Nina Simone "Love Me Or Leave Me" on The Ed Sullivan Show

Nina Simone "Love Me Or Leave Me" on The Ed Sullivan Show, September 11, 1960. Subscribe now to never miss an update: ume.lnk.to/EdSullivanSubscribe
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The Ed Sullivan Show was a television variety program that aired on CBS from 1948-1971. For 23 years it aired every Sunday night and played host to the world's greatest talents. The Ed Sullivan Show is well known for bringing rock n' roll music to the forefront of American culture through acts like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. The entertainers each week ranged from comedians like Joan Rivers and Rodney Dangerfield, to Broadway stars Julie Andrews and Richard Burton, to pop singers such as Bobby Darin and Petula Clark. It also frequently featured stars of Motown such as The Supremes, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5. The Ed Sullivan Show was one of the only places on American television where such a wide variety of popular culture was showcased and its legacy lives on to this day.
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[@hnc52]

Great performance. Nina's piano skills are amazing. Her classical training is on full display here.

[@petersumner7367]

FACK ME Yes!!

[@rickyratte5643]

Does she play two Songs in her Solo? Sounds like

[@MTMF.london]

@@rickyratte5643 No

[@canterlevi]

@@rickyratte5643 She’s improvising a kind of fugue in the style of JS Bach. That’s why it sounds like two songs- it’s two subjects, or ‘themes’ being played together. The guitarist is also joining in. Amazing.

[@rickyratte5643]

@@canterlevi danke für die freundliche Antwort 🙏

[@mistery-ed7900]

Nina Simone was a unique talent.

[@lilychu8912]

I had read she was a piano prodigy but had a difficult time getting in to a conservatory because of her ethnicity when she was young. So cool to see her play in this video.

[@sidecar7714]

What a lot of nonsense you believe.

[@jacobbullock2070]

@@sidecar7714 the Curtis Institute of Music rejected her admission in 1951 on the basis of her race.

[@sidecar7714]

@@jacobbullock2070 Why did they accept earlier African American candidates then?

[@ettoredipugnar6990]

She was told by a professor at the Curtis institute In Philadelphia that no one would pay to see and hear a colored woman to play Bach . Can you imagine that ?

[@sidecar7714]

@@ettoredipugnar6990 No, because it’s bullshit. The Curtis Institute had previously admitted African American candidates.

[@ssinssg]

The difficulty of improvising counterpoint....there's really no way to express what a masterpiece this is.

[@mozellephilpart1726]

Yes it is! She was truly gifted!😊❤🎹

[@samuellaz]

You really think that was improvised? I think it was premeditated for sure

[@ssinssg]

@@samuellaz "premeditated" and "improvised" are not mutually exclusive. You must not be a musician lol, and certainly not trained at all in improvisation. Sit this one out, chief.

[@canterlevi]

@@samuellaz Improvisation requires practice. 🙂

[@olliemartinelli4034]

@@ssinssg Bro how could this be improvised, the guitar imitates the harmony and the rhythm perfectly in sync with her. It's clearly a pre-planned solo

[@robthebold4589]

Wow! Watch her go from a simple one hand melody into Bach-style!!

[@lisablack8804]

Miss. Nina Simone was a classically trained pianist. There was no hard part for her dear.

[@mozellephilpart1726]

Gifted!😊❤🎹

[@1jesus2music3duke]

@@lisablack8804 if we’re talking Bachian fugue, there are hard parts for everyone

[@ron42nm]

@@willzimjohn Nope. It's all her on piano. There's another instrument with her, but the piano is all her.

[@curtisrowe3]

Absolutely Awesome

[@imjustlooking888]

The portmento classical technique, the Baroque counterpoint motives, mixed with the jazz improvisation! The girl was BAD!!!! 👊🏽

[@AriaElan]

Ancestor Nina Simone was a musical genius. Her savant abilities on the piano, vocal phrasing and tone are all working in concert on this performance.

[@Ghostmanriding]

Brilliant comment!

[@AriaElan]

@@Ghostmanriding thank you! She was a brilliant artist. RIP

[@sophiusdynami3401]

She's an elder, not an ancestor 😢😢!! I love her do much

[@Tigerwarhawk]

Well said.

