There are plenty of songs that have been covered to death, with musicians offering their own unique spin on time-honored classics. Screamin’ Jay Hawkins wrote and recorded “I Put a Spell on You,” but after Nina Simone got a hold of it, it sort of became her song. Simone even took the title and spun it off into an entire album, and actress, producer, mental health counselor and Playboy model Aubri Ebony can’t stop listening to it.
“I Put a Spell on You” by Nina Simone
- Released: June 1965
- Studio: Phillips New York City
- Genre: Jazz, vocal jazz, blues, pop
- Length: 34:21
- Label: Phillips
- Producer: Hal Mooney
Why Aubri Ebony Loves “I Put a Spell on You” by Nina Simone
“It kind of aligns with the very Libra Witchy energy that I try and encompass,” Aubri told Playboy.
Nina Simone’s cover is the title track on her massively popular 1965 album “I Put a Spell on You.” The 34 minute album is nothing but bangers, with many of the hits Simone will be remembered for. These include “Tomorrow is My Turn,” “Ne me quitte pas,” “Feeling Good,” and “You’ve Got to Learn.”
Simone’s take of “I Put a Spell on You” was the first of seemingly countless covers. Creedence Clearwater Revival took a stab at it in 1968, which took advantage of John Fogerty’s naturally gravely voice. Annie Lennox’s 2013 cover trades in horns for pop synth riffs, making the song feel new again. This version was a bit of a sleeper hit, climbing to the stratosphere when it was featured on the Fifty Shades of Grey film soundtrack.
Artists across multiple musical genres have all offered their own spin on the song. Marilyn Manson recorded his take in 1995 for the EP “Smells Like Children.” He leaned into the spooky vibes to make it borderline unsettling. And then there are the Disney-brained millennials. The first and only time they heard the song was Bette Middler’s show-stopping version in the 1993 Halloween classic Hocus Pocus.
Aside from the magical vibes of the album’s title track, Aubri also resonates with Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” which she spontaneously began to sing during our interview.
“I’ve been singing that song the last couple of days,” Aubri said. “It’s just so beautiful.”
Aubri Ebony is on The Playboy Club. Talk to her now.
