You know, several weeks ago, I stated clear that Amy Winhouse's success was only based on her ethnicity. And also that if she was black she would be just another black girl doing old school stuff. NO WAY she would have sold so many CDs and attracted so much attention. Of course many people disagree with me, and try to play the double-standard-doesn't-exist card.


I was expecting the debut of the first solo album of Chrisette Michele. For those who didn't know she is a black singer doing old school/old fashioned soul music. Some how some way VERY close to Amy Winhouse type of music.

Chrisette Michele has been promoted heavily by Def JAm since last year, with appareances on both Nas and JayZ albums, on national TV, and with 2 videos before the release of her first album.

and you know WHAT ?

HER ALBUM PEAKED AT the 29 position on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 26000 copies in its first week!!!!!

NOBODY CARES.

And make nomistake, Chrisette Michele is a real artist, and also an accomplished musician, she could put to shame Amy Winhouse or Joss Stone easily. But again, seems like nobody cares. She's just another dark skinned girl doing old shool stuff. Nothing new.

If she was a white girl from Britain, I'm sure that people would threat her like if she was the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Take the face of Amy Winehouse and put it on Chrisette Michele And I'm sure people would say she's amazing. Take the face of Chrisette Michele and put it on Amy and people would barely notice her like "Oh! just another black girl doing old school stuff."

It confirms everything I've said before about the double standard. And I'm not surprised.

And after that people don't understand why majors only cares about signing so called artists like Rhianna and Ciara...

krayzie said:

Actually, what you said was more dismissive than that. You said people are only interested in her because she's white ("What is new with Amy is not her music, not her voice, but her appareance, her ethnicity, nobody expects her to look that. This is what creates the interest. Period.").

I'm not sure why but you didn't even mention Chrisette Michele when somebody asked you (a few times even) to mention some of the artists you contended weren't getting the attention they deserved. Somebody else did, I think Fharrahmoan. I listened to her I Am album then. It's good but not in the same vein as Winehouse, it's more modern sounding. Her singing is stronger than Winehouse's, but I prefer the songwriting and production on Wino's most recent album.

I'm not seeing the comparison between the two. They're both good, but different from one another.

Yeah, but Chrisette Michelle is pretty, and Amy Winehouse is fucking terrifying to look at. If it was October, I'd say the appearance mattered.

The Hip crowd loves to hate successful artists...

RipHer2Shreds said:

Chrisette's CD is IS as strong musically as Amy's "Back To Black" CD in my opinion. I have been raving about Chrisette since I first heard her. I even started a Chrisette Michele thread on here before her CD came out. On another thread, I posted her First Look from Def Jam. She's talented as fuck. Krazyie may or may not have mentioned other artists but I have been talking about this for a long time. I have mentioned Lina and several others as well. We know its the little white trainwreck/damsel in distress factor that adds that extra mainstream appeal factor for artists like Amy. She is talented without a doubt but I don't believe for one second that its just her tracks selling her more than anything. The production is "different" within the scope of what she's doing but not so spectacularly so that its causing a change in the industry or anything. Its the european-american fascination with Brits coupled with hardcore marketing that's selling Amy Winehouse.
I'm wondering if they are planning this very same thing for Mark Ronson and Daniel Merriweather, since they have been getting quite a bit if push in the R&B realm as well because of their remake Stop Me. I hate when the mainstream tries to deny its influence. Its not the R&B crowd that kept Robin Thicke's "Lost Without You" at the top of the R&B charts for 11 weeks. It was the pop crowd. Amy is good and I hope she can continue to make records but its the honest TRUTH that white artists get more push when doing R&B and hip-hop if they are pretty enough or British enough.
Christette is a bad chick. She plays piano as well. I'll continue to support her and I hope others will as well. Fuck what everybody else likes.
[Edited 7/22/07 9:03am]

BlaqueKnight said:

This is not something I've ever denied. I'd be foolish to think otherwise. I just don't like the generalization that it's the reason anyone is interested in Wino's music. That said, I do think she's more in the public consciousness more for her antics than her skin color at this point. She's a loon. Again, I like Chrisette after listening to the CD. But musically, I think they're different from one another so I don't see the comparison. I prefer Amy, because I prefer that style of production. I also think it's doing Chrisette a disservice to compare her to anyone. What better way to get others to listen to her than to talk about her own sound.

Now, on the subject of the music that I've heard of hers - I The Best of Me. It's a beautiful ballad, and I love the way her voice melds with the piano. Your Joy is also nice. I like that the music doesn't overpower her singing. The build is sweet, too. It crescendos without going over the top (a la Celine Dion). It's not the sort of song that is going to get her airplay, and that's not a bad thing at all. It's not a songwriter's market anymore and hasn't been for a while; it's about the producers now. What that means for her longevity is anybody's guess.

in defense of amy tho - shes only just now starting to get big attention, she wasnt as big when frank came out....her controversies prolly have a lot to do w/ her recent success

RipHer2Shreds said:
This is not something I've ever denied. I'd be foolish to think otherwise. I just don't like the generalization that it's the reason anyone is interested in Wino's music. [/quote]
Well, anybody making that claim has only been looking at pictures of her in the tabloids. She can sing without a doubt.

