Traditionally, when one thinks of "White Music" they generally associate it with rock, alternative-rock, country, or pop music genres. When one thinks of "Black Music" they generally go the rap, jazz, R&B, or Soul genre route of thinking. Some artists have been able to blend the lines and show that a white woman can sing soulful music or R&B type music and a black man can sing country music as well.
The two artists I am going to use as examples are Christina Aguilera and Darius Rucker. Christina Aguilera is an extremely successful voice of the modern generation. Though her ethnicity is Latin, She looks white and she is half Caucasian. Christina has made it big in the Latin world when she created a Spanish album that did very well but she is most known for her success in the R&B and pop genres. Christina is white and has blonde hair and looks like a pop sensation and that is where she started out. She has a big voice full of rich, soulful character and that made her huge in the R&B world as well. Christina's voice doesn't match her body, some might say. She's a tiny white girl with a big black voice. Her range is unbelievably broad and she feels the words she sings to her core. She has collaborated with other pop artists but she has also worked with rappers and R&B artists on different tracks. Christina Aguilera's pipes have earned her immense respect in all genres of music. There is no deny the endless talent that she possesses. Though her level of soulful and R&B music is usually claimed by the black community, Christina Aguilera fits right in.
Darius Rucker, a black male, has taken the country world by storm. Before hitting the country music charts he also was big in the rock music world with his band Hooty & The Blow Fish. Rock music has normally been claimed by White males and sometimes hard core women but Hooty & The Blow Fish took the rock world by storm with large billboard hits. Darius Rucker has an authentic country feel in his music. He sings about real life situations and has immense stage presents. Darius Rucker has been making hit after hit lately in Country music and he is welcomed and respected in Country music because he is so talented and comfortable in that genre.
Both of the examples previously discussed goes to show how stereotypes in music based on race are not always true. The norms in musical genres are meant to be broken. White girls can have soul in their voice and Black men can have twang. Both artists have been successful in breaking the mold and shocking the world with their unexpected talent in their areas of music.
I really liked the points that you brought up in your blog. I admit, I was one of those people who would stereotype singers based on their ethnicity. But after reading your blog and listening to new artists, I have come to realize why should a genre be strictly for just one race. Now that I come to think about it, that really does not make much sense. Like you mentioned in your blog, people who are non-white can make it in either the rock-n-roll or country genre and whites can make it in the pop and R&B genre. It just depends on how well incorporated an artist becomes and how true they stay to that genre. When I first read your blog, I had no idea that Darius Rucker is black, I just assumed that he was a white southerner; I know shame on me for not looking him up prior to reading this. From reading your blog, I received a new outlook on artists that I never had before and now I will defiantly not stereotype an artist anymore just because they belong to a specific genre. Good job on your blog.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Christina Aguilara blends both black and white traditions in music. Her voice is very soulful and she makes great music in both pop and r&b. Using her was a great example of someone who blends two different traditions. I love her for performing in different genres. I think that this is what a true artist needs to do in order to attract different types of audiences. I am not familiar with Darius Rucker but it is obvious that he also blends different traditions and I love when traditions are broken. Not all traditions but something being out of the norm is not necessarily a negative thing. Sometimes it is exactly what the music industry needs.I love how music artists are changing the way music is portrayed that it has to be. A lot of artists are afraid to change up the music or try different genres but it is those great musical artists that do this because they are confident in themselves and artists.Hopefully these two artists that you mentioned with encourage others to follow them and try to think outside the box when it comes to their music and go outside their comfort zone to try new and different things because this is what makes a great artist.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was reading over the different topics we were able to write about, this topic greatly pushed me away. AS I was reading it, I was trying to think of people to write about,, but I couldn’t for the life of me. As I was reading your blog though, I had that feeling of being slapped in the face. I listen to both of those artists. I think my problem is that I like music, but I often forget who is who, or what the song title is. There are those exceptions where I could never forget, but everyone has those. Everyone has favorites.
ReplyDeleteI have to completely agree with you about the two artists you wrote about. I didn’t really realize Christina’s talent till the movie Burlesque though. I listened to her before, just didn’t really notice it. She has an amazing voice that not too many people have. Her range is fantastic. Darius is a good singer as well. I have listened to him, and I know what you were saying, but I was just not that much of a fan of him so he didn’t come to mind all that easily. I had to make sure I knew who you were talking about. All in all I liked your blog Karianne. I will be waiting for next weeks.