When we talk about legends who didn’t just bend the rules but outright shattered them, Nina Simone is a name that demands to be at the top of the list. Known as the High Priestess of Soul, Simone’s voice was the sound of rebellion, her piano playing was a masterclass in genius, and her entire existence was a masterclass in refusing to shut up and play nice. To call her a singer is like calling a hurricane a light breeze—technically true, but nowhere near the full story.
Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in 1933, Simone’s journey to iconic status started early. At just 12, she gave a piano recital at her local church, only to stop mid-performance when her parents were forced to give up their seats for white audience members. She refused to play until her parents were allowed back to the front. That same defiance would define the rest of her life and career.
Simone trained as a classical pianist with dreams of becoming the first Black concert pianist in America. But when she was denied a scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Music—almost certainly due to her race—she recalibrated. Playing at bars to make a living, she adopted the stage name Nina Simone and began to sing along with her piano. What started as a side hustle to pay the bills became the foundation of a career that would span genres and decades.
Her music was a potent blend of jazz, blues, gospel, and classical influences, but it was her voice—both literally and figuratively—that set her apart. Songs like “Feeling Good” and “I Put a Spell on You” showcased her ability to go from velvet-smooth to raw and unfiltered in a single breath. But it was her protest songs, like “Mississippi Goddam”—written in response to the murder of Medgar Evers and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church—that revealed the full force of her rage and brilliance. Unapologetically furious and painfully honest, the song was banned throughout the South. Simone’s response? She played it louder.
Her activism extended far beyond her lyrics. She used her platform to support the Civil Rights Movement, even when it meant alienating fans or risking her career. Simone once said, “An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.” And reflect them she did, turning her music into a weapon against injustice.
But like most revolutionaries, Simone paid a price. Battles with mental health, industry exploitation, and FBI surveillance shadowed her life. Yet, even at her lowest points, her artistry never faltered. Her music remains a testament to the power of being ungovernable—of refusing to accept silence as the price of survival.
So, here’s to Nina Simone: a woman who didn’t just make music but made a point—who taught us that there’s no power in compromise, and that sometimes, being a badass means burning bridges and lighting the way forward with the flames.
