Billie Holiday

One gloomy, dull and uninspiring Monday morning back in November, I rediscovered the gem that is Billie Holiday and haven’t been able to stop listening since. Many of us are familiar with ‘I’m a Fool to Want You’, due to its revival in last year’s chic advert for the famous perfume Chanel No. 5, featuring the beautiful Audrey Tautou and her hunk of a co-star frolicking around Istanbul looking impossibly attractive in a sepia filter.

Although a gorgeous advert, Billie’s silky tones have a lot more to offer than just endorsing a perfume. Her slow, soulful voice has melancholic undertones which saunter alongside the gentle, bluesy notes of the piano, clarinet and saxophone. This creates a doleful yet warm vibe, making you just want to cuddle up with a cuppa and watch the rain drizzle down the window.

Although often having dark and depressing lyrics (Billie’s life experienced it’s fair share of turmoil) there is something inherently comforting about her caramel smooth voice drifting through the crackling texture of 30s and 40s gramophone recordings. I’m a bit of a sucker for anything old Hollywood, the roaring twenties and old school jazz, blues and swing- Sinatra will always happily transport me to the glittering lights and smoky bars of mid-century America- so Billie has firmly secured her place as my ‘new-old-favourite’.

So when you are having one of those mornings- British weather doing it’s usual dreary thing, a lack of inspiration in the air and the sleep struggling to clear from your eyes- don’t fight it. Boil the kettle, grab a book, snuggle down and allow Billie to sing away your troubles.

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