Nina Simone – Wild is the Wind (1966)
[Album 626/1001]
“So while you’re imitating Al Capone, I’ll be Nina Simone”
– The Fugees (or more specifically, Lauryn Hill), Ready or Not
How exactly does one ‘be’ Nina Simone?
By being bold & bluesy, like in I Love Your Lovin’ Ways?
As a soulful singer-songwriter, capable of hitting powerful closing notes, like in Four Women?
Through absolutely soaring vocals, as in What More Can I Say?
Or perhaps a more subdued, yet no less effective, approach, à la Lilac Wine?
I don’t know…compared to Nina, it feels like Al Capone might be a much easier & considerably less nuanced imitation!
In any event, if she’s planning on being as versatile & compelling as Nina is on Wild is the Wind, Lauryn Hill’s got her work cut out for her.
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Verbalize the Positive
Speaking of Nina Simone as a role model, her biography was included in the original edition of “Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women.”
The two books are terrific & I’ve really enjoyed reading them with the extraordinary young women in my house!
1001albumsin10years 
Geoff you are on a posting binge hahaha…
A 2 for 1 Record N Book Review!
Best of the New Year to the Stephen Posse in Kingston!
Haha, 2 reviews in a week, I must be on holidays!
2019’s off to a fine start here, hope all is well in Tbay!
All is fine here Geoff!
Woke to a -37 morning! Yikes!
Probably a good move to pass on attempting to imitate Ms Simone. Too much passion, anger, skill and potency for your average, er, bloke. Whereas Mr Capone just needs machine gun accessories.
Have read Vol. 1 of those books. Brilliant.
Machine gun accessories are likely much easier to procure!
And Volume II is equally strong, equally recommended
Man I do love me some Nina Simone. Anytime, anywhere.
I love those books but I’d be afraid to read them to my daughter. She’s a rebel without needing the books!
Do you find yourself singing Bryan Adams from time to time? (S)he’s a Rebbbbel!
Nah, but we do duck for cover quite a bit…
I like Bowie’s cover from Station to Station but Nina Simone’s version of Wild is the Wind is the most affecting. Will put the album on my explore list! You mention biographies, did you watch the documentary on her life What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015). I haven’t watched yet. Think it’s on Netflix.
Happy New Year!
I haven’t seen it..yet!
Cheers Chris, happy 2019 to you too!