Strange Hanging Fruit: In March 1939, a 23-year-old Billie Holiday walked up to the mic at West 4th's Cafe Society in New York City to sing her final song of the night. Per her...

Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum

Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register ☰

General Chit-Chat (non-photography talk)

Strange Hanging Fruit

Page 1 of 2 next>

Oct 6, 2023 15:28:17 #

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

In March 1939, a 23-year-old Billie Holiday walked up to the mic at West 4th's Cafe Society in New York City to sing her final song of the night. Per her request, the waiters stopped serving and the room went completely black, save for a spotlight on her face. And then she sang, softly in her raw and emotional voice: "Southern trees bear a strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black body swinging in the Southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees..."

When Holiday finished, the spotlight turned off. When the lights came back on, the stage was empty. She was gone. And per her request, there was no encore. This was how Holiday performed "Strange Fruit," which she would determinedly sing for the next 20 years until her untimely death at the age of 44.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Web007rzSOI

(Download)

Oct 6, 2023 16:22:19 #

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Thank you, Jack!! As a reminder to to the tragic past, the link should be posted periodically. Billy captures the emotion of the image.
FYI; I posted this in a while back. https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-729269-1.html

The image and Billy bring tears to me.
Mark

Oct 6, 2023 16:32:44 #

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Nicely done, Jack.

Oct 6, 2023 16:33:36 #

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

markngolf wrote:

Thank you, Jack!! As a reminder to to the tragic past, the link should be posted periodically. Billy captures the the emotion of the image.
FYI; I posted this in a while back. https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-729269-1.html

The image and Billy bring tears to me.
Mark

Thanks for responding Mark. I just hope this stays out of The Attic. There is a story here that many people have forgotten and many more have never learned.

Oct 6, 2023 16:34:13 #

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

kpmac wrote:

Nicely done, Jack.

Thanks Ken

Oct 6, 2023 16:39:24 #

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

Poor lady had a sad life.........she had a magnificent voice also. Thanks for your post.

Oct 6, 2023 16:43:56 #

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

dancers wrote:

Poor lady had a sad life.........she had a magnificent voice also. Thanks for your post.

Thanks for looking Dancers

Oct 6, 2023 16:46:02 #

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Curmudgeon wrote:

Thanks for responding Mark. I just hope this stays out of The Attic. There is a story here that many people have forgotten and many more have never learned.

Sending to the Attic seems totally unlikely, but one never knows on UHH.
Thanks for the post, Jack! It's an important reminder of the brutality that can and does occur.
Mark

Oct 6, 2023 16:49:32 #

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

markngolf wrote:

Sending to the Attic seems totally unlikely, but one never knows on UHH.
Thanks for the post, Jack! It's an important reminder of the brutality that can and does occur.
Mark

Did you miss the noose Mark?

Oct 6, 2023 17:05:40 #

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Curmudgeon wrote:

Did you miss the noose Mark?

No, Jack. I saw it.
Mark

Oct 6, 2023 19:27:57 #