When my mother-in-law was a teenager, she used to go watch Billie in Harlem all the time. She didn't drink and there was a drink minimum, so Billie suggested she just get herself a soda and let her have the drink. Billie didn't always feel like singing Strange Fruit, which got requested all the time. She would look over at my mother in law and let her decide if she should sing it or not. My wife's grandfather made the dress that Billie was buried in.
strange Fruit was written for Billie Holiday. She wasn’t sure she wanted to sing it in front of a white audience. She thought it might ruin her career. Thank God she sang it. People needed to hear it, really hear the words. I am 65 years old and white. She was really more of my parents generation. I grew up in Philadelphia and lived in an all white neighborhood, but went to school with some black students, but not many. My Dad fought in the Korean War and shared a tent with a black soldier. They were what they call “battle buddies”. His name was Gus Jones and came to our house a lot when I was growing up. My Mom was first generation in America. Her parents immigrated from Italy. Gus loved to come to our house. He loved my Mom’s cooking. I was pretty much almost an adult before I realized that having a black man and his family to the house for dinner was something that didn’t happen in everybody’s house. Dad and Gus stayed battle buddies until Gus died. Dad died soon after. I am grateful that my Mom and Dad raised me to not see color first. I married a career soldier and being on a military base gave you the opportunity to actually get to know people of many ethnic groups. We raised our children to see the person, hear the person and not base what they saw and heard on the color of the person’s skin. I know now how fortunate I was being raised the way I was. Thanks Mom and Dad.
it was not written for her. she was not comfortable with this song in general at first, some people even say that at first she did not understand the full meaning of this song until much later.
Probably the deepest song ever written, just heart wrenching to see and hear. It's so raw and so truthful, so sad. If this song doesn't make you think and feel something nothing will. God bless Billie Holiday, she moves me to tears every single time. This is a truth we must never forget, as hard as it is to confront, you can see and hear her pain, the pain this country inflicted on innocent people, let us never forget lest we repeat the hatred again. We can't let that happen, we must learn from this.
John London I’d heard it, but yes- I was misinformed. Her mom started working in a brothel when Eleanora was 16, per Wiki, and soon she herself worked there. She was basically trafficked. So not born there. Thank you for making me do my homework 😊
Frank Bowden Hi Frank. Firstly thanks for the adult reply.... very rare on you tube when you question something! I get a bit predatory over information on Ladyday. I never think that new information will come to light but there is so much mis information as you are probably aware... Have a good day...
Bitter-Sweet song. Bitter because of the lyric & subject matter, (I cry every time I hear this song) Sweet because my absolute favourite Jazz/ Blues artist of all time performs it.
Southern trees bear a strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees. Pastoral scene of the gallant south, The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth, Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh, Then the sudden smell of burning flesh. Here is fruit for the crows to pluck, For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck, For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop, Here is a strange and bitter crop. .. STRANGE FRUIT- Billie Holiday (1939)
It wasn't written by Billie Holiday it was written by Abel Meeropol. Billie was the first person to record it in 1939 and of course it became synonymous. with her.
I actually have a few tears watching you, more than 50 years later. Her mission for us as people, white, black,etc to hear without prejudice is revelatory. Much love
Billy Holiday first performed this in song in 1939 and closed every of her performances with it. It was such a powerful song and Billy instructed every venue she sang to have all the waiters stop serving customers and that the room was silent so as to illustrate the power of the words. Billy would have one spotlight on her and would close her eyes on stage as if evoking a prayer during every performance. Such a haunting song...
@@mishabohanan5197 Billie Holiday did not start singing 'Strange Fruit', which was published as a poem in 1937, in 1929 when she was aged 14. The original commenter is correct. She first sang 'Strange Fruit' at the club 'Cafe Society' in 1939.
BTW, if you really like and want to explore more Billie Holiday, check out "Lady In Satin" where she has a full lush orchestra behind her instead of a small jazz combo. It's an amazing album, and it was done during the later part of her life, her health and voice had suffered from her drinking and using drugs, but don't let that fool you, she brings it. To hear her fragile voice over a full orchestra is something you will never forget, once it's inside your ears, it gets inside your soul forever. Again, Billie Holiday, Lady In Satin, trust me you'll be glad you took the time.
