R & B Music Analysis

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Three styles of music expressed in today’s society are Traditional R&B, Soul and Funk. Each of the three styles expresses different musical characteristics, vocal style and rhythm. In the mid-1950’s traditional R&B became a style of music that combined the elements rhythm and blues, the style of music had a smooth, lush style of vocal arrangement. “Within the African American community the music called “Soul” as it was be performed in a manner that illuminated heartfelt emotions- emotions grounded in love, peace,equality, freedom, and ethnic tolerance” (Breckenridge 309). According to Breckenridge, Funk Style of music emerged during the middle of 1960’s and continued well into 1970’s (323). Despite the fact that existentialism and individualism …show more content…

The song told what love could make you do and what love is. Green mentioned in the song love could make you do right, wrong, or make you want to dance. The style of music was smooth and full of common situations Africans Americans faced in their love lives. In contrary, contemporary r&b style of music is a combination of rap and blues. Lyrics from the traditional r&b song “Love and Happiness” …show more content…

Funk style of music encouraged the African American community to want to dance. Aretha Franklin is often regarded as the “Queen of Soul”. Franklin recorded the greatest number of popular songs among female soloist. In songs such as “Respect” by Aretha Franklin a trumpet and the acquaintance of background singers gave the song life. James Brown was the godfather of funk in the mid-1960s. In a song such as “Say It Loud-I’m Black And I’m Proud” (1968), Brown sung solo with the background singers part that is sung by three to five singers. “With regard to vocal sounds, a number of different types are present in funk music” (Breckenridge 325). James Browns vocal stylizations often include full throated/raspy and guttural sounds, numerous vocables, and shouts such as what are heard in the song “Say It Loud-I’m Black And I’m Proud” (Breckenridge

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