PFunkjazz said:

Annie is Badd no DOubt,but that song with Aretha was when Aretha was working with Narada Michael Walden&that song was Funky as Byron Allen might get? not very Man.nohing to get excited about.the Song Annie did with Al Green wasn't happening either.and Annie had a chance to truly showcase Her Chops when Charlie Wilson was down with Her&Dave Stewart but I didn't hear anything worht remembering IMHO.Annie is Badd but not Soulful Lady T Badd IMHO.

mistermaxxx said:

God damn right Brother!!!

Peace

2freaky4church1 said:

I love Michael Franks but he is not Blue-eyed soul!!!

mistermaxxx said:

It's just my opinion, but Teena Marie seems pretty forgettable in comparison. Annie Lennox stands the test of time. Listen to "My True Love" from Peace or "In This Town" from Revenge if you want proof that she's got soul. "Diva" is a perfect soul album too.

Moonbeam said:

Excuse me but I never heard Annie Lennox on black radio or see perform for a predominantly black audience. That is not soul I acknowledge she can sing but she cannot emulate soul singing like Teena Marie.

gman1966 said:

Being played on black radio doesn't constitute having soul. Do you think N'Sync has soul?

Moonbeam said:

Nothing worse than some white person telling black folks about culture you know nothing about other than from what you read or seen in movies or tv. Soul music is a way of life for us it is a expression of how we live and feel everyday. It is something I as a Black Man was born into from the funk of James Brown to the soulful gospel of James Clevand or Bobby Womack, Aretha Franklin, or Shirley Ceasar.
Teena Marie is one the few white women that comes close to that NOT Annie Lennox.

gman1966 said:

Hey, hey! There's no need to insult me like that! Soul doesn't have a color! Why do you think Teena Marie (AND Annie Lennox, for that matter) are respected? They have soul despite the fact that they aren't black. I'm just saying that Annie has soul too. Soul is about feeling- it's not a race issue.

Moonbeam said:

Teena Marie is respected but not Annie Lennox and how would know this I worked as student engineer for some of the soul stations here in the Houston area and know ever talked about Annie Lennox or other artists like her there are only a few white artists that has been prominently menitoned in black circles and publications Teena Marie is one of them

No you are wrong Soul IS about culture and lifestyle and it is something that will never understand and honestly I was not trying to insult you. My sincere apologies.

gman1966 said:

You certainly would know better than I would who is more respected in the black community, but I still hold onto the thought that soul stems from something more inherent than race. I think soul comes from a sense of HUMAN suffering. Mary J. Blige has soul because she's been pushed to the edge (and over it) so many times. She's singing from a place of great pain. Lauryn Hill is the same. Certainly, much of their pain may be a product of racial issues, but not all of it. Annie has exorcised a lot of demons too, and has been to the edge and back. If you're interested, listen to "I Did It Just the Same" and "For the Love of Big Brother" on the Eurythmics soundtrack to 1984: For the Love of Big Brother. Annie's soul comes shining through.

Moonbeam said:

This is not exactly about racial issues Soul is the way black people live you and other white people just will never understand. My culture is different from yours plain and simple, the way I grew up is different from you This is your interpertation of what you call soul not black people soul.

Forgive me but I am just so damn proud of being a black man, proud of my culture proud of our lifestyle and the contributions black people have made not only to the entertainment field but other areas as well.

"SAY IT LOUD, I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD!!!"
James Brown

gman1966 said:

You should be proud! To be honest, I'm more fascinated by black culture/history/tradition than any other. Call it biased or unfair if you wish, but it just appeals to me. But I'll never think of soul as being an exlusively black entity. White people can appreciate soul, too. And by the way, VH1 called Annie Lennox the greatest white female soul singer of all time in their top 100 women of Rock and Roll countdown, so she does get recognition!

Moonbeam said:

Of course what else what would you say about soul also my friend, I am sorry but that's VH1 opinion now if you said BET or Vibe magazine maybe I would have to listen to her to see what my brother's and sister's see in Annie Lennox that I do not see, but that is definitely VH1's opinion Again Annie does have a good voice and she does have a little soul but a little!!!