[@bie589]

Maravilhosa!

[@keithsouthgate67]

Absolute diamond performance... Even though Nina is well known, I believe her skill as a pianist is greatly unappreciated...

[@godsofirelocalcd6321]

Your top five rappers of today probably made more in their career then she could never dream of making in her career ,but those same top five rappers could never dream to be more talented then her.

[@benjaminjackson9449]

And those same 5 rappers have most likely referenced her music or sampled her voice or piano arrangements. Kanye, Jay Z, Lil Wayne, and Beyoncé just to name a few.

[@noemiethibault139]

why do you have to compare her with rappers and vice versa?? lol so weird. rapping is an entirely different skill set.

[@JamieLandan]

@@benjaminjackson9449 is this the stupid hour? Beyoncé is not a rapper.

[@JamieLandan]

I hate comments like this. So much negativity. Those 5 rappers could be Jay-z, Nas, Eminem, 2pac and Chris Wallace. All amazing artists in their right. Can paint a beautiful picture with words and wisdom. Completely different discipline. Tupac was a big fan of Simone and they were actually very good friends before he passed. She loved his poems to bits.

[@benjaminjackson9449]

@@JamieLandan Beyonce does rap, her last few projects will show you that. Black is King, Everything is Love, and her latest single has rap verses. Beyonce has done more than just her first few R&B and pop albums. Also, her music is heavily steeped in hip-hop culture and aesthetics. As a matter of fact, she has experimented with almost every main and sub genre out there. So please, do your research before you try and come for me.

[@petebrowne9918]

Oh how I love her voice! It is so rich and unique, but infused with so many different styles.The sound is like a neoclassical soul.

[@johnbrooker1552]

Breath-taking performer. Every time I watch her she blows me away.

[@ClaLu]

The absolute BEST version of this song. Nina Simone made it hers! Genius!

[@withgoddess1119]

She turned it into a minuet on a harpsichord. 💝

[@tonyramirez768]

A glance/ tribute/ gift for the great J. S. Bach😊

[@silverbrahmapaolino9528]

Absolutely wonderful….nothing compares to her❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@hamburgareable]

Nina Simone was one of a kind!

[@IRP01]

wicked concoction of classical and jazz

[@kasday369]

Sheer GENIUS!!!!! I "discovered" her in 1969 when I was 16 years old. For many years, I never knew anyone who was familiar with her -- let alone her work. I had all of her albums, and could listen endlessly.

[@lisablack8804]

Miss. Nina Simone such a beautiful talented woman just lovely.

[@LadyPapaMayodora]

I wish this could be remastered because this is hands down the best version

[@patrickryan1515]

A LADY who most definitely knew what she was about. SUPERB TALENT!!!

[@DavidRichardson95]

Super rare treat. Had no idea the High Priestess of Soul made an appearance on the show in her early career. 60 years later it still holds up.

[@ksair6399]

Amazing…makes you stop and pause. Supreme talent.

[@samson3000]

Can we take a moment to commend Ed Sullivan for putting this incredible talent on his show, during a time when performers of her caliber were virtually absent from network television merely because of the color of their skin?

[@jody8526937]

The idea that black performers were excluded from television performances is not based in fact. Sullivan was exceptional but Nina was quite well know in the sixties and was on television somewhat frequently considering she never had a top 10 or and 1 top 20 hit popular chart record in the USA. Her highest. USA chart position was 18. She did hit #2 on R & B chart wit “Porgy” and #8 R & B with Young, Gifted and Black. Despite her great talent commercial success was elusive. In England she was far more popular on the popular charts: "To Love Somebody" reaching #5 and "Ain't Got No, I Got Life"(1969) reaching #2. Urban audiences didn’t support the “High Priestess Of Soul” as much as you would think??

[@thefatlazycat838]

Back when people actually needed raw talent to become a star. Artists back in those times didn’t need auto-tune. They just had the God given talent!! I’m only 18 but this is exactly why I will always listen to older music from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s because music was better back in those days. And the musicians could really sing and they played actual instruments!

