What Is "Soul Music"?

[TGrundy]

OK, so I'm listening to one of my favorite podcasts this past Friday morning, the Friday Favecast by Fave, and at about the 16 minute, 30 second mark he asks a question that I have *NOT* been able to stop thinking about:

"WHAT IS SOUL MUSIC?"

He goes on to define the question further by asking, "How do you explain to a cat over in the UK or over in Japan or Paris what "soul" is?", especially if they have never heard it before.

"WHAT IS SOUL MUSIC?"

Ever since then I have been thinking about this question and, to be honest, have even become a little obsessive about it. I had to laugh the other day when I noticed that with every song I play or hear now, inevitably I ask myself, "Is this soul?" Like I said... obsessive. {smile}

Well, I thought I would enlist the help of my SC family members and throw the question out to all of you. What is soul music to music to you? How do you define it? What is the history of soul music? How would you explain what it is to someone who has never heard it?

Looking forward to some interesting discussion...

[John Carrier]

What a beautiful way of expressing the term Soul by Velben...nice reply young Lady.
Hip Hop Moses, i like what you say...but the historical origins are so important , hey its ok preaching to the Choir...but often the members don`t all sing in harmony my friend.
Joe Cocker no problem the two Micheal`s yeah there cool you could include Amy Whinehouse, Joss Stone, and Duffy from the ladies in that category.
Your also so right in saying " We need to make more Soulful music now and have it supported in the mainstream, " that`s your problem at the moment...here in the UK I was told by two distributors based in London "Soul doesn`t sell"....I kid you not.
Soul radio tends to be played late at night , often on a Saturday night....What ??
That`s when most people are at the Clubs or out Socializing...the issues to get the music out there
are complex , but not impossible. " What are we gonna do now ?" interesting point. Now I have seen
traces of some of the answers on this site ...but i don`t feel the force to really unite and make a commitment to invest both financially , artistically , and the ability or need to share experiences......
or maybe i am wrong...I truly hope so.
Much Blessings,
John

[Hiphop Moses]

John I don't think you read my first statement, and in between post, in context with my last statement, but I'll respond as if you have. So, in fairness I went and read your other statement, which is very interesting as well. I'll address "not preaching to the choir first" and then "historical origins being so important." There are two examples I'd like to use Jesus is one and a man stranded on an island is another. Jesus did not spend his time in a church preaching to the choir nor church members for that matter. But he went directly to those who were lost. I believe this was no accident and he knew he'd be waisting time and energy, with i.e choir members. He also argued and rebuked the church leaders all throughout the Scriptures.
Now the man on the stranded on the island needs shelter from the storm. He is not familiar with the history of the trees around him but he knows he must have shelter before the storm hits. Yes building a great foundation is part of anything you build upon, but you have to work with your situation. logic would say he could do nothing because he does not know the history of the trees and parish or he could build with what he thinks to be strong enough to with stand the storm and live to rebuild another day. I do like some of the old Motown songs and I've listen to a lot, but to be honest I like D'Angelo's version of Cruising over Smokey's and I believe it brought some to soulful music that have never heard of Smokey. Now let me make my next question more personal what are you gonna do to achieve the goal for soulful music?

Now as to your prior statements about the history of soul music origins is flawed. I think I understand what you were trying to say but Soul music, or music period for that matter didn't get it's start in America nor did African/American history start with slavery. This unfortunately is a common belief amongst Americans. Truth is Africa before and after 3500 BC gave the world great contributions, from science, agriculture, architect, and art including musically and they weren't playing bones and rocks. They included string instruments such as harps, lyres, lutes, percussion instruments like drums, rattles, tambourines, bells (first used during the Late Period) and cymbals (Roman Period), wind instruments like flutes, clarinets, double pipes, trumpets, and oboes. I do also think that harmonies and ceremonial tunes of the African tribes were and are still very soulful today. We all are still just putting our own twist on the music of our Ancestors. Again, which brings me back to why soul music is colorless and genre-less if Robin Thicke and I can both make soulful songs and you can pill back our skin, and we are the same, well it would be illogical to think that soul which dwells within would be any different.

[Cool Crys]

I'd personally like to know the difference between R&B and Soul music. Seems to me, that back in the day there was no distinction. And presently, artists like ANTHONY HAMILTON and JILL SCOTT fall into both categories. So, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

[Chenyelu Bomani]

As per New York Times article 8-15-08 Music section: Jerry Wexler passed away at the age of 91. He started as a writer for BillBoard Magazine and later became a producer and Vice President of Atlantic Records and also worked with Staxx Records. He has been attributed with coining the phrase "Rhythm and Blues". Acccording to interviews the magazine (BillBoard) was using the term "Race Records" (during the 40's) and many were unhappy with it (probably white people) and the editor wanted a new name for the category related to black music...so Jerry Wexler coined the phrase R&B. Also, noted in this article a reference to "Soul Music" reads as such: "In the 50's and 60's black artists were forging a new sound which came to be called "soul music" because it derived from elements of gospel, swing and blues." No related source could be found as to who labeled it as a music style. Actually I believe as you do...that there is no difference between "R&B and Soul Music" just semantics!

[Chenyelu Bomani]

Soul Music: is the vocalization and or a musical equivaliant of "emoting". As it relates within America... yes, the roots lay in Africa but other cultures exhibit "emoting e.g. soul" in their music also. Such as Native American music and their "pau wau's" renders a form of "emoting" as it comes from within during ceremonial offerings of music and voice ...another would be the Aboriginal peoples of Austrailia. Examples of "emoting" can be found in the voice of Mavis Staples, James Brown, Al Green, etc. In regards to instruments and "emoting" think of B B King and how he manipulates the strings of Lucille which is almost akin to talking and is just one of many examples. This special form or style of "emoting" has been characterized as soul and it can always be found in many black churches as the organist freestyles or it can be frequently heard within the congregation in moans and verbal cries of affirmations. Many singers have backgrounds within the black church and one witnesses their style of "emoting" in the music i.e. Aretha Franklin for one. Musically, there has been attempts to duplicate this form of "emoting" by "cross over" artists but it does not always come off as "feeling" genuine but it can be found in some musical presentations usually in their live performances where they freestyle or improvise musically and one can feel "soul / emoting" as they make the instrument project their feelings. The person "emoting" reflects not only their joy or pain but projects the joy and pain of their culture.