BILLIE HOLIDAY - STRANGE FRUIT (LIVE) REVIEW 

I once had my hair cut by this older white guy who told me about his days performing in the first integrated drag review in the 50s as Billie Holiday. After one show he learned that she was sitting in the audience and had asked to meet him. He was about 20, and although he'd worked hard at his act, he said he was a nervous wreck as he approached her table, hoping he hadn't offended her or done anything wrong. She could not have been kinder and she unpinned the gardenias she was wearing and tucked them behind his ear-- a gesture that I think sums her up perfectly.

I was 6 or 7 years old when I happened upon a jazz album in my mom's collection with Billie's 1939 version and listened to it in silence. I cried when I began to understand what it was about and I've cried many times over the years listening to it. Even today, some 50 years later it still sickens me in the pit of my soul and tears at my heart. That people could be so evil, and ordinary folks could just look on as such horrors were perpetrated as passive witnesses. I pray that humans will evolve beyond such atrocities but I still see evidence around the world of such mindless hate.

These lyrics are very powerful - it should be said that they weren't written by Billie Holiday but rather by Abel Meeropol who was a teacher and singer/songwriter and Communist who first published the lyrics as a poem in 1937. Holiday's version is the most well known and has the most soul and passion and fire of any else I've heard - her performance matches Meeropol's poem to the point where you don't know when the performance ends and where the lyrics begin. They're melded together.

Powerful song, powerful performance. The only other person that I think comes close when performing this is Nina Simone. Horrific to think that this is not referencing ancient history but living memory.

To draw a comparison of a hung body to a piece of fruit. That goes deep. The imagery is very strong.

Powerful stuff and an extremely gutsy woman.

"Holiday first performed the song at Café Society in 1939. She said that singing it made her fearful of retaliation but, because its imagery reminded her of her father, she continued to sing the piece, making it a regular part of her live performances. Because of the power of the song, Josephson drew up some rules: Holiday would close with it; the waiters would stop all service in advance; the room would be in darkness except for a spotlight on Holiday's face; and there would be no encore. During the musical introduction, Holiday stood with her eyes closed, as if she were evoking a prayer." And, as I understand it, at the end of the song the spot light would go dark and when it came back on again Billie would be gone from the club.

This song is heartbreaking for anyone with an ounce of humanity. But I've seen old photos of a lynching where people had their children present. Those kids had to either be repulsed, or grow up with very warped views & racial hatred. It is an insidious form of child abuse to teach children to see others as inferior.

Billie Holiday brings emotion in every song she did. Many of her songs, I'll sit back and think or cry. She has such a raw grit to her voice. One of a kind. Please do Lover man, Don't explain, or Good morning heartache.

I grew up listening to Billie. My mother had the blues for most of my life and she related to Billie's heartache. I grew to love her, and respect her life and her work. I read interviews with the musicians that played for her and they stated that she never sang a song the same way twice. Whether it it was because of her drug use, or just her state of mind, they never knew how it would sound from one day to the next. God Rest Her Beautiful Soul.

Your a hundred percent sir Rap Rat. Anyone who would promote or get pleasure from such atrocities is subhuman, garbage. One thing that can be said about Lady Day, she had guts. Took a whole lot of courage to put this poem to song and even more to defy the powers that be and bring the darkness into the light by performing it. Your journey is taking you places. Never seen film of Billie performing this thank you Sir, from the bottom of my heart.

First recorded 20 years earlier, in 1939 ... 15 years before Brown vs Board of Education ... 16 years before Rosa Parks ... 24 years before MLK Jr's "I Have Dream" ... 25 years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She, and poet Abel Meeropol, were ahead of the times, calling out the vile behaviour of racist "crows".

She is an o gee to be brave enough to sing this song back then (RESPECT) that is some willing to die what you believe in type situation.

What a powerful performance. I had typed a comment, and once she started singing, had to erase it, as it totally didn't fit in with the subject matter.

