INTRO TO SOUL!

"What kind of music are we gonna be playin’, Jimmy?"

"Your music should be about where you’re from, and the sort of people you come from. It should speak the language of the streets. It should be about struggle and sex. And I don’t mean mushy shite love songs about, 'I’ll hold your hand and love you til the end o’ time'. I mean ridin’, fuckin’, tongues, gooters, boxes. The works!"

"Jesus, what kind of music says all that?"

"Soul."

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The Commitments is a 1991 film set in Dublin, Ireland. It follows the story of a music collective led by Jimmy Rabbitte, with the goal of reviving soul music. The movie represents realistic band dynamics, as well as an insight into what it takes to make a good band: lots of practice, sacrifice, and collaboration with those you may not be fond of. I watched this movie with my dad over winter break, which was inevitably followed by a soul music kick. Looking more into soul, there are so many subgenres that are intertwined with one another. Consider this my beginners guide to soul music.

Soul travels back to the 1950s, where it planted its roots with gospel and blues music. Soul later became the foundation for funk and disco. The Motown influences of Berry Gordy in Detroit, horns coming from Memphis, and founders in NYC were all crucial to the growth of soul. Rhythm and horn sections were absolutely necessary for creating a successful soul track. In The Commitments, these roles were taken on by Joey and Dean, respectively playing the trumpet and sax.

HERE IS YOUR GUIDE TO SUBGENRES OF SOUL!

R&B

R&B can often be categorized with rock ‘n’ roll, separated only by race in the 1950s and 60s. The genre derived primarily from blues and pop music, but if you were a white artist with this sound, you were considered to be playing rock ‘n’ roll, rather than black musicians, who were branded rhythm & blues artists. It later influenced funk and disco in the 70s. Classic R&B is more driven from blues and church music, where contemporary R&B incorporated more hip hop. The classic R&B sound has Sam Cooke among its pioneers.

Motown

In 1959, Berry Gordy began Motown Records (Hitsville), in Detroit, Michigan. With R&B and dance music on the rise, the 60s were the perfect time for Motown to flourish. Some of the most popular names on Gordy’s roster included Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and Stevie Wonder. The most successful Motown act was headed by Diana Ross– The Supremes. The Hitsville building doubled as the business headquarters and recording studio, and the majority of songwriters with the label were producers for Motown as well. Motown merged the sounds of rhythm and blues, gospel, and pop. (The image below is from when I visited Detroit this past summer!)

Funk

The subgenre of funk takes influences from R&B, jazz, and gospel, as well as blues. It became most well known in the 1970s to 80s. Funk was developed and became quickly recognizable by James Brown, titled the "Godfather of Soul", in the early 60s. Similarly, Chaka Khan was appointed the “Queen of Funk” in the 70s. The most obvious tell of a funk hit is a rhythmic bass and syncopation, making this genre easily danceable. Some of the most well known funk artists include Parliament-Funkadelic (P-Funk), Rick James, and Prince.

Disco

Disco was born as an escape from war, violence, homophobia, and a handful of other issues. It was overlooked for about a decade before it became mainstream. In 1977, Saturday Night Fever put disco on the radar, most famously credited to the Bee Gees. This was around the time that disc jockeys (DJs) were taking over nightclubs. Disco became the most prevalent form of dance music in the 70s, but it was a short lived triumph. Today, we hear disco influences in tracks by Lizzo, Harry Styles, and Lady Gaga, which is noticeable by the repetitive vocals and the use of a synthesizer.

Neo-soul

Neo-soul in a term coined in the 1990s, describing a style of contemporary R&B, otherwise known as progressive soul. The subgenre is rooted in jazz, funk, psychedelic soul, and 70s R&B. It developed as a revival movement in the late 80s. Contrary to most contemporary R&B at the time, neo-soul used live instruments in recording sessions to capture the elements of classic soul music. The 1998 release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was a game changer for the movement. Artists that are re-inspiring the fundamental genres of neo-soul today are Frank Ocean, Alicia Keys, and Ari Lennox.

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Maybe they call it soul music because when you hear the horns come in, you genuinely think, 'Man, this is good for the soul'. Whatever the reason, I've become a fan.

Make sure to check out the my Spotify for more insight on who I am and what I listen to!

Thank you for reading! I hope that you enjoyed this but if you didn’t, that’s okay too. Do yourself a favor and listen to some soul music today.

LOVE YOU ALL SEE YOU NEXT TIME XOXO

Soph <3

January 23rd, 2023. By Sophia Cook.