Is it something that you're born with or is it something you can develop? Also, is soul just limited to just Black folks who done seen hard times? Or is soul meaningful to everyone, regardless of race?

I asked this, because a co-worker said that I lacked soul. I had the funk, but I had no soul. I'm not the best singer or guitarist, but I always try to put soul into whatever it is I play. But he don't see things my way. He's one of the old school brothers, and I'm from the new school. but we're both from the hood. So I'm bound to have some soul in me. But I also explained that I have many other influences, namely Punk/New Wave. I'm trying to create a new sound and maybe change the face of "soul" music. But I don't need this kind of criticism.

NWF said:

Soul, persoanlly is... making people feel you, and meaning what you are saying and doing emotionally. Just like when some1 dances and they are off key...now take Michael Jackson's moves for example and "Shes Out Of My Life" you can FEEL that. Someone who don't have no 'soul' is coming off 'fake' or not really giving off a feesable vibe to the listener...for example if some punk made a cheap remake of a classic song and didnt do it no justice...didnt give it no soul. Vanilla Ice doing rap...is a classic view. Now Eminem u can FEEL him and understand him.

"Im Bound to have some soul in me" dont try too hard man, let it be real.

I hope u get me. Im sorry I guess but when it comes to caucasians doing 'black music' or music that is mostly done by African Americans. It is harder for a white guy to do funk n soul without some criticism as coming off fake if he doesnt make his audience understand him either, its for every1. If u being fake and no one is feeling you then ya gotta find your heart.

Hope that helps Keep doin ya thang boy.

Its starts at Chocolate City,
then it can expand elsewhere.....
[Edited 1/27/05 18:44pm]

NWF said:

hmmm, i think having soul is a feeling. i think feeling with your music. i can't explain it well. Aretha Franklin has soul and James brown has soul. i'm sure you listen to them. its how they voices seem to feel the music. alicia keys doesn't have soul, she tries to imitate it but you can tell she's faking or trying to hard. ashanti is fake to. michael mcdonald,elton john, darryl hall and oates have soul and so does tower of power,average white band and Santana, so its not about race. it sounds like what this coworker said really bothered you. don't let it. most of the time people try to trample on someelse's dreams 'cause they've lost sight of their own.

this is a good topic!

heybaby said:

Good point.....

Thanks, y'all.


Like I said, soul should'nt be limited to one race. My man justifies thinks this way because he thinks other races haven't seen experience what our ancestors experienced. Then he went all the way back to the old Negro Spirituals in the days of slavery. He says that's how soul music developed. But I think anyone who has suffered a great deal can be inspired to create an art of feeling and expression.

I feel the soul in Aretha's music, and JB's music, and even my ultimate hero, Prince's music. But I don't think should just be limited to just them. I think soul music can come out of anyone if they express themselves with heart and power. Hell, I think Morrissey (for example) is soulful. But that's because he expresses himself in a sincere and emotional way. I can feel what he's singing, just as much as I can feel the soul coming out of any Black artist.


I don't really care about this, but I just wanted to get everyone else's opinion on it.
[Edited 1/27/05 19:00pm]

If you have to ask then you don't have it and it is not something you aquire...

Serveitupfrankie*

soul has nothin to do with bein from the hood, blk or experiencin some shit..as far as i'm concerned havin soul means makin the listener feel what ur singin or playing

know U got soul
If U didn't
the beat wouldn't move U

I don't think it's only a R&B thing, either. I think quite a few rock singers have soul...Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Dave Gahan, Peter Gabriel, et al all exemplify soul to me.

It's about expressing your deepest emotions through your voice, IMO. You can just tell that they feel and believe every note and word that they sing.

That is soul to me.

There's a major difference between singing/playing with soul and soul music...


I'll expand on this later, but I gotta see where this thread leads first. S'gonna get real interesting.
[Edited 1/27/05 22:28pm]

this is a Prince Site,

WE ALL GOT SOUL!

funkpill said:

From CC to your backbone for sure.


"I know you got soul."

psykosoul said:

glad 2 c u BACK!!!!!

Ok yeah man, there is a major difference between soul music and havin soul. Country artists got lots o soul and so do heavy metal artists, but havin soul in soul music is more of an accomplishment for African Americans since black people have defined "funk" and "soul" music. So if this is what you are covering, then yeah your friend is going to have more to say on a caucasian guy going in2 soul music because its more in black territory as in, caucasians are the minority.

Hotlegs said:

TALK!!!!!

If I really did have a soul I'd can it and sell it.

Moonwalkbjrain said:

It's just something that's in you. It's not something you can develop, either you have it or you don't. If you don't really have it and try to have it, it sounds fake. It's not just restricted to blacks either. Look at Teena Marie, she just has it in her.

soul is ham hocks in yo corn flakes
Soul is a joint rolled with Toilet paper
Soul is about being free from everything that bugs you and holds u down
soul Is love
Soul is the constant flow of Vibration through your flesh



can you get to that?

TheRealFiness said:

I've heard people using bills for it, but that is ridiculous.

Novabreaker said:

psykosoul said:

maybe thats why i had a hard time trying to answer his question at first because it is two different things. i think i answered the first one as far as singing and playing. but soul music is a form of black music that i think is derived from gospel and blues music. its a style of music derived from black american culture to put it simply. when i think of soul music i think of soul food; collard greens, cornbread, hamhocks,black eyed peas, and chitlin's-stuff like that.

this is an interesting question. first off, i think soul is something you're born with. either you have it or you don't! i don't think it's only something that black people have though. i think stevie nicks has soul! i'm sure most people would think i was crazy saying that but it's true. she might not sound like aretha franklin but that woman sings with so much heart and passion that i my opinion, yes, she has soul! i think there are other singers who try to have soul and it sounds forced. that's why i say you either have it or you don't. you can't fake soul! you dig?

I'd basically put it that soul is about the voice.....not the songwriting and usually song is about love.

Gladys knight is a soul singer. Bobby Brown, despite singing about love like Gladys does, is a pop singer.

So thats all soul is.....having a good voice.

Would it be fair on black people to say white people have soul? George Michael got some hate by blacks at the american music awards in 1988 when he beat Bobby Brown, Keith sweat etc to win soul album of the year? Should he of been in that catorgory in the first place?

TheRealFiness said:

YEEEAAAAHH!!!!!

TheRealFiness said:

Yes N'deed...threw a touch o'Funkadelic on us, huh?

JONI MITCHELL is one soulful woman, and the late Ray Charles can def see that she's a white woman.

I could feel Joni's pain and frustration in her music and it NEVER comes as fake or forced.

I'm not talking about genre here, I'm talking about the human being's function here.

EVERYBODY have soul IMHO! but not always in music or acting or ART in general. They can def bring out their passion to the forefront in something somehow and the next person will def feel them.

paligap said:

jus' a touch pali' just a touch

TheRealFiness said:

Just a touch of love, a lil' bit,,,,just a touch

Sorry had 2 get that outta my system,,,