This is a very interesting, enjoyable report from Michelle Miller on CBS This Morning. It covers both entertainment and politics, and looks at the history of the controversial song about lynching, "Strange Fruit," that became a signature song for Billie Holiday. Though at the heart of the new Hulu movie, The United States vs. Billie Holiday, the politics of the time -- and its overlap with today -- weaves through the story.
But there are also a lot of surprises that pop in throughout, as the two sons of the songwriter give their insight into the song and its history. And the biggest twist comes about five minutes in. Not to overemphasize the idea of "surprises" and "twists," these aren't oh-my-God! things that take the story in completely different directions, but rather parts of the story that are unexpected and fun to learn, notably about people who are part of the tale. There's also an interesting, small surprise at the end. However, the reporter makes a mistake about it. But being a surprise (of sorts), I don't want to give it away here. But I'll explain below the video that I've embedded below.
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Since you've gotten this far, I can now explain the minor mistake that Ms. Miller makes at the end of an otherwise very good, interesting report. Actually, it's more a case of one minor mistake, and one small lapse of full information. The other song referenced at the end that Abel Meerapol also wrote was titled, "The House I Live In." What Ms. Miller says is he title -- "What is America to Me" -- is only just a line from the song. And also, although Frank Sinatra did record the song and sang it throughout his career, the impression given here is that he introduced the song, but in fact it was written for a musical Let Freedom Sing in 1942. Sinatra did popularize it, however. And the great Paul Robeson had a famous recording, as well. But more on all that tomorrow.
2 Comments
Douglass Abramson
4/27/2021 07:19:35 pm
The video has been deleted, for some reason. You would think that CBS could post a CBS News story on a CBS social media account. I guess CBS didn't agree.
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Robert Elisberg
4/27/2021 11:00:23 pm
Well, that's certainly odd and disappointing, given that it was CBS THIS MORNING which initially posted the video from CBS THIS MORNING.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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