Taking Sides: Nina Simone VS. Billie Holliday

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Bet ya didn't think I was behind this thread, eh?

I'm goin' with Nina if only for "Sinner Man".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 21 October 2004 23:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Nina because everyone I've played her for thinks she's a dude.

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Thursday, 21 October 2004 23:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Are you saying men are better than women??

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 21 October 2004 23:32 (twenty-one years ago)

No.

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Thursday, 21 October 2004 23:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Nina because everyone I've played her for thinks she's a dude.

Aaron entirely OTM!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 21 October 2004 23:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Nina Simone, photo finish.

― kephm (kephm), Thursday, 21 October 2004 23:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I've heard Nina once threaten her audience with a gun, so best not to rile her. That said, Billie, hands down. She was much more versatile.

― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Thursday, 21 October 2004 23:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I've heard Nina once threaten her audience with a gun, so best not to rile her

Wow. That's badass.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 21 October 2004 23:49 (twenty-one years ago)

She also threw a drink in Dusty Springfield's face. She was angry. Grrr! Grrr! Grrrrrr!

― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Thursday, 21 October 2004 23:51 (twenty-one years ago)

They are so different its kind of hard to choose. I am definatly more currently infatuated with nina though. She went through so many musical changes and of course Sinnerman rules.

It would have to be something like

Nina-greater than or equal to-Billie

and no i wouldnt think it woulda been alex on this thread.

So far no killing joke mention?

― hector (hector), Friday, 22 October 2004 00:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Nina ? Billie, you mean

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Friday, 22 October 2004 00:20 (twenty-one years ago)

oops my browser sucks. I made the greater than or equal too thing and it didn't recognize it...

― A Million Talking Hot Dogs (AaronHz), Friday, 22 October 2004 00:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Billie Holiday by a landslide. Gloomy Sunday? STRANGE FRUIT?

― rebecca s (rebecca S), Friday, 22 October 2004 03:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Billie Holiday pwns

― Riot Gear! (Gear!), Friday, 22 October 2004 04:06 (twenty-one years ago)

The last two posts otm. I like Nina, but the question is a joke.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Friday, 22 October 2004 04:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Nina! For the reasons already mentioned. Not least the notorious prickliness, and the sounding-like-a-dude-to-the-uninitiated thing.

[The question need not be a joke if we're simply choosing which we'd rather listen to at present, yeah?]

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Friday, 22 October 2004 05:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Billie of course. I started to listen to her when I was thirteen and I still adore her. No one can do "My man", "Ain't nobodys business" and "Strange fruit" in such a personal and sensitive way like she.

― Ingrid, Friday, 22 October 2004 07:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Nina.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 22 October 2004 07:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Nina if only for:
'My Man's Gone Now', 'Compensation', 'Four Women', and the covers of 'Suzanne' and Dylan (like everyone else, she makes Dylan songs way better than Bob Dylan ever did).

― Neil Kulkarni, Friday, 22 October 2004 10:54 (twenty-one years ago)

It never would even occur to me that someone would put these two in the same league. This is like comparing Branford Marsalis with Coltrane.
Billie, of course.

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Friday, 22 October 2004 11:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Nina. Though both rule.

Nina's version of "Strange Fruit" is amazing.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 22 October 2004 11:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree: I prefer Nina's reading of "Strange Fruit" to Billie's. I'll take Nina here because her renditions of "Wild Is the Wind" and "Do What You Gotta Do" are two of the most amazing, mesmerizing things I've ever heard in my life.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Friday, 22 October 2004 11:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, that sure swung my vote.

― B.A.R.M.S., Billie Holliday neophyte (Barima), Friday, 22 October 2004 12:13 (twenty-one years ago)

nina for shootin up a pool full of noisy children neighbours. Billy could only shoot up her po'ass self.

― Queen Goo watcha gotta goo, Friday, 22 October 2004 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)

this isn't a contest... billie holiday hands down...

― serge, Friday, 22 October 2004 18:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Nina by a mile for me. And I would argue that she's much more versitle than Billie.

― Mark (MarkR), Friday, 22 October 2004 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

silly question - both brilliant, different talents and strengths. Moods I'm in mebbe Bille, mebbe Nina similar to that it could be Sarah or Ella.

― H (Heruy), Friday, 22 October 2004 19:41 (twenty-one years ago)

In terms of source material, absolutely, Nina beats Billie nine ways to Sunday. Of course, she recorded in the rock'n'roll era so she had the benefit of a lot of splintering forms to play with. Billie was a better technical singer, sure, but so what?

Nina's way more conflicted and puzzling and interesting to me.

― Roy Williams Highlight (diamond), Friday, 22 October 2004 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Is this a jazz aficionado /non-aficionado split?

