Does anyone else agree with me on this?

I usually wouldn't be bothered to go to the trouble of writing something like this out but I just had to get it off my chest.

Watch the People Pleaser offical music video.

The last couple of seconds before the first verse starts really suggest to me that she is not at all naturally inclined to the genres of funk and RnB and has been molded into an RnB artist by Prince or whoever it is that's doing the molding.

Just before the first verse, listen to the way she says "YEAAAHH" and "Imma do what it do" or "what it do what it do" or whatever it is she says. This kind of jive talk is obviously a big part of most funk/RnB/jazz and just general African American music so I can understand why an RnB artist would put those things in. But she sounds soooo unatural, insincere and out of her comfort zone with it that it almost sounds like she's parodying this style of funk/RnB jive talk - taking the piss out of it (and maybe she is but I doubt it!). After that, I really can't believe in any of the rest of the song because I know it's not sincere.

Then this got me thinking about when I saw her playing live with Prince and that's when I realised that there wasn't a single memorably funky thing she did on the guitar in that entire gig. This makes sense to me now after hearing People Pleaser.

Please let me know what you all think about this.

eoin said:

Does anyone else agree with me on this?

I usually wouldn't be bothered to go to the trouble of writing something like this out but I just had to get it off my chest.

Watch the People Pleaser offical music video.

The last couple of seconds before the first verse starts really suggest to me that she is not at all naturally inclined to the genres of funk and RnB and has been molded into an RnB artist by Prince or whoever it is that's doing the molding.

Just before the first verse, listen to the way she says "YEAAAHH" and "Imma do what it do" or "what it do what it do" or whatever it is she says. This kind of jive talk is obviously a big part of most funk/RnB/jazz and just general African American music so I can understand why an RnB artist would put those things in. But she sounds soooo unatural, insincere and out of her comfort zone with it that it almost sounds like she's parodying this style of funk/RnB jive talk - taking the piss out of it (and maybe she is but I doubt it!). After that, I really can't believe in any of the rest of the song because I know it's not sincere.

Then this got me thinking about when I saw her playing live with Prince and that's when I realised that there wasn't a single memorably funky thing she did on the guitar in that entire gig. This makes sense to me now after hearing People Pleaser.

Please let me know what you all think about this.

Let's put it this way. R&B may have been born out of the African-American community, historically, and is common/similar form of music asociated and heard within/among many in the Black community, as a whole, but it's not limited to who could emulate, experiment or embrace it. With that being said, to each their own as far as music tastes and artists whose music, that music lovers enjoy or don't enjoy. That is all.

I didn't mean that she shouldn't try RnB. I'm Irish and I play plenty of funk and RnB. I was just making the observation that she seems to be not a funk musician at heart.

well it seems like she is first and 4most a singer songwriter who is most comfortable

singing 'small' songs with lots of atmosphere. and she's very good at that.

in making an album with prince it's only natural that his influence and style rubber off

on her and that he handed her a couple of songs that might not be what she would

have come up with or chosen to do on her own.

however, it's obvious that she does like those songs since she had a pretty big hand

in her album. she's not the usual prince protege, i think.

so she might be attempting to bring the funk and failing, somewhat, but i don't think

she's faking it. she seems to be pretty sincere to me.

eoin said:

I didn't mean that she shouldn't try RnB. I'm Irish and I play plenty of funk and RnB. I was just making the observation that she seems to be not a funk musician at heart.

I like her music, and maybe some things aren't for everyone, but I enjoyed hearing her songs from her first album, when she appeared on the Africa Channel, before her collaboration with Prince. I agree with others though, that she seems to be a good songwriter. Her ballads are nice. I'm an older adult, and there's not very, many young artists' of today that I would say I enjoy listening to, mainly because there is a lack of originality, and too much similarity, nothing much that would make me go "I have to have that music" I grew up around a variety of music, that didn't sound the same, and classics of artists from the late 60s/70s.80s, and bit of the 90s, that I still listen to today. I stopped listening to the radio in the late 90s.

When I was younger, I could listen to the same music my parents listened to, so there's the difference of music today, compared to yesterday. These days if a younger artist writes songs, that various age groups can relate to, then there is the difference, and those type songs have a chance of becoming classics.

I like Andy's 'Superconductor' album, because it is different from most of the music of many artists in her age group today. Her music sounds more 'original' than some of the younger artists of today. They're nicely written songs on 'Superconductor', and I like the music behind much of the songs, and different age groups can relate to the lyrics and music. Like I said, I liked some of her songs on her first album as well, and truth be told, I generally don't buy music from younger artists today, because most younger artists' musci, sounds too young for me, and not something I would buy. I generally buy music of atists from the 70s/80s or presenjt-day artists that have a unique sound, that doesn't sound like every other artist.

