#41

Great versioon

I wish I knew how
It would feel to be free
I wish I could break
All the chains holding me
I wish I could say
All the things that I should say
Say 'em loud, say 'em clear
For the whole round world to hear

I wish I could share
All the love that’s in my heart
Remove all the bars
That keep us apart
I wish you could know
What it means to be me
Then you’d see and agree
That every man should be free

I wish I could give
All I’m longin’ to give
I wish I could live
Like I’m longin’ to live
I wish I could do
All the things that I can do
And though I’m way over due
I’d be starting anew

Well I wish I could be
Like a bird in the sky
How sweet it would be
If I found I could fly
Oh I’d soar to the sun
And look down at the sea

Then I’d sing 'cause I know, yea
Then I’d sing 'cause I know, yea
Then I’d sing 'cause I know
I’d know how it feels
Oh I know how it feels to be free
Yea yea! Oh, I know how it feels

Yes I know, oh, I know
How it feels
How it feels
To be free, Lord, Lord, Lord

2 Likes
#42

Wasn’t sure there would be much call for one but I can do one in a bit if you like.

#43

The Bowie version (which is also amazing) is basically a cover of her version isn’t it? - he described it as a ‘homage’ to her at the time.

2 Likes
#44

Genuinely one of the best. Incredible voice, incredible musician and her being so forthright about her politics caused me to learn a lot and question things I thought I knew.

I see someone above thread recommended ‘Funkier Than A Mosquito’s Tweeter’. What a fucking song, one of my GF’s favourites.

An album that some might overlook is Emergency Ward, from later in her career. The whole thing is incredible, would recommend seeking it out on any platform.

4 Likes
#45

Incredible singer, incalculable influence on pop music. Deserves to knock Aretha Franklin off her perch.

2 Likes
#46

First Nina song I ever heard, on a Four Tet mix :smiley:

2 Likes
#47

So much this. Not the style she’s best known for, but brilliant example of how she could basically do anything.

Love her so much. My wife’s favourite artist too. Not much to add other than cannot recommend a stroll through her discography for anyone who hasn’t listened to her that much. She does everything and it’s pretty much all next level great. One of those artists that it seems weird ranking because she so obviously exists on a different plain to just about anyone else.

5 Likes
#48

As 5 as 5 can get. There’s a string of live albums from the 70s (Emergency Ward, mentioned above, is one of them) that are entirely perfect from start to finish.

2 Likes
#49

I don’t know whether this one still counts as underrated anymore, as it actually comes up pretty highly on Spotify and Youtube etc, but this is an absolute gem from the latter stage of her career. Album of the same name is good too.

Her live albums are a force of nature, and any version of Wild is the Wind live is about as objectively good as music gets.

5 Likes
#50

Her arrangement of Black is the Colour there is absolutely masterful. The piano is spare where it needs to lend space to the vocal, and ornamented gorgeously between. Absolute perfection.

2 Likes
#51

Her version of Trouble in Mind is brilliant, so much less maudlin and much brighter than every other version I’ve heard before.

2 Likes
#52

My own favourite version;

1 Like
#53

Apparently she disowned this record because she didn’t have enough input into the arrangements. I think the album itself is patchy, and she sometimes sounds a bit disinterested (as far as her vocals go) but I love this track and walking around the city to it on on a sunny day.

#54

Yeah, I read that about the title track so follows that she’d feel the same about the album. It is a bit hit and miss, but I quite like the more relaxed tone to her voice on it. Great as she is, the intensity of her earlier stuff means you’ve got to be in the right mood for it.

1 Like
#55

Easily the best version ever done.

3 Likes
#56

5, obviously
Gonna be a HEWWWG hitter, this

1 Like
#57
  1. Not that I feel qualified to give that as I’ve never actively listened to studio albums but all that I’ve been exposed to is undeniably brilliant. Yep, 5.

There’s a documentary or film that I saw recently and someone comments that you can hear her life in her voice. Really wracking my brains trying to think what this is.

1 Like
#58

The fiviest five you will ever see. A genius.

2 Likes
#59

Only thing that comes close to big Miles imho

2 Likes
#60

Perfect HGATR material this one. Everything I’ve listened to in this thread has been gold - bearing in mind she’s someone whose music I’ve not really actively sought out in the past.

6 Likes