Two notes. First, this version of "Ain't Got No...I Got Life" is absolutely amazing and propels one of the greatest songs of all time to even higher levels of transcendence. Second, Nina Simone was notoriously "difficult" and you can see her impatience with her band and the audience in the "See-line Woman" clip. Notice the very brief look on her face at the beginning when someone in the audience drops their glass. posted by Falconetti at 10:37 PM on June 25, 2007
Now this, this is an outstanding post. posted by tomharpel at 10:49 PM on June 25, 2007
Yep, I doooo loves me some Nina Simone.
That said, I think she is an appropriate person to label with the "batshitinsane" tag (for an example, see the third link in the post nickyskye linked to). posted by miss lynnster at 11:08 PM on June 25, 2007
BTW, I've mentioned it on here before but I saw here once at the Greek in L.A. I was all excited that I was going to get to see her yell at the audience as she was infamous for. But instead, she was in a giddy, happy mood because her non-traveling brother had actually flown in to see her show. She was so excited to have him there that she had a giant smile for the majority of the show. I felt totally ripped off. posted by miss lynnster at 11:12 PM on June 25, 2007 [1 favorite]
Dude, what's with the 7 link youtube links? Isn't it just supposed to be one link? *ducks*
I used to end my jazz DJ set on college radio with "Ain't Got No/I Got Life" for two years (from a Leonard Feather comp that I can't find online right now for some reason). It always brought me to a weird place that meant I wanted to fuck or fight*, which was never my purpose, but that song is so amazing. When I went to Ireland many years ago, Guiness brought her to Dublin and there was a day's worth of debate between my travelling partner and I whether or not we should skip seeing our friends (the reason we were in the UK) to go see Nina--and this was soon after the shooting incident with a noisy teen, which, give the circumstances, I can completely agree with in a way. We didn't go and she died soon after that and it's always been one of the few things I wish I would have done in my life. Thanks for this. I do so love Nina Simone.
*At 11 o' clock in the morning, after dragging yourself into a radio station, more than likely without sleep, it's an especially crazy and exhilarating feeling. posted by sleepy pete at 11:22 PM on June 25, 2007
Triple thanks to Falconetti for making me discover her, christ her voice moves inside !
On a side note , as a non-english as motherlanguage, her words are so crystal clear and distinct she's ear delicious. posted by elpapacito at 1:02 AM on June 26, 2007
This is the most enjoyable post since the link to the James Burke videos (Connections, The Day The Universe Changed) videos online, here)
I remember when I heard Nina Simone died - it was one of those NPR "driveway moments", where they were playing excerpts from her songs. I sat in my car mesmerized, moved, and hurt.
I had heard many of the songs growing up and truly loved them, but was never really aware of who she was. I felt sick from the guilt and regret of discovering who she was (and how important her songs were) at the same moment I found out she had died.
When the program was over, I ran inside, signed on to Rhapsody and was relieved to find that they had dozens of her albums. I spent days and days in a row just listening to her songs.
Her most moving song (for me) is Backlash Blues:
Mr. backlash, mr. backlash
Just who do think I am
You raise my taxes, freeze my wages
And send my son to vietnam
You give me second class houses
And second class schools
Do you think that alla colored folks
Are just second class fools
Mr. backlash, Im gonna leave you
With the backlash blues
When I try to find a job
To earn a little cash
All you got to offer
Is your mean old white backlash
But the world is big
Big and bright and round
And its full of folks like me
Who are black, yellow, beige and brown
Mr. backlash, Im gonna leave you
With the backlash blues
Mr. backlash, mr. backlash
Just what do you think I got to lose
Im gonna leave you
With the backlash blues
Youre the one will have the blues
Not me, just wait and see
Nina's Sinner Man also provides the music during the batshitinsane credit sequence of INLAND EMPIRE--but I'm pretty sure that's not online yet. posted by muckster at 7:53 AM on June 26, 2007
A couple of years ago, the University of Missouri was using "Feelin' Good" as a the theme to the TV ads for their basketball team. It was strange, but also strangely...good. Which proves, I guess, that there's nothing that Ms. Simone's music can't make better.
Oh, and great post. Thanks. posted by Rangeboy at 8:04 AM on June 26, 2007
It's not live, but Ne Me Quitte Pas is too beautiful to not be included. posted by nzero at 10:23 AM on June 26, 2007
Thank you for this. She is absolutely wonderful, and it's a shame how this country treated her. At least France understood that she was a gift to the whole world and treated her accordingly. posted by luriete at 11:00 AM on June 26, 2007
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posted by Falconetti at 10:37 PM on June 25, 2007