Oh Adelaide (with Ain Bailey), 2010, Video
- Medium
- Single-channel video with sound. 7 minutes 28 seconds.






Oh Adelaide is a single-channel video by Sonia Boyce and sound artist Ain Bailey, that incorporates found film footage from the internet of the late jazz singer and entertainer, Adelaide Hall (1901-1993). Through re-imagining the footage Hall is re-rendered as an ethereal figure on the stage in which she appears both in and outside of history – a sense that is underscored by Bailey’s immersive and haunting soundtrack comprised of re-worked audio tracks of Hall and other performers from the Devotional Collection: an ongoing project since 1999 that Boyce has been developing on Black women in the British music industry. Adelaide Hall is widely regarded as a pioneer of jazz scat singing: a wordless technique where the voice mimics a musical instrument.
Devotional series

In the Mix: Alexandra B’s Dress
2022
FEELING HER WAY
2022

In the Mix: Shirley Songs
2022

In the Mix: Skunk Sputnik
2022

In the Mix: Hippy Liberty
2022

In the Mix: Disciples Together
2022

In the Mix: Mel & Kim Respect
2022

On My Way
2022

Miss Elizabeth Welch 1933 – 1940 / a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
2021

Shirley Bassey / Goldfinger
2021

Sheila Chandra / Ever so lonely MONSOON
2021

P. P. Arnold / Just call me angel of the morning
2021

Sade / The Sweetest Taboo
2021

Polystyrene / X-ray Spex OH BONDAGE UP YOURS!
2021

Devotional Wallpaper and Placards
2008 - 2018

I’m With Her Too
2019

Just One Minute More
2016-2022

Plastic
2013

Oh Adelaide (with Ain Bailey)
2010

Taken
2009

1930s to 1960s – The Rivington Place Portfolio
2006

Devotional II
2005

Devotional, 2004
2004

Lover's Rock
1998
Related theme: Sound / Singing

BENEVOLENCE
2024

In the Mix: Alexandra B’s Dress
2022
FEELING HER WAY
2022

In the Mix: Shirley Songs
2022

In the Mix: Skunk Sputnik
2022

Ain't Misbehavin'
2022

In the Mix: Hippy Liberty
2022

In the Mix: Disciples Together
2022

In the Mix: Mel & Kim Respect
2022

On My Way
2022

Polystyrene / X-ray Spex OH BONDAGE UP YOURS!
2021

Sade / The Sweetest Taboo
2021

Shirley Bassey / Goldfinger
2021

Sheila Chandra / Ever so lonely MONSOON
2021

Miss Elizabeth Welch 1933 – 1940 / a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
2021

P. P. Arnold / Just call me angel of the morning
2021

Devotional Wallpaper and Placards
2008 - 2018

Six Acts
2018

Just One Minute More
2016-2022

Exquisite Cacophony
2015

Move
2013

Plastic
2013

Gather:Justicia
2010

Oh Adelaide (with Ain Bailey)
2010

Taken
2009

Drift
2008

For you, only you
2007

1930s to 1960s – The Rivington Place Portfolio
2006

Devotional II
2005

Devotional, 2004
2004

Lover's Rock
1998
Related theme: Performance

BENEVOLENCE
2024

Yes, I Hear You
2022

On My Way
2022
FEELING HER WAY
2022

In the Mix: Shirley Songs
2022

In the Mix: Skunk Sputnik
2022

Ain't Misbehavin'
2022

In the Mix: Hippy Liberty
2022

In the Mix: Disciples Together
2022

Family Gorgeous Smudged
2022

In the Mix: Mel & Kim Respect
2022

In the Mix: Alexandra B’s Dress
2022

Sheila Chandra / Ever so lonely MONSOON
2021

Miss Elizabeth Welch 1933 – 1940 / a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
2021

Shirley Bassey / Goldfinger
2021

P. P. Arnold / Just call me angel of the morning
2021

Polystyrene / X-ray Spex OH BONDAGE UP YOURS!
2021

Sade / The Sweetest Taboo
2021

Devotional Wallpaper and Placards
2008 - 2018

The Audition
1997 - printed 2018

Six Acts
2018

We move in her way
2017

Just One Minute More
2016-2022

Paper Tiger Whisky Soap Theatre (Dada Nice)
2016

Exquisite Cacophony
2015

Move
2013

Dance of Belém
2011

Gather:Justicia
2010

Oh Adelaide (with Ain Bailey)
2010

Taken
2009

Drift
2008

For you, only you
2007

Crop Over
2007

Exquisite Tension
2006

1930s to 1960s – The Rivington Place Portfolio
2006

Devotional II
2005

Devotional, 2004
2004
Related theme: Participatory / Collaboration

BENEVOLENCE
2024

Yes, I Hear You
2022

Ain't Misbehavin'
2022
FEELING HER WAY
2022

Family Gorgeous Smudged
2022

The Audition in Colour
1997 - printed 2020

In the Castle of My Skin
2020 - 2021

Six Acts
2018

Devotional Wallpaper and Placards
2008 - 2018

The Audition
1997 - printed 2018

We move in her way
2017

Paper Tiger Whisky Soap Theatre (Dada Nice)
2016

Exquisite Cacophony
2015

Move
2013

Dance of Belém
2011

Gather:Justicia
2010

Oh Adelaide (with Ain Bailey)
2010

Taken
2009

Drift
2008

Crop Over
2007

For you, only you
2007

Exquisite Tension
2006

Devotional II
2005

Devotional, 2004
2004

Tongues
1997

Untitled (Kiss)
1995