@@rickyratte5643 She’s improvising a kind of fugue in the style of JS Bach. That’s why it sounds like two songs- it’s two subjects, or ‘themes’ being played together. The guitarist is also joining in. Amazing.
@@samuellaz "premeditated" and "improvised" are not mutually exclusive. You must not be a musician lol, and certainly not trained at all in improvisation. Sit this one out, chief.
I had read she was a piano prodigy but had a difficult time getting in to a conservatory because of her ethnicity when she was young. So cool to see her play in this video.
She was told by a professor at the Curtis institute In Philadelphia that no one would pay to see and hear a colored woman to play Bach . Can you imagine that ?
Can we take a moment to commend Ed Sullivan for putting this incredible talent on his show, during a time when performers of her caliber were virtually absent from network television merely because of the color of their skin?
The idea that black performers were excluded from television performances is not based in fact. Sullivan was exceptional but Nina was quite well know in the sixties and was on television somewhat frequently considering she never had a top 10 or and 1 top 20 hit popular chart record in the USA. Her highest. USA chart position was 18. She did hit #2 on R & B chart wit “Porgy” and #8 R & B with Young, Gifted and Black. Despite her great talent commercial success was elusive. In England she was far more popular on the popular charts: "To Love Somebody" reaching #5 and "Ain't Got No, I Got Life"(1969) reaching #2. Urban audiences didn’t support the “High Priestess Of Soul” as much as you would think??
Back when people actually needed raw talent to become a star. Artists back in those times didn’t need auto-tune. They just had the God given talent!! I’m only 18 but this is exactly why I will always listen to older music from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s because music was better back in those days. And the musicians could really sing and they played actual instruments!
Your top five rappers of today probably made more in their career then she could never dream of making in her career ,but those same top five rappers could never dream to be more talented then her.
And those same 5 rappers have most likely referenced her music or sampled her voice or piano arrangements. Kanye, Jay Z, Lil Wayne, and Beyoncé just to name a few.
I hate comments like this. So much negativity. Those 5 rappers could be Jay-z, Nas, Eminem, 2pac and Chris Wallace. All amazing artists in their right. Can paint a beautiful picture with words and wisdom. Completely different discipline. Tupac was a big fan of Simone and they were actually very good friends before he passed. She loved his poems to bits.
@@JamieLandan Beyonce does rap, her last few projects will show you that. Black is King, Everything is Love, and her latest single has rap verses. Beyonce has done more than just her first few R&B and pop albums. Also, her music is heavily steeped in hip-hop culture and aesthetics. As a matter of fact, she has experimented with almost every main and sub genre out there. So please, do your research before you try and come for me.
Sheer GENIUS!!!!! I "discovered" her in 1969 when I was 16 years old. For many years, I never knew anyone who was familiar with her -- let alone her work. I had all of her albums, and could listen endlessly.
Nina is amazing... her talent, her voice, and her beauty are all exquisite! It's sad what she had to undertake due to her natural complexion and facial features. I can only imagine the conversation between Ms. Simone and her manager asking her to lighten her skin with makeup to appease the producers of the Ed Sullivan Show so she could appear for this performance.
You could easily have been an Arthur Rubinstein, if not for the unfortunate times, u lived in, when black artist were not allowed to play classical music. Bless u, Nina. U continue to live on forever our hearts.
Her time feel is what I find most special, especially the juxtaposition of the freedom (voice) and metronomic (piano; counterpoint improvisations, specifically). Does anyone know who the guitarist is (contributing to the counterpoint bits)?
I discovered Nina Simone in the 1980’s working in a French Bistro playing on a ‘reel to reel’. Such a force and ‘completely misunderstood’ through much of her career. Little Girl Blue remains my favourite album. A sublime genius
26 ans : un sourire ensorcelante et déjà au sommet de son génie musical et expressif.....dans cette vidéo sublime, Nina Simone me fait presque oublier Billie Holiday......et me transporte dans un univers musical d une légèreté merveilleuse......
