Lyrically anyways...

I sometimes switch from different genres of stations and when i put on an r&b station it's love song, love song, love song, make love or fuck, love song, make love or fuck, don't leave me or love song, make love or fuck.

I am not even saying that they have to write about social and political issues... just write about something other than love, breakups and fucking!!!!

the r&b artists of the 70's wrote everything from love to politics to personal problems to issues with race to partying and paying the price.

Hell or just even something like ''Don't Take It Personal'' by Monica a song that says no offense i had a bad day fuck off! or Miracle by Whitney Houston... Waterfalls by TLC etc.

This is one reason i dig Frank Ocean & Miguel they are diverse in the topics on there album and it keeps me listening to each track.

it also seems to stick to a structure... why can't there be more guitars? i mean is that just banned?

Think of Beat it, Running With The Night by Lionel, U Got It Bad by Usher, Ex-Factor by Lauryn Hill etc. Still strong r&b but with a killer guitar rift or solo.

SuperSoulFighter said:

True. We're going through an economical crisis and the only artist who's got something to say about it is an old guy called Bruce Springsteen. I read a column in a Dutch newspaper just yesterday saying that neo-liberalism has influenced young people so much that they can only think about themselves. That's what neo-liberalism does, right? It's all about consuming. What's in it 4 me?! And I guess we'll have music that reflects that.

Well but people like Bruce or Stevie have always and will always be about that. So younger people might be iffy on that ordeal.

And i really don't have to hear politics per say in my r&b songs but just more versatile subject matter...

I guess i am a bit edgy when it comes to writing cause if i really like an artist i don't want them talking about the same shit over and over cause it can get old.

On r&b radio for example i do really enjoy Charlie Wilson he has a great voice but all he can make is love songs over and over and over... and over

Gunsnhalen said:

Lyrically anyways...

I sometimes switch from different genres of stations and when i put on an r&b station it's love song, love song, love song, make love or fuck, love song, make love or fuck, don't leave me or love song, make love or fuck.

I am not even saying that they have to write about social and political issues... just write about something other than love, breakups and fucking!!!!

the r&b artists of the 70's wrote everything from love to politics to personal problems to issues with race to partying and paying the price.

Hell or just even something like ''Don't Take It Personal'' by Monica a song that says no offense i had a bad day fuck off! or Miracle by Whitney Houston... Waterfalls by TLC etc.

This is one reason i dig Frank Ocean & Miguel they are diverse in the topics on there album and it keeps me listening to each track.

it also seems to stick to a structure... why can't there be more guitars? i mean is that just banned?

Think of Beat it, Running With The Night by Lionel, U Got It Bad by Usher, Ex-Factor by Lauryn Hill etc. Still strong r&b but with a killer guitar rift or solo.

lolllll

Gunsnhalen said:

the r&b artists of the 70's wrote about everything from love to politics to personal problems to issues with race to partying and paying the price.

That's why 70s R&B was the BEST.Artists were writing and singing about all types of topics.In recent weeks,we have seen new releases by the likes of Ciara ("Body Party") and Kelly Rowland ("Kisses Down Below")....two typical songs about sex that reflect where today's R&B is at.

....

[Edited 5/8/13 13:47pm]

^^ ahh yes that Ciara song was a mess

I hate to turn this into one of those ''modern music sucks'' threads cause there are some good r&b songs out and these people CAN SING so that is not the problem but if they had better material they could be more versatile and bring out the best in themselves

RB has issues cause NO ONE PLAYS SHIT. Trying to find an instrument in RB music now is like trying to get Lauryn Hill to pay taxes, NOT HAPPENING. And please dont say Mint Condition plays, OK pick a band that came out this century in RB. Even the artists that people praise and erect statues too, like Miguel and others are using loops and samples, Justin Timberlake goes out and performs on shows has live bands with him and then the fucking record is nonstop lifeless RB. RB got killed by production, just like people say "production" in the 80's sucked on alot of things, well, guess what, RB suffers that same fate cause of cats like Pharrel, and Timbaland and then just go down the line, BEATMAKERS not producers thats what you got, and why RB has hit a fucking wall. When theres more creativity in Dance music than RB this boat has sailed.

I know everyone here hates "Channel Orange", but maybe that's why the project was so well recieved. It's loaded with live instrumentation. I believe even the track Pharrell produced is full of it. Credit Frank Ocean for that!

^CK, I actually like the album.

But I do think R&B IS versatile, but what we hear on the radio doesn't reflect that.

There are a lot of artists, some with national profiles, some not, who cover a lot of different topics.

But I see what you're saying, g-n-h.

lastdecember said:

RB has issues cause NO ONE PLAYS SHIT. Trying to find an instrument in RB music now is like trying to get Lauryn Hill to pay taxes, NOT HAPPENING. And please dont say Mint Condition plays, OK pick a band that came out this century in RB. Even the artists that people praise and erect statues too, like Miguel and others are using loops and samples, Justin Timberlake goes out and performs on shows has live bands with him and then the fucking record is nonstop lifeless RB. RB got killed by production, just like people say "production" in the 80's sucked on alot of things, well, guess what, RB suffers that same fate cause of cats like Pharrel, and Timbaland and then just go down the line, BEATMAKERS not producers thats what you got, and why RB has hit a fucking wall. When theres more creativity in Dance music than RB this boat has sailed.

Standing Ovation....

CynicKill said:

I know everyone here hates "Channel Orange", but maybe that's why the project was so well recieved. It's loaded with live instrumentation. I believe even the track Pharrell produced is full of it. Credit Frank Ocean for that!

^ Word!

I have heard of artists producing the producer: trying to get Pharrell to give them that instrumentation rather than a synth sketch.

