R&B (rhythm and blues) music has undergone a transformation over the past few decades. It has gone from being subtle to well...getting straight to the point. Now don't get me wrong I love today's R&B music but gone are the days when lyrics had meaning. Most of today's R&B consists of sexual nature or heartbreak after all what is rhythm worth without the blues, it pretty much goes hand in hand. Back in the 60's, 70's, and 80's music was somewhat about getting down to the nitty gritty but, the content was meaningful and sultry. You had tons of artist's crooning about love making and heart break but they knew how to seduce their target with a good love song that had great lyrics. For example Teddy Pendergrass wanted his significant other to "Turn off the lights, and light a candle" we all knew where his song was going just by hearing that sentence alone but it was neat and as clean as it could get. You also had Barry Whitewho won the ladies over with Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Baby.
In the newer generation we have Trey Songz who let's his listeners hear about neighbors knowing his name, and Chris Brown taking someone down. I think song content that was once frowned upon are now embraced in today's society. Some R&B artists have chosen to take their music to a different genre such as pop . Robin Thicke is well known for being smooth and laid back with his music but, Blurred Lines was a very different kind of song and it may be a little sexist but the song is addictive, the beat is more up-tempo as opposed to his song Lost Without You.
It's not just male artists who are switching it up either, you have females going from being heartbroken, to learning to over come the heart break, to just moving onto the next. Beyoncé went from making women feel empowered with Single Ladies to Dance For You which is a song about giving her lover a certain type of dance. It amazes me how universal musicians are with their music today, but it also amazes me (in a good way) how today's society is much more accepting of this genre. R&B music has come a long way from Marvin Gaye toUsher, Mary J. Blige to Aaliyah there's something for everyone. So how do you feel music has evolved?
I agree with you the music now a days all sound the same and have no good meaning. I truly prefer 90's music I loved Jagged Edge and Jahiem. But its all changed because the artist are pushed to make music that everyone will like so that they can make more money. It seems the music isn't the main purpose anymore its more of trying to be the best and out due others
I agree with you the music now a days all sound the same and have no good meaning. I truly prefer 90's music I loved Jagged Edge and Jahiem. But its all changed because the artist are pushed to make music that everyone will like so that they can make more money. It seems the music isn't the main purpose anymore its more of trying to be the best and out due others
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