Originally sung in new yorks cafe society, these revolutionary lyrics take on a life of their own in this revealing account of the song and the struggle it personified. One of billie holidays most iconic songs is strange fruit, a haunting. The tragic story behind billie holiday s strange fruit to great controversy, lady day introduced the world to the racially charged protest song strange fruit. How there were dead black people swingin in the southern breeze smelling like blood and burnin flesh instead of the beautiful sweet smell of fruit or flowers that should have been hanging from the trees. It is a cursory biography billie holiday and her protest song strange fruit came to be. Billie holiday and the power of a protest song tells the story of abel meeropols song strange fruit made famous by singer billie holiday. In an extract from his history of protest songs, dorian lynskey explores the power of strange fruit. Poem analysis the poem strange fruit by abel meeropol is very dark and twisted as it paints a mental picture of past events in southern usa. Strange fruitbillie holiday 1939 added to the national registry. From the plaintive lover man to the antilynching strange fruit, jazz singer billie holiday lived the songs she sangand worse. Recorded by jazz legend billie holiday in 1939, strange fruit is considered to be the first significant song of the civil rights movement and the first direct musical assault upon racial lynchings in the south. Aug 18, 2007 so horrific are the images conjured up by strange fruit that billie holiday always performed it with her eyes closed. Eleanora fagan april 7, 1915 july 17, 1959, professionally known as billie holiday, was an american jazz singer with a career spanning nearly thirty years.
So horrific are the images conjured up by strange fruit that billie holiday always performed it with her eyes closed. Sep 05, 2012 one of billie holiday s most iconic songs is strange fruit, a haunting protest against the inhumanity of racism. Bestknown from billie holidays haunting 1939 rendition, the song strange fruit is a harrowing. Shed pled guilty to drug charges on the promise of treatment for addiction and was confined to the federal reformatory for women in alderson, west. The first thing you notice in this book are the illustrations. Aug 14, 2018 billie holiday appeared on the cover of the july 1949 issue of ebony magazine.
Caryl phillips traces the dark history of the song. Strange fruit was a definitely an effectively powerful song. 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. Considering the vivid images and sustained metaphor of the song strange fruit, it shouldnt. Billie holiday, cafe society, and an early cry for civil rights. Her soulful, unique singing voice and her ability to boldly turn any material that she confronted into her own music made her a superstar of her time. Strange fruit song analysis final ballades, beats and. Holiday first recorded it on this day in 1939, less than a month after first performing it at the.
Or to charles mingus the black saint and the sinner lady or any of the other thematic inyourface music that defined the mingus genius. May 25, 2017 billy holiday by carlos sampayo is a commentary on the realities that billie holiday suffered through and on the injustices of the times she lived in. Many people know that the man who wrote the song was inspired by a photograph of. Strange fruit is a song recorded by billie holiday in 1939, written by abel meeropol and published in 1937. The artwork, fittingly enough, is full of heavily lined figures in plays of shadow and light as they help to illustrate the grey areas that made up the truth behind much of the legend. She was the first black woman to work with a white orchestra when she paired with clarinetist, composer and bandleader artie shaw in 1938 21. Get all the lyrics to songs on strange fruit and join the genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics. Bestknown from billie holiday s haunting 1939 rendition, the song strange fruit is a harrowing.
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. What makes billie holidays music so powerful today musicians including cassandra wilson pay homage to the jazz legend with new albums for lady days 100th birthday. To mark the centenary of her birth, geoffrey smith on why holiday stands ever more apart in the pantheon of jazz. This site is maintained by the estate of billie holiday. Billie holiday lyrics strange fruit southern trees bear a strange fruit. Strange fruit is a song recorded by billie holiday in 1939, written by abel meeropol and. One night, in 1939, billie holiday stood on stage in new york city and sang a song that was unlike anything anyone had heard before.
The tragic story behind billie holidays strange fruit biography. The poem refers to lynching, which is the act of hanging african americans, slaves and other protestors in public venues for a spectacle. Strange fruit was a musical lament against lynching. Apr 03, 2015 john szweds brief but revelatory new book, billie holiday. When holiday heard the lyrics, she was deeply moved by them not only because she was a black american but also because the song. They make historical events and individuals accessible to young children. Billie holiday by billie holiday download billie holiday on.
