Lady Di Sings the Blues
Last night I watched the 1972 film Lady Sings the Blues starring Diana Ross (photo) as Billie Holiday. It is an extraordinary performance. And I mean extraordinary. She sings all the songs herself and makes them her own, without consciously attempting to imitate Billie Holiday's singing style. At first I found this a little disappointing, but ultimately I think it was the best creative choice. It pays off in the course of the film. Her acting delves deeply into the character of the jazz legend, absorbing the experiences endured. Gradually, as the story unfolds, the songs reflect more and more of the character and spirit of Billie Holiday's hard life, taking form in the expressiveness of Ross' singing. Toward the end of the film we readily imagine that it is Billie singing, notably with Don't Explain , Strange Fruit, God Bless the Child, and the title song, all Holiday compositions; this is when the signature nuances come through, naturally, as a result of a compl...