First youve got the tree, which is usually a symbol of life, being turned into a symbol of death. Billie holiday strange fruit 1972, ri, vinyl discogs. In the 1930s, billie was known as a performer of jazz and blues music, but this song wasnt either of those things. Strange fruit is a testament to the power of music as an impetus for social change.
It protested american racism, particularly the lynching of black americans. Strange fruit not only chronicles the civil rights movement from the 30s on, it examines the lives of the beleaguered billie holiday and abel meeropol, the white jewish schoolteacher and communist sympathizer who wrote the song that would have an impact on generations of fans, black and white, unknown and famous, including performers lena horne, eartha kitt, and sting. Meeropol was a member of the communist party, not uncommon for antiracist activists in the 1930s. Holiday, who throughout her career called public attention to the devastating impact of white supremacy, drew the notice of the commissioner for the federal bureau of narcotics. The song was strange fruit, a haunting critique of lynching and race terrorism in the american south. In an extract from his history of protest songs, dorian lynskey explores the power of strange fruit.
Billie holiday, cafe society, and an early cry for civil rights. Such lynchings had reached a peak in the southern united states at the turn of the century, and the great majority of victims were black. Eighty years on, aida amoako explores how a poem about lynching became a timeless call to action. Eleanora fagan april 7, 1915 july 17, 1959, professionally known as billie holiday, was an african american jazz singer with a. Billie holidays strange fruit the first unmuted cry.
They are vibrant and seemingly leap from the pages. We recall holidays strange fruit, a musical protest against this countrys white supremacist violence. Billie holiday southern trees bear 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. Working in small teams, students will analyze a variety of primary source materials related to lynching news articles, letters. July 17 marks the 59th anniversary of billie holidays death. In a few simple lyrics and one magnificent performance, the track tells the story of endless struggle struggle, of boundless pain, and ultimately of resilience. Strange fruit is a song performed most famously by billie holiday, who first sang and recorded it in 1939. 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. Sunday roots if you would like to donate and help keep this channel growing you can. 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. The clubs founder had heard a powerful new protest song written by lewis allan, the pen name of jewish high school teacher and leftwing activist named abel meeropol. You can learn more about this song in david margolicks book strange fruit. Lyrics and video for the song strange fruit by billie holiday songfacts.
It is everything music can be and should be, all in three minutes. Billie holiday strange fruit 1972, pr, vinyl discogs. Thanks to gode davis, director of the film american lynching for his help with these songfacts. The first thing you notice in this book are the illustrations. 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.
The governments reaction is also a story about the repression of dissent. The audience was completely silent the first time billie holiday performed a song called strange fruit. Billie holiday, cafe society, and an early cry for civil rights, notes that the song was not written specifically for holiday, though she took it and made it her own, even if it was not particularly a jazz song. It was a song about injustice, and it would change her life forever. Billie holidays strange fruit the song strange fruit has something about it that you can never fully walk away from and forget. About strange fruit this song, written by abel meeropol and performed by many artists but most notably, billie. Critical analysis essay of strange fruit by billie holiday. The tragic story behind billie holidays strange fruit. For the 1959 album originally titled billie holiday, see last recording. One of billie holidays most iconic songs is strange fruit, a haunting protest against the inhumanity of racism. Fried chicken, hams, and jams from nashvilles favorite cafe cooking with cafe pasquals. Thank you guys for watching, i hope you liked and enjoyed what you saw. It is a cursory biography billie holiday and her protest song strange fruit came to be. Thank you for the continued support come hangout with me on.
It is for both of these reasons why we at defending rights. I must thank my friend mark esber for suggesting that i present a post about strange fruit on this blog. Strange fruit is a song recorded by billie holiday in 1939, written by abel meeropol and published in 1937. The song was originally written and published as a poem called bitter fruit in 1937 by abel meeropol, a member of the american communist party. Written by the teacher abel meeropol as a poem, it. Strange fruit this song is by billie holiday and appears on the live album billie holiday at jazz at the philharmonic 1954 on the album lady sings the blues 1956 on the album the complete billie holiday on verve 19451959 1992 on the album lover come back to me 1995 on the album an. It could be the text itself so visualizing and dramatic, or the music that adds an even more haunting effect. Smart news keeping you current billie holidays label wouldnt touch strange fruit the emotive song about lynching in the american south is both a classic and a warning. Billie holidays strange fruit was crucial in the beginnings of the civil rights movement, and demonstrated that an emotional, standard jazz song could be more influencial and personal than any protest or chant could be. Billie holiday and the power of a protest song is a childrens picture book written by gary golio and illustrated by charlotte rileywebb. At the same time, songwriter abel meeropol seems to be making an allusion to family trees. It condemned american racism, particularly the lynching of african americans that had occurred chiefly in the south but also in all regions of the united states. Strange fruit is one of the most potent protest songs ever written.
The strange story of the man behind strange fruit one of billie holidays most iconic songs is strange fruit, a haunting protest against the inhumanity of. Billie holidays strange fruit the first unmuted cry against racism. This was always the last song holiday played at her concerts. Considering the vivid images and sustained metaphor of the song strange fruit, it shouldnt be surprising that it began as a poem. Billie holidays strange fruit, is the greatest song ever recorded. Overview this lesson focuses on billie holidays signature song, strange fruit, a protest song lewis allen wrote in 1938 about the ongoing and intransigent problem of lynching in the american south. Many people know that the man who wrote the song was inspired by a photograph of.
But few know that its three short antiracist verses were written by a white new york schoolteacher or that it contributed to. Everyone who listens to jazz or cares about billie holiday or the story of the arts as a part of the civil rights movement should have this cd in their collection. Southern trees bear 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. Download strange fruit remastered by billie holiday emusic. A good digitization of one of the most important jazz works and its performance from the 20th century.
Strange fruit by gary golio author and charlotte rileywebb illustrator is an absolutely wonderful picture book about billie holidays famous song with the same title. Written by a white, jewish high school teacher from the bronx and a member of the communist party, abel meeropol wrote it as a protest poem, exposing american racism, particularly the lynching of african americans. The tragic story behind billie holidays strange fruit to great controversy, lady day introduced the world to the racially charged protest song strange fruit. Strange fruit is a song performed most famously by billie holiday. Originally written as a poem to protest the violent oppression of black americans, strange fruit is a song by famous jazz vocalist billie holiday that illustrates the grisly sight of lynchings. For her selftitled 1954 album, see billie holiday album. First recorded in 1939, the protest song strange fruit came to. Here is fruit for the crows to pluck, for the rain. Billie holidays 1939 song about racist lynchings redefined popular music. The soundtracks of the civil rights movement southern country cooking from the loveless cafe.
Strange fruit by david margolick books the guardian. Holiday may have popularized strange fruit and turned it into a work of art, but it was a jewish communist teacher and. June 15, billie holiday and the strange fruit song the song strange fruit was written by a jewish communist d abel meeropol and had a political message shown from an entertainment angle. Holidays strange fruit has long been viewed as the definitive one, dripping as it is with pain and disgust, though nina simone came close with her similarly bleak 1965 version. Strange fruitbillie holiday 1939 added to the national registry. Billie holidays strange fruit is both a testament to the. Strange fruit song analysis final ballades, beats and. Billie holidays strange fruit, is the greatest song. She once described it as the ugliest song i have ever heard.
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