...about ethnicity as it relates to music?


This subject continues to surface here for some reason.
If you are attracted to someone's music, does it influence your decision to buy?

I'm curious to know why YOU care (if you do) not why you think someone else does.

This was a thread idea I had this morning and decided against it.
After reading something interesting CHICO recently posted, I said why not give it a go.


Again, why do YOU care?


Based on past experience I should know better, but i'm hoping this can remain an intelligent and civil discussion.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I don't, at all. I like what I like, regardless of the ethnicity of it or the people who listen to it or my own. But it sure seems to be a hot topic of discussion around here. I've never figured out why.

although, I must say that after spending about 20 weeks out of the last year and a half on various Hawaiian island (because of my job), i absolutely DETEST island-style music.


and rice.
[Edited 8/1/06 19:34pm]

I think that race is a factor because musical genres stem from sub-cultures and being that we are still a segregated bunch culturally due to race and socio-economic circumstances (for the most part here in America), those artforms end up being divided along race lines. The minority group is usually offended when the majority takes ownership of what the minority created because of historical hostilities. For example: hip hop was created from poor black kids from nyc with little money or resources. Theyve experienced racism and felt shut out from the american dream. They voiced their frustrations with the system in their lyrics, dancing, and grafitti. They didnt have instruments. They used what they had to make music. They sampled, they freestyled, they beatboxed. They made art! To then have suburban, prep school, silverspooninmouth kids taking ownership of it makes the kid from the bronx angry. Theres always gonna be that element that exists.
[Edited 8/1/06 19:42pm]

Dayspring said:

So a free CD of The Greatest Hits of IZ for example would probably not appeal to you huh?





tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

dreamfactory313 said:

Appreciate the response but the question was, Why do YOU care?


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

I dont think I care so much. I enjoy artists of all races but I understand why it is an issue with people. Im thinking more blacks would think it was an issue than whites. I must say that in several ways I am more emotionally attached to black artists because I am black and I may identify with their experiences a bit more than a white artist. Thats not true in every case, but more likely than not.

theAudience said:

Hell no I don't give a rats ass. Either I like the music or I don't. And this may be strange coming from a black female who grew up in the inner city and listens to not only Prince, but loves classic rock.

I'll take a guess that some people feel they need to have some sort of connection to the artists music (other than it sounds good to them) and being of similar/same ethnic background is the connection a lot of folks seek.

theAudience said:

is he the one that does that treacly version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow?

Ifsixwuz9 said:

Oh my God, assuming made an ass outta me... I never thought you were a woman.

the I meant to orgnote this because it has nothing to do with the topic... but fuck it I'm too lazy to revise edit
[Edited 8/1/06 20:06pm]

BSK3601 said:

me neither! after all these years on the org and AMP!

BSK3601 said:

I get that a lot online. Don't sweat it.

Dayspring said:

I think RDhull and SuperNova were the only ones who knew I was a chick on amp.

And tA I am not thread jacking you ... back on topic folks...

Dayspring said:

I've been into island/exotic music lately. I'm loving a lot of Martin Denny and Les Baxter's stuff. I've never been to Hawaii, so it helps me daydream about going there someday

Dayspring said:

That's him.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Ifsixwuz9 said:

Not a problem and thanks for steering the ship back on course.

Btw, I knew about you because Supernova tipped me off when she gave you that compliment.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I don't care. If someone makes good music that I like, then that's just it: they make good music that I like.

And the race thing ALWAYS seems to come up here. Especially lately. It's getting ot the point where I don't even click on or read many threads anymore because it's just the same old thing over and over again. It ALWAYS has to come down to a race thing. I definitely feel that there is a tangible divide among members of this forum as of late. I'm not sure if this even answers your question tA, as it's late here and I'm falling asleep as I type this... ah well, more tomorrow perhaps on this.....

AnckSuNamun said:

maybe you'll win a trip to the pro bowl.

I'm one of those people that fall in the "don't care" catagory.

