Thursday, October 3, 2019

Happy Feet Friday

One of my favorite singers, Anita O'Day, performs “How Come?” (1945)

5 comments:

bruce said...

She pretty much invented Heroin Chic though, and that puts me off. At first I marveled at how she gets that cool effortless sound, then when I read up more I just think it's the opiates talking, so it ruins it for me.

Paco said...

The only "heroin chic" I know about was a fashion phenomenon of the 1990's, something like a decade before she died. As near as I can figure, O'Day didn't begin using heroin until the early 1950s (the tune above was recorded in 1945). Besides, what about Charlie Parker, Fats Navarro, John Coltrane, etc., etc.? To be fair, is that talent or also just the opiates talking?

bruce said...

Yeah I know I ask myself all that, and yes it's the 50s and the film of Newport 1958 when she's obviously zonked off her face, with the white gloves and big hat, I'm thinking 'Can't they see?' And then I do hear it in her style, like without it she couldn't do it. She did say that H replaced what she already got from booze but with less dosage.

Also I didn't grow up with blacks, so if they're stoned or not in performance I wouldn't know and just accept that that's how they are, that attitude helped me endure a year in old Calcutta while others freaked out. It is about people I've known in the 70s. overdoses I saw.

That's my rationalization, make of it what you will.

bruce said...

I'm not being judgmental, just world-weary. Very picky and pessimistic in my dotage. I did get labelled 'Nego-Nigel' by friends who see me as too bleak!

Paco said...

Ah, not bleak, m'lad! Just realistic.