Billie Holiday - Solitude

[jhozae]

Apparently, Billie recorded 3 or 4 versions of Summertime. I forget exactly what I was going to try to do, but I was using a recording off a record & the track off a CD. To my surprise the timing of the two was different when I tried to mix the two. I got the transition totally by accident & decided I liked it after playing with it awhile. Thanks.

[93redmiata]

I think you did a great job editing and capturing the mood of the song. I really like the transition in the beginning.

[jhozae]

@93redmiata Hey, just noticed your name. I'm a car guy too. Nice car!

[jhozae]

I can't find it now, but it's a 2 disc Holiday greatest hits CD which I bought new 5 or 6 years ago. I used to have it on the video description, but see YouTube has done away with that.

[jhozae]

@jhozae ps it's one cd with songs from the 30's & the other is songs from the 40's. Hope that helps.

[childene]

Thank you so much. This is the recording that I've been looking for. There were others made of the song in the same session and they sound similar, but this is the one that was included on the vinyl set, "God Bless The Child," that was released in the early 70's. It includes Lester Young and, I believe, Teddy Wilson plays the gorgeous, perfect piano solo. May I ask what cd you have it on, please?

[TheCristo664]

Like she was trying to sing out to one of those far off lights in the distance like someone was there. Badass music video for this song

[jhozae]

@TheCristo664 Thanks...I like your interpretation of what I tried to do with this.

[jojomac120]

Been watching Ken Burns's fantastic series JAZZ...Lady Day's been haunting my days and nights ever since--that saucy, wounded phrasing, the way she sings behind the beat....this visual treatment of this classic song was a lucky find this morning...beautifully done. Thanks.

[jhozae]

@jojomac120 Thanks very much!

[hautegirl81]

this song and youd better go now are my absolute favs

[jhozae]

@hautegirl81 I haven't heard Go Now in ages. Loved that when it came out. Great song! Thanks for reminding me.

[goldenvox801]

Jhozae.. i love this rendition of this song the most. Billie's voice is so hollow for the first few seconds which really adds to that empty feeling... and then ( i don't know if it's you... but it sounds great and eerie at the same time) it sounds like billie is trying to sing along with herself. it packs a ton of emotion in just four seconds and sets up the song so well... love you that!

[jhozae]

thanks. the first part was from an old cassette recording of a Billie Holiday record I'd bought years ago, then I'd played that & recorded with my camera. The rest is from a then new CD. I was going to blend both, and have her sing a duet with herself, but the timing of the two recordings was too different. But I was playing around & accidentally got the final result, which I thought interesting. Played with it some more & posted.

[usernametimb66]

i think its a cool video to match a beautiful song. i love the way you started it.

[jhozae]

thank you! it means a lot that you understand what I tried to do, even if it came about by accident. :)

[usernametimb66]

@jhozae

you're welcome :) i listen to this song only on youtube because of this video haha

[AdmReeves]

I like your singing.

[jhozae]

Believe me, I AM NOT Billie Holiday.

[kinsmed]

Thank you for giving us more than just a static headshot.

I think I know how you felt.

[jhozae]

Thanks very much.

[childOfGod041]

I love you Billy!!

[LADYDAYAMOR]

its so deep that how song after song she sings about her addiction as if it is a man cuz that was her man but if one knew know better they would assume she is speaking of her love or lust or lonley ness of a man but its not its about her man Heroin

[countessbassie]

@LADYDAYAMOR,  I don't think so. I think she is expressing her loneliness for the object of her affections, desire and human longing. For that person to connect with her soul and for her desire to be truly seen and known by him.

[jhozae]

And not only what you argue, but we have to remember how different society was. Most women, in those days, would have reacted in much the same way if their man left them. There still are some that do till this very day.

[lloque]

They just don't make them like this anymore. No one sings from the heart anymore, they all sing from the pocket.

[2109able]

so true!!!

[jhozae]

Actually, I think it was. It was written by Duke Ellington and two other guys, and I can't imagine it was written for anybody else. I've never heard anybody else sing it (not that I'm an expert).

[davethetwat1]

Beautiful yet tragic . she was one of the greatest , one of my favourite tracks .

[paulostroff99]

Awesome She was one of a kind!  Brava!

[avapepper]

keep coming back to this video - thanks

[Corrie121]

It has been said that this lady played her voice like an instrument, and listening to this makes me understand why.

Thank you for sharing.

[bern73]

i love the lamp outside ,not everyone has one

[avapepper]

Both the song and your video are lovely. Thanks

[jhozae]

Thanks...I like the name you chose. :*D

[Skaoi655321]

I love this song a lot actually. Wasn't this song sung in Saving Private Ryan? I know it's kind of anachronistic to the movie, but the lyrics remind me of something in it.....Can someone tell me if it is? Thanks in advance

[LadyKat89]

I think one of them sings it as they're walking through a field...maybe after the radar station. I'm not sure though.

[jhozae]

If you mean the beginning of the video, I had recorded a tape recording of a record, then put it at the beginning of the cd track I used as the main soundtrack. Guess was in a goofy mood.

[LadyKat89]

Oh sorry this was a reply to Skaoi655321 who asked if it was in Saving Private Ryan. I don't know why it ended up here and not underneath that particular comment. I love the video btw and the song :)

[jhozae]

Oh, I know what you mean now. YouTube is weird sometimes (actually, lots of times). By the way, I recently looked that up at Wikipedia & Summertime is not on the Private Ryan soundtrack. Must be something that is evocative of it I suppose.

[WrongHandLane]

It's not the actual song, one of the soldiers is singing it as he walks through a field

[jhozae]

Oh, so then it wouldn't show on the official soundtrack. Going to have to watch that movie...it's been years...