This argument is sooo tired.

TRON said:

TRON said:

Then don't read it!! Now isn't that simple.

Wow! This has turned into something unexpected. Gman, be gentle with Moonbeam, he's a cool cat and has a sincere heart.

I respect Annie Lennox a great deal, and from the moment I first heard her in the early 80s could hear that she had great pipes that were overshadowed by her androgynous image at that time. I think Annie Lennox has soul, but I wouldn't call her a soul singer. Tina Marie is a soul singer. And no, Soul is not exclusive to being Black (which is why this thread has merit), but it's the Black experience that it was born of.

Gman is right about it being a cultural thing. Though I do hear that Gospel-charged phrasing in Annie Lennox's vocals.

I don't remember if I've seen a post with her name, but did anyone bring up Dusty Springfield?

Supernova said:

I just don't agree. Soul comes from the HUMAN experience. It isn't specific to one race! Surely, black artists have manifested soul in music more outwardly and overtly, but that doesn't mean that others haven't. Just as surely, "soul" music has come to be associated with black artists, but soul in its essence has no demographic or racial barriers.

Annie Lennox had more ambitions than simply being a soul singer (not that there is anything wrong with that), which is why in essence, she isn't a pure soul singer. She wanted to explore other expressions, which is why I admire her so much as an artist. Her artistic palate is quite varied, much like Prince and David Bowie. However, her eclecticism does not negate the fact that Annie has a lot of soul! "I Remember You" comes from that place where soul is born. Give it a listen!

Moonbeam said:

Uhh, Moonie, that's basically what I said: I think Annie Lennox has soul, but I wouldn't call her a soul singer. Tina Marie is a soul singer. And no, Soul is not exclusive to being Black (which is why this thread has merit), but it's the Black experience that it was born of.

When I said soul is born of the Black experience I was talking about the genre of Soul Music - not to be confused with having soul. Having soul itself, of course, is not exclusive of being Black. Having soul could also come from some White Country music recording artists when you get right down to it.


Yes, I agree with that.


Moonie, I think you think we disagree. Really, I don't disagree with that at all. I think you misunderstood me.

Supernova said:

I think we've come to a good distinction then! My interpretation of "soul music" has always been music that embodies "having soul." Certainly, many artists outside of the soul genre also have a lot of soul- in fact many have just as much soul as traditional soul singers. They just paint it with a different palate.

Moonbeam said:

Once again I agree with you. There's a certain pathos that a lot of singers (and groups) have that I consider having soul, regardless of race, even if it's technically not from the genre of "Soul Music".

Supernova said:

Thanks for accurately dissecting the argument!

If we're talking white female soul singers then Kate Bush wipes the floor with all of them.

Hello, everyone. I'm NWF. Anyways, Level 42 is the S#@!, man. Now that's soul music. Oh, yeah, and who could forget the perfect soul/pop of ABC*** (Poison Aroow, Look of Love, When Smokey Sings). Or how about Spandau Ballet(True, Gold, Chant #1 aka "I don't need this pressure on").

Cloudbuster said:

Yeah at a 7/11 in England.but in the States She would be Wiped out without much Notice.

TEENA MARIE hands down!!! I believe that other white singers may have soulful voices, but Lady Tee is definitely a soul singer. "Out on a Limb", "Portuguese Love", "Cassanova Brown", "Fire and Desire"...those titles just evoke emotion out of me! Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinions, but I would say Teena is the epitomy of Blue Eyed Soul! (She's better than many black soul singers as well, especially in regard to lyrical ability, vocal range, craftsmanship, talent, musicianship and longevity!!!)

The1AndOnlyAndTheOnly1 said:

Maybe it's really unfair to categorize her as "blue-eyed" then. You think the term lends itself more to crossover artists who started on pop/rock charts. TM started on r&b charts and still draws fron that base.

SIMPLY RED & TEENA MARIE

JANFAN4L said:

Cloudbuster said:

---
Please leave the crack alone. Teena Marie is a real soul singer. Not Kate Bush or Anna Lennox. No one looks at Kate or Annie as soul singers.