GrayKing said:

um...no I didn't. Where? No one that was mentioned on this thread is automatically a soul singer because they sang a song soulfully. I did not say anybody sang a soul song soulfully. Singing soulfully and soul music are two different things. I'm sorry, but you don't know what soul music is. It's a part of, but different from r&b and blues. It's type of music with a certain distinction. You can't just pull any song out your ass, put a soulful sounding voice on it, and call it soul



No, it's not. He would have to be consistant with it



What exactly are you calling a soul song? I hope you don't think r&b and soul are the same. They're similiar, not the same. Some of George's songs are closer to contemporary r&b, not soul. Soul music is like the middleman between blues and r&b, plus there are different types of r&b and different types of soul. Just like there are different types of rock: hard, pop, metal, heavy metal, punk. If you called N.E.R.D. rock singers because of "She wants to move" due to it's obvious rock influence people would be like Webster's 6th definition of soul is the deep spiritual and emotional quality of black American culture; also, the espression of this, as in music -- adj. of, for, or like American blacks. I didn't make that shit up. Now soulful means full of deep feeling it has nothing to do with soul music. Singing any song soulfully does not it make soul music or the person singing it a soul singer





It does have to be the only thing you do



Prince isn't an r&b artist. He isn't a pop or rock artist either. You can't put him into a category, therefore you cannot say he is any of those. George does pop with r&b influences some of the time. He is not a soul singer

I'm getting the feeling that you think r&b and soul are the same and it's not
[Edited 2/20/05 2:21am]

Janfriend said:

Damn that Eric Clapton for pretending to have the blues. And Miles Davis' white band members - they really had Miles fooled. And that Hendrix guy for having white band members so he could pretend to rock (why do I feel like I'm in a scene from White Men Can't Jump?).

So presumably, white people can't appreciate soul music either? Or maybe they can listen as long as they don't get involved with making it?

I can't believe this is happening on a Prince forum. I mean, Prince, of all people, who has covered so many styles of music.

ehuffnsd was right, this is what is wrong with America.

Joss Stone won Best Urban Act (not convinced this is the best title for the award) at the BRITs this year. Maybe she wasn't the most deserving winner but the only people who questioned her inclusion in the category were those who argued against her having what you would call a 'blues' background. (Nobody would question Mike Skinner of The Streets being in that category). Why was she there? Because she made a soul album. Race has nothing to do with it.

I'm sorry, but to be a soul singer, soul music doesn't have to be the only thing that you do. That's crap. If Jill Scott decided to do a punk song, does that disqualify her from being a soul singer?

Harlepolis said:

I remember watching that! I was shocked but I was laughing through.

I rememeber this back in 1989. It caused" a little controversy". George 's r&b side to me(like Average White Band) is authentic which is why I along with many other brothers and sistas in MY community didn't sweat it too much. Now if Rick Ashley's album would have been nominated and won ..... ,

Faith it not a r&b album. On my block..we viewed it as a masterful pop record with some r&b flavoring.....

I can't even front though..... that white boy was putting in some work on that bass on "Hard Day"...

Brother 9/15
[Edited 2/21/05 6:14am]

Axchi696 said:

Janfriend said:

i pity the ignorant, narrow world in which you live where people can only be defined by one thing and can be nothing more. and where only certain types of people are allowed to do certain types of music.









not to mention where they adore "artists" like Creed, limp bizkit, Ricky Martin, Maroon 5, Gavin DeGraw, and JoJo

Axchi696 said:

I remember that interview.It was when she was going through her "Poor pitiful me" phase in the late 90s

Michael is constantly in that phase as well.

Yeah I hate that side of Mike too.

GrayKing said:

Oh wow. How easy it is for you to throw out insults over something you don't understand. I never once said people can ony be defined by one thing and nothing more, but then it's obvious you didn't understand any of my posts.The point is:

1. There is some validity in the anger some people felt about this artist's album being included in a soul music category, especially when it wasn't a soul album. Most of it stems from the racial history of the music business

2. The definition of soul music is clearly not understood by some people here

3. Anyone, who wants to, can sing a soul song here or there. It doesn't then make them a soul singer. George is not one. Plain and simple

Sorry if that wasn't clear

Janfriend said:

[flame snipped -Tom]

Janfriend said:

It encompasses more than that. R&B is usually about love and relationships, Soul is a different animal.

BRO915 said:

I feel ya.

Supernova said:

Oh,I know. I was just mentioning the simple difference between blues and soul

GrayKing said:

ditto

GrayKing said:

You know what? You're going too far. Not once did I insult you or call you "stupid" or "ignorant" or "narrow-minded" simply because you did not understand my point of view. I'm sorry if you can't be an adult and have a disagreement with dignity. You have nothing else to come up with so it makes you better to discount someone else's opinions If you are incapable of posting without insulting someone personally, then you shouldn't be posting at all

ehuffnsd said:

ditto? ditto? What did I discuss with YOU on this thread?!

Janfriend said:

[flame snipped - Tom]

Janfriend said:

Janet has one of the weakest voices in the pop mainstream that I've ever heard along with Maddy & Kylie and co. I'm not dissing her because I think she's a good pop star. But a soulful singer? Not a chance.

Cloudbuster said:

Agreed. The only one who remotely has soul from that list is Jody Watley. Beyonce sounds like she could develop it judging from "Me Myself And I" but that's the only indication I've gotten from her.

Janfriend said:

You included, it seems.



Sorry, but George is far more soulful than Janet could ever dream of being.

Soul is about connecting with the spirit of the song and portraying the emotion of what the lyrics are saying and getting the listener to believe it. Janet does not have that ability as her voice is flat, not to mention twee. George Michael does have that ability.


.
[Edited 2/23/05 4:54am]

VoicesCarry said:

Cloudbuster said:

No suprises there.We already know that Janet can't sing.And of course,we all know that George Michael can.But are you basically saying that soul is really just about having a strong voice?


just trying to see if I understand what this argument is really about

DavidEye said:

Did you even read what I said? Take another look.*

I read what you wrote,but I think Janfriend and others have a different definition of what "soul music" really is.Just trying to sort out the different opinions,lol.

DavidEye said:

Well, no disrespect to Janfriend and co, but I think their definition of what makes one a soul singer is way off the mark. Just my opinion, of course.

DavidEye said:

I'll make it simple for you.

Janfriend's definition: Black people have soul. White people do not.

Is that clear?

Y'all better watch it! Janfriend's gonna come back her and kick yo asses


This thread will probably be locked soon anyway,huh?

DavidEye said:

Probably. That condensed Janfriend definition has already been stated in this thread, anyway.

This thread is hilarius I was wondering why it is still on first page