KAREN Underwood brings her spellbinding cabaret style show, The Nina In Me to Dolan’s for one night only on Saturday February 21. A powerful hybrid of music and monologue, Karen interweaves the story of her own life with the incredible songs of Nina Simone. She explores the heartache, pain, joy and empowerment that she experienced growing up black in America, and her voyage of musical and emotional self-discovery in Ireland.
Karen Underwood is known to many music fans as the hugely talented vocalist from Cork Funk and Soul band Cartoon. This is a very different project for Karen and having seen her perform with Cartoon live several times I can’t think of a better lady to front this project and seamlessly slip into the songs of Nina Simone. Karen only encountered the music of Nina Simone when she moved to Cork in 1997. She instantly felt a deep personal connection to the lyrics, which often deal with Simone’s struggle as a black woman in pre-Civil Rights America.
Karen brings that emotional resonance to her performance of Simone’s timeless songs. The “Chicago Diva,” as she’s affectionately known in her adopted home, sings more than twenty classics including Ain’t Got No, My Baby Just Cares for Me, I Loves You Porgy, Here Comes the Sun, and Feeling Good.
“Langston Hughes says we make the world we live in, and then we have to live in it. I have written this autobiographical piece because for so long the obstacles of religion, racism and sexuality have hindered me from my God given desire to sing,” says the Chicago native.
“Now I am living a story that I hope others will connect with on some level”. The Nina In Me – Karen Underwood Sings Nina Simone premiered in Cork Opera House last summer, and due to audience demand and glowing reviews, it returned for further engagements in the autumn. Now, Cork Opera House proudly sends this often funny, sometimes sad show on a ten venue national tour. Directed and arranged by John O’Brien, he will also accompany Karen on the piano for a very special night of music and song.
