Chloe Bailey praised for Juneteenth performance of Nina Simone classic

Commentary by K. Nikki:

It's true what they say: You can't please everyone.  But Chloe Bailey was able to please most with her performance of Nina Simone‘s classic "Feeling Good", one of them being Simone’s granddaughter. 

Read below for more news:

The ‘Do It” singer and half of the Chloe x Halle sister duo stepped on stage on Friday night for ABC’s Juneteenth special to perform a rendition of Nina Simone‘s 1965 hit “Feeling Good.”

Bailey, in a sheer sequined jumpsuit, threw down on the song vocally and with some slithery dance moves on the floor. She was paying homage to Simone for the special ABC‘s Juneteenth: Together We Triumph which aired on Friday, June 18, the day before the Juneteenth holiday.

Bailey’s performance was both praised and criticized as some said the risqué choreography cheapened the legend’s work.

What some people may not have considered is that the song “Feeling Good” is taken from a 1964 play The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd where a Black character triumphs over his white counterparts in a competition. It’s a moment of triumph for the character, called just ‘the Negro.’

Though “Feeling Good” has been covered by artists from George Michael to the Pussycat Dolls, Simone’s version is considered among the classic renditions of it.

However, Nina Simone’s granddaughter, RèAnna Simone Kelly, set the record straight on Twitter.

@reasiimone commented: "Everyone’s coming at @ChloeBailey for her performance of my grandmother Nina Simone’s song “Feeling Good”. But what y’all don’t understand is that grandma was a free spirited woman herself!! She would’ve loved that performance as much as I do! Relax. Chloe killed it. #NinaSimone." 

"Grandma was unapologetically herself. She was a muhhhfuckin badass woman who did what she wanted when she wanted. She was a sexual woman and she expressed that. Educate yourselves !! If grandma could she probably would’ve done that performance herself."

"@ChloeBailey you did your THANG girl!! Period !! Also, watch “What Happened Miss Simone” on Netflix if you want to learn more about grandma :) Happy Juneteenth y’all! #ChloeBailey #NinaSimone"

We guess that’s that on that. You can hear Chloe’s rendition of “Feeling Good” on the Liberated – Music for the Movement EP.

Source: https://thegrio.com/2021/06/19/chloe-bailey-praised-for-juneteenth-performance-of-nina-simone-classic/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=news_tab&utm_content=algorithm