Billie Holiday Analysis Essay
In Billie Holiday’s version, the song begins with a duo play of piano and trumpet, which creates a strong atmosphere of how a haunting story begins. When I was hearing the beginning section, the rhythm made me feel like I was holding a glass of brandy and sitting at the dark corner of a distressed bar where the singer described the story of a piece of pathetic history. This version does not present a clear pulse but the spacing between the lyrics and the arrangement of the instruments highlight the words that come from Holiday’s mouth. The texture of the song is smooth and slow even though the lyrics present inhumane scenes. In my opinion, Holiday’s singing emphases the content of the lyrics and the instruments in the song intend to calm the
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Vocal Phrasing
After the prelude of Holiday’s version ended, the music moves from distant to close, and her magnetic voice penetrates the rhythm to start telling the story. Her twisted voice presents every word with a murmuring volume but clear enough to catch. The special articulation of Holiday plays an important role to emphasize the meaning of the lyrics. For example, she emphasizes words such as “bodies” and “hung” to draw frightening mental images in her audience’ mind. Also, the medium volume and low range of her voice create a tragic and solemn feeling that indicate her spiritual connection to the story she is telling.
In Cassandra Wilson’s version, the dominant musical element is her neutral voice. Rather than emphasizing the content of the song, Wilson’s dark, new reading seems to put more attention on the audience’s auditory satisfaction. Her voice is deeper, colder and provides more spaces for the audience to taste the lyrics slowly. In other words, rather than bringing horror images like Holiday does, Wilson’s impassive voice comforts her audience. However, the lyrics with a horrifying story and the disturbing bass in the background, combine her voice together to create a sense of odd discord.
3. Other
Vocal Phrasing
After the prelude of Holiday’s version ended, the music moves from distant to close, and her magnetic voice penetrates the rhythm to start telling the story. Her twisted voice presents every word with a murmuring volume but clear enough to catch. The special articulation of Holiday plays an important role to emphasize the meaning of the lyrics. For example, she emphasizes words such as “bodies” and “hung” to draw frightening mental images in her audience’ mind. Also, the medium volume and low range of her voice create a tragic and solemn feeling that indicate her spiritual connection to the story she is telling.
In Cassandra Wilson’s version, the dominant musical element is her neutral voice. Rather than emphasizing the content of the song, Wilson’s dark, new reading seems to put more attention on the audience’s auditory satisfaction. Her voice is deeper, colder and provides more spaces for the audience to taste the lyrics slowly. In other words, rather than bringing horror images like Holiday does, Wilson’s impassive voice comforts her audience. However, the lyrics with a horrifying story and the disturbing bass in the background, combine her voice together to create a sense of odd discord.
3. Other