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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Harmonica Politics
Harmonica Politics
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Miles Dewar
918 posts
May 28, 2011
9:40 AM
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We all as Blues players frequently encounter statements about ones singing that go along the lines of, "White player trying to sing Black".
I hear a Lot of Buddy Guy trying to sing like B.B. King. They are both black, yes. But Buddy Guy does NOT talk like B.B. King. Buddy Guy sings and plays like B.B. King.
Why is it that Buddy Guy can emulate a person's singing accent just because they are both black?
There are No "rules" that one must follow when they pick up this instrument. It is highly subjective. There are no rules that one must follow when they pick up Blues.
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Why is it that when a white person tries to sing like a black person with a different accent it is bad and embarrasing..... But when a black person tries to sing like a black person with a different accent it is inspirational and great blues?
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Here is another scenario....
What if I ONLY listen to Sonny Boy Williamson II? what if I don't like any other Blues and I only dig Sonny Boy? Why the hell can I NOT song like Sonny Boy? Or copy his licks note for note?
Obviously as a professional one should not just try to rip off anothers music. But people playing free publically or on YouTube getting ripped because they enjoy the same music we do. Just to a different degree or a different aspect of the music.
The white kid trying to sing black is bad but the blues guys trying to be Bluesy by wearing sunglasses indoors is not?
......................If I am wrong about this, can someone please give me a list of the intergalactic rules of non professional blues harmonica play?
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5F6H
698 posts
May 28, 2011
10:01 AM
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Ignore what people say/think, do what makes you happy, do it with conviction, do it justice.
Before the days of the pop video, VHS & MTV some people were commonly assumed to be a different colour, sometimes a different gender, than what they turned out to be.
If there's a rule saying that professionals shouldn't rip people off, no one has really paid that much attention to it.
"The white kid trying to sing black is bad but the blues guys trying to be Bluesy by wearing sunglasses indoors is not?" Either you believe that there are rules (there aren't) or you don't believe that there are rules...if there are, then obey them all or none - why worry about arbitrarily adhering to some and not others?
If people don't know the origin of songs or genres then this issue doesn't bother them, or even arise - nobody would seriously suggest that Satchmo was trying to sound white when he recorded "St James Infirmary"...it would be preposterous.
Last Edited by on May 28, 2011 2:37 PM
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Joe_L
1267 posts
May 28, 2011
10:30 AM
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Miles - just do your thing and don't worry about what people are saying. If you can sing like BB King or Buddy Guy, you probably don't have to worry about your vocal ability. Both BB and Buddy are fine singers. If you can play like Sonny Boy, note for note and tone for tone, you probably don't have to worry about your harp playing.
If that sort of stuff bothers you, you might as well quit thinking about playing in the public eye. People have opinions and they voice them. If you can't deal with that, you won't make it.
If your going to be preoccupied with double standards about white or black, you won't make it. Black players have put up with a lot more crap than the vast majority of white players will ever deal with. The most important thing is that you should sound good, white or black.
Usually when people think there are rules, their playing usually isn't ready for prime time. I've found most musicians, black or white, are super supportive of people that are respectful, humble and can play a bit. In fact, being respectful and humble is probably more important than being able to play.
I don't believe that Buddy copies BB's playing or vocal skills. He is influenced by him and Buddy covers a lot of BB's tune, but he isn't a BB King imitator. Big Daddy Cade has that one locked up.
Finally, I play a lot of Sonny Boy tunes. At times, I play so many of them that a few of my friends started calling me Sonny Boy III or Sonny Boy IV depending on the person. I don't sing them like Rice Miller for one very good reason. I can't. I don't sound much like him and if I tried, I would end up looking like a cheap imitation. Be yourself.
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Last Edited by on May 28, 2011 10:33 AM
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Miles Dewar
919 posts
May 28, 2011
10:54 AM
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Thank you. I like the responses. I strongly confused influence with imitation on the BB reference.
Be yourself is definately the main and best philosophy. Maybe the imitation comes from not trying to just singing the lyrics and eventually letting time ween things out but instead finding a quick route to sound bluesy or sound "right"....is that an obvious?
Many people in other forms of music get away with "Creating" a singing accent out of thin air. I wonder if it would fly in blues..... Gypsy punk style maybe? ;)
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Joe_L
1268 posts
May 28, 2011
2:13 PM
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No. It doesn't fly. The best artists are the same on stage as off stage. The only exception is probably Bobby Rush.
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jimjam
36 posts
May 29, 2011
5:17 AM
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Blacks innovate art, music, fashion, food and culture worldwide, and will continue to do so. Imitation is the highest form of flattery.
It seems only the most bigoted people fling accusations of racism. Let it roll off like water from a duck.
Now if you'll excuse me I need to get the brisket on the smoker and crank up some power-blues.
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"If you want to hide, find a stage."
~John Popper
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