,

[Edited 2/14/13 18:16pm]

For the most part, everyone (including Prince) is/was "faking the funk".

Believe it or not, Prince probably didn't come out of his mom spouting funk phrases like "gimme some hornz!"

Likely, he at some point, emulated James Brown, Little Richard, Jimi, Sly, and started injecting his own personality into it until he made the funk his own. Watch some early "I wanna be your lover" videos or performances of that era. He honed his funk/movement/playing to what it is today. That early stuff was like a glittering prancing pony with a Farrah mane. Not that funky compared to where it went.

Ever see little Michael Jackson doing "cold sweat"? That wasn't Michael's natural inclination. That was a wonderkid geniusly and robotically copying James. Eventually, he turned it into the Michael thing that seemed very natural.

Everyone starts somewhere, funk can be natural, but you gotta try it on first and make it yours. That's all Andy's doing.

PS. Speaking of funk faking, Justin Timberlake has a new album coming out.

[Edited 2/14/13 18:22pm]

eoin said:

The last couple of seconds before the first verse starts really suggest to me that she is not at all naturally inclined to the genres of funk and RnB and has been molded into an RnB artist by Prince or whoever it is that's doing the molding.

Just before the first verse, listen to the way she says "YEAAAHH" and "Imma do what it do" or "what it do what it do" or whatever it is she says. This kind of jive talk is obviously a big part of most funk/RnB/jazz and just general African American music so I can understand why an RnB artist would put those things in. But she sounds soooo unatural, insincere and out of her comfort zone with it that it almost sounds like she's parodying this style of funk/RnB jive talk - taking the piss out of it (and maybe she is but I doubt it!). After that, I really can't believe in any of the rest of the song because I know it's not sincere.

Then this got me thinking about when I saw her playing live with Prince and that's when I realised that there wasn't a single memorably funky thing she did on the guitar in that entire gig. This makes sense to me now after hearing People Pleaser.

Please let me know what you all think about this.

I love "Superconductor" but I don't consider many of the songs funk music. I think she shines on the more soft acoustic songs but one of the funkier songs "if I was King" she knocked outta the park. I think she was molded some by Prince/NPG but they also played her strengths that she comes with on the album. When I listen to "Superconductor" it has a Prince vibe but not in the way many of his other protege albums sound. Some of his protege albums sound like he did every piece of music and he will just have like Chaka sing over it (I remember Chaka fans complaining to me it was a Prince cd with Chaka singing on it).

Its a sign of growth if he did just bring in the NPG and let them play what they feel. Now I'm hearing that his new girl rock group has recorded 14 songs and he allows Donna to do the solos all on her own. I think that can only help add something new to the music.

I don't really consider Andy a funk artist. Actually, when I hear Prince fans constantly wanting him to bring the funk all I can think is gosh darn I just seen George Clinton pay a half empty club these kids don't know. Also, the other music that Andy does likely many funk artists cannot do that type of music. As much as I love da funk..I like a lot of other types of music. When it comes to the funk, George Clinton rules that game.

Don't forget George..he could take the mailman, the baristas at starbucks, a janitor, a farmer, some indians and someones grandmother and conduct some funk music with them. It doesn't get much more funky than George.

skywalker said:

For the most part, everyone (including Prince) is/was "faking the funk".

Believe it or not, Prince probably didn't come out of his mom spouting funk phrases like "gimme some hornz!"

Likely, he at some point, emulated James Brown, Little Richard, Jimi, Sly, and started injecting his own personality into it until he made the funk his own. Watch some early "I wanna be your lover" videos or performances of that era. He honed his funk/movement/playing to what it is today. That early stuff was like a glittering prancing pony with a Farrah mane. Not that funky compared to where it went.

it's her vocal quality. it works on the airy, melancholy singer-songwritery semi-acoustic stuff.

but there's just no grit to her.

wrong forum

I understand people are weary, "another girl protege just like Tamar, Bria" etc, but I think Andy's voice has a pleasant character and she sings the songs well I think. In some songs ("When Stars Collide"!) I think her voice fits perfectly.

No, she ain't no funkmeister a la George Clinton, but she definately can do funk tracks and make it work.

eoin said:

Please let me know what you all think about this.

"Faking the funk" is an unnecessarily negative expression. Prince has pushed her in that direction with a few songs from her latest album, because that's just what Prince usually does with his proteges.

Prince paid and produced the album, so, sure he's had some influence.

And if he choose the wrong direction for her, that's a shame.

She's young and experimenting with different styles, so good for her.

