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.

.

…..

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!