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

I’m With Her Too
2019

Just One Minute More
2016-2022

Plastic
2013

Oh Adelaide (with Ain Bailey)
2010

Taken
2009

Devotional Wallpaper and Placards
2008 - 2018

1930s to 1960s – The Rivington Place Portfolio
2006

Devotional II
2005

Devotional, 2004
2004

Lover's Rock
1998
Related theme: Sound / Singing

Put Your Hands Together
2024

BENEVOLENCE
2024

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

In the Mix: Mel & Kim Respect
2022

In the Mix: Alexandra B’s Dress
2022

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

Shirley Bassey / Goldfinger
2021

Sade / The Sweetest Taboo
2021

Sheila Chandra / Ever so lonely MONSOON
2021

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

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

Six Acts
2018

Just One Minute More
2016-2022

Exquisite Cacophony
2015

Plastic
2013

Move
2013

Gather:Justicia
2010

Is this Love That I’m Feeling?
2010

Oh Adelaide (with Ain Bailey)
2010

Taken
2009

Drift
2008

Devotional Wallpaper and Placards
2008 - 2018

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

Put Your Hands Together
2024

Yes, I Hear You
2022

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

Family Gorgeous Smudged
2022

In the Mix: Mel & Kim Respect
2022

On My Way
2022

Sheila Chandra / Ever so lonely MONSOON
2021

Sade / The Sweetest Taboo
2021

Shirley Bassey / Goldfinger
2021

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

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

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

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

Devotional Wallpaper and Placards
2008 - 2018

Drift
2008

Crop Over
2007

For you, only you
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

The Audition
1997 - printed 2018

Six Acts
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

Devotional Wallpaper and Placards
2008 - 2018

Drift
2008

Crop Over
2007

For you, only you
2007

Exquisite Tension
2006

Devotional II
2005

Devotional, 2004
2004

Tongues
1997

Untitled (Kiss)
1995

They're Almost Like Twins
1995