If I could sum it up in one word, I would say this performance is simply sensational. Her piano playing skills are impeccable. And to think, that's all she really wanted to do. She never even wanted to sing, but orchestras & symphonies wouldn't give a black woman a chance back then. She really did pave the way for great artists to come & made the veterans before her, proud. I know I am extremely proud of the true musician she was.✊🏾 p.s. I'm glad they made her sing. I love her voice.❤
Nina Simone deserves so much more than the world gave her.
Great performance. Nina's piano skills are amazing. Her classical training is on full display here.
FACK ME Yes!!
Does she play two Songs in her Solo? Sounds like
@@rickyratte5643 No
@@rickyratte5643 She’s improvising a kind of fugue in the style of JS Bach. That’s why it sounds like two songs- it’s two subjects, or ‘themes’ being played together. The guitarist is also joining in. Amazing.
@@canterlevi danke für die freundliche Antwort 🙏
The difficulty of improvising counterpoint....there's really no way to express what a masterpiece this is.
Yes it is! She was truly gifted!😊❤🎹
You really think that was improvised? I think it was premeditated for sure
@@samuellaz "premeditated" and "improvised" are not mutually exclusive. You must not be a musician lol, and certainly not trained at all in improvisation. Sit this one out, chief.
@@samuellaz Improvisation requires practice. 🙂
@@ssinssg Bro how could this be improvised, the guitar imitates the harmony and the rhythm perfectly in sync with her. It's clearly a pre-planned solo
Nina Simone was a unique talent.
her talent wasnt unique what she chose to do with that talent was
I had read she was a piano prodigy but had a difficult time getting in to a conservatory because of her ethnicity when she was young. So cool to see her play in this video.
What a lot of nonsense you believe.
@@sidecar7714 the Curtis Institute of Music rejected her admission in 1951 on the basis of her race.
@@jacobbullock2070 Why did they accept earlier African American candidates then?
She was told by a professor at the Curtis institute In Philadelphia that no one would pay to see and hear a colored woman to play Bach . Can you imagine that ?
@@ettoredipugnar6990 No, because it’s bullshit. The Curtis Institute had previously admitted African American candidates.
Wow! Watch her go from a simple one hand melody into Bach-style!!
Miss. Nina Simone was a classically trained pianist. There was no hard part for her dear.
Gifted!😊❤🎹
@@lisablack8804 if we’re talking Bachian fugue, there are hard parts for everyone
@@willzimjohn Nope. It's all her on piano. There's another instrument with her, but the piano is all her.
Absolutely Awesome
The portmento classical technique, the Baroque counterpoint motives, mixed with the jazz improvisation! The girl was BAD!!!! 👊🏽
Ancestor Nina Simone was a musical genius. Her savant abilities on the piano, vocal phrasing and tone are all working in concert on this performance.
Brilliant comment!
@@Ghostmanriding thank you! She was a brilliant artist. RIP
She's an elder, not an ancestor 😢😢!! I love her do much
Well said.
Maravilhosa!
Can we take a moment to commend Ed Sullivan for putting this incredible talent on his show, during a time when performers of her caliber were virtually absent from network television merely because of the color of their skin?
The idea that black performers were excluded from television performances is not based in fact. Sullivan was exceptional but Nina was quite well know in the sixties and was on television somewhat frequently considering she never had a top 10 or and 1 top 20 hit popular chart record in the USA. Her highest. USA chart position was 18. She did hit #2 on R & B chart wit “Porgy” and #8 R & B with Young, Gifted and Black. Despite her great talent commercial success was elusive. In England she was far more popular on the popular charts: "To Love Somebody" reaching #5 and "Ain't Got No, I Got Life"(1969) reaching #2. Urban audiences didn’t support the “High Priestess Of Soul” as much as you would think??
Absolute diamond performance... Even though Nina is well known, I believe her skill as a pianist is greatly unappreciated...
Super rare treat. Had no idea the High Priestess of Soul made an appearance on the show in her early career. 60 years later it still holds up.
Amazing…makes you stop and pause. Supreme talent.
Back when people actually needed raw talent to become a star. Artists back in those times didn’t need auto-tune. They just had the God given talent!! I’m only 18 but this is exactly why I will always listen to older music from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s because music was better back in those days. And the musicians could really sing and they played actual instruments!
Amen brother!🙌👍✌️
do you play?
