I’m in love with Nina Simone.

Photos:

This one’s getting played at my future-hypothetical wedding:

Verve redid the classic Sinner Man (Sinnerman). The video is remarkable, one of my favorites:

She came of age as the Civil Rights Movement came of age. What a voice, slow down, keep your eyes on the prize:

Regard silence as a part of sound. This video, too, is remarkable, one of my faves.

Sinner Man was made famous by the beautiful, soulful, strong, deeeep heavy cold powerful as the ocean Nina Simone.

Get comfortable. Close your eyes. Get into it. Ride it:

Sinnerman is an 100-year-old folk song.

“Sometimes written as “Sinner Man”, this traditional gospel song has been recorded many times. It probably originated around the beginning of the 20th century but most modern recordings are based on the 1959 recording by The Weavers. It is also one of the best known songs sung by Nina Simone. She recorded it on her album, “Pastel Blues”(1965) in a track that runs for over ten minutes. She said she learned the song as a child from her mother, a Methodist minister who used it at revival meetings. It has also been recorded by Trini Lopez and by The Seekers.”

Sinner Man crowned the 10-minute climax of The Thomas Crown Affair (1999), to brilliant effect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0KK0msnLhw

~

Another one, this one shows her in action, this one could be a sort of American Heart Sutra anthem:

Here she peforms Four Women. It’s amazing, these treasures, so readily accessible via youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf9Bj1CXPH8

If you knew how I missed you, you wouldn’t stay away:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4Icg8gxDvc

1976. What a face. What a presence.

What you gonna do?

A reader just sent these two in. Strange Fruit, I’m going to be sick. Amazing they casually, proudly gathered to pose for such pics.

And, Wild is the Wind: