Bioshock 2 & Bessie Smith's "Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents a sample of comments that mention Bioshock 2 that were posted to the discussion thread of a video of Bessie Smith's 1929 rendition of a Blues song. That song, "Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out", was included in the Bioshock 2 video game.

This video is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes. These comments are presented for cultural and sociological purposes. Read more about my reasons for showcasing these comments in the section below.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Bessie Smith for this powerful song. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Bessie Smith (Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, 1929) Jazz Legend



RagtimeDorianHenry, Uploaded on Jun 4, 2009

Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out (1929)
-snip-
Click http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_smith_bessie.htm for information about Bessie Smith (1894-1937)

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GENERAL OVERVIEW ABOUT YOUTUBE COMMENT THREADS AND YOUTUBE COMMENTS
It's my position that certain YouTube video viewer comments can be considered cultural artifacts that can provide information about a particular subject or subjects and/or reveal societal attitudes about people, places, or things. Presenting a sample of YouTube comments from the same viewer comment thread can give a sense of some of the ways that interactions occur on YouTube comment threads. YouTube viewer comments also demonstrate the ways that language is used -including the use of slang and text talk - and the customs that people use in self-selecting internet user names. Because I take a folkloric approach in editing pancocojams, a number of pancocojams blog posts include selected examples of YouTube comments about its featured videos. In addition, a few pancocojams posts focus on particular categories of user names that YouTube commenters give themselves.

However, the way that YouTube comments are presented makes responses to comments and conversations between commenters difficult to follow. In large part this is because comments are usually posted in descending order with the newest comments posted first. As a result, when reading the comment thread from top to bottom which is the usual way that threads are read, comments written in response to a particular comment are often found before that comment. One way that a response to a comment is identified is when the responder begins his or her comment with "@ ____ [the name of the person who wrote the comment which is being responded to]. However, some responders don't use that format. Adding to the possibility for confusion in reading YouTube video comments is the fact that some commenter’s names have changed because of YouTube’s promotion of people using their real names instead of screen names. Consequently, some responses to comments refer to the original commenter's screen name instead of the person's "real name". It also appears that some commenters have exchanged one "made up" user name for another "made up" user name. Furthermore, YouTube has changed their viewer comment format, deleting the "like" and "dislike" options (around the end of 2013), but those options are still mentioned in older comments.

It should also be said that a major problem with many YouTube viewer comment threads (including this showcased video's comment threads) is that a number of the comments include profanity. Readers of many YouTube viewer comment threads should also be advised that those threads may contain racist language, homophobic language, sexual explicit content and other objectionable content.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR COMPILATION
The viewer comment thread for the video "Bessie Smith (Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, 1929) Jazz Legend" is found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MzU8xM99Uo

As of 11:50 AM. Feb 28, 2014 there were 985 comments. At least ½ of the comments refer to Bioshock 2, Bioshock, some other specific videogame, or videogames in general.

These selected comments are grouped by the year that they were posted on YouTube, with the oldest comments presented first (along with any comments that are or appear to be posted in response to that comment). However, with the exception of that sub-group, these comments aren't presented in any consecutive order. In some cases, responding comments are given without the comment that they respond to.

The only examples of profanity that I include in the comments in this compilation is what I consider to be the mild profanity "damn", "ass", and "hell". Other examples of profanity within these comments are represented by the phrase in brackets "profanity deleted"].

These comments are numbered for references purposes only and are given as is without any editorial comments.

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SELECTED COMMENTS
2009
1. anthonyvvs
lol I heard of her from Bioshock 2 as well... Funny how a good video game can make someone so much more popular and bring their works back to the current times (more than it already is, of course)

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2. fiury5i
people who havent played the first bioshock loves bioshock 2, however people who played first one dont find the sequal at the same level as the first one

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3. fiury5i
people who havent played the first bioshock loves bioshock 2, however people who played first one dont find the sequal at the same level as the first one

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4. Raphael Stoker
Oh Bioshock 2 brought me here, but Bessie Smith kept me here. People need to realise that some 'games', such as bioshock and L.A Noire, should be held in as high regard as some films. It's art. Sorry to change the subject, this song really is lovely.

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2010
5. jackram2h2
in reply to Shelly Wilkinson
@shellybelly2895 Bioshock is a an extremely good first person shooter.It takes place in the under sea city called rapture.Thats another story....But the reason why people are commenting about Bioshock is because it takes place in The 50's and 60's and on each loading before the level begins the play these types of songs.This one specifically.They also have old record players lying around playing this music.It's games like Bioshock that got me to like this music :)

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6. Fernando Blake
Thanks bioshock thanks 4 show me this amazing music :D

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7. Craziness714
Thanks Bioshock and Fallout, for introducing to some amazing music I wouldn't have listened to otherwise. =)

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8. Nunya DirtySanchez
Youre a DAM FOOL if Bioshock brought your young ass here and you should be ashamed..now that youve learned.. go teach your friends :D

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9. Justin Huffman
Warning: if you actually purchase the Bioschock 2 Sountrack, this song IS NOT there... i don't get it. They do include the second best song: the trouble with me is you, though. I downloaded it just for this song and it's not there... [profanity deleted]??

