Music Review: My Truth behing R&B

Listening to today’s R&B you are likely to hear artists bellow out songs concerning love, sex, and relationships typical right? Not necessarily, many critics say that rhythm and blues has lost it’s since of meaning and soul. Over the past fifty years music has changed, drastically….. some for the worst some for the better.  

Singers of today such as Beyoncé gear their music toward s today’s youth, love ballads are among some of the popular songs she along with fellow musicians create. Take for example her song “1+1” from her most recent CD 4, this song tackles unconditional love. On of the divas focuses is to draw her audience in and make her music relatable. With songs she does exactly that, it can be viewed on a teenage level: through the eyes of young puppy dog love or through a more mature aspect of appreciation and admiration for another person.  This song marks the beginning of the CD and she follows up with a lighter popish 1980’s song.  Beyoncé has released many girl/woman anthems and ballads that helped build her career.

1965 Aretha Franklin released a moving ballad of her own: Respect. On the song you can hear a young Franklin telling everybody to show her a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T.  The song originally recorded another soul signer Otis Redding, quickly became a chart topper and could be heard anywhere during the mid 60’s. So what’s the difference between Aretha’s and Beyoncé’s chart toppers? I think that the artist then and now are masters of selling the people what they want.  Beyoncé knows that not only are 10 year olds listening to her music, but so are 16 year olds and even 45 year olds. Aretha Franklin knew that she was singing in an age of youth. The 1960’s was a rebirth of American culture the civil rights movement was in high gear, art and architecture was moving toward a “modernize world” and literature reflected the thoughts of moving forward.  Both artists displayed what the “popular” culture of their time is.

Today if you tune in to a R&B station you are likely to hear a mix of smooth or runny love songs, mellow, deep distraught songs or the occasionally pick me up/moving on R&B songs. Some artists of today have succumbed to “pop” (popular culture). Some have forgotten the true meaning of music and its purpose. Some look at it as just a quick and easy way to fame. Take for example some of today’s so called R&B/Soul groups (MB-Mindless Behavior, Day26, and Pretty Ricky). These groups are either chart toppers or non-sellers. Now in the 1990’s R&B groups were the thing Destiny’s Child, Jodeci, Lucy Pearl, Boy ll Men, TLC, SVW, Xscape, Mint condition you name it!!! The groups worked together to put out number selling albums and songs that helped pave the way for artists of today. One thing I think the 1990’s R&B has that we don’t have today is group harmony. There’s nothing like listening to Boy II Men sing End of the Road in four part harmony or TLC delightfully croon Waterfalls. Now its one thing to hear the cute little 12 and 13 year olds of Mindless Behavior chirp about texting their GF’s or about traveling around the world lol J but there’s nothing like music with soul and meaning. While tweenies singing are cute they aren’t as appealing to all audience as past R&B artist did.

R&B solo artists of today are thousands among millions. I have never seen so many wanna be Beyoncés, Alicia Keys, Adeles, Bruno Mars, Chris browns, Nikki Minajs, Drakes, Trey Songz in my life. Not saying that aspiring to be singers or entertainers is a bad thing. But, talents are among manly and gifts are shared with few. So some of us need to sit back and realize what are gifts are let them prosper. Anyway single artists are dominating, at least in the R&B world. Young solo artists are sharing what they have to say with the world. Songs about teen love affairs, California girls, parties, fun and just life and general are being made. Back in the day (R&B) solo artists also reigned supreme. Singers like Brandy, Babyface, Mariah Carey, Jill Scott, Whitney Huston and Sade released several hits that we still hear today. The difference between many of the artists music today and then is the sound. I feel that today many artists focus on a sound that fits them instead of trying to fit a sound (with the exception of a few). Two of my favorite artists today are Bruno Mars and Adele (J love them), I think they do a marvelous job of owning their sound and suing their personalities to drive their music. Adele’s latest CD 21 comes from a place of hurt, anger, depression etc and you can hear a piece of all of her emotions throughout the entire CD. Bruno Mars also does a fantastic job of drawing his audience in to his music. He and Adele aren’t just song makers they make blended complete music and CD’s so much so that you can actually listen to their entire CD.

R&B has changed so much over the years but there are still many soulful artists and songs that remind us where and how we got to today. I feel that 2011 music as a whole mirrors much of past music in all genres and much of the 1980’s-1990’s styles are coming back. I think what we as fans need to realize is artists and celebrities give us what we want. So when I hear people complain about today’s music being geared towards sex I just shake my head, because sex sells and it sells because we buy it. Also we as people know what we want and that’s what we demand….supply and demand. Artist also have to realize that they aren’t just artist they are public figures, role models and leaders so not only does  their music affect us but the way they dress, what shoes they wear, how they talk, what they tweet, where they dine they are always under surveillance. R&B music contributes an extraordinary amount of love, soul, peace, joy, content and so much more. It will forever and always have a place in the world no matter who’s behind the music!!!

(Below is a mixture of some of my favorite songs…if you get the chance check some of them out)

·         Beyoncé- Loving a Woman feat. Mary J. Blige

·         Beyoncé-  I was here

·         Beyoncé- 1+1

·         Beyoncé- Halo

·         Bruno Mars- Grenade

·         Bruno Mars- It will rain

·         Bruno Mars- Her world goes on

·         Bruno Mars- Dreamtaker

·         Adele- Someone like you

·         Adele- Chasing pavements

·         Adele- Melt my heart to stone

·         Adele- Hometown Glory

·         Mary J Blige- sweet thing

·         Mary j Blige- I’m going down

·         Mary j Blige- Take me as I am

·         Aretha Franklin- I never loved a man ( the way I love you)

·         Aretha Franklin- Respect

·         Aretha Franklin_ Chain of Fools

·         Marvin Gaye-  Let’s Get it on

·         Marvin Gaye- I Heard it through the grapevine

·         Marvin Gaye- Trouble  Man

·         John Legend- Everybody Knows

·         John Legend- Maxine

·         John Legend- Ordinary people

·         John Legend- Used to love you

·         Anthony Hamilton-  Charlene

·         Anthony Hamilton- The point of it all

·         Anthony Hamilton- Mad

·         Chris Brown- With You

·         Chris Brown- All Back

·         Jill Scott- Crown Royal

·         Jill Scott- A long Walk

·         Jill Scott- The Way

·         Robin Thicke- Lost without You

·         Whitney Huston- I Will always love you

·         Whitney Huston- How will I know

·         Whitney Huston- Its not right but its ok

·         Miguel- Girls Like you

·         Miguel- Vixen

·         TLC- No scrubs

·         TLC- Waterfalls

·         Boyz II Men- End of the Road

·         Boyz II Men- On Bended Knee

·         Boy II Men- Its so hard to say goodbye to yesterday

·         Erykah Badu- Window Seat

·         Erykah Badu- Tyrone

·         Erykah Badu- Umm Hmm

·         Erykah Badu- Bag Lady

·         India.Arie- The Truth

·         India.Arie- Brown Skin

·         India.Arie- Ready for Love

·         James Brown- Please, Please, Please

·         James Brown- The Payback

·         James Brown- Try Me

·         Luther Vandross-  Always and Forever

·         Jodeci- All my life

·         Jodeci- Cry for You