Ain’t Got No…I’ve Got Life

Every day is better with a little Nina Simone.

Simone affected an imperturbable demeanor onstage, but she had an eventful life. She gave her first classical piano recital at age ten and later trained at Julliard, but started playing jazz and blues to earn a living at a time when black women pianists were not highly sought-after in the world of classical music. In the 1960’s she became active in the civil rights movement, marching with Martin Luther King and recording protest songs such as Mississippi Goddam. Her struggles with bipolar disorder were kept secret until after her death in 2003. Her music brought together influences from jazz, classical, and soul. And she could rock out when the occasion required.

15 Comments

15 thoughts on “Ain’t Got No…I’ve Got Life”

  1. Thanks, Sean — I wasn’t familiar with Nina Simone, but will seek out more about her. Her voice is terrifically rich; I can hear her influence in the songs of Tracy Chapman and other contemporary singers. The video was cool for the closeup shots of her hands on the piano and of the subtle expressions on her face (not to mention those mesmerizing earrings!).

  2. Yes, she was incomparable. Been listening to her since the ’60’s, from her earlier recordings through those made while she was living in Europe. She had such a rich, full and incredible voice.

  3. Thank you. All I knew her for was “Please Don’t let me be Misunderstood”. I need to find more of her.

  4. I a remember seeing her live in London back in about 1967. She played Klook’s Kleek a small blues club in a large room on top of a pub. A great evening and a very moving performance. I can still remember it.

  5. Sean, thanks for posting this. This reminds us not only of Simone’s greatness, but also that the musical Hair (from where Simone adapted “Ain’t Got No), was, for all the kitsch cultural memories it invokes, truly daring in it’s discussion of race, class, sex, and youth.

  6. Yes, she was incomparable. Been listening to her since the ’60’s, from her earlier recordings through those made while she was living in Europe. She had such a rich, full and incredible voice.

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