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10. sagat4
It is possible that game developers are trying to rekindle interest in these great lost songs. I play games occasionally and have never heard good music like this. I know my stuff but life is a learning experience:)

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11. samtheposter
in reply to WEJIRC
@WEJIRC Hi there, the music was used as a loading screen for Bioshock 2. The game itself is excellent and the way the music compliments the theme of the game is superb. In many ways it has brought back quite a few older songs into todays lifestyle and a lot of gamers will never forget the music now. I myself have searched youtube for all of the songs from the game and have stumbled on some real legends :-)

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12. Emma Pinkney
this song makes me want to play bioshock 2 all day!!

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13. Phazonin
Her voice is incredible. So powerful... thank you Bioshock 2 loading screen.

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14. thecatman00
in reply to Phazonin
@Phazonin It's incredible the way you can cultivate good art to help make other good art, I am especially impressed by said connection between blues and videogames

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15. thedogisoflove
I love this dang stupid song. I of course first heard it on Bioshock 2. For a minute, I was like: "Is that Billy Holiday?" Then I thought, "Nooooooo! That's definately not her." Now I know who it is! I love it if you let Grace live, and you go back down to the last floor to gather Adam, you can hear Grace singing this song over the PA too.

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16. Justin Huffman
this is Grace Holloway not Bessie Smith

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17. tjovaughn
in reply to Justin Huffman
@aspacelot ....grace holloway is a VIDEO GAME CHARACTER. Bessie Smith is REAL. got it? eh? not so hard to figure out smart-[profanity deleted]. gawd.

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18. TGCVugi
iwe heard this song @ my friend, his kid played bioshock 2,, and i will tell you something, it's so damn true, this song touches me in the heart!

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19. F14ace
6 people have no musical taste whatsoever. This song is great for BioShock because it basically describes the story of Rapture. Well, except for the genetically spliced nutjobs running around everywhere. There is also a good lesson to be learned from this song.

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20. jackram2h2
in reply to Shelly Wilkinson
@shellybelly2895 Bioshock is a an extremely good first person shooter.It takes place in the under sea city called rapture.Thats another story....But the reason why people are commenting about Bioshock is because it takes place in The 50's and 60's and on each loading before the level begins the play these types of songs.This one specifically.They also have old record players lying around playing this music.It's games like Bioshock that got me to like this music :)

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2011
James Last
in reply to khal eesi
@jujabyummy bioshock is a game based in the 20's-30's i think. its not to bad kinda intence at points though

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21. Bonbeck100
Thumbs up if you're here not because of bisoshock, just because you love Bessie Smith

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22. 420Cannabis
why are you guys so proud of needing a video game to discover good music?

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23. Dee Lazarus
Personally, I have no idea what 'Bioshock' is, nor do I care to discover. I think it's great that peoples end up here listening to this, regardless of the source of their original interest, but I would query why these same folks have this burning need to proclaim "The Simpsons brought me here!!!" and then say nothing of the singer and song. Come on guys and gals - can and should do better. Best wishes for the future, PP. x

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24. alen mathew
thumbs up if [profanity deleted] bioshock DIDNT bring you here..and you have REAL taste in music..

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25. Skirlasvoud
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 Oi! How's real taste in music defined by the way it came to you? :P Maybe the makers of Bioshock had enough taste to select this particular piece for their game, making it a real tasteful game? Let's reach a middleground after I bought a CD with this stuff, THANKS to Bioshock: We BOTH love this music and at least we're nog listening to Carla Bruni.

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26. 0m
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 who cares whether or not bioshock turned people onto this music or not? (a) that's beside the point, because the music's still lovely, and (b) if a modern classic sci-fi/horror story can instill interest in this music for new generations, where's the harm in that? you ever played the bioshock games? because not only are they super fun to play, the plots are unbelievably genius. it's genuine storytelling up there with huxley, bradbury and their ilk. don't hate. bioshock rules. :-P

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27. Cleaver Mama
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 Why does Bioshock bringing someone here mean that they don't have a 'real' taste in music? Shouldn't you be happy that they know about the song at all, and are giving a talented artist the recognition she deserves, rather than worrying about how they found the song?

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28. Cyconik
Music like this needs to be spread. If its being spread to youth by a video game, so be it. I actually just happened across this song. I didn't know it was in Bioshock, but I've played it before too. Come on people, as long as its being spread, its being spread!

