Nina Simone: Strange Fruit. by Brian Salter

[Popsiespumpkin]

so very powerful and yes, the anguish in Nina Simone' voice is unmistakeable. It cuts right to the listeners soul and makes them ache for the people who had to endure such horrors. The video is so powerful in its simplicity that mirrors the arrangement of the song.

[ricardow1969]

great video and song!

[JessicarrRawr]

such a simple video, yet so powerful <3

[arhodes31]

okay so let me get this straight. He doesn't get lynched he becomes a flying super hero with a rope around his neck. Who ever made this really need his ass kicked.

[misdutchie]

i thought the video is very powerfull you see the pain the fear the desperation such a simple prop that makes such a big impact thank you for sharing this

[nauJRodriguez]

This is a great version. Bold.

[cantuccivolanti]

ottimo video!

accompagna molto bene la canzone.

[rogoldomedonfors]

I am surprised to see so much theological discussion here. The song refers very directly to man's inhumanity to man. If God is up there at all, clearly he is not interested in intervening in such things. We need to sort out our own problems and in my view, bigotry of any kind should not be tolerated.

[spknword]

silent art. i respect that.

i see poetry in the movements. the way the light shifts and shines....i like this.

thank you for posting. 

nicely done.

[SuperUkuleleGirl]

I love the crackly record sound at the beginning :)

[viruzjr]

guy is right! god made free will, man made torture and rascistism and war!

[MrCommenterguy]

can we stop involving 'god' in these arguements please- if there is one, it wasnt his/her fault- it was the fault of mankind.

[differous01]

@MrCommenterguy -

I do not see how we can hold to any principle without believing there is some over-arcing 'Good' (the shorthand term for which is 'God') to appeal to. Consider the emotional restraint of Ms Simone as she performs this; we feel there should be anger there yet she draws OUR anger out, makes US say "this is wrong!" by witholding her own judgement. If man were only an animal we would not have this feeling.

[MrCommenterguy]

@differous01- We have a feeling of 'wrong' because we have developed laws- and as you say 'principles'- which we as human race have devloped in our minds to abide to. Of course some of us dont- but in the times which the original 'strange fruits' was written: these men who hung people from trees, were simply following the law of that time.Law may not be the right or wrong thing, i personally believe there should be corporol punishment in te UK- because it followes justice, harsh/unharsh.

[differous01]

@MrCommenterguy If our feeling of wrongness really came from the law then the law would never have changed and the lynch mob would still be killing with impunity. Someone, somewhere has always to stand up and say "What sort of fruit is this?" Laws emerge out of an inate sense of fair play, not the other way around.

[MrCommenterguy]

@differous01- true point, but just because animals dont think the same- that doesnt mean they are wrong. they just have a different way of thinking.

[MrCommenterguy]

@differous01- we just have different laws than other species.

[differous01]

@MrCommenterguy I don't know what you mean by 'just'. Are you saying that the laws that govern animals, including ourselves, are unremarkale?

[MrCommenterguy]

@differous01- no im saynig that when you say we have an emotional restraint that animals dont- animals may posses other 'laws' which they follow by which we dont. Which may be considered in there eyes as right

[differous01]

@MrCommenterguy My focus was not on Nina's restraint but on the strength of feeling conjured by her picture of cruelty; ie. comments like "soul infusing" on the positive side and "kkk beasts... full of sh!!" on the negative. Few species comprehend good and bad as we do, and we are the only one which frames the notion in abstracts (writing/speech). If a dog or dolphin were ever outraged by murder they never called the murderer a "beast" or wrote stories to inspire us out of inaction.

[MrCommenterguy]

@differous01- animals do have a feeling of right/ wrong. There have been many cases where an animal stands up for another animal, which is being attacked by a predator. Men who are attacked by sharks often are saved by dolphins. A whale was washed up on a beach, and several birds led it back into the water. Its not just us that make right or wrong desicions

[differous01]

@MrCommenterguy You make my point for me: It is not the dolphin or the sea bird who is telling me about the deeds or describing them as 'right/wrong' (unless you're telling me you're an albatross?). Dolphins may be amazing but they don't say "there should be a law made against sharks." We alone have that property and the responsibility that comes with it.

