Watching No Direction Home for the first time yesterday, I was struck by a reworking of an old blues song "Bald Headed Woman" by Harry Belafonte. Belafonte was a huge star during the late fifties and early sixties, with songs like Day-O and Island in the Sun.
Belafonte has been seen more recently promoting a new film that charts his career and perhaps more importantly, his voice in the civil rights movement. Currently premiering at festivals across the U.S the film follows the journey he took to become an artist in his own right instead of a "black performer".
Filled with rare stock footage, interviews and performances, Sing Your Song looks set to highlight the showmanship and struggle of this fantastic musician. In the meantime, please follow the link for Bald Headed Woman. A penetrating, abstract take on chain gang melodies; Belafonte's baritone here is a striking example of his artistic versatility and a microcosm of his quiet brilliance. Much like his politics, when this guy pounced, he'd take the crowd down with him
Harry Belafonte – Bald Headed Woman
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