[traboe]

it sounds like going back to a memory of the past, i like it

[brunoperrone1]

la voce piu piu piu sexi del jazz.....

[Lovesunnydays]

gives me chills

[jhozae]

thanx & may your days be sunny.

[zombiecruizer]

she was awesome to bad people cant do music like that amymore its forevercool thanks for posting

[jhozae]

thanks. i hope that somewhere somebody is making music like this & will post so we can enjoy.

[davidshep45]

We have a performer today who could equal or outshine Billie Holiday, if she would only give up the drugs and booze. We all know who I'm talkin' bout'. Miss Amy Winehouse. She has such potential and is a great song writer as well.

[jhozae]

Yeah, she's definitely talented and haunted by her own demons. It's almost as if suffering brings out the talent, while also blocking it.

[merlop1]

agree

[ccaammiiittoo]

Holiday was an original and incomparable. So you're running uphill like Sisyphus when you make so bodacious a claim that Winehouse "could equal or outshine Holiday."

[Punkerthanthou6]

Damn straight. Lady Day can't be compared to ANYONE let alone modern day pop singers...technique has gone straight to the dogs.

[avapepper]

Winehouse is despised as a mutt, the same way Holliday was. She's despised for all the wrong reasons, like Miss Billie. Give the young one a break, listen to something she sings, see the choices she makes. I love Miss Amy, and Miss Billie. Neither of them were polite company.

[jhozae]

Well said.

[jeanette1946]

great comment - couldn't have said it better if i tried. :D

[birdmanjr7777]

jus sit back relax and think on ur life...

[jhozae]

Thanks. your name caught my eye, cause just had a 20 min squawkversation with some little green parrots this morning.

[alamopala]

Jequitibá,Heineiken,Marlboro e música boa...,não tem preço.O que me deixa triste é saber,que a solidão às vezes só me faz lembrar dos bons tempos que tive...(.)

[jhozae]

Obrigado para o seu comentário, por conseguinte ele oposição muito poética.

[SwtMsT]

when I listen to her, all I can do is feel so relaxed and sigh and be a little sad...

[jhozae]

you aren't alone. thanks, sweetie.

[VelvetRope1814]

She had such a beautiful voice but had a hard life.I hope she knows that she is loved and will never be forgoten.She

is finally free from her pain and sorrow.

[jhozae]

I think her spirit must be aware that so many of every age, culture, and background hold her in such high regard. It must be a blissful and healing existence.

[VelvetRope1814]

I believe she can feel the love we send her.

[MENCADO]

I have added this to my 'English Language Female Vocalists' playlist. Thanks for the post.

[jhozae]

You're welcome & thanks.

[Diana2Bell]

thats always the thought that comes to mind when i hear her voice...

[jhozae]

I appreciate the thought very much. I've used other music with videos, but her singing inspires the most heartfelt comments by a large margin.

[Diana2Bell]

she is the BEST... i am in love with the tone, soothing pain of her voice...

[jhozae]

soothing pain...an interesting concept!

[ihertz]

I love her so much

[jhozae]

I hope her spirit can feel the love of so many...she went through so much loneliness...

[Realbother77]

she was not just good but great.

RIP...billie

[freedomjames]

really? I thought it wa written by everyone right now... listen to to the ivoery.....

I thought it was written by everyone, right now dear god send me back to me

[jhozae]

This is what I got searching: Written by: Edgar De Lange/Duke Ellington (Edward Kennedy Ellington)/Irving Mills...I never knew Duke Ellington's real name before now...

[peterparker32]

Always heard of her, but never heard her 'till now! Great song and soothing sultry voice. Felt like a was going back to the 40's and 50's watching this clip.

Now, I'm going to add her onto my IPOD=P

Thanks for the post!

[jhozae]

i think that this is from 1937, and was written by three guys, one of whom was Duke Ellington...

[Noswalogy]

beautiful. I love the shots through the screens.

[jhozae]

i remember being shocked at the effect of the mercury light outside my window. i used to hate that thing.

[AnEpicComedy]

I love it! <3

[jhozae]

Cool :D

[goodear123]

She is in a class all by herself. Calm, beautiful, emotion capturing. I love her. You were so blessed "Rusty Thespian", to see her in person. Tell us more of her demeanor, conversation, etc. Please! She was wonderful.

[jhozae]

No no no :) that's billie holiday one of the greatest jazz singers ever.

[hitman1875]

the GREATEST no compatition even from ella ,god bless u billie

[LiquidP]

Is this your voice? It's amazing if it is --- Thanks for posting this.

[livvytodd]

Absolutely Flawless!

[jhozae]

Thanks for the compliment. You're too kind.

[rustythespian]

Long ago I was at a recording session in London (Mercury Studios) with a lot of jazz artistes and Billie Holiday was recording 'FOR ALL WE KNOW WE MAY NEVER MEET AGAIN' I wish I could find it! that night I will never forget, she died very soon after that. Bless her memory

[jhozae]

Dear Rusty, Thank you very much for your comment. I am totally discombobulated that someone who has actually met Billie Holiday has commented on my poor video, and shared such a wonderful memory. God bless you.

[rustythespian]

Hi! it was an amazing night Otterly Paterson Chis Barbour Beryl Bryden Oddetta Alex Bradford and the black woman that was Dusty Springfields friend (name escapes me) but she came over with Bradford in Black Nativity. My second wife (bless her) was a jazz singer of some repute and I met alsorts of jazz people lie Armstrong Bud Freeman George Lewis Lady Day Sonny Terry and Browny Mcgee and on it goes, I used to manage a Jazz Club

[jhozae]

Thanks again! While I know some of the names, you've given me a lot to research. I hope to learn more from you.