[@nympholepticmonkey352]

Amen brother!🙌👍✌️

[@williamtsanders]

do you play?

[@josealejandro2649]

Love that this is coming from a youngster

[@lowellcalavera6045]

God, shut up.

[@tsu08761e]

this is a very naive mindset, i hope you realize that as you get older

[@zaphbrox8239]

Whoa! That interlude! What an amazing piece. Got goosebumps. Played it over and over again.

[@femamend]

Watching Nina all day today is a treat. Her piano work here is unparalleled, but her voice only gets bigger and more beautiful as the years go on.

[@DNSX926]

she's absolutely perfect

[@johnburns2940]

Gurl can you hear me? That was an awesome performance. And we got it, to listen to, till the end of time. Thank you for that 💜🙏🤟

[@tommyhaynes9157]

She does a classical style straight time solo over a swing rhythm and it works out great

[@agt5jx87]

Exactly

[@animegirl2245]

She was before my time, but I really adore her.

[@DaughterOfChrist1997]

I love this song, but I’ve never seen someone style it so fantastically!!!!! What a maestro she is, Ms Nina Simone 🙌✨👑

[@krissmgvlogs]

oh wow, footage I have never seen before. This is fantastically wonderful. Loved it!!

[@kevingoins9858]

One of a kind Miss Simone

[@deantheodosiou2886]

Every time I hear this, Ms. Simone blows me away. EVERY TIME.

[@mmponty]

Her time feel is what I find most special, especially the juxtaposition of the freedom (voice) and metronomic (piano; counterpoint improvisations, specifically). Does anyone know who the guitarist is (contributing to the counterpoint bits)?

[@Debryantop2]

Que gran soundtrack escogió el profe O’FARRIL para su intervención, 20/10 es GOD y cine

[@mohini123456]

What a beautiful talent . She could be a concert pianist easily. Bach style baroque at it's best . ❤❤❤❤❤

[@oneandmanyjimmyjames]

Ughhhhh such a Majestic Talented Artist. She’s so brilliant it hurts. ❤

[@ericbush6124]

Epic performance and Brilliant Talent Beautiful Nina

[@whatsupwithdjpodcast]

Nina is amazing... her talent, her voice, and her beauty are all exquisite! It's sad what she had to undertake due to her natural complexion and facial features. I can only imagine the conversation between Ms. Simone and her manager asking her to lighten her skin with makeup to appease the producers of the Ed Sullivan Show so she could appear for this performance.

[@pebkit6763]

Is this something that just came out of your head? Where did you find that information?

[@sblumenstein6688]

Ed Sullivan was committed to civil rights and put many people of color on his show when others wouldn’t.

[@baglady2652]

Once in a lifetime artist

[@SimonYoungOFFICIAL]

What a genius! Pure euphoria!

[@astrid4532]

Second to none. We miss u, Simone. Yr talent was just incredible. May yr beautiful soul rest in peace. U r simply awesome.

[@charlesegbunike3820]

Genius at work!!

[@MADOUT_VPS]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@lolanekrasova2870]

My forever favorite musician ❤

[@leebo8079]

Breaks character into a full fledged improv classic pianist then slips back into her day job! Just WoW 🙌🙌🙌

[@xjazz666]

She has two independent brains, one for the right hand and other one for left hand. Extra-natural!

[@tommyhaynes9157]

No three.....another for her singing

[@willemvanasveldt7131]

So beauiful. She always will br my favorite singer and pianoplayer.

[@slovitzmusic8201]

God bless you Miss Simone

[@l.torrence4603]

She was amazing on that piano.

[@edgardopaladino4502]

Is my first time listening Nina Simone, im from Argentine, im listening tango and yt recomend this video. Amazing

[@jonathanraos435]

I discovered Nina Simone in the 1980’s working in a French Bistro playing on a ‘reel to reel’. Such a force and ‘completely misunderstood’ through much of her career. Little Girl Blue remains my favourite album. A sublime genius

[@QueenZsWorld]

INCREDIBLE ON THE KEYS

[@Pinco-xg2ol]

Pure art

[@user-ff4bs6yx7r]

Fantástica! Bravo🎉🎉

[@brucepappas6298]

Excellent piano player

[@KATKattalestv]

Outstanding.She played as she was,💜😻 Superior

[@olgakhurumova6601]

настоящее искусство... вечно... браво ...

