The United States vs. Billie Holiday (soundtrack) explained

The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack album to the 2021 film of the same name, released on February 19, 2021 by Warner Records. The film is based on the life of singer Billie Holiday, and also from the book Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari. Directed by Lee Daniels, it features Andra Day performing the titular character.^[1] The soundtrack featured several compilation of songs composed and performed by Day. She also wrote the original song "Tigress & Tweed" and had co-produced the album with Salaam Remi, and Raphael Saadiq and Warren Felder. Lynn Fainchtein and Daniels were the music supervisors.

The 13-song soundtrack album is composed mostly of western, contemporary classical, pop and soul music originated from the 1930s and late-1950s, reflecting on Billie Holiday's time period.^[2] It was recorded mostly live on sets and conceptualised in late-September 2019, even before the film's shooting began, the following month. The soundtrack won the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 64th Grammy Awards, with the track "Tigress & Tweed" being nominated for Best Original Songs at the Golden Globe, Critics' Choice Movie Award and Black Reel award ceremonies in 2021.

The original score is composed by Kris Bowers. Bowers' score was released into a separate 12-track album titled The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Original Motion Picture Score) on February 26, 2021 by Lakeshore Records, which coincided with the film's streaming release on Hulu.

Background

The songs were recorded live on sets, and mostly used period instruments from 1930s and 1950s to capture the essence of contemporary classical music.^[3] Salaam Remi co-produced the original songs with Day, with the film's director Lee Daniels and Lynn Fainchtein jointly supervised the music. Remi and Fainchtein, in an interview to Variety, had spoken about the production of the compiled tracks. For Remi, "it was an understanding of what the original arrangements were, and how they would have done them at that time, but also how they were playing out in the movie". Both wanted the music to be as authentic to the time period, though the layers of the music and the orchestration, are more like the pop of the '70s than the jazz of the '40s or '50s. Remi stated that "On a lot of Billie Holiday recordings, you can't always hear [the detail]. There might have been one mic going straight to vinyl. I had to augment because I was recording digital at the highest possible bit rate." All the tracks were composed prior to the film's shooting, in Miami, in September 2019. Day, had sung for most of the tracks in the film, whom Remi had claimed that she "had the vocal chops and was nailing it from the beginning".

Mark Isham, Craig Harris and Christopher Gunning were previously announced to compose for the score,^{[4] [5]} until Kris Bowers, was approached by the makers and recording for the background score were completed by late-December 2020.^[6]

Release

Prior to the soundtrack release, Day's cover versions of "All of Me" and "Strange Fruit"^{[7] [8]} were released as digital singles on January 13 and 21, 2021, respectively.^[9] The original song "Tigress & Tweed" was released as the third track from the album on January 27.^{[10] [11]} Day co-wrote the song with Raphael Saadiq, who also composed and produced the track. The track list for Music from the Motion Picture was first released on February 1, with pre-orders beginning on the same date through the Amazon.com website.^[12] Warner Records released the soundtrack digitally on February 19, followed by a physical release on March 19, and a vinyl edition being released on July 23.^[13] Original Motion Picture Score, which contains Kris Bowers' compositions for the film score was released on February 26, coinciding with the streaming release on Hulu.

Chart performance

Chart (2021)! scope="col"

Peakposition
UK Compilation Albums (OCC)[14]	89
UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC)[15]	43
US Billboard 200[16]	137
US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[17]	44

Chart (2021)! scope="col"

Peakposition
UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC)[18]	48

Release history

Region! scope="col"

Date	Format(s)	Label	Catalog	Version(s)
Various	February 19, 2021		Warner Records		Standard
United States	March 19, 2021	CD		093624883395
Canada
Europe
Japan	April 21, 2021			WPCR 18422		[19]
Brazil	May 6, 2021			093624883395
United States	August 13, 2021	Vinyl	Ultra	093624883388	Limited edition

Personnel

Credits adapted from Allmusic.

