There are some things I will never get. Scientology. Necco wafers. Feet as a food, be they pig or chicken. The Da Vinci Code. The enduring appeal of Jessica Simpson's music (the appeal of her butt I get).
One thing that constantly eludes my understanding is the continued success of modern R&B. Well, I understand why it's popular; it's good to have sex to, but I just don't get it. I try, oh God, I try. I frigging love funk, crunk, and hip-hop from Brooklyn, Compton, Houston, Atlanta, St. Louis, Chicago, Miami, Jamaica and France. I adore Chacka Khan, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Mary J. Blige, and Beyonce. But a lot of the time when the tempo slows down, I get lost.
R&B has become an impoverished genre over the last twenty years. Although there are some signs of life, since the mid-80s it has been dominated by singers who oversing every line, make every word a payoff and every song a three-minute orgasm rather than laying back and establishing a groove, a melody that will support all the million melismatic notes that singers carelessly spatter all over the modern R&B landscape.
R&B duets are notable mainly for being an opportunity for two singers to circle each other, egging each other on past any sense of melody with moans, runs, and ad libs over an interchangably generic music bed (can't forget the windchimes!). Used to be, this was a hallmark of the gospel style, but years of overuse by thousands of talented but tasteless songbirds have blunted what impact it once had. The key insight is in a quote from blogcritics founder Eric Olsen, who wrote about Mariah Carey: "the essence of Mariah's problem and why she is doomed to suck is that she sings to serve her own ego, not the song: great singers respect the song above their own glorification." Of course, the best is still the best: Luther Vandross was and will remain the king of bedroom R&B. However, he practically invented the style, a distinct advantage over subsequent practitioners who seem bent on sucking all the life out of it.
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Article comments
1 - D
You have to be an idiot because Gerald Levert is one of the few that is hanging on to the good ol' R&B!
2 - Jon Sobel
Saw this article a bit late, but thanks for writing it and saying what so many critics seem to be afraid to. Modern r&b more or less sucks, and for the reasons you lay out. "Talented but tasteless songbirds" - well said.
3 - Jacquie
First to the author,
I can assure you that you will not get any words not spelled properly or poor grammar in this post :-) I respect everyones opinion however I am a bit confused pertaining to your post. You say that you don't get Gerald's music but you love hip hop??!! Which says to me that for some reason you can't articulate percise,clear,loving music. Instead your articulation can only understand things like YEAHHHHHHHH!!!! and OKAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!! and statements like don't be a groupie keep it movin shawty??!!!!! LOL....Gerald is extremely TALENTED....with or without windchimes...so maybe when your articulation matures......YOU WILL GET IT!!! I meant my post with a smile :-)No personal attack intended!!
4 - tyra
Its ashame his life was short lived he was a true artist he will be dearly missed
5 - Black Butterfly
I was told that Gerald Lavert passed away today 11-10-06. Is this true in at all?
6 - krnbankston
he was a special person a caring person
7 - Queen Barb
I will miss Gerald Levert. He was a ladies man and boy oh boy did he do good shows.
8 - maryanndowns
gerald was a great article and a songwrite; he sing song that we all like that we can injoy lister to; i just love gerald; he is a sweetheart to aa his fan; try make all his fan happy; before gerald i use to lister to his father sing; i will allway miss gerald; i got gerald last song; in my song /i just love it; i play it day and night/ love allway mary downs
9 - maryanndowns
geraldwasonegeratrbhewiibemiss;geratsongwrite
10 - maryanndowns
geraldwasgeratsinginworldhewiibemissiamonehisfan;