13. Nina SimoneWild Is The Wind
She was such an amazing composer, but then she also did amazing versions of other songs. This isn’t hers, but it’s the way she sings it. George Michael covered it, and I love George Michael, but it’s nothing like Nina Simone: the way she plays piano, the way she directs the band, the way she holds time like putty. There’s something very personal about ‘Wild Is The Wind’ for me, from when I was in my 20s going through different things. When you put the record on, you feel like it’s just you she’s singing to and playing to. I wish I knew the recipe for this. They need to do a Proms of just Nina Simone.