Eleanora fagan april 7, 1915 july 17, 1959, professionally known as billie holiday, was an african american jazz singer with a. Billie holiday strange fruit lyrics and tracklist genius. Southern trees bear a strange fruit blood on the leaves and blood at the root black bodies swinging in the southern breeze strange fruit. A magic song from a magic voice lyrics strange fruit southern trees bear strange fruit blood on the leaves and blood at the root black bodies swinging in. The second key moment is holidays first performance of strange fruit, which initially elicits discomfort from the audience a few people nearly got up from their seats and left. Her acclaimed talent persisted through violence and exploitation from her menfolk plus drinking, drugging, and discrimination.
The legendary singer would have an enormous impact on jazz and pop music. What makes billie holidays music so powerful today arts. About billie holiday kirkus best books of 2015 selection for biography published in celebration of holidays centenary, the first biography to focus on the singers extraordinary musical talent when billie holiday stepped into columbias studios in november 1933, it marked the beginning of what is arguably the most remarkable and influential career in twentiethcentury popular music. Southern trees bearing 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. Billie holiday strange fruit 1972, pr, vinyl discogs. Back matter includes the lyrics and two pages of exposition that define lynching and describe the. While the lyrics never mention lynching, the metaphor is painfully clear. In accordance with the generous wishes of william gottlieb, the photographs in the william p.
Billie holidays 1939 song about racist lynchings redefined popular music. Please submit questions or licensing requests for the commercial use of her image and likeness via the email links below. Emotional power through song holiday became famous after she recorded strange fruit, a 1939 protest song about lynchings of africanamericans. Writing about her final years in his definitive book strange fruit. The song is comparing black people to the strange fruit, calling them a bitter crop. 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. 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. 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 a fruit for the crows to pluck for the rain to gather, for the wind to suck for the sun to rot, for the tree to drop here is a strange and bitter. Nicknamed lady day by her friend and music partner lester young, holiday had a seminal influence on jazz music and pop singing. Holiday may have popularized strange fruit and turned it into a work of art, but it was a jewish communist teacher and civil rights activist from the bronx. They are vibrant and seemingly leap from the pages.
Before billie holiday came along in the early 30s, most vocalists plied their trade in service to the bigger tin pan alley picture. But theres a hardwon authenticity in her music, giving us the sense that she wasnt merely interpreting songs, but living them out. Strange fruit explores the history and legacy of a song unique in the annals of american music. Tracy fessenden, religion around billie holiday penn.
Such lynchings had reached a peak in the southern united states at the turn of. Strange fruit is a song performed most famously by billie holiday, who first sang and recorded it in 1939. But as great as their musical messages were, they pale in comparison to billie holidays 1939 recording of strange fruit, a harrowing account of lynching. Gottlieb collection entered into the public domain on february 16, 2010.
Billie holiday by billie holiday download billie holiday. About strange fruit strange fruit is a song performed most famously by billie holiday, who first sang and recorded it in 1939. Billie holidays label wouldnt touch strange fruit smart. Many people know that the man who wrote the song was inspired by a photograph of a lynching. Startlingly raw depiction of the song strange fruit and how billie holiday came to be. Using billie holidays strange fruit to send a message lesson plan on strange fruit from the producers of the pbs series the rise and fall of jim crow. About strange fruit this song, written by abel meeropol and performed by many artists but most notably, billie. Billie holiday, cafe society, and an early cry for civil. John szweds briskly revealing book on billie holiday treats the writing of her autobiography, lady sings the blues, as a key event in the singers life.
But as great as their musical messages were, they pale in comparison to billie holidays 1939 recording of strange fruit, a. Pastoral scene of the gallant south, the bulging eyes and the twisted mouth, scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh, then the sudden smell. Billie holiday appeared on the cover of the july 1949 issue of ebony magazine. How there were dead black people swingin in the southern breeze smelling like blood and burnin flesh instead of the beautiful sweet smell of fruit or flowers that should. The secret jewish history of strange fruit the forward. Books by billie holiday author of lady sings the blues. Billie holiday, born april 7, 1915 in philadelphia, pennsylvania, was a superstar of her day. Apr 20, 2017 billie holiday didnt write strange fruit, but her voice made it the song it is today. Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month. Billie holidays most popular book is lady sings the blues. For the 1959 album originally titled billie holiday, see last recording. Jan 23, 2001 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. Golios powerful narrative turns on two moments plucked from billie holidays career. Billie holiday, cafe society, and an early cry for civil rights harper perennial, wrote the song because i hate.