I like that better than sticking with one style for the rest of her life.

She got herself a good album, and she can be very proud of that.

errant said:

it's her vocal quality. it works on the airy, melancholy singer-songwritery semi-acoustic stuff.

but there's just no grit to her.

Exactly. I don't think People Pleaser is the best song on Superconductor, which I actually find to be one of the better Prince produced projects in a very long time. For the slower, acoustic tracks, the writing (both musical and lyrical) is mature, the delivery emotional, and the sound organic. She really shines on those tracks.

People Please is Prince trying to get Andy Allo to do Betty Davis (Miles's wife & funk diva)... but it's not her.

errant said:

it's her vocal quality. it works on the airy, melancholy singer-songwritery semi-acoustic stuff.

but there's just no grit to her.

Like Nora Jones waking out of a coma with marbles in her mouth

imago said:

errant said:

it's her vocal quality. it works on the airy, melancholy singer-songwritery semi-acoustic stuff.

but there's just no grit to her.

Like Nora Jones waking out of a coma with marbles in her mouth

every noun in that sentence is redundant when if you're talking about Nora Jones.

SuperFurryAnimal said:

Don't forget George..he could take the mailman, the baristas at starbucks, a janitor, a farmer, some indians and someones grandmother and conduct some funk music with them. It doesn't get much more funky than George.

skywalker said:

For the most part, everyone (including Prince) is/was "faking the funk".

Believe it or not, Prince probably didn't come out of his mom spouting funk phrases like "gimme some hornz!"

Likely, he at some point, emulated James Brown, Little Richard, Jimi, Sly, and started injecting his own personality into it until he made the funk his own. Watch some early "I wanna be your lover" videos or performances of that era. He honed his funk/movement/playing to what it is today. That early stuff was like a glittering prancing pony with a Farrah mane. Not that funky compared to where it went.

George the All round Super Cat

eoin said:

Thank you for the replies. I should put my views in context by saying that I haven't listened to anything else by Andy. I'm just critiquing People Pleaser, specifically that bit just before the verse. If it hadn't been for that bit, I honestly would have been digging that tune a lot more but that bit just totally turned me off it. I actually can't believe somebody in the studio didn't stop and say "we can't put that on the record" because it really sounds embarrassing.

That person in the studio would be Prince. And he probably scripted it for her. And then rehearsed it with her. And then turned up the volume on it.

Because we know after 35 years that "we can't put that on the record because it sounds really embarrassing" is not a thought that has ever entered Prince's head.

You've heard "Graffiti Bridge" right? "Jughead?" The money-minder skit at the end of it? The entire song? The conversation with God at the end of "Temptation?" The Robin Power outtakes? That line in "Freaks On This Side" about how once you've read every word in every book, congratulations, you're in the New Power Generation?

I said before that it seemed like he was trying to turn her into a bettie davis. She is too soft to pull this funk vibe off. At least she tried.

GoldenParachute said:

I said before that it seemed like he was trying to turn her into a bettie davis. She is too soft to pull this funk vibe off. At least she tried.

Agreed.

One can only learn by doing.

eoin said:

Just before the first verse, listen to the way she says "YEAAAHH" and "Imma do what it do" or "what it do what it do" or whatever it is she says. This kind of jive talk is obviously a big part of most funk/RnB/jazz and just general African American music so I can understand why an RnB artist would put those things in. But she sounds soooo unatural, insincere and out of her comfort zone with it that it almost sounds like she's parodying this style of funk/RnB jive talk - taking the piss out of it (and maybe she is but I doubt it!). After that, I really can't believe in any of the rest of the song because I know it's not sincere.

I felt the exact same way when I saw/heard this. Super embarrassing and unnecessary.

errant said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

eoin said:

Just before the first verse, listen to the way she says "YEAAAHH" and "Imma do what it do" or "what it do what it do" or whatever it is she says. This kind of jive talk is obviously a big part of most funk/RnB/jazz and just general African American music so I can understand why an RnB artist would put those things in. But she sounds soooo unatural, insincere and out of her comfort zone with it that it almost sounds like she's parodying this style of funk/RnB jive talk - taking the piss out of it (and maybe she is but I doubt it!). After that, I really can't believe in any of the rest of the song because I know it's not sincere.

I felt the exact same way when I saw/heard this. Super embarrassing and unnecessary.

Great points made.

djThunderfunk said:

wrong forum

i'ma leave this one alone. he sees something in her. i just don't pay attention .

metallicjigolo said:

PS. Speaking of funk faking, Justin Timberfake has a new album coming out. OUCH, and soooo TRUE.

fix your face when half of that shit is a classic