New Dawn, New Day

Song of the Day:

Nina Simone – Feeling Good

We are feeling good today and it is because of the amazing Nina Simone.  Today’s Song of the Day is from Nina’s 1965 album I Put a Spell on You.  Strangely enough, Miss Simone does not really sound all that happy for a song song entitled Feeling Good  – at least that’s how it seems to us.  There is a such strong undercurrent of melancholy in her voice, that it just adds layers of emotion to her work and deepens the impact of this song.  Nina is struggling mightily against the sadness inside her and, although she may not quite win, her struggle is so very brave and beautiful that it can’t help but, move us.  With that amazing, incoherent, speaking-in-tongues improvisation at the end of the song, she seems to have achieved at least some form of peace as she wrestles her demons to a draw.  Somehow, it seems both heartbreaking and triumphant.  Not an easy trick to pull off at all and, that is the genius of Nina Simone.  Thanks Nina.

As a bonus, here is an awesome lyrics video for the song we found on the YouTubes (our thanks and kudos to the original creator, Tamara Connolly):