[MrCommenterguy]

@differous01- my point is dolphins have a sense of what is right/wrong, so they act on it. If they did not have a sense of right/wrong they would have just swam by a shark tearing a humans leg off. Humans have created laws to justify these right/wrong decisions. That is the point I am trying to make, i feel there is a lack of communication between us...

[differous01]

@MrCommenterguy I take your point but think you are over-reaching to equate the nature of other creatures with the human cry for justice. Consider the lyric: "Here is fruit for the crows to pluck, For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck, For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop..." The crows are obeying their natural law, as are the rain, wind and trees, yet to the poet, performer and film-maker there is a discord struck by the combination. The poigniant question is "why?"

[MrCommenterguy]

@differous01- But maybe that is our 'natural law', questioning. Our natural law maybe more advanced than theirs- the question is: does that make us higher, more intelligent, more emotional than them? when they dont really know what emotion might be- emotion is a man made word to describe...what excactly? an instinct- which all animals posses, just each animal has a differet instinct. We may 'cry' whilst a crow may just flap its wings

[differous01]

@MrCommenterguy When i read in Genesis that man has 'dominion' over other creatures I don't read it as 'man is higher' except in so much as we have the greater responsibility. When we say that someone is a 'beast' (as at least one post here does) we don't really mean that they are being animals but that they have sunk below their own natural law, regardless of any man made laws (eg. slaves as property) they may appeal to.

[MrCommenterguy]

@differous01- Greater responsibilty to what? to God? (not in a rude way, im not trying to offend you or your beliefs) In what subjective excactly do we have greater responsibility over other animals? Trees have a responsibility: exchanging carbon dioxide for oxygen. So do bees- they have a major part in pollenation...but what excactly are you saying when you say we have a greater responsibility? Being loyal to god possibly?

[MrCommenterguy]

@differous01- What excactly do you mean by our responsibility? What responsibility do we have over other animals? to god maybe? I am not trying to offend you- i just want to know your opinion. Trees have a responsibiliy: exchanging carbon dioxide for oxygen. Bees have a responsibility of giving honey to plants. Without trees and bees, life would not be the same. What sot of responsibility are you talking about?

[differous01]

@MrCommenterguy I'm being specific to our responsibility to conscience/our responsibilty to take care of one another and our wider environment (In my belief this is responsibility to God, but I consider Him/Her too big a concept to grasp. The same reasoning leads me to say 'environment' rather than 'planet'. It feels unrealistic to say I love something so big, so I'm restricting myself to that part I interact with).

[MrCommenterguy]

@differous01 right

[IndianSummer2006]

@ both of you. You can't have genuine dialogue unless you are totally congruent and transparent. That means taking complete ownership of your statements.

Otherwise it's nothing but a convenience philosophy.

[MrCommenterguy]

@IndianSummer2006- how does that relate to what we are saying? :)

[IndianSummer2006]

@MrCommenterguy I felt that you were both arguing as though your beliefs are facts, whatever "facts" are. So I didn't feel it was open dialogue. But I had better take some ownership here myself! I was irritable when I wrote that and it's more interesting than the usual youtube comments section. Please carry on and just ignore little old me!

[MrCommenterguy]

@IndianSummer2006- lool, no its okay- we were just discussing different interpretations, not facts. He could be true, i could be true- who knows

[MrCommenterguy]

@differous01- we just have different laws than other species.

[MrCommenterguy]

@differous01- we just have different laws than other species.

[MrCommenterguy]

@differous01- we just have different laws than other species.

[erikladenhaus]

babynik,makes a great point..that is often overlook.god gave men the ability to makes choices/think..in which man has failied miserably.soo much suffering/pain has been caused by man's inability to take responsibilty for those choices..in this song,as haunting as it is,yet soul infusing..it demonstrates first hand.the effects of men decisions.not god's.

[eutuve]

The KKK beasts carry Your Jesus CROSS !!

Atheist might be feel some emptiness..

Organized Religion's believers don't fell a void..

THEY ARE FULL OF SHIIT !!

[reesesb1]

her voice...is so haunting. amazing video. and incredible song. her talent is unbelievable.

[ubdriver]

bravo. extremely engaging and provoking.

[beege19]

thoughtful. interesting.

[enjoypolo]

Ive been looking for this beautiful & melancolic song I've heard wathing Johnny Mad Dog. Thank you ...

