Mary Wilson Sings "Strange Fruit" LIVE!

[marv2]

Mary Wilson sings Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" live in concert:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igHX6V1IIGE

[arr&bee]

Outstanding rendition,back in the day the stations banded this song but mary brings it out in full throated glory.

[marv2]

It is the best performance of the song I have ever heard! She began doing this song in her symphony concerts in 1993. She would proceed the song by reading a passage from a book on Dred Scott.

[BayouMotownMan]

She does a great job but this is not a good idea. That song was featured so prominently in Lady Sings that it only serves to make more comparisons. Why not do Good Morning Heartache too. She performs all of Ross's Supreme hits as though Ross doesn't exist, why dip into her Billie Holiday persona?

[Roberta75]

She does a great job but this is not a good idea. That song was featured so prominently in Lady Sings that it only serves to make more comparisons. Why not do Good Morning Heartache too. She performs all of Ross's Supreme hits as though Ross doesn't exist, why dip into her Billie Holiday persona?

This is best version ever imo. Mary does a nice job but Dianas is far superior and beautifuly sung.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHPk-J20VBA

[vgalindo]

This is best version ever imo. Mary does a nice job but Dianas is far superior and beautifuly sung.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHPk-J20VBA
Wow Roberta. Thank you. This was so amazing. And I agree Mary does a nice job but you can feel Diana's version. It gives me goosebumps.

[jobeterob]

The Supremes songs are so unsuitable to Mary’s voice

That’s why the backgrounds were good in early Supremes songs - because there was a contrast

But when Mary sings them, it’s almost a male voice compared to Diana and nobody wants the gravelly sound Nary brings to those songs

Strange Fruit suits her more than any Supremes song

If she had ditched all the clinging to Diana, the Supremes and Motown 40 Years ago, she might have had a chance at a career that wasn’t dependent on her connection to Diana

[copley]

Billie, Nina and Nona's versions are far superior!

[midnightman]

It's Billie's song so I'd go with Billie.

That said, Nina's definitely can compete with the best version vs. Billie's.

Sorry, the Motowners lose out this time.

[jobeterob]

Isn't it fair to say that Diana and the movie brought the song to prominence?

[RanRan79]

Isn't it fair to say that Diana and the movie brought the song to prominence?

I don't think so. The song was already famous. Diana's version is nice but I don't think it rates among other versions that people discuss.

[sansradio]

Isn't it fair to say that Diana and the movie brought the song to prominence?

No. Holiday’s double-sided recording of “Strange Fruit”/“Fine and Mellow” [Commodore, 1939] was a massive commercial and jukebox success, probably her biggest single; despite being banned in several markets, it became a major cause célèbre [[and, in some circles, sticking point) in its own time. One could argue that Diana’s take renewed interest in the song, but to say she brought it to prominence is ahistorical.

[jobeterob]

Interesting; I did not know of Strange Fruit and God Bless the Child prior to Diana - but some of that comes from living in Canada; Johnny Cash and Tammy Wynette were far more accessible.

This is an example of what Motown did in breaking down barriers

[sansradio]

Interesting; I did not know of Strange Fruit and God Bless the Child prior to Diana - but some of that comes from living in Canada; Johnny Cash and Tammy Wynette were far more accessible.

This is an example of what Motown did in breaking down barriers

Absolutely. If it weren’t for LSTB, I wouldn’t be the jazz enthusiast I am today.

Check out David Margolick’s book STRANGE FRUIT: THE BIOGRAPHY OF A SONG when you can. It’s a quick read [[about 100 pp., IIRC) and full of fascinating backstory. Highly recommended.

[jobeterob]

Absolutely. If it weren’t for LSTB, I wouldn’t be the jazz enthusiast I am today.

Check out David Margolick’s book STRANGE FRUIT: THE BIOGRAPHY OF A SONG when you can. It’s a quick read [[about 100 pp., IIRC) and full of fascinating backstory. Highly recommended.

Thanks; will do

[PeaceNHarmony]

Agreed - a great and interesting book. I believe it's the same author who wrote a book about the song White Christmas. Diana and LSTB certainly gave new life and a new audience to the song and to Holiday herself, though Diana's detractors have been saying otherwise for decades. Before the release of LSTB us Holiday fans had just a few legit in-print titles to choose from and a handful of grey-market bootlegs. Ever since the movie's release most of Billie's catalog has remained in print. But of course that could just be a mere coincidence ... :rolleyes:

[TheMotownManiac]

I think Diana does a great job on it…… But I agree that Billy and Nina do better. I think vocally mary does a great job on it, but, and this is what irritates me about mary‘s vocals more than anything else, is that her phrasing is often so off-base, that either she has absolutely no idea what she singing about, or doesn’t care. Yes it’s wonderful that she can hold the note on leaves forever, but there’s no reason to emphasize that word in the meaning of the song…… Maybe it’s because the lyric is tree and not leaves which she mistakenly says, which leads me to believe she’s not thinking about what she singing. But the girl can sing!

[sansradio]

I think Diana does a great job on it…… But I agree that Billy and Nina do better. I think vocally mary does a great job on it, but, and this is what irritates me about mary‘s vocals more than anything else, is that her phrasing is often so off-base, that either she has absolutely no idea what she singing about, or doesn’t care. Yes it’s wonderful that she can hold the note on leaves forever, but there’s no reason to emphasize that word in the meaning of the song…… Maybe it’s because the lyric is tree and not leaves which she mistakenly says, which leads me to believe she’s not thinking about what she singing. But the girl can sing!

You bring up a valid criticism. Mary did not have a firm grasp on the lyrics at this performance and, frankly, it irritated me. This is a song where the lyric is all. You cannot fudge it or it fails. Hard pass.

[thanxal]

Billie Holiday.

Lady in Satin.
Lady Sings the Blues.
At Carnegie Hall.

As much as I love Motown, and I do, nothing comes close to this in emotive spirit. Not even Ella, which is saying a lot, culturally speaking.

I love Diana’s reinterpretation, but no. Mary, also no.

Billie stands alone in this regard.