Stream: Jessie Ware - That's All I Want From You (Nina Simone Cover)

Love that awesome Jessie Ware has done a live cover of legendary Nina Simone for BBC Radio 2! Both are a singer's singer so it's literally perfection. That's All I Want From You - taken from the 1978 album Baltimore is a heartfelt ballad with lush strings and a piano only a Simone album could have since she was so brilliant at playing it. The lyrics are hopeful with a streak of sorrow and sound so good when both sing it. Since Nina was 20 years into her game in '78 and was 45 y.o her voice has a depth that only living life can bring. The Ware version sounds like a brilliant b-side from a 70's vinyl single and her voice is so powerful and sounds so sincere. Top marks! ♡

Nina Simone - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (Zeds Dead Remix)

As far as utter classics go, one of 'em would have to be Nina Simone's 1964 single Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. Shockingly it failed to chart anywhere when first released! Thankfully it's been resurrected majorly since on compilations, in remixed form and in cover form. Its latest incarnation is as a drum n' bass (!) track by Zeds Dead for Verve Music's The First Ladies album. Good for us and Nina the Canadian electronic indie duo put her voice front and centre leaving plenty of room to enjoy her superb skills. Pretty insane to hear this though! As Ms. Simone hated the way her various labels treated her back catalogue we cannot even imagine the things she'd say about this one, haha! Listen below! Thoughts? 

Premiere: Ane Brun - Feeling Good (Nina Simone Cover)

Norway's finest Ane Brun is about to release her retrospective collection Songs 2003-2013 next week and on it comes this brand new recording! The classic Feeling Good, most notably attached to Nina Simone is a wonderful piece and Ane treats it with the gentlest of care. Gone is the big dramatic background and it welcomes a wonderful violin that we're getting Scandinavian folk music vibes from. Ane suffers from the auto immune disorder lupus and we came to think of that aspect hearing her version. Her voice exudes an urgency and depth that comes from life experience. She tells her story and we can't stop listening to it. Nor do we wan't to stop. Top marks and love to you Ane!

Emeli Sandé - I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free (iTunes Session)

Emeli Sandé is workin' overtime trying to crack the American market for real for real. Her Next To Me has been on Glee, and today her US exclusive iTunes Session is out + she'll be going on tour too. On her new EP she's done a cover of one of our all time favourite tracks - I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free. First released by composer Billy Taylor in 1963 and made into an all time classic in 1967 by Nina Simone. During the burning civil rights movement in the 60's it served as the anthem - and no wonder with its more than powerful message. Emeli is a very talented pianist and musician with a distinct voice. We can't help but to think her voice is lacking in depth on this particular track. But we're sure she'll get there eventually, there's loads of time! She gets an A for singing these types of songs and bringing them forward to a new generation. Have a listen below; thoughts?