Instruments

• Strings – Stephen Coleman (arrangements), Dan Higgins (arrangements)
• Bass – Salaam Remi, Raphael Saadiq
• Drums – Salaam Remi, TFOX
• Guitar – Vincent Henry, Charlie Hunter
• Horns – Vincent Henry (arrangements)
• Saxophone – Vincent Henry (arrangements), Khari Allen Lee
• Clarinet – Vincent Henry
• Orchestra – Czech Film Orchestras
• Piano – Alex Bugnon, James Poyser, Daniel Crean (programming), Eren Cannata (programming)
• Trumpet – Emilio Lopez
• Flugelhorn – Emilio Lopez
• Keyboards – Oak Felder (programming)

Production

• A&R – Rani Hancock, Joanna Terrasi (administration)
• Arranged By – Salaam Remi
• Music co-ordinator – Nik Boskoff
• Design – Stephen Walker (packaging)
• Executive producer – Aaron Bay-Schuck, Amanda Ghost, Lynn Fainchtein, PJ Bloom, Rani Hancock, Tom Corson
• Legal advisor – Jason R. Heller
• Management – Jeffrey Evans, Chris Atlas (marketing), Shawnaé Corbett-Rice (marketing), Nacho Burgoa (music clearance)
• Mastered by – Chris Gehringer (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 13), Dave Kutch (tracks: 3)
• Mixed by – Eric J. Dubowsky (tracks: 4, 6), Hotae Alexander Jang (tracks: 3), Jimmy Douglass (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 7 to 13), Salaam Remi (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 7 to 13), Matt Curtin (tracks: 4, 6; mixing assistance)
• Photography by – Philippe Bosse
• Producer – Andra Day (tracks: 3), Raphael Saadiq (tracks: 3), Salaam Remi (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 7 to 13), Warren Felder (tracks: 4, 6)
• Recorded by – Hotae Alexander Jang (tracks: 3), Ryan Evans (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 7 to 13), Downtown Trevor Brown (tracks: 4, 6), Warren Felder (tracks: 4, 6)
• Supervised by – Lynn Fainchtein

Recording

• Recorded at – Bay Eight
• Mixed at – The Magic Mix Room
• Mixed at – Instrument Zoo
• Mastered at – Sterling Sound
• Mastered at – The Mastering Palace