R&B today needs 2 have TWO things: 1. Artists who can really sing and 2. Artists who can write in proper English vernacular and NOT all the Hip-Hop lingo. Leave THAT in Hip Hop and OUT of R&B.

I grew up on a couple of R&B masterpieces: Minnie Riperton's "Stay in Love (A Romantic Fantasy Set To Music") and Natalie Cole's brilliant "Thankful" albums. Not ONCE in either recording is there an "F" bomb to be heard nor any single reference to "Kisses Down Low." The metaphors were there, but you could use your imagination. Today, it's all thrown right up in your face and to be further truthful, there's nothing "R&B" about it.

Ever since the Hip Hop Movement has come in and invaded the R&B scene with its slang and illiteracy, lyrics have and continue to suffer. R&B, as I remember it (1975-1990) had so much depth coherence and substance to it. Today, it's all Autotune (which incidentally is used to correct pitch ) which only proves how many "artists" today DON'T even know what PITCH is (Rihanna.) If Autotune was used back then, it was for a technical purpose, but then again, so few back then HAD pitch issues because they could really SANG! Okay? I could go and on, but I'ma stop right here b4 I get MAD and go out and egg a CD store on my way home from work tonight! Peace 'n love.

Cinny said:

I have heard of artists producing the producer: trying to get Pharrell to give them that instrumentation rather than a synth sketch.

that's bad....

Scorp said:

Cinny said:

I have heard of artists producing the producer: trying to get Pharrell to give them that instrumentation rather than a synth sketch.

that's bad....

Well put it this way, when Timbaland Produced a few tracks on Duran Durans 2008 album "Red Carpet Massacre" and John Taylor pulled out the Bass to play on tracks, Tim asked "whats that thing" case closed.

lastdecember said:

Scorp said:

that's bad....

Well put it this way, when Timbaland Produced a few tracks on Duran Durans 2008 album "Red Carpet Massacre" and John Taylor pulled out the Bass to play on tracks, Tim asked "whats that thing" case closed.

llolll.......no way?......

CynicKill said:

I know everyone here hates "Channel Orange", but maybe that's why the project was so well recieved. It's loaded with live instrumentation. I believe even the track Pharrell produced is full of it. Credit Frank Ocean for that!

I love Channel Orange

And everyone was stanning for it when it first came out then out of nowhere hated Frank ocean on here

i still love it and Miguels album as well.

lastdecember said:

Scorp said:

that's bad....

Well put it this way, when Timbaland Produced a few tracks on Duran Durans 2008 album "Red Carpet Massacre" and John Taylor pulled out the Bass to play on tracks, Tim asked "whats that thing" case closed.

Oh no, this CAN'T be true!

I can see him mistaking it for a guitar, but c'mon Tim!

There needs to be a revolution.People need to stop buying this crap and DEMAND that R&B goes back to its roots.Bring back funk bands! Bring back real songwriting and musicianship! Hand all of these "artists" a copy of Songs In The Key Of Life and demand that they STUDY it!

SoulAlive said:

There needs to be a revolution.People need to stop buying this crap and DEMAND that R&B goes back to its roots.Bring back funk bands! Bring back real songwriting and musicianship! Hand all of these "artists" a copy of Songs In The Key Of Life and demand that they STUDY it!

PREACH, Soul!

whitechocolatebrotha said:

SoulAlive said:

There needs to be a revolution.People need to stop buying this crap and DEMAND that R&B goes back to its roots.Bring back funk bands! Bring back real songwriting and musicianship! Hand all of these "artists" a copy of Songs In The Key Of Life and demand that they STUDY it!

[Edited 5/8/13 16:57pm]

Even though I prefer love songs, I never really cared much about what the subject matter was about as long as the song was well produced with an incredible vocal.

And why do new songs have to always be so fast? Is the country on a crack high? Neo-soul is the alternative to this shit but nobody seems to listen.

Just the idea that Keith Washington can't get arrested is a crime.

SoulAlive said:

There needs to be a revolution.People need to stop buying this crap and DEMAND that R&B goes back to its roots.Bring back funk bands! Bring back real songwriting and musicianship! Hand all of these "artists" a copy of Songs In The Key Of Life and demand that they STUDY it!

The recipe sounds good but it ain't happening. Mint Condition and the Roots are the only

R&B bands on the market currently doing that. I would include Robert Randolph and the

Family Band because they could pull it off but they are more bluesy.

Nice topic!

SoulAlive said:

There needs to be a revolution.People need to stop buying this crap and DEMAND that R&B goes back to its roots.Bring back funk bands! Bring back real songwriting and musicianship! Hand all of these "artists" a copy of Songs In The Key Of Life and demand that they STUDY it!

Sadly that is never going to happen. There are to many dumb people that feed into the media hype of these saturated media machines.

The problem is music is not about music anymore. The issue goes beyond just R&B specifically. Its more about popularity, image and label backing because there are ALOT of R&B singers that DO make R&B but they dont have the proper promotion and the radio censors them. The dynamic of the industry is different and this generation has been programmed to adapt to this. This generation doesnt know anything better because they havent been exposed to better music and talents.

I doubt that music will ever be the same...

R&B is my favorite genre but I listen to it less and less now (unless it's something old). The acts out now aren't inspired.. i'm talking mainstream wise. I know there are decent acts that are not in the mainstream.

I'm sorry but some of the best R&B songs ever recorded have been about fucking.

You mean mainstream R&B don't you ? Because its pretty versatile in subjects and sound when you listen to all of the spectrum

I am so glad people are saying this, I began to think I was the only one who believed as such.

As an artist, producer myself I said "no one plays anymore". I get looked at funny cause I play

piano, cause I like to add a live bass in my music.

Yet most of my clients, only like it when I do the dumbest, dumbest down of tracks.