Behka’s Secret Stash: Billie Holiday

Kids, today's Stash isn't too secret. But the story of it might be.

Billie Holiday was one of the best singers of her generation.  That's not too debatable to me.  I love how she did so much in her songs, without the need to show off or be too flamboyant.  She had personal difficulties and used them in her work to her advantage.  One of my favorite songs of hers is her version of Gloomy Sunday.

It was originally written and released as sheet music by Rezső Seres in the Great Depression.   The lyrics were based off a poem by László Jávor. It was quickly very popular, but also associated with death everywhere it was heard.  There were rumors that it was the saddest song ever written, and that it should never be sung or played to anyone with "melancholia."

Most of it was urban legend and very difficult to actually prove.  However, one of the writers of the song, Seres, did commit suicide, and reportedly Javor's ex-fiancee did as well.  There were several bans in Hungary of the song, and the BBC refused to play it in the forties because it was detrimental to war morale.  They didn't lift that ban til 2002.

I love reading urban legends like this and seeing what other people have heard or said about it.  The song itself is sad, yes, but also very beautiful.  Hopefully you enjoy it.

Gloomily yours,

Behka