NINA SIMONE

La N es por Nina Simone. (EEUU, 1933 – Francia, 2003) Ella quería convertirse en la primera pianista negra de concierto en USA, pero debido a ser mujer y afroamericana nunca se le dio esa oportunidad. Decepcionada se acercó al blues y al jazz donde se convirtió en “La sacerdotisa del Jazz”.

Gracias a esta decepción se involucró en la lucha de los derechos civiles de mujeres afroamericanas reflejando ese mensaje en sus canciones, que calaron hondo hasta día de hoy, convirtiéndose en un himno feminista como por ejemplo con el tema “Ain’t Got No, I Got Life”.

Nina Simone (USA, 1933 – France, 19) was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, arranger and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and pop.

The sixth of eight children born into a poor family in North Carolina, Simone initially aspired to be a concert pianist. With the help of a few supporters in her hometown, she enrolled in the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. She then applied for a scholarship to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where, despite a well received audition, she was denied admission, which she attributed to racism. In 2003, just days before her death, the Institute awarded her an honorary degree.

To make a living, Simone started playing piano at a nightclub in Atlantic City. She was told in the nightclub that she would have to sing to her own accompaniment, which effectively launched her career as a jazz vocalist. She went on to record more than 40 albums between 1958 and 1974, making her debut with Little Girl Blue. Her piano playing was strongly influenced by baroque and classical music, especially Johann Sebastian Bach, and accompanied expressive, jazz-like singing in her contralto voice.

Nina Simone (États-Unis, 1933 - France, 2003) voulait devenir la première pianiste de concert noire aux États-Unis, mais sa condition de femme et d'Afro-Américaine ne lui en a pas donné l'occasion. Déçue, elle se tourne vers le blues et le jazz, où elle devient "la prêtresse du jazz".

Grâce à cette déception, elle s'est engagée dans la lutte pour les droits civiques des femmes afro-américaines, reflétant ce message dans ses chansons, qui sont restées un hymne féministe jusqu'à aujourd'hui, comme la chanson "Ain't Got No, I Got Life".