If you put this song into perspective it’s beyond phenomenal. Of course the words are powerful, and although they are not Holidays you get the feeling she’s talking to you with disgust in her voice. Yet she is singing, pitch perfect and with soul. It first came out in the mid-late 30s and she was the most powerful black female performer when she first performed it. Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan were just starting their careers in the late 39s. This recording was after the war and 'some' attitudes had changed, though nowhere near enough, in fact they still haven’t changed enough. When she first sang it it was almost like the black nation was rebelling. It was also at that time the KKK was extremely influential in politics. Her bravery was far beyond anything we could imagine today. I don’t understand racism, I understand what it is and how it manifests itself but I can’t understand how a human life, no matter what colour, can mean so little that it was OK to hang them and not fear consequences. An incredible song and performer.

This song always makes me cry. So very heartbreaking - the times of lynching. 😥

Up until almost 1960 there was still one black person being hung in Texas every month. This is the kind of atmosphere our ancestors had to live through. Where we black people had to cross the street if a white person was on the same side. Where we black people had to avert our eyes and not look at white people directly. Where there were separate restrooms, schools, restaurants, hotels, hospitals,, dealerships. Where black people were shot for attempting to vote. This is the America our ancestors died for. Billie Holiday died handcuffed to a hospital bed.

Billie holiday was a real one. OG Tupac said in thug mansion that she was performing and she she was there in thugs mansion. I feel for our ancestors. They went through all the bullshit all at the hand of a another.

Things were very different in the USA when this song was written. Anyone studying Black History should listen to this song.

Lady Day. I so love her and her music.May she rest in peace.

I just watched her documentary on Hulu I had to watch people's reactions.

Very powerful song

Billy Holiday - God Bless the Child

I first heard this song on a rerun episode of a police drama, set in Philadelphia, called Cold Case. The case of the week dealt with finding the guys behind the lynching of a young man who was dating the maid of one of the small town civic leaders. The people she worked for had a young daughter that was home playing hide and seek with the maid until her father came home unexpectedly, and saw the young man in his home. He accused the young man of taking liberties with his daughter and he rounded up some of his buddies to grab and lynch the young man. As was custom of this show, each episode featured music from the time period of when the cold case murder occurred. At the end of this episode the song “Strange Fruit” was played. I couldn’t believe what I’d heard, so went to RU-vid to look it up, typed some of the lyrics into RU-vid search engine, and found it. It was the most horrific and overwhelming sad song I’d ever heard. So when your reaction to it popped up on my RU-vid video feed I had to listen. - Thank you for having the courage to play it and for the sensitive way you reacted. I’ll end my Comment now, before I go off on a rant. But again, just let me say Thank You.

First heard this in criminal minds.

I have loved this song for at least 40 years and until recently I would have told you that no other singer was capable of doing it justice. Then Beth Hart and Joe Bonamasa's version came out. Haunting, simply haunting!!!

Definitely one of the saddest songs ever, and this was taking a shot at racism and the "crows" about 15 years before the civil rights movement was considered to have started. Love Billie.

Lady Sings the Blues movie with Billy D and Diana Ross, Richard Pryor, about Billie Holiday I saw it at my friends house, and went and found a copy for myself. ♥️🤗😘

For all Billie Holiday fans-especially those that love her song “ Gloomy Sunday” I would like you all to privately react to an unheralded vocalist named “ Eivor”who after dark in a nightclub somewhere performed this song with such emotional impact and feelings-soaring at times into the celestial realm where Billie and the angels tread-that I’m certain you ( like hundreds of other reactors I’ve sent the song to) will become mesmerized. It will silence your mind and open the floodgates of your heart and soul. Please RU-vid “Eivor & Ginman after dark gloomy Sunday” ( click the 5:11 one posted by AlruneR) If you enjoyed, please add it to your playlist. I watch and listen to this beyond amazing performance once a week and almost always transports me to Billie Holiday-land. R. I. P. Billie Holiday.

Iconic, timeless, powerful. Like the woman herself. This song is often covered, but never with the sheer honesty of the original. Try some Ella Fitzgerald or Betty Carter!

Billie holiday - Gloomy Sunday

Well said!

This is such a dark song, with powerful imagery of lynching. It makes me sad that people can be so horrible & cruel to other people.

