Quite Continental Mix II
18/07/2012 § 5 Comments
- Francoise Hardy — Le temps de l’amour
- DJ Cam & Anggun — Un Eté à Paris
- Serge Gainsbourg — Cha cha cha du loup
- Nina Simone — Feeling Good
- Gotan Project & Thelonius Monk — Round About Midnight
- Charles Aznavour — Je M’voyais Déjà
- Bitter: Sweet — Dirty Laundry
- Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald — Summertime
- Yves Montand — Pour faire le portrait d’un oiseau
- Shirley Bassey — Where do I begin? (Away Team mix)
- Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse — Valerie
- Peggy Lee — Fever
- Duffy — Warwick Avenue
- Nina Simone — Lilac Wine
- Stan Getz, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Astrud Gilberto — Corcovado
- Billie Holiday — Speak Low (Bent remix)
- Sammy Davis Jr. — The Lady is a Tramp
A mix that is a little French, a little jazzy and features more than a few of my favorite divas (Dame Shirley Bassey! Nina!). This time around, I wanted to hear the old with the new, so along with the classics, you will notice a few remixes by Gotan Project and Verve, and a few new songs, a few selections by Stéphane Pompougnac (sidenote: did you hear the rumor about Hôtel Costes settling into Tribeca? Yes please!) — but nothing too dancey. Perfect for a sultry summer evening. Enjoy.
You may have also noticed this is my first Spotify playlist, which you can access via the embedded player above, or this link. Let me know if you have any problems with either, yes? And, you can find Mix I here.
*Updated: I also created an abbreviated version of this playlist on 8tracks.com if you don’t/can’t use Spotify. I wasn’t aware Spotify is unavailable outside of the US! Find it here.*
Photo of Lena Horne, singing in Paris in 1947, taken by Yael Joel for Life Magazine.
Style Icon: Nina Simone
17/06/2011 § 2 Comments
I’m not sure when I first heard Nina Simone, but I do know my introduction to the singer/songwriter initially came through her studio recordings, which is probably the best way to familiarize yourself with the contralto’s distinctive voice and classically-informed style at the piano, but I quickly realized that the best way to appreciate Nina was to listen to her live recordings. At times angry or moody or playful, Nina’s performances were unpredictable and always captivating. She would abruptly stop in the midst of singing a song to talk to her band or ask the audience to sing along — and then admonish them for a sub-par performance. She was amazing.
While I do not want to dress myself like Nina, I am in awe her spirit, vast talent and fearlessness. Truly iconic.
In the final scene of Before Sunset, the 2004 Richard Linklater film, Julie Delpy’s character Celine adorably talks about seeing Miss Nina in person (if you haven’t seen that film — or its prequel, Before Sunrise — I definitely recommend making the time to). I was going to embed the video for you to watch, but can’t seem to find a clip that will work. So you will have to go here to see it.
Unfamiliar with Nina? Try some of my favorites first: Lilac Wine, Do I Move You, Wild is the Wind, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (live!), My Baby Just Cares For Me, I Want a Little Sugar In My Bowl
