I am not someone who claims to know an extensive amount about music. I cannot analyze chords like an expert, I cannot name notes and keys off the top of my head. That being said, upon listening to Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit," I could not help but to be captivated by the strength and emotion of her voice, and the way the sounds of the instruments seem to speak to you. Throughout the song's intro, the prolonged, somber piano notes set the stage for Holiday's unconventional lyrics as she describes the lynching of Black Americans in the South. Holiday's vocal style, too, is so impactful in painting a story throughout the song. She draws out and emphasizes lyrics such as "southern breeze" and, when describing the dead, "bulging eyes and the twisted mouth." This vocal variation causes you to become more attentive to the stressed lyrics. You ponder a bit more the truly disgusting crimes that are racism and lynching as Holiday laments upon the end result for the victims.Holiday's language also speaks volumes. The phrase, "pastoral scene of the gallant south" uses sarcasm to criticize Southerners, supposedly so morally upright and fearlessly valiant, murder innocent people because of their race. The comparison of "black bodies" to "strange fruit" is as well extremely unconventional, yet it is this unconventionality that again contributes to Holiday's style.
Certain elements of "Strange Fruit" are reminiscent of MLK's "Letter from Birmingham Jail." While they speak through different mediums, both Holiday and King use their voice and style to criticize the racist, bigoted actions against Black Americans. They develop an image of people fighting against numerous odds.
-Natalia de Gravelles
This stylistic analysis of Billy Holiday's "Strange Fruit" was really captivating! Never mind the chords and keys, you touched on everything important to the meaning of the song. You really take the reader of the post on a journey through the song, The images and phrases picked to put in the post are truly telltale of Holiday’s “unconventional style,” as you accurately call it. I also like that your analysis of the song somewhat includes and connects to the appeals to pathos Holiday makes, both with her choice of lyrics (imagery and phraseology) and the tone and style of her voice. The connections you make between “Strange Fruit” and “Letter from Birmingham Jail” are also very interesting and well done.
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-Danielle Mundhenk
I really like how you pointed out Holiday's vocal variation and emphasis on certain powerful phrases throughout the song. Also, your parallel between the unconventional lyrics and the somber piano notes is an astute observation! You analyzed both components of Holiday's music: her lyrics and instrumental component, thus making sure no stone was left unturned. A joy to read!
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