This song reminds me of a show called ‘I Put a Spell on You’ that I was lucky enough to be in back in the 1989 when a member of the Haymarket Youth Theatre in Leicester. As mentioned previously (Song No. 4 – Fast Car – Tracy Chapman) we were directed by Tim Supple and the show was a devised piece that was made up of a series of improvised scenes connected by the themes of ‘love and relationships’. I had a wonderful time doing that show and made a number of life long friends in that company. It was the first time we had done a show in the ‘Studio’ theatre which whilst a small space was still a professional venue and a joy to use.
Tim chose the title and we played a version of ‘I Put A Spell on You’ by Nina Simone at the opening and this original and definitive version by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins at the end.
Although I love Nina’s version and there have been many other versions of this song over the years most notably by Marilyn Manson and Joe Coker, this is my favourite one. I just love the way that Screamin’ Jay Hawkins who wrote this song punctuates it with grunts and snorts and his amazing cackles which can’t help to make you suspect that underneath his respectable exterior he is quite mad which as I suspect you know by now I find truly appealing….
Now listen to the song….
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