday.
Janis Joplin was influenced by Bessie too bad Janis left us too soon. Drugs and carelessness Rob everyone regardless of race and class.
Janis Joplin ?)))), it's just kids !
Someone's been watching Weird History 😅
This is an absolute TREASURE!! I have chills
Yes. Lovely songs from Bessie...Merry how are you?
Bessie Smith was incredibly beautiful 😻 and had a very raw contralto singing voice. She’s tall, she got the looks and she can sing. She left this world way too soon. RIP Bessie.
The only film of this most magical singer performing. Almost certainly recorded live and as a single track, the effortless ease of her performance is astonishing - she doesn't look like she's even trying very hard !
She was a truly wonderful vocalist and I will never tire of listening to her.
How wonderful that this priceless film has been preserved! Gives me a chill every time I watch it.
Almost hundred years ago. It could have been filmed today. So good. So present. Dam it what a singer.
My God you can feel the sorrow and pain. This is the way music is supposed 2 b
I have a lump in my throat and I don't even know why 🤷🏾♂️ Empathy, I suppose.
2 b?
Ms Smith had THE voice. Pure emotion and control at the same time. Just heaven to listen to her.
My grandmother was 19 yrs old 🤔😊 I love you grams rip thanks 4 instilling good values and good music in to me and our family 😊🙏🏽😌
L/Crochet love child Bessie was your grandma?
Pastor Martin No, she means that her grandmother introduced her to Bessie Smith. Her grandmother was 19 at this time era 1969.
trey harris 1929
You don't Sing like that unless
You have felt the pain,,,, it is a fascinating
Film too , Thank you so much for posting ,
And Thank you for the Music , without
This , and the Later Soul movement ,
There would NEVER be a Mod Culture .
200Kid.
Cheers to everyone who's got a man with rocks for a heart.
Singing the blues in a bar. Bessie is the queen of the blues hands down 👍💪🇱🇷☔.
Oh my god I love it SO MUCH!!!
Such an absolute QUEEN.
Yeah I'm going to start listening to her music. That was remarkable!
This chorus sends chills up my spine. I love how the audience and the Empress of Blues interject back and forth; its illusory. LOVE this cat's style!
Her voice sounds really strong 🤍 ! It must've been so powerful to hear it in person!
Bessie sang the blues bared raw to the bone and with a dark undertone that no one else could match. She could make you feel it in your soul. An incredible talent.
I’ve heard of her, of a great from long ago and am now glad I stopped to listen. Shem would be something today in 2024! She’s got “IT”.
Damn. Just low down seconds in her voice. Greatest blues singer ever.
The vibration of their voices... I have chills.
A NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN MOMENT IN OUR NATIONS HISTORY. THIS LADY WAS SO GREAT IM HUMBLED. (1894-1937) THE EMPRESS OF THE BLUES.
Such a raw, beautiful voice of her time. Rip Bessie
One of favs. What a voice.
So good you could cry
Empress of the blues. Wish I could time travel and witness her singing under the tent and chasing off the KKK. Oh yes she did! God love her.
It's hard to imagine that my grandparents were once toddlers, during this time. Anyway, I had the pleasure of singing this in high school with my female ensemble. It was always one of my favorite songs to perform
Yes my grandmother was 4 when this was made, God Bless Our Ancestors so so so Much. I thank God for them..
Pure talent!
1929, the sound quality has held up well. Thanks for sharing and thank you Bessie!
I haven’t felt so much in years. The choir and lead vocals are crazy emotional together. I miss this lind of real in music.
Black ppl make the best music. We’ve been through so much shit in this country that no body can sing the blues like we can
Still listening to this beauty!! 2020! Her voice is amazing!! Such a Beautiful being who lived and made the greatest songs of blues! ❤👏🏽
Black people, we are beautiful, gifted and extremely talented. Remember that😘
yes u are!
Yes we are!
Facts!
Best comment ever Kim J......and I can't agree more!!!
Janis Joplin has said Bessie was one of her biggest influences
She actually thought she was a reincarnation of Bessie, but she was a drunk/junkie, so..
Probably .. respectfully I am not a fan of Janis Joplin. She just copied black women's voices and screamed and got a wide white audience for it. Note that she attracted all white audiences.
What a beautiful sound leaving this legend's pipes. Gold.