Awards and nominations

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result
Black Reel Awards	April 11, 2021	Outstanding Original Song	"Tigress & Tweed" – Andra Day & Raphael Saadiq		[20]
Critics’ Choice Movie Awards	March 7, 2021	Best Song	"Tigress & Tweed" – Andra Day & Raphael Saadiq		[21]
Golden Globe Awards	February 28, 2021	Best Original Song	"Tigress & Tweed" – Andra Day & Raphael Saadiq		[22]
Grammy Awards	April 3, 2022	Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media	The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Music from the Motion Picture)		[23]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards	January 27, 2021	Best Original Song in a Feature Film	"Tigress & Tweed" – Andra Day & Raphael Saadiq		[24]
		Best Music Supervision – Film	Lynn Fainchtein
NAACP Image Awards	February 26, 2022	Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album	The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Music from the Motion Picture) – Salaam Remi, Andra Day, Raphael Saadiq, Warren Felder		[25]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lindahl . Chris . 2021-04-15 . Andra Day Talks with Phillip Noyce About How Billie Holiday Helped Her Discover Her Voice . 2022-05-12 . IndieWire . en . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512171014/https://www.indiewire.com/video/united-states-vs-billie-holiday-andra-day-interview-1234630328/ . live .
2. Web site: 2021-04-22 . Interview: Director Lee Daniels on the cultural importance of The United States vs Billie Holiday . 2022-05-12 . The AU Review . en-AU . April 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413233827/https://www.theaureview.com/watch/interview-director-lee-daniels-on-the-cultural-importance-of-the-united-states-vs-billie-holiday/ . live .
3. Web site: Burlingame . Jazz Tangcay, Jon . Tangcay . Jazz . Burlingame . Jon . 2021-02-26 . Recording Andra Day as Billie Holiday Was an Exercise in 'Surround' Sound . 2022-05-12 . Variety . en-US . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512171014/https://variety.com/2021/artisans/awards/behind-music-united-states-billie-holiday-1234916587/ . live .
4. Web site: Field . Victor . Christopher Gunning to Score Lee Daniels' 'The United States vs. Billie Holiday' . 2022-05-12 . Film Music Reporter . en-US . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512173551/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/09/17/christopher-gunning-to-score-lee-daniels-the-united-states-vs-billie-holiday/ . live .
5. Web site: Mark Isham to Score Lee Daniels' 'The United States vs. Billie Holiday' . 2022-05-12 . Film Music Reporter . en-US . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512173552/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2020/04/01/mark-isham-to-score-lee-daniels-the-united-states-vs-billie-holiday/ . live .
6. Web site: 'The United States vs. Billie Holiday' Score Album to Be Released . 2022-05-12 . Film Music Reporter . en-US . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512171014/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/03/18/the-united-states-vs-billie-holiday-score-album-to-be-released/ . live .
7. News: Pietsch . Bryan . 2021-04-25 . Behind 'Strange Fruit,' Billie Holiday's Anti-Lynching Anthem . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-05-12 . 0362-4331 . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512174356/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/25/arts/music/strange-fruit-united-states-v-billie-holiday.html . live .
8. Web site: Andra Day's New Song In 'The United States Vs. Billie Holiday' Pays Tribute To The Artist . 2022-05-12 . Bustle . February 25, 2021 . en . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512173908/https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/all-the-songs-in-the-united-states-vs-billie-holiday-show-a-new-side-of-the-artist . live .
9. Web site: Andra Day's 'All of Me' Cover from 'The United States vs. Billie Holiday' Released . 2022-05-12 . Film Music Reporter . en-US . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512173552/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/01/11/andra-days-all-of-me-cover-from-the-united-states-vs-billie-holiday-released/ . live .
10. Web site: Andra Day: The Story of "Tigress & Tweed" The United States vs. Billie Holiday . 2022-05-12 . Los Angeles Times . February 2, 2021 . en-US . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512173551/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/ojrf75annsa-123 . live .
11. Web site: Andra Day's & Raphael Saadiq's Original Song 'Tigress & Tweed' from 'The United States vs. Billie Holiday' Released . 2022-05-12 . Film Music Reporter . en-US . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512173553/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/01/26/andra-days-raphael-saadiqs-original-song-tigress-tweed-from-the-united-states-vs-billie-holiday-released/ . live .
12. Web site: 'The United States vs. Billie Holiday' Soundtrack Album Details . 2022-05-12 . Film Music Reporter . en-US . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512173553/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/02/02/the-united-states-vs-billie-holiday-soundtrack-album-details/ . live .
13. Web site: Andra Day - The United States Vs. Billie H (Vinyl) . 2022-05-12 . www.target.com . en-US . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512173551/https://www.target.com/p/andra-day-the-united-states-vs-billie-h-vinyl/-/A-82652837 . live .
14. Web site: Official Compilations Chart Top 100 . 2022-05-12 . . en . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512175016/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/official-compilations-chart/20210312/7503/ . live .
15. Web site: Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50 . 2022-05-12 . . en . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512175014/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/soundtrack-albums-chart/20210312/140/ . live .
16. Soundtrack Chart History (Billboard 200) . 2022-05-12 . . en-US . March 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220320042216/https://www.billboard.com/artist/soundtrack/ . live .
17. Soundtrack Chart History (Soundtrack Albums) . 2022-05-12 . . en-US . March 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220320042216/https://www.billboard.com/artist/soundtrack/ . live .
18. Web site: Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50 . 2022-05-12 . . en . May 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512175010/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/soundtrack-albums-chart/20210319/140/ . live .
19. Web site: The United States Vs. Billie Holiday (Music From The Motion Picture) Andra Day CD Album . 2022-05-13 . CDJapan . en . April 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230420050740/https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/WPCR-18422 . live .
20. Web site: Amanda N'Duka . 2021-02-18 . 'One Night in Miami', 'Judas and the Black Messiah' Lead Nominations For 21st Annual Black Reel Awards . 2021-03-07 . Deadline . March 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210310074750/https://deadline.com/2021/02/one-night-in-miami-judas-and-the-black-messiah-nominations-21st-annual-black-reel-awards-1234696267/ . live .
21. Web site: Davis . Clayton . February 8, 2021 . Critics Choice Awards: 'Mank' Leads With 12 Nominations, Netflix Makes History With Four Best Picture Nominees . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210208211947/https://variety.com/2021/film/awards/critics-choice-nominations-2021-mank-netflix-1234902895/ . February 8, 2021 . February 8, 2021 . Variety.
22. Web site: Oganesyan . Natalie . Moreau . Jordan . February 3, 2021 . Golden Globes 2021: The Complete Nominations List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210203182501/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/2021-golden-globes-nominations-list-nominees-1234896457/ . February 3, 2021 . February 3, 2021 . Variety.
23. Web site: November 23, 2021 . 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Nominations List . November 23, 2021 . . November 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211125170413/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2022-grammys-complete-winners-nominees-nominations-list . live .
24. Grein . Paul . January 27, 2021 . Diane Warren & James Newton Howard Among Top Winners at 2021 Hollywood Music in Media Awards . January 28, 2021 . . January 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210128041606/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/9517388/diane-warren-james-newton-howard-winners-2021-hollywood-music-in-media-awards/ . live .
25. Web site: Spivey . Kemberlie . 2022-01-19 . 2022 NAACP Image Awards Nominations: The Full List . 2022-01-20 . . en . January 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220119025807/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kemberliespivey/2022/01/18/2022-naacp-image-awards-nominations-the-full-list/ . live .