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Thread started 08/31/13 11:00pm

scriptgirl

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Would you say Erykah Badu is a total original?

Or is she is a carbon copy of another artist?

"Lack of home training crosses all boundaries."
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Reply #1 posted 08/31/13 11:24pm

Gunsnhalen

She borrowed a lot from older artists such as Stevie Wonder, Grace Jones, Curtis Mayfield, Roberta Flack etc.

But i think her personality and attitude is all her own and that even today is still a breath of fresh air! she managed to go from Neo Soul to alternative and is well respected among r&b, rock, jazz crirtics and fans alike.

Plus dozens of artists including India Arie(Although i like her), Alicia Keys, Nelly Furtado, Nicki Minaj, Kelis etc. Have all tried at sometime to borrow from Erkah and most besides India did not do so well...

And of course Janelle Monae has shads of Erykah but Janelle has her own unique thing going.

Pistols sounded like "Fuck off," wheras The Clash sounded like "Fuck Off, but here's why.."- Thedigitialgardener

All music is shit music and no music is real- gunsnhalen

Datdonkeydick- Asherfierce

Gary Hunts Album Isn't That Good- Soulalive
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Reply #2 posted 09/01/13 5:15am

Lammastide

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As with any artist, one might detect a roster of influences in Erykah Badu's work, but I think she is one of the more self-styled popular acts out there.

If she's anyone's "carbon copy," I'd like to know whose.

Ὅσον ζῇς φαίνου
μηδὲν ὅλως σὺ λυποῦ
πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐστὶ τὸ ζῆν
τὸ τέλος ὁ χρόνος ἀπαιτεῖ.”
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Reply #3 posted 09/01/13 6:25am

Beautifulstarr
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I don't think there's an artist alive whom hasn't been inspired by other artists or musicians. It's when you add your own flair to your artistry is what makes it original, so therefore is Erykah Badu a total original? Not at all.

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Reply #4 posted 09/01/13 10:22am

HMD82

No artist is a total original, all of them are a combination of the efforts from the artists that preceded them.

But I'll say this, she's the most interesting female artist we have nowadays.

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Reply #5 posted 09/01/13 12:00pm

Cinny

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Yes. She may have inspirations like every other human, but she can even sing a cover song with an original flair.

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Reply #6 posted 09/01/13 12:06pm

Timmy84

I think she emulates a lot of styles (Chaka being a heavy example of influence in this regard) but for the most part? Yeah she's pretty much "original".

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Reply #7 posted 09/01/13 12:34pm

mjscarousal

Its already a given artists are going to have influences and inspirations but that doesnt take away the fact that the same artists can take and form something creative, artistic and original.

She is special/unique artistically and "personality" wise.

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Reply #8 posted 09/01/13 2:53pm

cindymay

of course not no one is totally original every artist is inspired by others you can clearly hear and see Erykah's influences in her music especially Billie Holiday, Chaka, Stevie Wonder...

for most of her career Erykah has been compared to Billie Holiday but she was able to re- elaborate all her influences and create her own persona ..like Janelle exactly she was clearly inspired by erykah and lauryn hill but she is re creating her own musical persona too...

P.S I don't see Erykah's influences in N.Minaj and Alicia Keys like someone stated above..

[Edited 9/1/13 14:55pm]

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Reply #9 posted 09/01/13 3:26pm

HuMpThAnG

NOPE!!!

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Reply #10 posted 09/01/13 3:47pm

Stymie

HuMpThAnG said:

NOPE!!!

lol

I would definitely say her singing style is Billie Holliday but i have no problem with anything as long as it is good and she's good.

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Reply #11 posted 09/01/13 4:04pm

HuMpThAnG

Stymie said:

HuMpThAnG said:

NOPE!!!

lol

I would definitely say her singing style is Billie Holliday but i have no problem with anything as long as it is good and she's good.

She just comes off trying so hard to be different

I dug her first album tho' biggrin

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Reply #12 posted 09/02/13 7:39am

namepeace

Not at all, but a genuine artist in her own right. She has incorporated everyone from Nina Simone to J Dilla in her sound.

Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder
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Reply #13 posted 09/02/13 8:50am

shorttrini

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She's a combination of "Lady Day"and Nina Simone...
"Love is like peeing in your pants, everyone sees it but only you feel its warmth"
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Reply #14 posted 09/02/13 10:31am

deebee

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Seems a bit counterintuitive to call her an 'original', given how much her music and her whole style continually references musical and cultural history. (Tbh, one of the things I find a bit frustrating about artists of that ilk is just how reverential they are towards the past. It can all get a bit nostalgic and 'safe'.) That said, I think she does what she does well, and she manages to create her own vibe out of combining and putting a distinctive spin on the various retro influences in a way that sounds good - which is always the bottom line with music.

"Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin
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Reply #15 posted 09/02/13 1:14pm

BobGeorge909

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shorttrini said:

She's a combination of "Lady Day"and Nina Simone...