But this is the way that labels promote. They spent 20 million on PROMO for the new Rihanna, TV ads,magazine ads,billboards,radio time bought etc. RB is a wide spectrum but its not promoted as such, RB has become this Lloyd/Usher/Ciara/Rihanna world. Labels will not lay down the $$ to promote a Chrisette or Van Hunt or Rashaan Patterson or Jaquar Wright or Teedra Moses, because that would mean investing time and enegy to actually promote a record, you know like the A&R people used to do in the 70's and 80's , those days are long gone. RB isnt dead the idea of how to promote it is.

Chrisette Michelle can sing, play and she is so freakin' cute. Nowadays, though, at least in the US, that's not enough... I see her as one of those artists who will be more appreciated overseas and someone who's gonna carve out a solid and respectable career for herself, ala Rachelle Ferrell or Diana Krall. Unlike the video vixens of the day, she'll always have those vocal and instrumental talents to see her through. I just can't see her without a steady gig.

Her fellow musicians in the industry know how bad she is.

JesseDezz said:

She'll have viable Jazz Career definitley.

BlaqueKnight said:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...vfdl7-E80Q

I usually avoid getting into racial topics in music 'cause I like what I like and liking one artist doesn't mean I can't or don't like another. But I think you've raised a valid question.

There does seem to be a special interest or extra promotion for artists who perform outside of the expected or stereotypical box. Well, I guess like BK said white artist who perform R&B or hip hop but not so much the other way around. Let’s just be real about it.

It’s tough to see Amy and Joss get so much push here when a beautiful artist like Chrisette is already here and ready.

Not to knock the others. Joss Stone does nothing for me so I won’t comment but no one was checking for Amy outside of Britain 2-3 years ago with Frank. Suddenly she’s the greatest thing to hit the scene. Chrisette’s music and vocal styling is similar to the throwback sound and if you want to talk about appearance, Chrisette is easier on the eyes so why doesn’t she get the push for beauty like so many other female artists do whether they can sing or not?

I can’t even talk about Chrisette to anyone because no one knows who she is which is pretty sad but I fell in love with this girl the moment I “met” her. Maybe her second album will take off but her debut is worth the notice right now.

I am happy to hear that one of her songs has been getting some regular airplay--I forget which one but there are so many good songs on I Am I don't think it matters.

I could never trust anyone who denied the part race has played in the success of Joss Stone and Amy Winehouse. It's like denying the part fast cooking times have played in the success of McDonalds.

minneapolisgenius said:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...jHQV-SuqNE
http://www.youtube.com/wa...qSKVv6YO8g
http://www.youtube.com/wa...akv-LKhdow
http://www.youtube.com/wa...u7uPHtTJ4o

minneapolisgenius said:

WTF? OMG!!!! That was HORRIBLE!!!!
I hope for her sake that was deliberate.

BlaqueKnight said:

I really don't know. It's just weird and bad. Plus the fact that it's "Beat It" makes it even worse somehow.

Scorpion said:

Ok, and to that I say: WTF happened then?!

I like that "Valerie" song though because that's my real name actually.

Chrisette needs to hook up with Clive Davis. He could get her records to sell just like he did with Alicia Keys.

minneapolisgenius said:

You're so vain. You probably think that song is about you.

RipHer2Shreds said:

It has to be. In fact, I almost put it in my MySpace profile.

BlaqueKnight said:

I watched all the videos and she left me cold. The songs just aren't as good as the songs on 'Back To Black' - regardless of her actual ability.

I do think that Amy Winehouse has something that a lot of other performers don't have - and that's charisma. When I look at her, my first impressions aren't based on her ethnicity or nationality, but the fact that she looks like a cracked-out hooker. So yes, image has a lot to do with her appeal - but it isn't everything - and it certainly isn't just because she's white. I actually assumed she was mixed race when she first appeared on my radar a few years ago. I never knew she is ethnically white and Jewish until she blew-up in the States - which says more about the U.S. than it says about me.

Chrisette is very "good girl" but the world is more fascinated with naughty things.
Amy is a figgin train wreck, and we love it! I think thats another reason she's getting alot of attention

thekidsgirl said:

Its a shame, too. Reality television (among other things) has warped the minds of the public to the point that people need drama from singers instead of them just singing. We have become a culture of voyeurs.

BlaqueKnight said:

True. Sad commentary of the reality of the industry today.

Amy has NO charisma; she's completely devoid of any stage presence and looks uncomfortbale performing.

For what it's worth, I find Chrisette's voice very annoying.