One hundred years ago, billie holiday, as she later became known, was born in philadelphia. Her voice is certainly unmistakable but for many her religious sensibilities may be invisible. This picture book for older readers tells the story of how the racism. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Billie holiday has 27 books on goodreads with 11030 ratings. Billie holidays haunting song, though, broke through. Southern trees bear strange fruit blood on the leaves and blood at the root black bodies swinging in the southern breeze strange fruit hangi. Caryl phillips, who used the title for his first play, traces the songs. The musician and the myth a concise and sharply focused critical biography. 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. Billie holiday s haunting song, though, broke through.
Billie holiday is one of the most iconic jazz performers of all time. The tragic story behind billie holidays strange fruit. Billie holiday and the power of a protest song is a childrens picture book written by gary golio and illustrated by charlotte rileywebb. 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. One of billie holidays most iconic songs is strange fruit, a haunting protest against the inhumanity of racism. 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. Hear holiday accompany teddy wilson, early on in her career, in next steps. But they might not realize that hes also tied to another watershed moment in americas history. It protested american racism, particularly the lynching of black americans. Written by teacher abel meeropol as a poem and published in 1937, it protested american racism, particularly the lynching of african americans.
Though it was recorded in 1939, sixteen years before rosa parks, it was also recorded seventeen years after the first antilynching bill was filibustered by southern senators. Meeropol, according to david margolicks 2001 book, strange fruit. More than 80 years after making her first recording billies legacy continues to embody what is elegant and cool in. Feb 16, 2011 billie holiday s 1939 song about racist lynchings redefined popular music.
For her selftitled 1954 album, see billie holiday album. When billie holiday went on a tour in the south, she witnessed these bodies of the africans hanging dead in the trees. I needed to find a social justice issue in song or art form, so i decided to choose this song because to me it has to be one of the most powerful songs. Considering the vivid images and sustained metaphor of the song strange fruit, it shouldnt be surprising that it began as a poem. The poem strange fruit by abel meeropol is very dark and twisted as it paints a mental picture of past events in southern usa.
Szwed is aware of the danger of the holiday legend, and is determined to show that she was much more than an emotive performer blessed with a unique gift. In religion around billie holiday penn state university press, 2018, tracy fessenden, professor in the school of historical, philosophical, and religious studies at. On 20 april 1939, holiday entered brunswicks world broadcasting studios with frankie newtons eightpiece cafe society band and recorded strange fruit in one fourhour session. 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. These people were killed by the kkk, and so billie wrote this song strange fruit.
When challenged, holidaywhose autobiography had been ghostwritten by william duftyclaimed, i aint never read that book. Billie holiday gave the first public performance of a song whose lyrics tender a gory. Among these brilliant signature tracks, weve decided to open up with the haunting and everpowerful strange fruit 1939 and one of her own compositions, the timeless god bless the child 1956 version. The songs lyrics are an extended metaphor linking a trees fruit with lynching victims. She first rose to prominence in the 1930s with a unique style that reinvented the conventions of modern singing and performance. Billy holiday, lady day, and billie holiday and her orchestra.
Richard brody, the new yorker when billie holiday first stepped into a recording studio in november 1933, it marked the beginning of what is arguably the most remarkable and influential career in twentiethcentury popular music. The musician and the myth viking, which comes out this weekjust under the wire for her centenary holiday was born april 7. A good digitization of one of the most important jazz works and its performance from the 20th century. The tragic story behind billie holidays strange fruit to great controversy, lady day introduced the world to the racially charged protest song strange fruit. Shed pled guilty to drug charges on the promise of treatment for addiction and was confined to the federal reformatory for women in alderson, west virginia. Billie holiday was a true artist of her day and rose as a social phenomenon in the 1950s.
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