Nina Simone was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and an icon of American music.
The legendary performer, who sang a mix of jazz, blues, and folk music, was best known for hits like “Mississippi Goddam,” “Four Women,” and “Young, Gifted and Black.” Nina was a musician and civil rights activist. In her native Tryon, North Carolina, there still stands a statue in honor of this brave, talented woman.
Since we’ve been affected by the coronavirus and forced to stay home, let’s remind ourselves of “How It Feels To Be Free” from the safety of our homes.
Simone is probably one of the only performers who can do this kind of perfect improvisation right on stage.
This performance is part of Simone’s concert at Montreux from 1976.
She was clad in an elegant black dress and minimalist jewelry. Simone, being the true professional she was, gave the audience 100 percent of her talent, effort, and voice. She sat behind the piano and decided to improvise off of her original song.
Billy Taylor originally wrote the piece for his daughter Kim, but Simone loved it and did the cover for her 1967 Silk & Soul album.
As the video begins, the concert goes on and Simone decides to have a little fun with it. She changes the tempo and the delivery but does an amazing job. That’s jazz, right? You’re allowed to have as much fun as you want, especially if you have enormous talent as Simone did.
It’s clear she was a genius who knew how to touch the hearts of people.
The beautiful and amazing Simone always rocked her style and her skills unapologetically.
She took the song and changed it completely, though she still managed to get a perfect result. Her piano skills are so far beyond what most people have. From the beginning to end, she plays her heart out. Simone had the courage of a true artist and that’s the reason why she touched so many people. Her singing is classy, poetic, and fierce.
They say nothing’s perfect, but this performance is about as close as it gets.
From the voice to the piano and the backing musicians, everything’s on point.
Everyone in the performance did their job with tremendous dedication. From any point of view, Simone’s performance here can serve as an example. Fabulous music can truly awaken your soul and make your jaw drop. The fact that there are people among us who can deliver a piece like this and utter every word with feelings and emotions is so amazing. It’s passionate, brilliant, and original.
The best part of the performance is the way Simone stands up and walks away from the piano.
We might call it badass, and only a virtuoso like Simone could deliver so much longing, exuberance, and passion when singing.
In all, she got four million views fon YouTube for her freeing piano improvisation.
The video might be old and from another era, but the feeling of joy remains unchanged.
The famous musician knew how to engage the audience and radiate uniqueness every time she graced the stage. We love artists like Nina Simone. A soul like hers could inspire thousands and she gave meaning to every move she made, every piano key she hit, and every word she sang. We wish that much inspiration to everyone who decides to make music!
Be sure to watch her entire performance in the link below:
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
