What comes to mind when you hear the word “Diva”? We’ve found that it’s a word that can go both ways—as praise for an accomplished and magnetic performer, or as a put-down to someone seen as pompous or high-strung. We’re singing divas’ praises while also exploring the term’s various connotations through music and interviews from high-minded women with conflicting views on the word: Bonnie Raitt, the late Abbey Lincoln, Norah Jones, and New Orleans Gospel Diva, Cynthia Girtley. Plus songs from divas and non-divas like Aretha Franklin, Patsy Cline, Lydia Mendoza, and Jessie Mae Hemphill.
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Give It Up Or Let Me Go Bonnie Raitt Give It Up, Rhino
High Hat, Trumpet and Rhythm Valaida Snow Valaida Snow 1933-1936, Classics
Fever Peggy Lee The Best of Miss Peggy Lee, Capitol
Mercedes Benz Janis Joplin Pearl, Columbia/Legacy
Bold Soul Sister Tina Turner Bold Soul Sister -- The Best of the Blue Thumb Recordings, Blue Thumb
Segment: Cynthia Girtley
Instrumental: Crow Jane Etta Baker One Dime Blues, Rounder Records
Me and My Chauffeur Blues Memphis Minnie Four Women Blues, BMG
I'm A Mighty Tight Woman Sippie Wallace The Johnny Dodds Collection 1923-29, Acrobat
Segment: Bonnie Raitt
Instrumental: Wildwood Flower Bill Frissell Ghosttown, Nonesuch
I Just Got Wise Hazel & Alice Pioneering Women of Bluegrass, Folkways
Look For Me (I'll Be Around) Neko Case Black Listed, Bloodshot
Let The Teardrops Fall Patsy Cline The Collection, Decca
So Many Beautiful Men Mikki Wilcox Memphis Belles: The Women of Sun Records, Bear Family
Evil Gal Blues Aretha Franklin Queen in Waiting, Columbia/Legacy
N.O. Bounce Big Freedia Jazz Fest: The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Smithsonian Folkways
Closing Bed: Sad Beauty Blues Randy Weston and Melba Liston Volcano Blues, Antilles
HOUR TWO
Open Bed: Froggy Bottom Mary Lou Williams Masters of Classic Jazz: Piano, Soundies
Wang Dang Doodle Koko Taylor The Great Tomato Blues Package, Tomato
Hard Headed Woman Wanda Jackson Vintage Collections, Captiol
Cielito Lindo Lydia Mendoza Las Mas Pegadas, DLV
San Antonio Rose The Quebe Sisters Texas Fiddlers, CD Baby
Squatty Roo Regina Carter & Kenny Barron Freefall, Verve
SEGMENT: Abbey Lincoln
Instrumental: Shimmy She Wobble Otha Turner and the Afrosippi Allstars Otha Turner and the Afrosippi Allstars, Birdman Records
Jump Baby Jump Jessie Mae Hemphill She-Wolf, HMG
Time is on My Side Irma Thomas Time is On My Side- The Best of Irma Thomas, EMI
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho Mahalia Jackson The Essential Mahalia Jackson, Columbia
Up Above My Head Rhiannon Giddens Tomorrow is My Turn, Nonesuch
Instrumental: Fleurette Africaine (African Flower) Norah Jones Day Breaks, Blue Note
SEGMENT: Norah Jones
Gospel Train Marian Anderson Let Freedom Ring!, JSP
Feeling Good Nina Simone Verve Unmixed, Verve
End Bed: Roll 'Em Mary Lou Williams Mary Lou Williams 1952-1971: The First Lady of the Piano, Giants of Jazz