Love that this is coming from a youngster
God, shut up.
this is a very naive mindset, i hope you realize that as you get older
The absolute BEST version of this song. Nina Simone made it hers! Genius!
She turned it into a minuet on a harpsichord. 💝
A glance/ tribute/ gift for the great J. S. Bach😊
She does a classical style straight time solo over a swing rhythm and it works out great
Exactly
A LADY who most definitely knew what she was about. SUPERB TALENT!!!
Nina Simone was one of a kind!
Oh how I love her voice! It is so rich and unique, but infused with so many different styles.The sound is like a neoclassical soul.
64 years later, you and i watch this on our phones etc
64 years from now, i wonder how they will watch this ans other stuff
Watching Nina all day today is a treat. Her piano work here is unparalleled, but her voice only gets bigger and more beautiful as the years go on.
She has two independent brains, one for the right hand and other one for left hand. Extra-natural!
No three.....another for her singing
Love you my beautiful Nina! 💕 I'm on your path as an artist 😉
Your top five rappers of today probably made more in their career then she could never dream of making in her career ,but those same top five rappers could never dream to be more talented then her.
And those same 5 rappers have most likely referenced her music or sampled her voice or piano arrangements. Kanye, Jay Z, Lil Wayne, and Beyoncé just to name a few.
why do you have to compare her with rappers and vice versa?? lol so weird. rapping is an entirely different skill set.
@@benjaminjackson9449 is this the stupid hour? Beyoncé is not a rapper.
I hate comments like this. So much negativity. Those 5 rappers could be Jay-z, Nas, Eminem, 2pac and Chris Wallace. All amazing artists in their right. Can paint a beautiful picture with words and wisdom. Completely different discipline. Tupac was a big fan of Simone and they were actually very good friends before he passed. She loved his poems to bits.
@@JamieLandan Beyonce does rap, her last few projects will show you that. Black is King, Everything is Love, and her latest single has rap verses. Beyonce has done more than just her first few R&B and pop albums. Also, her music is heavily steeped in hip-hop culture and aesthetics. As a matter of fact, she has experimented with almost every main and sub genre out there. So please, do your research before you try and come for me.
wicked concoction of classical and jazz
Sheer GENIUS!!!!! I "discovered" her in 1969 when I was 16 years old. For many years, I never knew anyone who was familiar with her -- let alone her work. I had all of her albums, and could listen endlessly.
Every time I hear this, Ms. Simone blows me away. EVERY TIME.
Miss. Nina Simone such a beautiful talented woman just lovely.
Wow…the fugue improvisation in the bridge is mind blowing what a real talent….
I wish this could be remastered because this is hands down the best version
I think the Ed Sullivan show was the best show ever
Very nice piano work with classical riffs all over the place!
It is criminal that this video has only 34,000 views!
Nina at her best!
As I write this, it has nearly 500,000 views.
She was underated genius
Is my first time listening Nina Simone, im from Argentine, im listening tango and yt recomend this video. Amazing
😍
Nina is amazing... her talent, her voice, and her beauty are all exquisite! It's sad what she had to undertake due to her natural complexion and facial features. I can only imagine the conversation between Ms. Simone and her manager asking her to lighten her skin with makeup to appease the producers of the Ed Sullivan Show so she could appear for this performance.
Is this something that just came out of your head? Where did you find that information?
Ed Sullivan was committed to civil rights and put many people of color on his show when others wouldn’t.
Nina was magnificent. I loved her all my life. I finally got to see her in person before she passed. Brilliant pianist, songwriter and singer.
You could easily have been an Arthur Rubinstein, if not for the unfortunate times, u lived in, when black artist were not allowed to play classical music. Bless u, Nina. U continue to live on forever our hearts.
Breath-taking performer. Every time I watch her she blows me away.
One of a kind Miss Simone
Whoa! That interlude! What an amazing piece. Got goosebumps. Played it over and over again.
This song slaps especially as I’m walking through NYC
That woman could play the piano! Wow !
Her time feel is what I find most special, especially the juxtaposition of the freedom (voice) and metronomic (piano; counterpoint improvisations, specifically). Does anyone know who the guitarist is (contributing to the counterpoint bits)?
