Another movie. Another messed up musician. What happened, Miss Simone?
This has been the year of movies about mad musicians. From Montage of Heck about Kurt Cobain, to Amy to Love & Mercy about Brian Wilson's sonic psychosis. And now, Netflix releases What Happened Miss Simone from the makers of Bobby Fischer Against The World.
The movie opens with footage showing a shambolic Nina Simone talking to the audience during her performance at 1972's Monterey Jazz Festival. She was telling the audience that it was her last jazz festival, as it wasn't who she was. Her glazed eyes and emotionless face reflected a troubled woman she was.
To me, Nina Simone was a bit of a mystery. I knew her simply for her music, like Sinner Man and My Baby Just Cares For Me. Her distinct vocals and broken piano rhythms complimented the jazz genre perfectly. She was cerebrally cool, constantly chic and enthralling enigmatic.
This documentary shone a light on her talent and her misgivings. She fought out of segregation to become a globally successful jazz singer, but her dream of becoming the first black classical pianist was never realised.
She was professionally taught but rejected by Curtis University to study the instrument she loved. This didn't stop her. Music wasn't a hobby, it was a way of life and a compulsion. Her insatiable desire to write, sing and perform music led her to record some of the most iconic pieces in jazz.
She married her abusive manager. Had a child whom she was devoted to and travelled the world before lending her voice to the civil rights movement, she spoke out about the shameful blot in America's history with such soul in the visceral Mississippi Goddamn, Strange Fruit and Young, Gifted & Black. Her political performances harmed her career and sent her further down a tragic road.
Exhausted and disillusioned, she left her husband and moved to Liberia with her daughter. This turn in her life seemed to change her from abusee to abuser. Alienating her daughter and pulling the plug on her extraordinary talent.
Becoming increasingly erratic, it seemed Simone came to the end of her career. Until a diagnosis of manic depression caused her to seek help. This came as a lifeline and a revival of her career in the autumn of her years.
This movie has been billed as the dark side of Nina Simone, but all I saw was a strong woman who fought for what she believed in a world that was constantly against her; only to discover that she was against her also.
The movie opens with footage showing a shambolic Nina Simone talking to the audience during her performance at 1972's Monterey Jazz Festival. She was telling the audience that it was her last jazz festival, as it wasn't who she was. Her glazed eyes and emotionless face reflected a troubled woman she was.
To me, Nina Simone was a bit of a mystery. I knew her simply for her music, like Sinner Man and My Baby Just Cares For Me. Her distinct vocals and broken piano rhythms complimented the jazz genre perfectly. She was cerebrally cool, constantly chic and enthralling enigmatic.
This documentary shone a light on her talent and her misgivings. She fought out of segregation to become a globally successful jazz singer, but her dream of becoming the first black classical pianist was never realised.
She was professionally taught but rejected by Curtis University to study the instrument she loved. This didn't stop her. Music wasn't a hobby, it was a way of life and a compulsion. Her insatiable desire to write, sing and perform music led her to record some of the most iconic pieces in jazz.
She married her abusive manager. Had a child whom she was devoted to and travelled the world before lending her voice to the civil rights movement, she spoke out about the shameful blot in America's history with such soul in the visceral Mississippi Goddamn, Strange Fruit and Young, Gifted & Black. Her political performances harmed her career and sent her further down a tragic road.
Exhausted and disillusioned, she left her husband and moved to Liberia with her daughter. This turn in her life seemed to change her from abusee to abuser. Alienating her daughter and pulling the plug on her extraordinary talent.
Becoming increasingly erratic, it seemed Simone came to the end of her career. Until a diagnosis of manic depression caused her to seek help. This came as a lifeline and a revival of her career in the autumn of her years.
This movie has been billed as the dark side of Nina Simone, but all I saw was a strong woman who fought for what she believed in a world that was constantly against her; only to discover that she was against her also.
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