Rebecca Ferguson announced via twitter that she has been asked to sing at the inauguration of President-Elect Donald Trump.
The X Factor 2010 runner-up is willing to do it, but ONLY under one condition:
I’ve been asked and this is my answer. If you will allow me to sing “Strange Fruit” a song that has huge historical importance, a song that was blacklisted in the United States for being too controversial. A song that speaks to all the disregarded and downtrodden black people in the United States. A song that is a reminder of how love is the only thing that will conquer all the hatred in this world, then I will graciously accept your invitation and see you and Washington. Best Rebecca X
The singer released an album covering Billie Holiday songs in 2015, although “Strange Fruit” is not featured on the track list.
Considered one of the first protest songs, “Strange Fruit” describes the lynching of African Americans in the early 20th century. “Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,” go the lyrics. So I’m guessing Team Trump’s answer will be a big fat no.
I wonder how Rebecca, an unknown quantity in the US, got on that particular list? Maybe Trump has run low on American artists to ask.
In case you’ve never heard Holiday’s haunting version of the song, here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs
Via The BBC
