Why everyone should care about Nina Simone
Musicians don't have to battle adversity in order to be noteworthy. Nor do they have to gain a reputation for being flinty in conversation or difficult to work with. But Nina Simone had more reason than most to battle, and if that came out in stern perfectionism and , what harm does a little reputation do?
The potted history is as follows (there's a ): a gifted classical pianist called Eunice Waymon applies to study at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, but is rejected on the grounds of her skin colour. Feeling unable to take the rightful place her talent demands in the classical world, she adopts the stage name Nina Simone and starts playing jazz and R&B with classical flourishes, and singing in a soft, slightly sour voice. Soon she is mixing up hit records - My Baby Just Cares For Me, I Got Life - protest songs and deep soul and funk cuts with breathtaking skill. is just one of the modern artists who owes a debt of thanks to her stern spirit and tireless musical cross-pollination.
And that mixture of classical training with pop (and protest) echoes down through the years. Matt Bellamy of - who had a hit single with her song Feeling Good, as also covered by everyone from to - puts the same baroque flourishes into his music, and sings with the same sense of outrage at the world.
- an artist who uses her training at the Birmingham Conservatoire to make popular music - has made investigating Nina Simone's life, work and influences:
Laura Mvula uncovers the influence of Nina Simone鈥檚 classical training in her version of Love Me or Leave Me
Singer Laura Mvula visits New York to explore the Nina Simone songs that mean most to her
She also discovered that Nina's reputation as a hard taskmaster was well deserved - she wasn't above trying to shake her entire band off and then blaming them afterwards, which makes the guy in look almost friendly.
How Nina ruled with a rod of iron
Nina Simone could be a wonderful collaborator - and a fierce taskmistress.
But where Nina Simone songs are coloured with piano flourishes, Laura's blossom with great expansive washes of Beach Boys-style vocal harmonies.
Laura Mvula performs She live for MistaJam
Laura Mvula live in the studio performing She for MistaJam in December 2012.
Here's Nina - sorry, Dr Simone - discussing the art of protest songs on Women's Hour in 1988:
Nina Simone interviewed on Woman's Hour 1988
Nina Simone talks about her protest songs. Photo: Roland Godefroy
is on 大象传媒 Four at 19:30 on Friday 29 May.
For a fuller appreciation of Nina and her music, download this .
