Westbama Heartthrob
Irregular Zero
Just think for a minute
What is R&B? Going just off the name itself. Rhythm and Blues, meaning the focus is on a strong beat with a blues influence
Which would mean anything from song structure to using the blues scale to a focus on the classic rhythm section combo of guitar, bass, piano/keys, and drums
Is that not rock music? Is that not jazz? Is that not even country music?
What I'm getting at is that R&B is a catch all term used to describe any type of music performed by us. In the beginning, they called it race records. But when that became too politically incorrect, they had to switch it up with a euphemism. We all know what it means
Take how even today artists like FKA Twigs get called R&B when she don't make the kind of music associated with that label
I feel like R&B should really just be called rock music since it's an evolution on rock n roll. Whereas white artists took rock in a more abrasive, headbanginng direction, we went more smooth and melodic. Actually not that different in intent when you think about it
But no matter how you slice it, R&B serves more of a purpose segregating artists in a cd store than actual utility in understanding music development through history
I dont put much stock with genre labels as it is, but R&B really just feels like answering to being called "negro" or "colored". Now I understand when we use it it's not meant to downplay or exclude our artists. And I'm not necessarily saying you're right or wrong for using it. Just something to think about
What is R&B? Going just off the name itself. Rhythm and Blues, meaning the focus is on a strong beat with a blues influence
Which would mean anything from song structure to using the blues scale to a focus on the classic rhythm section combo of guitar, bass, piano/keys, and drums
Is that not rock music? Is that not jazz? Is that not even country music?
What I'm getting at is that R&B is a catch all term used to describe any type of music performed by us. In the beginning, they called it race records. But when that became too politically incorrect, they had to switch it up with a euphemism. We all know what it means
Take how even today artists like FKA Twigs get called R&B when she don't make the kind of music associated with that label
I feel like R&B should really just be called rock music since it's an evolution on rock n roll. Whereas white artists took rock in a more abrasive, headbanginng direction, we went more smooth and melodic. Actually not that different in intent when you think about it
But no matter how you slice it, R&B serves more of a purpose segregating artists in a cd store than actual utility in understanding music development through history
I dont put much stock with genre labels as it is, but R&B really just feels like answering to being called "negro" or "colored". Now I understand when we use it it's not meant to downplay or exclude our artists. And I'm not necessarily saying you're right or wrong for using it. Just something to think about
, but after thinking about it I agree.
