Billie Holiday Over-Rated? - Democratic Underground

Syrinx

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Tue Jul-11-06 04:01 AM
Original message

Billie Holiday Over-Rated?

A friend lent my some Billie Holiday cd's to listen to. I've listened to them. I don't see what the big deal is. She sounds more annoying than anything else. She gives me a headache.

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GreenTea

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Tue Jul-11-06 04:06 AM
Response to Original message

1. Then listen to some Yuseff Lateff!!!

Billie holliday has never touched me like the great Sarah Vaughn has!!!

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Syrinx

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Tue Jul-11-06 04:07 AM
Response to Reply #1

2. Oh, I like me some Sarah Vaughn!

Or some Dinah Washington, who was from my hometown. I just don't get the Billie Holiday, I guess.

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GreenTea

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Tue Jul-11-06 04:18 AM
Response to Reply #2

3. I too Love Dinah very much...Truly though, listen to Yuseff!!!

Edited on Tue Jul-11-06 04:25 AM by GreenTea

"The Blue Yuseff Latiff" - So fucking smooth & cool.

Yuseff's - "Eastern Sounds" - For a truly sexy bluesy sax evening.

He's as smooth as Coltrane, Miles & Mingus!!

:smoke:

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kwassa

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Tue Jul-11-06 08:54 AM
Response to Reply #3

14. but what kind of jazz singer was he?

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tigereye

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Tue Jul-11-06 10:47 AM
Response to Reply #3

17. ah Yuseff is very cool (why did I think it was Yusuf)

Edited on Tue Jul-11-06 10:47 AM by tigereye

personally though, I think Billie has a very unique style, somewhat different than other great women jazz singers.

and welcome to DU

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Hissyspit

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Tue Jul-11-06 04:23 AM
Response to Original message

4. I think she is an acquired taste.

Plus she needs to be put into context. Do you have her earlier stuff, or her later stuff?

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Syrinx

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Tue Jul-11-06 04:29 AM
Response to Reply #4

5. I'm not really sure

My buddy came by and reclaimed his cd's earlier. It was two cd's. They were titled something like "The Best Of Billie Holiday" and "Billie Holiday's Greatest," but I could definitely be wrong on those titles.

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Syrinx

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Tue Jul-11-06 04:30 AM
Response to Reply #4

6. inexplicable double post

Edited on Tue Jul-11-06 04:31 AM by Syrinx

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Anarcho-Socialist

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Tue Jul-11-06 05:45 AM
Response to Reply #6

7. Cool n/t

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Bassic

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Tue Jul-11-06 06:33 AM
Response to Original message

8. She's like most jazz or blues, an acquired taste.

But once you get to like her, then you can appreciate just how good she was.

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progmom

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Tue Jul-11-06 07:13 AM
Response to Original message

9. her interpretation of a lyric, for one thing

her phrasing, also, which was very horn-like.

those are two things about Billie that move me.

i don't think she's overrated. not at all.

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Karenina

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Tue Jul-11-06 07:28 AM
Response to Original message

10. Diana Krall is overrated.

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Bridget Burke

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Tue Jul-11-06 07:37 AM
Response to Original message

11. No.

Who do you like, musically?

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Onlooker

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Tue Jul-11-06 07:41 AM
Response to Original message

12. She's not overrated

I love Billie Holiday. Unlike most singers, she never sang the same song the same way. Each recording is different, and her phrasing for me suggests it comes from the heart. There was something dark and sad about her, and I always regarded her as a true artist. The fact that she never sang in prison and that she wrote so powerful a song as Strange Fruit also makes me admire her. She lived a difficult life in a difficult time, and her music and self were one. She was as true an artist as any. She was never kitsch. That's why she wasn't a passing fad. She still has many fans.

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1gobluedem

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Tue Jul-11-06 11:38 AM
Response to Reply #12

19. Billie Holiday didn't write Strange Fruit

She helped adapt the lyrics for music but it was originally a poem. See below:

<snip> While many people assume that the song "Strange Fruit" was written by Holiday herself, it actually began as a poem by Abel Meeropol, a Jewish schoolteacher and union activist from the Bronx who later set it to music <snip>

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/strangefruit/film.html

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kwassa

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Tue Jul-11-06 08:53 AM
Response to Original message

13. Nope. Billie is one of the all-time great jazz singers.

Why do you find her annoying? What about her voice bothers you?

Billie had both a unique vocal quality, and unique phrasing, where she would sing behind the beat and then catch up at the end of a phrase. She is definitely one of most original singers ever, a completely original artist.

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MissMillie

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Tue Jul-11-06 08:58 AM
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15. No

Whether you like that style of music or not, no one can deny that Billie's voice was full soul (mind you, a melancholy soul, but soul).

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Vidar

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Tue Jul-11-06 10:25 AM
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16. She's not my favorite, though I love classical jazz

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blondeatlast

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Tue Jul-11-06 11:26 AM
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18. Unless you've heard "Strange Fruit"--especially a live recording, or

"Gloomy Sunday," you aren't qualitied to make that assessment.

Keep in mind that she was before her time for the most part and part of her reknown lies in her uniqueness as well.

Also keep in mind the limitations of recording technology at the time.

No offe3nse intended; but perspective is essential in this case.

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Rabrrrrrr

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Tue Jul-11-06 11:45 AM
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20. She can never be over-rated. That's impossible.

One of the greatest jazz voices ever. No argument.

But, like all things musical, one's mileage may vary.

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mvd

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Tue Jul-11-06 04:44 PM
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21. I love Billie

Yes, there's some ruggedness in her voice, but it's very soulful IMO.

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Burma Jones

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Tue Jul-11-06 04:51 PM
Response to Original message

22. No

I'm sorry she gives you a headache, maybe you need a better Stereo.......

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