Music 141
Jazz Listening Journal #1
Name: 
Song title: Strange Fruit
Composer: Abel Meeropol
Performer: Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday performed Strange Fruit, which was written by teacher Abel Meeropol as a poem. It talks about the racism and the unfair society especially for African Americans.  Against lynching was one of the most important ideas from this song.  In 1939, The New York Post described "Strange Fruit": "If the anger of the exploited ever mounts high enough in the South, it now has its Marseillaise." This song was considered as a historical document and a deceleration of war that appeared the right for black people. 
I like this song based on two aspects from this fight song. First, it was from a poem.  Personally, I really like to read poem, poems are always short, however, the meaning back from these words are infinite. Poems means that the song has so many background meaning from that period, the strong emotion from the song that Billie Holiday expressed a sad but hopeful voice to give so much power for many black people. Secondly, at that time, the rich expressions from this song gives me a strong connection with the abuse. It seemed to pull me back to 1939s.  This song was a typical style of blues and jazz, which related to people who were still at the edge of racism.
From the background information of this song, I started to love the performer, Billie Holiday, she always performed this song in a Café and turned off all lights, she used music as an outburst of the soul against the unfair abuse. This song’s meaning was significant that it represented a hope from both composer and performer.