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29. Raphael Stoker
Oh Bioshock 2 brought me here, but Bessie Smith kept me here. People need to realise that some 'games', such as bioshock and L.A Noire, should be held in as high regard as some films. It's art. Sorry to change the subject, this song really is lovely.

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30. Stephenthecupcake101
in reply to Raphael Stoker
@AstinTheDawg same here, that was my favorite level in bioshock2. Loved the idea of a gehto in Rapture, now I love this music, gotta get some of her stuff. Back when music had meaning in the words.

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31. Stephenthecupcake101
in reply to khal eesi
@jujabyummy Best game of 2007. But this is from the sequal. The game was about an underwater city that was supposed to be absent in government, but went to hell. One hell of a good story, I highly recomend it.

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32. sonicscreamingblue
What the [profanity deleted] is Bioshock and why do people keep alluding to it on a blues video?

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33. HERBLANDZ
in reply to sonicscreamingblue
@sonicscreamingblue a video game that plays that palys 20 and 30s music while u kill people underwater or some [profanity deleted] i never liked that game but its pretty huge in sales

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34. ReptilianWhisperer
I played Bioshock and it did not bring me here, but I still ended up here. I guess I just got lucky. Legendary voice...Miss Bessie Smith

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35. Ray De La Peña
it shouldn't matter where people get their music source, as long as they listen and like it at some point in time.. i think.

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36. drivenedge007
but you have to admit,younger folks would not get any exposure to "real" music if it weren't for those video games......good music at any means necessary...

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37. kwilli93
Thumbs up if you're happy Bioshock educated thousands of gamers to Bessie Smiths greatness.

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38. Wafflehaus
I don't care if it took a video game to bring you here.. if you enjoy the song that's good enough in my book. Hopefully the song can spark an interest in blues/jazz history.

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39. Reverb Twang
idk what bioshock is but welcome to the world of Bessie Smith !!!!!

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40. PunkRockFreak09
in reply to Reverb Twang
@moondog50002000 It's a video game that takes place in about 1960's and plays this kind of music. In fact Bioshock notorious for using music like Bessie's. I'll say Bioshock did not bring me here, which is odd because I played it before I discovered Bessie, but it is a good game to find good music. Hell I wouldn't never even thought of this music before it.

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41. Riitzni
lol'ing at people looking down their nose at games. For those of you oblivious to society, some games introduce songs like this to people that would otherwise never hear them. That's more than most of you sitting on your computers whining about it can say. I understand though that having a person or radio bring you this song is a far better way to hear about it. Oh wait, it's the same. Idiots.

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42. cwcwful
in reply to Nathan Sanchez [posted in 2012]
@thesickdancer I am not asking to be a jerk, but what is Bioshock? Just curious. For what it's worth, I promise not to get involved in the debate.

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43. Dattebayo04 [posted in 2012]
in reply to cwcwful
Bioshock is a popular steampunk video game

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44. Nozomi
I'm sad that this song wasn't on the Bioshock 2 official soundtrack. It took me a while to find it.

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2012
45. Shishio Makoto
Merci Bioshock pour m'avoir fait découvrir cette artiste! Un jeu magnifique pour une chanteuse magnifique!

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FunkyTownGhost
46. I was listened this song on Bioshock 2. It's "Pauper's Drop's" theme music. These words, this voice... I'm really, really love that angel voice- women...

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47. 63toes
I don't care where you from, what brought you here, or where you going. Let's just enjoy this sweet sad music

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48. buttercupfirefly
hearing this song or any other song does from a video game or tv show does not make you any less "with it" cool or intelligent then someone who was brought up listening to it. Everyones music taste is due to outside influence- media, family or seeking it out yourself. I just think that people who say "i knew this before Bioshock" really need to get a life

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49. jasonvoorhees12345
If I lived in rapture. I would have gone down to just hear her sing everyday

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2013
50. gun1987gunn
It doesn't matter if people heard this on Bioshock and love it. Let them appreciate a great song. Game developers introducing the younger generation to old classics is a good thing. Stop you moaning and let everyone enjoy the song.

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51. gnarles trevor
I didn't realize that I absolutely love listening to music like this until I played Bioshock haha

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52. TearShatter
Bioshock <3 Introduced me to so much great older music.

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53. Zé Maconha
in reply to TearShatter
When this song played, I used to wait and stare at the loading screen until the end of the song

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2014
54. Juan Vazquez
Thank you bioshock 2 for introducing me to this amazing voice

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55. mondenkindqueen
Me too. I know some folks will get on to you for that, but people shouldn't care how a fellow fan is introduced to a great artist. If it weren't for Bioshock 2, I'd be missing out on this blues legend.

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