― Alba (Alba), Friday, 22 October 2004 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

as what cld be considered a a jazz aficionado i don't think so (tho i could be wrong)

so i offer no opinion here

― H (Heruy), Friday, 22 October 2004 19:47 (twenty-one years ago)

It's somewhat interesting that for every scoffy post that snorts at the comparison (asserting that Billie exists in a whole `nother league), there are an awful lot of votes for Nina.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 22 October 2004 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Nina, for sure.

I can understand why someone would say Billie as a knee-jerk/purist thing. Billie came first and paved the way for sure It is not even a contest really, but Nina wins for so many aesthetic reasons. . Live version of "Mississippi Goddam" from her Mercury years best of where she goes "and I mean every woid of it" gets me every time

Sorry, Billie.

― Hector Savage, Friday, 22 October 2004 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

"It never would even occur to me that someone would put these two in the same league."

I have amongst other bits and bobs (cheap-ish) Box Sets by both artists, maybe I'm not the only one?

Billie.

I'd love to say Nina, just because she had balls of titanium and wasn't an emblematic tragic figure. But I just get a fraction more aural pleasure listening to Billie. Despite her choice of material.

Nina is awesome, but occasionally I just can't connect to some of her interpretations. Mainly the Sixties pop-standards no doubt due to being too familiar with the source material already. Not everything though. Her gospelised version of 'My Sweet Lord' is one (amongst many) that definitely transcends.

She had a lot more personal control over her musicians didn't she? But I sometimes feel like Billie was more psychically in tune with hers, than in command. I'm not sure which is best.

In the end both rule, and music would be noticably poorer without their contributions. Fuck this thread!

― latetotheparty (latetotheparty), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

now... somebody gimme my gin!

― latetotheparty (latetotheparty), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Fuck this thread!

now, now.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 22 October 2004 21:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I know, I needed a ;-) there. ah well.

I like this thread, it got me to listen to Billie/Nina today.

― latetotheparty (latetotheparty), Friday, 22 October 2004 21:20 (twenty-one years ago)

four months pass...

I haven't heard very much Simone yet (intend to rectify this soon) but already I'll choose her over Holliday. I think that's probably more to do with tone of voice than anything else, though. From what I read of Nina's career, though I can't see how anyone could accuse her of not being versatile!

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Saturday, 19 March 2005 06:55 (twenty years ago)

Nina

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Saturday, 19 March 2005 08:36 (twenty years ago)

anyone but Nina.

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 19 March 2005 11:34 (twenty years ago)

that's a joke thread isn't it? billie holiday by far. they both had the blues but billie holiday could sing it as well. her voice is absolutely untouchable. nina simone doesn't give me the chills like billie holiday. i have this late album of hers which was recorded a couple of months before her death. her voice is totally destroyed (by smoking i guess) but when she sings with that raspy, coarse voice it is even more touching than usual. the only voice which ever had a similar strong emotional impact on me was chet baker's. there is something pure about both of them.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Saturday, 19 March 2005 12:31 (twenty years ago)

Funny how some people think that nobody could seriously choose Nina over Billie. Still, try Nina's amazing version of "Who Knows Where The Tim Goes?" and the beautiful "Plain Gold Ring", and I'd say they stack up well next to Billie's "Strange Fruit" or "Gloomy Sunday".
But I wouldn't vote for one over the other. They both belong in my collection.

― Peter Hollo (raven), Saturday, 19 March 2005 12:40 (twenty years ago)

Billie Billie Billie all the way for me.

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Saturday, 19 March 2005 17:42 (twenty years ago)

What I've heard, I go with Holiday. But apart from a few tracks, and that Creed Taylor thing on which she covered Newman's "Baltimore," and the fact that she wrote "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," I am not all that familiar with Simone's work. So educate me--where do I start?

― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Saturday, 19 March 2005 18:03 (twenty years ago)

Gear et al OTM- Lady Day pwns.

― Ken L (Ken L), Saturday, 19 March 2005 18:09 (twenty years ago)

Two great singers, but, I mean, we are speaking of Billie Holiday here.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 19 March 2005 18:38 (twenty years ago)

Billie still, all the way, hands down.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Saturday, 19 March 2005 18:44 (twenty years ago)

Everyone has to at least agree that Nina had more range.

― Mark (MarkR), Saturday, 19 March 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)

I'm not moved by range.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Saturday, 19 March 2005 19:08 (twenty years ago)

Hmm, it's a close thing if you're only talking about singing, and Billie maybe edges it. But if you're considering the whole package... Well, Nina was also a fantastic pianist, and Billie just can't compete with that. So, Nina.

― JimD (JimD), Saturday, 19 March 2005 19:11 (twenty years ago)

I read an interview once where someone asked Nina how she felt about being compared to Billie. She said she hated it because she thought Billie had an ugly voice.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Saturday, 19 March 2005 20:11 (twenty years ago)

Nina the greater talent, but Billie the greater artist. By a colossal margin.