Thank God I stumble back across Jill Scott, which reminded me of sweet bessie smith. God bless her soul and let her music be discovered until the Lord returns
Bessie é um alívio para minha dor. Sempre que estou triste escuto ela, é como que se eu ganhasse força através da força dela. Bessie, você foi uma mulher tão forte! Que bom que tua arte vive nesse mundo ♡
Eu espero que esses grandes músicas sejam lembrados pra sempre, principalmente com a ajuda da internet
Irmao escuta o blues espanhol, que e o flamenco, escuta "el carbonerillo" ou "pepe pinto" vais ficar louco
Amazing, I love it. Bessie Smith was a important person and their voice will enchant until infinite
A Tennessee legend, RIP Bessie, thanks for changing music forever
As a kid, when I heard it for the first time on the Encarta encyclopedia right around the 1:05 mark, I lost my mind. That raw blues voice was everything to me.
tbh I heard it on a song on the Kill Bill soundtrack and was obsessed with those opening vocals
Josh Freilich saaaaameee i heard it on encarta too and had the same reaction
That’s where I heard it too!
Josh Freilich I heard it on a TV documentary which I think was named "All You Need Is Love" when I was 12. Never been able to get over it.
I also heard her for the first time on Encarta encyclopaedia.
Born and raised in St.Louis Missouri,
I just give praise to God for My People . They are so strong , meaningful, and inspiring elements of this whole journey we all are on..
The voice, the faith, the absolute perfection of soul.
Wow, what voice! Powerful, somber, deep. Incredible! First time hearing Bessie Smith.
Tell me you have a past life in Missouri without telling me 🎉 Oh Goddess Bessie ❤👑
In 1929, Smith made her only film appearance, starring in a two-reeler, St. Louis Blues, based on W. C. Handy's song of the same name. In the film, directed by Dudley Murphy and shot in Astoria, Queens, she sings the title song accompanied by members of Fletcher Henderson's orchestra, the Hall Johnson Choir, the pianist James P. Johnson and a string section-a musical environment radically different from that of any of her recordings.
Pure awesomeness that James P Johnson was the piano player, which explains why the sound of the piano intro reminded me so much of his style of playing.
He was a hell of a blues and stride pianist in his own right and composed alot of songs that became standards to other blues and jazz artists, especially Caralolina Shout and a few others, but also was a major influence on Fats Waller, Jimmy Yancey and a few others.
@@alexandergray9454 My pleasure. Greetings from Italy.
The cinematography and lighting are pretty ahead of their time for a 1929 sound film
I have listening the blues for about 60+ years - that does make me an expert, far from it. But in my world there is Miss Bessie at the top and everyone else ain't even close. I mean she is in another blues solar system.
I'd do anything to get this audio remastered. Could you imagine this sound with modern microphones
I never heard anything like this, I got goose pumps from the beginning to the end and i still have them just thinking about the song. if they called it the blues this is the real deal, it is like getting on a roller-coaster. just unbelievable the way she sings, the choir, the melody , everything..
Thank you for preserving this...
wow just bought a book on learning to play blues piano just discovered her in 2021
Im only 15 and Im in love with this I’ve been listening to this since I was 13 or 14
U got good taste
@@turrafirmaguitarchannel thank you thank you ☺️
How old are you now?
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful song and very well sang by Bessy. Who can't cry with this performance??
I would love if I had friends, someone who's love it too! It's so lonely like this type of song, footage!
Love you, Bess. God bless you darling, you're my soul.
This is so beautiful, it feels like her words are piercing my heart. A shame this wasnt recorded with better audio quality
It was recorded with state of the art equipment.. in 1929.
EMOCIONANTE!!!! QUE MARAVILLA!!!!
brought tears to me wow bless this lady
Beautiful voice!
Did louis Armstrong knew this women?
A Tennessee treasure, to be sure. No-I take that back...an American icon and treasure for the ages.
First music video before there was ones. Pure Blues 💯
She has a beautiful voice. Love her music and style. ❤️. RIP pretty lady.
Yes. Her songs still lives on... How are you Elise?
ART
Out of poverty the Blues was born, n out the Blues, came the present times song.
I was there! Killer show!!
My Grandmas year of birth..brought me here🌹1923🕊.
AMAZING
one of my favorite music videos
the bartender should've been blessed by hearing her voice.
The bartender is the lawyer Calhoun in the Amos n Andy television show in the early 1950's.
She’s older than my great grandmother! Wow!!!
Amazing quality for something filmed almost 100 years ago!
I’ve never seen this entire video. I love it! I’m astonished at the quality. I’m speechless. I’ve got a new appreciation for this. Now I understand.
Wow, my late grandmother was born on that same year RIP
She bequeathed to us rock and roll music.
Such a powerful voice ♥️
Beautiful, not missing one beat, just flowing effortlessly!
What an honor to watch and listen to this...what an honor...thank you