I don't see the big deal about Adele.

Don't want to get in too big a debate about this but 1) yeah, while the 90s were "okay" for white female singers, but their overall numbers are still nonetheless small in comparison to the overall history of the music genre and 2) over the course of said music history the white female singer to white male singer ratio is pathetic compared to the black female singer to the black male singer ratio. But it is not a big deal because hardly any of your examples treaded into what we refer to as black music.

As for stealing, dude, no need to try to give me a history lesson as if I'm unaware of the legacy of the American music industry. That stuff used to be my passion. And I wouldn't refer to it as stealing anyway, at least not since the early days of rock 'n roll. Black people make music to be enjoyed by the masses and most of the artists don't mind if non-black people like their songs and take up after them. That is a sign of respect when people from different cultures and races flock to the music of another group of people. Is it frustrating though when white America flocks more readily to a white person who specializes in soul or hip-hop music than they do to a black musician? Yes. But I don't blame the white artists themselves for that when that occurs because all they did was make music that they enjoy and admire. We gotta stop throwing away that whole "stealing" charge. Where's the theft? If a Chinese violinist composes new classical music that is clearly of European DNA is he/she stealing too? If an Indian band puts together an album of new delta blues songs is it stealing? Or are these people showing tribute? Ask yourself is there ANYTHING you do in life that was originated by Europeans. If so are you guilty of stealing?

 

Absolutely. That is what I wrote earlier. I know of some black people who are upset that Asians are dominating break dancing for God's sake. Shit. At least these Asians are keeping the art form alive. Black people seemed to have forgotten all about it but keep yelling "They're stealing our culture." To be frank., imo, only damaged black people (damaged so much by racism that they've become paranoid) or the overly militant types tend to go down that road.

 

I agree with everything you have said here, Jamal...

I did recognize my predeliction for choosing white artists that "sounded" black a little while ago, and have tried to be consciously aware of it, to the point of consciously seeking out black artists that have the same sound that I liked coming from those white artists (usually the old soul sound), including introducing myself to some of the old music (I was repressed as a child, so have much to learn about music of all types)...

I would appreciate it if more young black artists would go back to their roots and start producing music with soul and substance. Then we wouldn't have to (a lot of the time) be so surprised and enamored with new white talent that comes on the scene singing throw-back style... reminding us of stuff we have almost forgotten. If someone could put some names in my ear, I would be most grateful, as I am not really in tune with the music scene apart from the stupid mainstream radio...

Really admire well-done neo-soul too, although very slow to aquire new names, from the lack of exposure...

 

Maroon 5 is BLACK music...

Sting is BLACK music?

Maybe we should get AL's idea of BLACK music. If used very VERY loosely, any music inspired by traditional black negro spirituals, well that include ever single genre that uses a set 4, 8 repetitive beat measure pattern with a 6 - 8 measure break.

Which includes among other things....

2-step garage
2 tone
4-beat
4x4 Garage
8-bit
Anime
J-Pop
Cadence
Heavy Metal
Drone
Metalcore.

...and on and on and on.

By such a loose understanding it would all be BLACK music. So lets start by getting a clear understanding of BLACK music.

Cuz first Adele and Teena Marie are similar, then Adele SUCKS, and now Sting if BLACK music.

I feel wooozey.

 

the resent stems from the fact that we can see so much of our REAL culture eroding and we are powerless to do anything to stop it. you are totally on point. Rock bands, and even alternative bands grow up listening to the old standards barriers for black music. young black youth grew up idolizing Lil Wayne, and Jay Z as their sense of artistic expression.

....its not about art anymore, its about making easy money.

sad really.

 

The thing is, you're NOT powerless (as a whole, black culture), you're just lazy. You COULD bring pride of real black music back into your culture, but some people just don't want to take the time. Why would that be? MONEY.

And why are more white singers paying more and more attention to old black standards? Because white singers make money off of what you all have discarded. Fact. White people appreciate it, and white people will pay for it. For the record, I bet you Taj Mahal is making more money off of white people nowadays than blacks.

It's really, REALLY sad, and you have nobody to blame but yourselves. You got bored from the "same old shit", but some of us still really like it, no matter WHO is singing it. Sucks to be you.

And I'm not talking to you, Ymra.

Good music is good music - and people who abandon their roots just look like straight up ignorant fools. Others will pick up their scraps and make gold out of what they have so hastily cast aside.

 

If you like any blues/old school R&B/rock you will want to give Gary Clark Jr a try. I've been following him for a few years and he is just now beginnig to make a larger name for himself. His music is everywhere on YouTube. All the old heads refer to him as the real deal. The critics love him too.

 

At some point it all becomes AMERICAN music.

 

The thing is this, and I truly believe it. The soul, guidance, leadership, direction of the black community is the black male. And with so many black males removed this is the product.

LOL...and I know you where talking about me directly.

 

and the only good black males left marry white women

damn, damn, daaaaaaaaaamn

 

I agree with you, and I no, I was NOT talking about you.

You have some old fashioned values and I can not picture you turning up your nose at black roots music.

 

'Black' music?

..... sheesh....

 

Thanks for the suggestion, Jamal - I will definitely give him a listen...

 

At least someone has some damn sense on this board.

Logic question
If Amy doesn't sing like Aretha Franklin but Megan does, does that mean Amy isn't black and Megan is?

 

sorry TYPE O. I meant to say I knew you were not talking about me.!

 

There is black music, or at least I believe there is.

 

u went off the reservation with that one, chief

 

Ok - glad we're straight.:smt023

 

African culture was stripped from us a long time ago. Everything from African dress to religion to language to the arts was stripped and replaced. Black males and females in America have virtually NO connections or knowledge of our African roots and are more likely ashamed than proud of it. Black Americans carry European names, appreciate European arts, follow European religion... etc.,. etc.,. 'Black' American culture is more Euro influenced than African influenced. Hell, even our education is Euro biased. The fact that black youth walk out of a classroom thinking a white supremacist freed the slaves out of the goodness of his heart should speak volumes. As far as the arts go, in school we're exposed to Beethoven and da Vinci but not so much de Saint-Georges or.... uhm.... I don't know of any African artists.

So where does music come into play? I'd say when you remove someone from their cultural base, there is a huge void left for those cultural tenets to be replaced. MTV and BET did a pretty good job of filling that void. We dress in the styles that the rappers tell us to, we wear the jewelry that they tell us to wear, we drink the alcohol they tell us to drink. So yes, money has something to do with it... but if you really go digging you'll find that it's much deeper than that.

 

Well said. Even reggae is a mix of cultures/rhythms. Someone mentioned bluegrass a while back in this thread - that clearly has roots in Celtic rhythms and constructs (and was born where a lot of Scots-Irish folk lived in the Appalachia).

African culture was deliberately crushed in this country starting in the 17th century. A little was left in the Caribbean but mixed with Indian & European culture as well.

I don't see even the blues as coming out of African musical roots.