[@nexxirg1826]

Es lo más egregio que se puede ver y escuchar. Gracias eternas, Nina.

[@kuttaranks5654]

Thank you Ms Simone for paving the way your still one of the greatest ever!

[@mayag224]

I actually teared up watching this. What a genius.

[@DodoJeremias-ny7wp]

Será que hoje em dia veremos talentos comos esses! Perfeito!

[@mozellephilpart1726]

Nina Simone was musically gifted!❤😊🎹

[@iraklitsotskhalashvili3912]

Thank God that we can enjoy beauty

[@DefendUSA1776]

It is criminal that this video has only 34,000 views! Nina at her best!

[@steveweinstein3222]

As I write this, it has nearly 500,000 views.

[@cococheesesticks]

That woman could play the piano! Wow !

[@APR944]

Gorgeous ✨✨

[@edsantana1973]

Wow…the fugue improvisation in the bridge is mind blowing what a real talent….

[@paolo9249]

A voice for the Souls of everybody .....

[@jfacts2113]

what a bloody masterpiece!

[@notyourbiz235]

World class

[@mommyslover717]

She was underated genius

[@troyancheta3803]

Amazing Piano/guitar solo.

[@Kavinskie]

Yes, thank you. I knew there is a guitar playing alongside the piano solo. So many people think it's only Simone playing the solo.

[@Alexardelean89]

She’s a legendary icon.

[@pattymcneel1283]

OMG I must investigate her further! ❤

[@marc-antoinelopez5689]

The great Nina Simone

[@sanfordpress8943]

A brilliant person. Brilliant.

[@vintageloftnyllcbrooklynny6462]

There has been no one who can compare to her. She was living in more than one world.

[@paulina-np6ln]

Gran cierre para Ricardo O'farrill 😢

[@mahailonknight8361]

Wow… I keep rewinding the piano solo parts it amazes me how she play

[@ShallowExistence]

My favorite Nina song

[@nenacosta2168]

I agree with you! Simply the best!

[@KurtI2525]

What a beautiful person and wonderful talent!

[@frogwaffle7]

Three minute and three seconds of pure gold!....and hey wow what a solo !!!

[@fernandoiturburu3718]

That was wonderful!!

[@peterjohnlerum6580]

This song slaps especially as I’m walking through NYC

[@baglady2652]

Bad ass queen

[@nadiasimmons5403]

Brilliant Nina! 🌼💛🙌🏾

[@kevinrcoulter]

What a beautiful rendition of this song.

[@summeraustin1800]

beautiful, and very talented

[@robertomanganaro6462]

AMAZING VOICE AND PIANO ORCHESTRA AS WELL

[@RichardJones-hy9sx]

Raw talent

[@moryan6447]

The one, the only!

[@lauraj.4054]

Gorgeous, brilliant and unique Nina Simone! Incredible genius and a gifted 'force of nature'!! ❤🎶🧠🎹💯👏 I will admire her until my time comes. 🤗😇

[@SONETARTLAB]

💐👏🏾

[@carlkelso938]

Love classical influences in the piano work.❤

[@shamicehargrove7803]

If I could sum it up in one word, I would say this performance is simply sensational. Her piano playing skills are impeccable. And to think, that's all she really wanted to do. She never even wanted to sing, but orchestras & symphonies wouldn't give a black woman a chance back then. She really did pave the way for great artists to come & made the veterans before her, proud. I know I am extremely proud of the true musician she was.✊🏾 p.s. I'm glad they made her sing. I love her voice.❤

[@debramccullum9472]

Beautiful performance!! Ms. Simone was a talented artist in many ways. I enjoyed this video.

[@jarleabelhaugeek1217]

What an incredible solo! 😮❤

[@walterwallace4913]

***Wowzers***

[@summeraustin1800]

Amazing!!!