It was originally a poem written by a Jewish man that has witnessed lynchings of African Americans for the first time and gave the poem for Billie to sing. She fought hard to get the song recorded and got alot of backlash for it. And the FBI even tried to force her to not sing it
Abel Meeropole's union bulletin poem was made legend when Ms. Holiday set it to music. Her vocals were so powerful she was constantly at risk of losing her caberet license by disgruntled club owners who wanted dancing and drinking tunes - not a civil rights dirge. This '59 video, from a TV special may be the only one in existence. By this time she was deep within the clutches of drug addiction. Still... twenty years after recording it... she was unable to it on US airwaves. The pain that came with each performance never left her. BTW... Meerepoole aka Lewis Allan, later adopted the two Rosenberg boys.
So many emotions come up in me when I hear this song. I believe they tried to threaten her in not to perform this song but I do believe she defied them. I applaud her for having the courage to tell the brutal truth of what happened to black people.
I see that you are listening to all of Billie's songs. In 1972 Diana Ross starred in a movie based on her life. She was nominated for an Oscar for her role. The movie is called LADY SINGS THE BLUES. You would love it.
Everyone advised her to not record this song but she felt it needed to be. A new movie out now called "The United States Vs Billie Holiday". You should watch it.
My grandma had all of her albums. Sadly I was too young then to claim them. I did acquire her greatest hits. Love Billy Holiday, such a talent with a troublesome life. RIP Lady Day. Check out Diana Ross portrayal of her in "Lady Sings The Blues" ♥
Another great song written by Billie. It's clearly hard for young black men and women to truly understand racism back then and the treatment brought on by segregation. It's hard to imagine that at least once a month one black man or woman was being hung in Texas. That of course is just an example, and this occurred in many states other than Texas. It's hard to understand how there were separate everything for people of color: Separate restaurants, hotels, drinking fountains, schools, doctors, lawyers, policemen, businesses and such where black people were relegated to use. Failing to do so would lead to being denied service or violence. Where black men were beaten and hung for looking a white person in the eyes, nonetheless looking at a white woman. Where at times to avoid such confrontation black people had to walk on the other side of the street. Today of course racism is far more subtle and not a prevalent, yet just as effective. To my way of thinking anyone that samples this song without acknowledging the meaning behind it is at best a thief and at worse contributing to the kind of racism which prevails today. Billie Holliday died chained to a hospital bed after being indicted for drugs July 17, 1959, after being hounded by the FBI, the victim of the racist politics of the time.
It wasn't written by Billie Holiday it was written by Abel Meeropol. Billie was the first person to record it in 1939 and of course it became synonymous. with her..
yescarycan I didn’t say it wasn’t for her. But it’s important to ensure that the role that Abel Meeropol played in the creation of this piece of history needs be made clear, The original comment states “another great song written by Billie “ it is that statement that is not correct and graciously accepted by the person who made it.
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.
This was of course famously sampled on Kanye's Blood on the Leaves. If you've never heard it you should. Strange Fruit is such an iconic, awful, wonderful song.
This song saddens me. She was so sad . It’s about lynching. I heard this song 10 times before I realized what she was talking about. They killed her. Watch the movie
A very powerful song with profound lyrics yet so melancholy.It was relevant to that time and it is still relevant in today's world.Remember Ahmaud Arbery being literally hunted and killed.Unfortunately racism is Achilles heel of the U.S.
I can recommend you a documentary about Jazz music and the First laber ever for black Jazz musicians, called "blue Note - a Story of Modern Jazz". It's about 2 germans ( Alfred Lion & Francis Wolff ) movin to america befor WW2 starts and fell in Love with Jazz. They knew from their homecountry that racism destroys society. And to that time america werent that different, havin extra Rules&Treatment for black people & harsh punishments. Allthough they knew about the rules, These 2 dudes created the very First Label for Jazzsinger. It's one of the deepest and realest documentary. Even picks Up some Biographies of Jazz Singer, including Billy holiday
I really like your reactions ❤️. I love that you show your soul 🌟. If you want some rare tip. React to Aurora, 5,4,3,2,1 murder song. Live at the peace price festival. Thank you 🌷☀️.
Im know this Reaction is a few months old, but Theres a TV Adaptation of The Broadway Hit Called , Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, which Starred Audrey McDonald as Billie Holiday on HBO. I implore you watch it, it will Move ur Soul and explain Her life's Journey 🙏.
