Siouxsie did a cool version of this song. It's a quite harrowing song when you realize that the "Strange Fruit hanging from the poplars" are hanged black men.

I can't watch this clip today, because every time I see it, my whole day turns blue. Too potent for a sunny spring Sunday.

Excellent job, submitter. Tried to get something through back on her birthday, but no such luck. Great stuff.


DeepDownHounds: Siouxsie did a cool version of this song.

I've got no problem with Siouxsie, but Billie Holiday pretty much owns this song. No way no how should anyone else be the first person to come to mind.

the link goes to fine and mellow? is there another clip i missed?

carmody: Too potent for a sunny spring Sunday.

So true, I think I'll save the link for later.

I adore Lady Day, especially God Bless the Child.

I read 3 or 4 bios of her when I was in Jr. High. The largest part of what I remember is that over all the years she traveled (I guess on the chitlin circuit) she always picked cheaper hotels and restaurants to save money for later. I think her manager / boyfriend took it all. Her recommendation was to spend it while you had it.

Here's the full version of "Fine and Mellow" and here is "Strange Fruit." Not sure why anyone would submit just a short segment of a song instead of the whole thing, or why an admin would greenlight it, for that matter. And who know's what's up with the title mix-up.

By the way, the players on "Fine and Mellow" are over the top great.

carmody: I can't watch this clip today, because every time I see it, my whole day turns blue. Too potent for a sunny spring Sunday.

Indeed. This song is soul crushing.

Strange Fruit is adapted from a Francois Villon poem.

Hoo-ray Billie! (new window)

I didn't watch the video (which is some kind of video project not actually Billie) so maybe NSFW.

dereksmalls: Strange Fruit is adapted from a Francois Villon poem.

The Ballade des Pendus. There are definitely a lot of similarities.

I really like Tori Amos' version. She tends to do covers really well.

Jeff Buckley's arrangement was fantastic as well.

nina simone's version of this is possibly the best version of this incredible song ever recorded

Thank you, subby.
I'd forgotten about how much I love Billie Holiday. I thank you for reminding me. But now I've spent too much time listening to her when I had work to do.