0927. Nina Simone
Wild Is The Wind

Not a "true" album, but a compilation of leftover songs from other albums, this is a diverse assortment - from the longingly romantic to the ragingly politically charged.

One of the latter is Four Women, a song describing the African-American woman's experience of the racist, patriarchal society. And I imagine demands for my head will come, but I have to note that the lyricism of Four Women is a bit on the bad side. I don't know if it's intentional, but there are some anticlimactic, almost lines that deflates it (at least in this rendition).

But I do hear the intent, and that more than enough covers over any and all lyrical shortcomings. Apparently there was a number of people and major radio stations that didn't get it and thus banned it for being racist - and while I can see how a casual non-listening to it can give that impression, I highly doubt the ones who were offended listened to the song more than superficially.

It also gives a whole new context to the traditional ballad Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair - I wonder how many of the listeners who for the first time pictured a lover to not just have black hair, but in fact be black.

Revolutionary. And an elegant Trojan Horse.