OMG I must investigate her further! ❤
You will find fabulous music.
She was before my time, but I really adore her.
she's absolutely perfect
Two people in the history of time improvised piano fugues. Nina Simone and Bach himself...
What a beautiful talent . She could be a concert pianist easily. Bach style baroque at it's best . ❤❤❤❤❤
I discovered Nina Simone in the 1980’s working in a French Bistro playing on a ‘reel to reel’. Such a force and ‘completely misunderstood’ through much of her career. Little Girl Blue remains my favourite album. A sublime genius
Breaks character into a full fledged improv classic pianist then slips back into her day job! Just WoW 🙌🙌🙌
Ughhhhh such a Majestic Talented Artist. She’s so brilliant it hurts. ❤
oh wow, footage I have never seen before. This is fantastically wonderful. Loved it!!
I love this song, but I’ve never seen someone style it so fantastically!!!!! What a maestro she is, Ms Nina Simone 🙌✨👑
Que gran soundtrack escogió el profe O’FARRIL para su intervención, 20/10 es GOD y cine
God bless you Miss Simone
Gurl can you hear me? That was an awesome performance. And we got it, to listen to, till the end of time.
Thank you for that 💜🙏🤟
Second to none. We miss u, Simone. Yr talent was just incredible. May yr beautiful soul rest in peace. U r simply awesome.
WOW! Just...wow!
Fantástica! Bravo🎉🎉
My forever favorite musician ❤
Es lo más egregio que se puede ver y escuchar. Gracias eternas, Nina.
She is a League of Her Own. Wow. She blows me away. Grand Prize, gurl!
настоящее искусство... вечно... браво ...
Epic performance and Brilliant Talent Beautiful Nina
A voice for the Souls of everybody .....
What a genius! Pure euphoria!
Rarely we see someone that is a “Talent”, this is it!
Gorgeous ✨✨
She’s a legendary icon.
INCREDIBLE ON THE KEYS
Once in a lifetime artist
So beauiful. She always will br my favorite singer and pianoplayer.
Será que hoje em dia veremos talentos comos esses! Perfeito!
Astounding
Breathtaking
Masterful masterclass touch on the keys 🎹
Colossal thank you for posting this clip
🎩💎☀️💕🌈🍷⭐️
Love your comment!😊❤🎹
Amazing Piano/guitar solo.
Yes, thank you. I knew there is a guitar playing alongside the piano solo. So many people think it's only Simone playing the solo.
Thank God that we can enjoy beauty
The great Nina Simone
Absolutely wonderful….nothing compares to her❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Genius at work!!
My favorite Nina song
I agree with you! Simply the best!
There has been no one who can compare to her. She was living in more than one world.
Thank you Ms Simone for paving the way your still one of the greatest ever!
She was amazing on that piano.
26 ans : un sourire ensorcelante et déjà au sommet de son génie musical et expressif.....dans cette vidéo sublime, Nina Simone me fait presque oublier Billie Holiday......et me transporte dans un univers musical d une légèreté merveilleuse......
Excellent piano player
Outstanding.She played as she was,💜😻 Superior
Nina Simone was musically gifted!❤😊🎹
what a bloody masterpiece!
I actually teared up watching this. What a genius.
A brilliant person. Brilliant.
Pure art
If I could sum it up in one word, I would say this performance is simply sensational. Her piano playing skills are impeccable. And to think, that's all she really wanted to do. She never even wanted to sing, but orchestras & symphonies wouldn't give a black woman a chance back then. She really did pave the way for great artists to come & made the veterans before her, proud. I know I am extremely proud of the true musician she was.✊🏾 p.s. I'm glad they made her sing. I love her voice.❤
Wow… I keep rewinding the piano solo parts it amazes me how she play
Shes the greatest. She sings, plays a mean piano and composes. Tripple threat.
Eu adoro o estilo jazzistico de Nina cantar e, principalmente, de tocar, com alma e muita chama em seu coração. Nina Simone para sempre! 💥🔥🙏👏👏 🇧🇷
World class
AMAZING VOICE AND PIANO ORCHESTRA AS WELL
beautiful, and very talented
An absolute wizard ❤
Amazing talent!