HONOR THIS WOMEN😘💋 WHO TOOK CHANCES AND BEGINING HER SELF AND TRYING TO GET HELP AND THEY DIDNT WOULDNT LISTEN TO HER , BECAUSE OF COLOR😢💧💧💧💧🙏😢😩

there is no DNA that immunizes you against those ideologies, only empathy and knowledge

Oh, snaps! I'm digging through the archives 'cause I missed a lot of these uploads :( . And double :( :( because this song is so messed up, but very much of its time - Miss Holiday is singing straight truth. There's also a very direct musical line from Billie Holiday to Nina Simone. Ok, done typing, I'm gonna hit PLAY. As always, thank you for your great song selections!

Where's the tissues?🥺 Still brings tears after all these years 😢.

Song Suggestions: Sitting on the Dock of The Bay - Otis Redding : Harry Hippy - Bobby Womack: A change Gone Come - Sam Cooke

Theres A special on HBO called , Lady Day Live at Emerson's Bar and Grill, starring Tony Award Winner Audrey McDonald , who also Starred in the Broadway Version. It will Break ur heart.

a great country artist, Earl Thomas Conley, just passed away weds. you should do a tribute reaction. "too many times", "holding her & loving you", "don't make it easy for me", "somewhere between right & wrong". & "angel in disguise", are just a few good ones.

That's all you got to do that when you think about the song and what it means all you got to do is shake your head

Billie is the greatest

Yes, you perfect sense

Wow. Holy crap. What a heavy song.

Check out Blue Moon by Billie Holiday

The commentary makes the point.

I recommended this to you a year ago. I'm sorry... heavy shit.

Same here man I heard on rogan and then you tube and thus song and the story destroyed me.... Sad world

You need to see the movie lady sings the blues aaaand also listen to gloomy Sunday aaaand get fucked up back story

Named song of the century by Time magazine in 1999

Everything you said x infinity

If you get a chance, look up The Great Mutiny in India 1857. Indians tried to overthrow their British masters in 1857. Due to a lack of trained military leaders (Indian soldiers were not allowed to reach any Officer rank, they could only go as high as non-commissioned ranks) or weapons with the range and firepower given to British soldiers. In return, after the mutiny was crushed British soldiers and civilians in India went on a rampaged and killed perhaps millions of Indians. Often the killed were hanged high up in trees as a warning to the rest. Hindu and Muslim funerals are held as soon after death as possible (hot humid climates make this imperative) to avoid health issues. The locals begged the British for permission to cut down the bodies to burn or bury. They were denied under threats of death from doing so. In India in those days these hanging bodies came to be called "Kaalaa Aam" (Black Mangoes). This song reminds me of that.

People copy you. You are the real thing man

Lady Day! Sadly her signature song. Try something with her and Prez. After this I'm trying extra hard to stay peace.

I was wondering if you'd play Billie Holiday...thanks. This is a horrific truth shinning light on inhumanity.

This song was considered shocking for the time. There came a time when Billie refused to sing it anymore.

Weren't expecting that, were you? Hard song. Good it exists and was forced on society. Good choice.

Check out Cage the Elephant- No Rest for the Wicked: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GhJzCWOXMVA.html

Hey do more johnny cash like cocaine blues

Check out Beth Hart's version,

the idea that she is singing about black people swinging from tree branches... lynching... the "strange fruit" makes me weep.

Cherokee People next plz brother

𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗹 ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel_Meeropol )

It's not so difficult to get people in a frame of mind to behave that badly. Get them thinking of a group as 'other' and dismissing that group's humanity by demeaning them as criminals, rapists, drug dealers, dirty, carriers of disease, invaders and the like. Move on to dehumanise them as 'animals' and you are on the road.

Isnt this the cover that caused all the suicides

I'm new to your channel but it's suprising that you've never heard this song. I'm probably the same age as you and it disturbs me your lack of respect speaking about it seems offensive. I'm not familiar with your style here on RU-vid but I suggest you doing a little bit more research before posting iconic and historical songs like this. We still cool, I'm not ready to give up on my brother....

With all her respect that she deserves as an artist I still think and Nina Simone has a much better version tho ❤️

When will humanity evolve? It hasn't yet. It's still ugly.

This song was in Son of Anarchy. It's an ok song but this version is eww.