Billie holiday lyrics strange fruit southern trees bear a strange fruit. Audra mcdonald brings billie holiday to hbo usa today. Holiday s popularity increased after strange fruit. A compelling history of strange fruit, exploring the alliance between american jews and african americans during a time of racial inequality and injustice. Considering the vivid images and sustained metaphor of the song strange fruit, it shouldnt be surprising that it began as a poem.
Holiday may have popularized strange fruit and turned it into a work of art, but it was a jewish communist teacher and. In an extract from his history of protest songs, dorian lynskey. Tony dynamo audra mcdonald will transform into billie holiday for an hbo special. Strange fruit explores the history and legacy of a song unique in the annals of american music. The version i recorded for commodore, holiday said of strange fruit, became my biggestselling record. But, her legacy extends way beyond music with one song in particular strange fruit. Strange fruit billie holiday, cafe society, and an early cry for civil rights by david margolick running press. Strange fruit billie holiday 1939 added to the national registry. Movies tv shows news live fashion learning spotlight. Bestknown from billie holidays haunting 1939 rendition, the song strange fruit is a harrowing portrayal of the lynching of a black man in the american south. In an extract from his history of protest songs, dorian lynskey explores the power of strange fruit.
The song strange fruit and its history should be required material for all high school students. It protested american racism, particularly the lynching of black americans. It was a song about injustice, and it would change her life forever. Strange fruit, a biting depiction of a lynching written by lewis allen. This history of the songs evolution tells a dramatic story of americas radical past using one of the most influential protest songs ever written as its epicenter. He set the poem to music and a few years later convinced billie holiday to record it. 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 southern breeze strange fruit. Atlanta jewish film festival, documentary award winner. 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. Strange fruit, by billie holiday, is about the lynchings of black people by white america in the 1930s. Southern trees bear a strange fruit blood on the leaves and blood at the root. Billie holiday strange fruit live 1959 reelin in the years archives duration. Strange fruit is a song performed most famously by billie holiday, who first sang and recorded it in 1939. 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.
It is the story of billie holiday and abel meeropol in their quest to shed light on racial. The socialhistorical context of american racism and apartheid is never far below the surface of the blues, but the words of the poem strange fruit, sung by tragic billie holiday, transcend music and entertainment, and need to etched in our souls forever. Bestknown from billie holiday s haunting 1939 rendition, the song strange fruit is a harrowing. Strange fruit by billie holiday essay 1037 words cram. 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. With dorothy thigpen, milton gabler, farah jasmine griffin, c. He wrote strange fruit 1937, which was recorded by billie holiday. Watch lizz wright perform strange fruit in honor of. Billie holiday was a true artist of her day and rose as a social phenomenon in the 1950s. The tragic story behind billie holidays strange fruit. The songs evolution tells a dramatic story of americas radical past using one of the most influential protest songs ever written as its epicenter. This film won 4th place at the 2006 national history day. The songs evolution tells a dramatic story of americas radical past using one of the most influential protest songs ever.
Southern trees bear a strange fruit, begins the protest song made famous by billie holiday and recorded by artists as various as ella fitzgerald, pete seeger, tori amos, little jimmy scott. Billie holiday was one of the most influential jazz singers of all time. In accordance with the generous wishes of william gottlieb, the photographs in the william p. Billie holiday strange fruit 1972, pr, vinyl discogs. Strange fruit is a song recorded by billie holiday in 1939, written by abel meeropol and. Billie holiday, will focus on when holliday was targeted by the federal department of narcotics, who targeted her. Strange fruit was the equivalent of a toptwenty hit in the 1930s. Greenwich entertainment has acquired north american rights to billie, james erskines documentary about the life of iconic jazz singer billie holiday that. In march 1939, a 23yearold billie holiday walked up to the mic at west 4ths cafe society in new york city to sing her final song of the night. Billie holiday, one of the greatest voices of all time, was always controversial a proud black woman who preferred white audiences, an exploited artist and a violent drug addict, a loyal friend. Please submit questions or licensing requests for the commercial use of her image and likeness via the email links below. The first documentary exploring the history and legacy of the billie holiday classic. While many people assume strange fruit was written by billie holiday herself.
Billie holidays 1939 song about racist lynchings redefined popular music. Lee danielss billie holiday biopic will explore a lesser. Billie holiday was so well known for her rendition of strange fruit that she crafted a relationship to the song that would make them inseparable. Billie holiday strange fruit live 1959 reelin in the years archives. Holiday s 1939 version of the song was included in the national recording registry on january 27, 2003. The first photo is of billie holiday, the second picture is a copy of the 1939 78 rpm vinyl record, the third is of a lynch mob forming to lynch someone. Gottlieb collection entered into the public domain on february 16, 2010. Strange fruit is a song performed most famously by billie holiday. While the draw for many would be billie holiday s interpretation of this famous song, it is the background stories that make this film so engaging. Billie holiday documentary billie acquired by greenwich. About strange fruit this song, written by abel meeropol and performed by many artists but most notably, billie. Strange fruit, a polished, wellstructured documentary written and. Strange fruit is a song recorded by billie holiday in 1939, written by abel meeropol and published in 1937. In the 1930s, billie was known as a performer of jazz and blues music, but this song wasnt either of those things.
First performed by billie holiday in 1939, the song, a slow lament, is a. Watch lizz wright perform strange fruit in honor of billie holiday lizz wright stuns with a somber version of strange fruit, made famous by billie holiday, during the 2019 npr music turning. This film peels away the popular veneer from the song billie holiday once claimed she wrote, revealing many intriguing layers. Strange fruit, recorded in 1939 by billie holiday, was written by new york poetactivist. The audience was completely silent the first time billie holiday performed a song called strange fruit. Song information for strange fruit billie holiday on allmusic. It condemned american racism, particularly the lynching of african americans that had occurred chiefly in the south but also in all regions of the united states. She had a thriving career for many years before she lost her battle with addiction.
The tragic story behind billie holidays strange fruit biography. Billie holiday strange fruit southern trees bear strange fruit blood on the leaves blood at the root black bodies swinging in the southern breeze strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees. Billie holiday, the legendary jazz singer, challenges the injustice of lynching with her iconic rendition of the song strange fruit, the first great civil rights movement protest song, but she paid a high price. This site is maintained by the estate of billie holiday. In 1937, after seeing a photo depicting the lynching of a black man in the south, bronxborn high school teacher abel meeropol wrote a poem entitled strange fruit that begins with the words. Strange fruit is the first documentary exploring the history and legacy of the billie holiday classic. Billie holiday strange fruit live 1959 reelin in the years. Greenwich entertainment has acquired north american rights to billie, james erskines documentary about the life of iconic jazz singer billie holiday that world premiered over labor day weekend. The song is one of the most haunting in american history. Strange fruit song analysis final ballades, beats and. Strange fruit 2007 a compilation of 1950s videos of billie holiday performing her hits. A documentary about beloved jazz great billie holiday appropriately titled billie is in the works and will reportedly feature new interviews from the icons contemporaries according to the. Billie holiday helped shape american popular music with her voice and unique style. Lynching is when a group of people kills a person for an alleged offense without a legal trial.