[mellowlover]

from funkier than a mosquitos tweeter ... to this ... she was so diverse

[MrExchangeLots]

Great job. Your video is as haunting as the song.

[t0mred]

Great video. Great song.

[lids65]

brilliant no one sings this like nina shes the best

[misdutchie]

will creulty be the humanrace its legacy

[mellowlover]

we are blinded by ignorance...i am afraid so

[babyloveangel9]

I like the video...I prefer Billie's version...but this video helps to place the song to the times

[muckart]

You really have no clue, This is the most revealing and violent tomes to hit the airwaves since the civil war. The vapid comments make me realize no one on this site even bothered to listen to the words. " A culture refusing to learn from history is destined to repeat it!!!" God help the world in this generations hands!

[eutuve]

If there a god, such atrocities would have never happened.

I we were men, as we think we are, and no matter the color of our skin , we , MEN, should have taken action when this ( and others ) barbarities occurred.

This song had to be sung by Billie and others, on the streets, not in elegant , restricted, leftist clubs!!YEAR 1939 !

America would have changed sooner and not wait for Rosa Parks action in 1955 !

[umujoey]

dont be an idiot. pay respect

[eutuve]

are you talking to me ?

If I am an idiot, what do I know about respect ?

Are we talking about god here ?

If I were an idiot I would not question god ; I would bee a NZ sheep !!

[babyniknak7]

@eutve God never had these intentions for us. The choice of free will, of which we all have is a result of these monstrosities. That period is definately something to be learnt from. Instead of blaming God for our wrong doings, we should thank him for allowing us to overcome them.

[eutuve]

I don0t blame a non-existence..

If I were to "invent" myself a god..I would not "create" a joker who would charge me with sins...before I am even born ..

You made your comment on a nice way and so I am not going to be rude.

ironic ? yes..see in my videos "The Big Bang "

but, again,,religions do not accept Science but blind faith..

You can also watch God On Trial..

As Salam Alaikum !!

[babyniknak7]

The Cosmological argument is used to explain the existence of God which takes into consideration 'The Big Bang' theory. I accept Science but I also believe that there is a God. When it comes to science it can be also argued that it to is governed by blind faith... What we as human beings accept as truth will always be questionable.

[eutuve]

@baby...please do not go deeper into blah blah

At my age..I've seen all kind of atrocities committed in the name of a "idea or invention, named god"

If gods are really The creators...they created, pain , hate , and rivers and rivers of blood...

[Roxjt25]

not all religions just ignore science.

For some, it helps them.

Anyway, i think that the problem isnt God, just his deluded, misguided and confused fans, who end up Saying and doing the wrong things and muck everything up.

[ccharlieebrownn]

Great job.

[divinaura2001]

hard to believe this one of the number 1 song of this its time, and yes its painful but feel what she is saying and what she feels in the song thats why it was popular in that time.

[crimbs01]

:/ sorry but i thought this was just awful!

[Melanatedone]

What's that - the Music or the video?

[crimbs01]

the video

[lilstud64]

....i feel it....the pain in her voice.......

great yet powerful song

[beenzontoastwithchia]

wow i made videos like this when i was in high school! perfect ruination of an amazing song.

[Foxglurves]

Maybe bsalterino is in high school. And the video has by no means ruined the song.

[kazbaby]

I'm at a loss here. Wow, amazing job of showing the music.

[icereignafrica]

i love the blinding light coming from the rope!

and then the guy shielding himself cause he's trying to escape his fate.

[rootbeerfan6]

The abstraction and simplicity of this video adds to the morbid subject matter of the song. Bravo my friend. I would have given you an "A".

[lillyandalex]

this is kind of cliche.

[crimbs01]

yes

[KTRlovesall]

this song is so beautiful but the video is daough!!!

[K123S123]

i heard this for the first time today and i could really hear the emotions in her voice esp the pain. sign

[tayrocker]

that was really beautiful.....

thank you..

[feathersfall]

I liked your project. I think people miss how the simple imagery can be powerful and placeholder for the intense emotions behind the song. Nice job!

[jurapige]

Ninas version is Deep and your video does it justice Bravo !

[Daethaqt3000]

I Love The Art Direction

[duckman085]

this go dumb hard. makes you think.

[littleraskle]

Nina Simones version is by far the best!

<3

[Malzziz]

Each to their own, but I favour Billie Holiday's version.