BillieHoliday‘s “Strange Fruit” captured the ugliness of lynchings in the South. Billie Holiday recorded it as a song in 1939. 1939- Billie Holiday: Strange Fruit 1938- The DeZurik Sisters: Arizona Yodeler 1937- Billie Holiday: I Must Have That Man! 1936- Fred Astaire: The Way You Look To-Night 1935- The Carter Family: Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye) 1934- Bessie Smith: Gimme a Pigfoot 1933- Ethel Waters: Stormy Weather 1932- The Boswell Sisters: “Everybody Loves My Baby (But My Baby Don’t Love Nobody But Me) 1931- Skip James: Devil Got My Woman 1930- Blind Willie Johnson: John the Revelator 1929- Louis Armstrong: (What Did I Do to Be) Black and Blue 1928- Louis Armstrong: West End Blues 1927- Duke Ellington: Black and Tan Fantasie 1926- Louis Armstrong: Heebie Jeebies 1925- Bessie Smith: The St. Louis Blues 1924- Ma Rainey: See See Rider Blues 1923- Bessie Smith: Down Hearted Blues 1922- Alberta Hunter: Down Hearted Blues 1921- Lucille Hegamin: Arkansas Blues 1920- Mamie Smith: Crazy Blues en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Fruit
So elated to see you listening to the music that made a difference. Her career was levelled due to her not obeying the government to stop singing this song live
The black community totally failed to educate this young man about great black artists, truly outrageous, my mother had a Billy Holiday record when I was a kid back in the forties, ever heard of Duke Ellington?
Sounds a bit judgmental to call it outrageous. No one failed him and he is educating himself. Not every individual is going to know everything. And it's never too late to learn something. History is rich and there's always more to uncover. I for one applaud younger kids doing this kind of video, discovering constantly.
Sir Ervin Williams, the movie Lady Sings The Blues sadly was hugely fictional and did not truly represent the life of Billie Holiday. This was in part due to the fact that her last husband who was portrayed in the role of Billie Dee Williams was a significant part of the production of the movie along with Motown. He was an abuser & stole all of her money prior to her death. And he also played a part in falsely setting her up with the FBI which led to her being arrested on her deathbed. Check out the many documentaries about her and how the FBI targeted her & was relentless at destroying her solely because she took a stand to not stop singing this very relevant song about lynchings in the US. And it’s important to know that to date, the anti lynching bill has yet to be passed by Congress making it illegal to do so or deemed as a hate crime. Peace and blessings unto you ✌🏽
Saturday say it's the song about lynching I'm sure poor Billie probably saw her fair share of lynchings in her lifetime the man who wrote the song was a Jewish composer and a communist and he wanted Billie to sing it of course when she did a lot of people tried to stop her she was so ahead of her time to speak out against lynchings and torture they tried to stop her but thank goodness she had a voice and she used it
Bruh, i can barely watch or even hear this without fighting tears. One thing to understand, is that possibly more than any other group or vocation, after the actual abolitionists & freedom fighters like Harriet Tubman, Nat Turner, Frederick Douglas to name a few, the musicians & performers, 1930's, '40's & '50's were that generation freedom fighters, activists, civil rights advocates. All over the country, people knew of Klan activity '30's & before, but when the musicians from the north like Billie, traveled the south, they actually saw just what she portrayed in that song, & sometimes got attacked themselves. You can even hear it spoken of in the Motown documentary and that was the '60's....😳😬 But in Billie's time, to sing a song like this, when the hanging of 'negros' was actually still perpetrated? That was defiantly radical. The comment below is correct that even FBI was after her to stop singin it. Part of the detriment of her life was the drug addiction, that really did cut her life short. Even in this video, she was near the end, with that pain so apparent & her voice still powerful. At one point she was even placed under arrest in the hospital. The music world owes so much to Ms. Billie Holiday. Her accompanist on piano for many years shown at the end of the video, is Mal Waldron. He wrote a classic called, 'Soul Eyes'. His daughter, Mala Waldron is a singer pianist her performs today on the jazz scene in New York, & internationally.
I don’t get why you all start with the music she made right before she died and her vocal prowess is loooonnng gone she made the record in 39 when she was a young top of her game singer. But your the best reviewer of this song
You should try to understand the history of the song. It is as intense as it is relevant. She would wait and sing that as her last song because she would have to go to the bathroom and throw up afterwards. She started singing it in 1929, the clip you watched was from 1959. God bless you, young man. Stay safe.
