In The Stacks - I Put A Spell On You

Nina Simone is one of my favorite musicians. Oddly enough I discovered her while watching a very very bad movie. Her music was the best thing about it. I was entranced and soon found myself watching, not to see how the movie progressed, but to see if there would be more of this haunting voice. After I began to school myself in all things Nina I also discovered that she was greatly admired by my beloved Jeff Buckley. In fact Nina was one of the first performers to cover the song Lilac Wine (and Jeff's reason for covering it). Her auto biography "I Put A Spell On You" was something I've meant to pick up many times over the years, but never did until a few weeks ago. It feels strange to say this, but it was an easy read. I'm not quite sure what I expected to learn about her life. I had heard rumblings that much of the book was embellished by Simone, which really makes no difference to me. Who wouldn't bend some truths a little if they were writing an autobiography? I think what shocked me a little were the many many grammatical errors found throughout. I seriously considered writing the publishing company to ask why the hell they let them slip through.

The story of her youth was the most romantic for me. Her parents and siblings, her first love, growing up in North Carolina, Miss Mazzy her first instructor, these chapters had to be my favorites. She was known as such an absolute diva. To learn that she was so insecure and well... needy in so many aspects of her life and so unbelievably strong in others was strangely comforting. I never got the feeling that she wanted my sympathy for all that she had been through. Just that she had most certainly led an extraordinary life, it was simply time to tell the tale. And what a tale it was! Now, would I recommend this book to someone who had never heard of Nina Simone or whom wasn't a fan? No, I most certainly wouldn't. Nina fans respect her diva behavior. We know what place it comes from and how much a part of her music it is. For those that don't know these truths, this book can paint her in an unsavory light (especially her Barbados years and beyond.) I recommend getting to know her music understanding the power of her talent and then read it.

She was an exceptionally gifted pianist, and unforgettable vocalist. And in the end I found this book reignited my love for her music. I gained a new insight to the emotion behind her songs and
it feels like I'm getting to know her music all over again.