Black Music and Black Muses

I Kinda Still Feel Like I'm Flying

The post reflects on Sarah Vaughan’s Copenhagen set, where her exhaustion surfaced amid a polished, audience‑driven show. It contrasts her vulnerable interlude with the relentless expectation for flawless entertainment, highlighting a broader industry pressure on Black jazz icons. The author also references Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s on‑stage drug use and Nina Simone’s outspoken moments as historical precedents of artists confronting fatigue and commodification. Ultimately, the piece argues that genuine, unfiltered performances are often suppressed by commercial imperatives and audience entitlement.