I always felt she was painfully unoriginal. Because of these to mama cass sized influences.
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Reply #16 posted 09/03/13 6:12am

shorttrini

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BobGeorge909 said:

shorttrini said:
She's a combination of "Lady Day"and Nina Simone...
I always felt she was painfully unoriginal. Because of these to mama cass sized influences.

I have my own view on her. However, the last time I shared them on this board, there are those who wanted to hang me...smh.

"Love is like peeing in your pants, everyone sees it but only you feel its warmth"
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Reply #17 posted 09/03/13 6:28am

BobGeorge909

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shorttrini said:



BobGeorge909 said:


shorttrini said:
She's a combination of "Lady Day"and Nina Simone...

I always felt she was painfully unoriginal. Because of these to mama cass sized influences.


I have my own view on her. However, the last time I shared them on this board, there are those who wanted to hang me...smh.


Please tell. An org hanging isnt that bad. Its happened to me many a time
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Reply #18 posted 09/03/13 6:43am

shorttrini

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BobGeorge909 said:

shorttrini said:

I have my own view on her. However, the last time I shared them on this board, there are those who wanted to hang me...smh.

Please tell. An org hanging isnt that bad. Its happened to me many a time

I just think that, she tries too hard to be different. So hard, that she ends up looking just like the rest of those who are trying hard and failing. For me, just get in front of the mike and sing the damn song. You've already proven that you've got the chops, so there is no need for all that other stuff. Her first album, and most of her second album, were my favorites. After that, she lost me.

"Love is like peeing in your pants, everyone sees it but only you feel its warmth"
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Reply #19 posted 09/03/13 7:50am

HuMpThAnG

shorttrini said:

BobGeorge909 said:

shorttrini said: Please tell. An org hanging isnt that bad. Its happened to me many a time

I just think that, she tries too hard to be different. So hard, that she ends up looking just like the rest of those who are trying hard and failing. For me, just get in front of the mike and sing the damn song. You've already proven that you've got the chops, so there is no need for all that other stuff. Her first album, and most of her second album, were my favorites. After that, she lost me.

nod

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Reply #20 posted 09/03/13 10:11am

namepeace

HuMpThAnG said:

shorttrini said:

I just think that, she tries too hard to be different. So hard, that she ends up looking just like the rest of those who are trying hard and failing. For me, just get in front of the mike and sing the damn song. You've already proven that you've got the chops, so there is no need for all that other stuff. Her first album, and most of her second album, were my favorites. After that, she lost me.

nod

I agree and disagree.

In terms of her stage persona, and the aura she's trying to project, I agree.

But in terms of her musical output, I disagree. Other than Worldwide Underground, which was uneven, her New Amerykah sets have been great. I'd give them a try.

twocents

Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder
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Reply #21 posted 09/03/13 10:32am

Graycap23

HMD82 said:

No artist is a total original, all of them are a combination of the efforts from the artists that preceded them.

But I'll say this, she's the most interesting female artist we have nowadays.

I'd go with Meshell Ndegeocello 4 that title.

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Reply #22 posted 09/03/13 11:26am

namepeace

Graycap23 said:

HMD82 said:

No artist is a total original, all of them are a combination of the efforts from the artists that preceded them.

But I'll say this, she's the most interesting female artist we have nowadays.

I'd go with Meshell Ndegeocello 4 that title.


Second the motion.

Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder
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Reply #23 posted 09/03/13 12:18pm

HMD82

namepeace said:

Graycap23 said:

I'd go with Meshell Ndegeocello 4 that title.


Second the motion.

I like Meshell. But I have to be in a certain mood to listen to her stuff.

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Reply #24 posted 09/03/13 1:18pm

namepeace

HMD82 said:

namepeace said:


Second the motion.

I like Meshell. But I have to be in a certain mood to listen to her stuff.


Well, her last 2 albums are different. I hear you on that.

Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder
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Reply #25 posted 09/04/13 4:44am

dseann

She's no carbon copy of anyone, but not totally original either. Shit, Prince isn't totally original. I think Jill Scot is a carbon copy of Erykah though.
[Edited 9/4/13 4:45am]
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Reply #26 posted 09/04/13 5:12am

novabrkr

I can sense a strong beyonce influence from her.

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Reply #27 posted 09/04/13 9:00am

Cinny

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novabrkr said:

I can sense a strong beyonce influence from her.

brick

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Reply #28 posted 09/04/13 3:58pm

lowkey

of course she has been influenced by other artists,but when i first saw and heard her there was not one person that popped in my head that made me say....she remind me of _. so in that respect i think she was pretty original and i put her at the forefront of the neo soul movement. i loved her early stuff,i think she started trying to hard to be different and she became annoying.

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Reply #29 posted 09/04/13 9:36pm

kellistarr120

What attracted me to her was her own unique flair combined with a lot of throwback artists, which isn't a bad thing. However, I became a bit lost with some of her later work. Sometimes, there is a charm for me when I need to really focus on an artists lyrics to understand the message, but when I'm still trying to figure it out and years have gone by, I get turned off. Her look and her music at this time is a bit too abstract for me.

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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > Would you say Erykah Badu is a total original?