I must have been lucky or something. In the early 70's I was kid growing up with soft rock AM radio as well as soul music FM radio, and was just as comfortable singing Elton's "Philadelphia Freedom" as I was Chaka's "Hollywood" into my Mattel microphone. In our house we always watched variety or music shows...ALL of 'em. So in addition to Flip Wilson and the Jacksons, there was also Sonny & Cher, The Dolly Parton Show, Donnie & Marie, and I think we even watched another of the country flavored ones, I just can't remember if it was Tanya Tucker or Glenn Campbell or whoever the heck ..and Sundays were spent watching Gospel at morning, the local talent show at 1pm (which was everything from jazz to accordian polka)....and after dinner at 7 my father would promptly turn on Lawrence Welk to comment on the orchestra's playing...

I don't know what it was about that era...but there was such an abundance of EVERYTHING with people of ALL colors all over the marketplace: the radio, the tv shows...I think it definitely molded me in being a girl who just DOES NOT CARE; digging the music I'm listening to is the core issue to me, rendering the color of the artist performing it totally irrelevant
[Edited 8/2/06 0:12am]

I don't give a crap about race, either. I love me some Beatles, Radiohead, Stones, Floyd, etc., and I love me some Prince, Stevie, Meshell, EW&F, etc. as well.

Racial debates (no matter how intelligent and civil they TRY to be) are always extremely hurtful to me (as a white kid) and if I had one wish, it would be for all people of all colors to get along and be considered equal. The homophobia, among other things, needs to cease, too, but that's a whole other thread.

theAudience said:

I do not care musically, personally, spirtually or professionally. We are all people - human beings. I believe talent and art are not dictated by ethnicity, nor is ethnicity indicative of talent and art.

Specifically regarding music, for me it is strictly about sound, technical ability, artistic presence, quality, and uniqueness ~ those traits spark my attention.

Even though I have my favorites, I am also not bound by genre - if I like your stuff, your sound and am entertained and/or intrigued - that is what it takes. Ethnicity is no issue.

God gave us music. He gave us art. He has never cared about ethnicity as it relates to art. Our ethnic variety is a blessing that we as imperfect humans still use against one another.

I remember when I first heard Color Me Badd on the radio. Because of the way they sounded, I assumed in my mind that they were all black. When I saw them on television, I wasn't necessarily shocked, and I especially wasn't disappointed. It was actually nice to put a face with the voice: "That boy Brian can blow!"

I can't speak for why it matters to some people. I only know that it has never mattered to me, regardless of my own mixed heritage. It's just never mattered, period.

i only "care" because i think the extreme polarization of the music industry has all but outlawed an incentive for black artists to expand and experiment, so we're not seeing the kind of fusion and excitement that we got up through the early '80s.

an example of a casualty of what i'm talking about: KENNA. this man should be hugely successful, but he's a black man making music that sounds like the beatles meet radiohead, and there's no room at the inn for that right now.

in terms of what i listen to, ethnicity isn't a deal maker or breaker. i do think it can be interesting, like with a band such as cornershop which blends classical indian music with indie rock, but the state of the industry right now makes it really hard for me to discover such genre-benders.

and i guess that's how i "care"...i like anything that busts out of the box in which it expected to be contained, and if anyone can do that especially in today's environment, i wanna hear it.

theAudience said:

Because I don't like giving my money to white people.

PFunkjazz said:

I love GOOD MUSIC! The ethnicity of the performer doesn't matter as long as it's GOOD!

My definition of GOOD MUSIC:

Music that makes me feel.
Music that inspires me.
Music that makes me appreciate the artist.
Music that makes me want to dance.

ya know what... music is music if its done right, music should have no color lines. people who have to out a color barrier on music is completely musically challenged and has not a lick of sense. ya wanna blast me go right ahead. but im truly sick of people classifying music by color.

I would say I'm aware of it, but I really don't care one way or another.

I look at the end product, and if someone borrows from cultures other than their own, I'm a fan as long as the end product is great. On the other side, if someone sticks to their own thing (a Texan doing country, for example) that's cool, too as long as the music's great.

This issue obviously extends beyond music, and my views reflect my general lack of racial issues in my life (ie people haven't given me much shit about my race & I haven't given them shit, so why should it matter in my music).

lilgish said:

That would be cool

PFunkjazz said:

well they own the record companies.