[deadboys1010]

love Nina's voice, and if i could find a higher quality version of Billie's, i'm sure i'd love it too.

sadly, most are fuzzy. nothing against lo-fi stuff, but with a voice like nina's in better quality, you just fall in love with the way she sings it.

[rarw95]

@littleraskle

This is Nina Simones haha!

[Ebelientje]

Beautiful film

[DatNiggaDatDoes]

wow this song is so amazing, it almost made me cry. it is sad that this is the truth of the past and this was how blacks were so horribly treated. watching this video makes you really think how gruesome it must have been to actually be there.

[holaXchola92]

i love this song. there's an excellent video of it on newgrounds.  that's where i first heard it.

[exprodigalson91]

ditto...lol....newgrounds FTW

[shapeepster]

I'd always loved this song by Billie Holiday, but when I first heard Nina Simone's version (on an episode of the CBS drama "Cold Case"), I was absolutely AWED! She sings it with almost a sort of detached anguish, like one who's been thru so much and seen so much that the only way to survive emotionally is to withdraw into an inner sanctum. I don't know if I've explained myself well, but I have tremendous respect for this song and singer.

[01jaybird]

The faint smoke in the distance. I liked it ! well done!

[01jaybird]

I actually liked the video. It's simple but very creative. From the rope being red(representing the blood and the death it caused) to the figure being without a face seeming to let us know that it could be any of us. I also love that U chose to make the figure wooden. The f

[KanXtion]

Video is kinda cheezy and less then appropriate given the subject matter, but the only audio track for Strange Fruit sung by Nina  I can find on Youtube

[KraXoom]

I disagree somewhat with people saying the video is bad.. I think the concept of the video was ok as a modern day and less graphic interpretation and even considering it's a mannequin you still successfully brought emotion to it with it's gestures.. The problem I say was the filming of it.. The camera was annoyingly shaky and lets be honest you could have gotten a better background then bath towels.. That's really what desecrates this powerful and emotional song..

[languy123]

the song is based on a poem by abe maripol he saw a picture in the newspaper of black men being hun from trees and the southern people were watching them the poem was first sang by bille holiday i loved the poem very powerful and i though the nina simone version was more intense and the blue note was very good amazing how she sings with such an impacted voice i learned about it in literacy today my teacher played both versions o f the songs

[mrcrow191]

XP ,SAD TRUTH

[kesdabest]

retarded movie. that director has no understanding of the implications of what he is doing to that song. using a manikin and a shoelace is disrespectful to the people who suffered from this kind of torment. it doesn't show a true reality and dumbs down and simplifies historical events that changed the way the world is today and still effects our societies and cultures.

[Bankerz]

Wow. What a chilling, powerful song.

The director is a retard though. What a stupid video to put with such a moving, soulful song. This guy sucks. You hear that Brian?? You are an abortion!!!

[CannedSausages]

@Bankerz

OMG LOL

[Nina825]

wow

[Loomlly789]

Damn! Good vid!!

SUCH an amazing song!.. so sad!

x

[sfballer59]

This song is well written. Nina Simone's version of Strange Fruit is and has always been superb. This video borders on mockery. It diminishes and detracts from the true seriousness and viciousness of this time period in America's history. This chapter of our history, (sorely missing from our history books) should not be trivialized.

[Spooh18]

u get chills too but i love this song it makes you think back about slavery in im only 16

[BangemTV]

damn..i wish i was around in this era of music

i get chills listenin to this shit

[miltonwhatever]

great video, awesome music

[bumblebeeees]

Wonderful song with such depth. Haunting, beautiful, timeless.. everything a song should be. Nina Simone is boss.

[KarEriTa]

I adore this song from the first time that I heard it...

What says puts to me to reflect on the existence...

(I hope to have improved my english)

.-.-**KarEr!+a**-.-.

[and1ballerbaby]

chill out, the song it actual gold.=]

[tall0362]

promise?

[Mareczek900]

I am Polish, and I think that this video is very good, and awesome music by best artist Nina Simone :)

[rubberducky113]

I am not Polish, but I still agree.

[vasileOmFrumos]

nice video :)

[KakoiDedikuSan]

WOW!!! I'm glad to be the first! That was a great job, this is one of my favorites and I plan on putting this on stage somewhere in NYC once I get there. great job, great effort and thank you for not allowing us to forget the past - black or white.