― frankiemachine, Saturday, 19 March 2005 20:47 (twenty years ago)

"I read an interview once where someone asked Nina how she felt about being compared to Billie. She said she hated it because she thought Billie had an ugly voice."

see, that's funny, cuz nina simone had one of the ugliest voices i've ever heard. the one good thing i can say about her is that she is totally forgotten in the u.s, so i never have to hear her (unless i listen to democracy now or pacifica or something. which i never do.). a tougher taking sides would have been billie vs dinah or something (and dinah could have taken nina out with one hand tied behind her back if we are talking tough broads. nina was just a cry-baby.) maybe abby lincoln -vs- nina would be more fair. two third-tier failed pop stars turned semi-revolutionary priestess. (i'd take abby.)

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 19 March 2005 21:51 (twenty years ago)

the people who compared nina's voice to billie's must have been deaf. and nina must have been deaf as well to say billie's voice was ugly.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Saturday, 19 March 2005 22:00 (twenty years ago)

Though she was a great talent, I never quite took to Nina's voice and I seriously doubt that she would have ever sung as she did without the prior jazz groundbreaking that Billie did. Scott's point is good. Dinah had a lovely voice and so did Sarah Vaughn though the loveliest was Ella's.

― M. White (Miguelito), Saturday, 19 March 2005 22:32 (twenty years ago)

sorry for going off like that. i really try to be positive on ilm. it's just some people...i can't even honestly think of a singer that i dislike more! it's something visceral when i hear that voice. that croak. it's just rubs me in so many wrong ways i don't know where to begin. i mean, i would rather listen to billy corgan! (not that i would, but hypothetically if i HAD to listen to someone i can't stand.) i shoulda just said: "as a singer she was one helluva piano player!"

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 19 March 2005 22:51 (twenty years ago)

I'd take Abbey Lincoln in that contest too. Hands down.

― Ken L (Ken L), Sunday, 20 March 2005 07:33 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

Nina because everyone I've played her for thinks she's a dude.

Funnily, my mother arrived for lunch to hear me listening to Terry Callier and assumed that she was hearing "a beautiful black woman".

Yes, this is what counts as "funny" in my world.

― A.C.M.E., Thursday, 16 June 2005 23:10 (twenty years ago)

I wouldn't choose, but I listen to Nina faaaaar more often than Billie.

(Of course, I've watched The Wiz far more times than Gertrud...)

― L'Histoire d'Eric H. (Eric H.), Friday, 17 June 2005 02:08 (twenty years ago)

a couple questions (just general questions since I only know both artists passively):

1. How much of the songs performed did each of them actually write?
2. Did Billie ever play an instrument while singing? OR are people impressed w/ the way Nina played/arranged her stuff?
3. Who has each respective artist ostensibly influenced?

From my limited knowledge, I've liked Nina Simone more. I have more extreme feelings about her work (the stuff that I dislike is almost embarassing to listen to; the stuff I like I've fallen in love with); there is something free-wheeling about her work. W/ Billie, it seems safer for some reason (although I think that I take her style for granted).

btw David Sedaris does a good Billie Holliday

― Suzy Creemcheese (SuzyCreemcheese), Friday, 17 June 2005 02:25 (twenty years ago)

Nina Simone. I'm only a fairweather jazz fan as it is, and Nina is a lot closer to vintage soul music than most will admit.

― Rev. Hoodoo (Rev. Hoodoo), Friday, 17 June 2005 03:04 (twenty years ago)

four years pass...

Nina Simone.

She is fiery and great. Her version of Cotton Eyed Joe is spectacular. I have something called 'The Tomato Years' with lots of live stuff and her deep, dark piano. Don't care so much for when she does stuff with strings in the studio. Has anyone seen that French documentary- I think it was shown at some festival this year?

― Hinklepicker, Saturday, 10 October 2009 11:00 (sixteen years ago)

i have this late album of hers which was recorded a couple of months before her death. her voice is totally destroyed (by smoking i guess) but when she sings with that raspy, coarse voice it is even more touching than usual. the only voice which ever had a similar strong emotional impact on me was chet baker's. there is something pure about both of them.

That album is Lady In Satin, I'd guess. Anyway, Billie Holiday in this comparison, easily.

― Daniel, Esq., Saturday, 10 October 2009 11:54 (sixteen years ago)

i'd probably go w/ billie on this too, tho i don't actually have that much nina simone. what are some albums/collections to get?

also, 'lady in satin' was the first billie holiday album i bought, and i feel like it's become an entry point for a lot of people. i ended up selling it back in a few months - i couldn't hang with the strings at all and her voice was too rough for me. i should go back to it nowadays. but i do think it's prob the wrong place to start with her imo (if it's even possible to make an argument about the best 'place to start' wrt an artist).

when i listen to billie i tend to just put on one of the discs from the 'complete columbia recordings' - all her best stuff is on that imo, and it's like 10 discs

― mark cl, Saturday, 10 October 2009 14:12 (sixteen years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.