Estelle [Not Being Cool]
Posted In Blog by admin
We don’t like this here at PinBoard.
During an interview with The Guardian, Estelle expressed her frastration with what she sees as “blindless in the British media and music industry to Black talent“. The singer, who is currently sitting at the top of the British charts also went on to question the promotion of an overwhelming white generation of young British singers…
We’re not saying Estelle is 100% wrong here [that's not to say we think she's 100% right either btw!], but it’s what she goes on to say that really doesn’t sit too well with us…
Estelle went on to single out Adele and Duffy saying:
“I’m not mad at them, but I’m wondering – how the hell is there not a single black person in the press singing soul? Adele ain’t soul. She sounds like she heard some Aretha records once, and she’s got a deeper voice – that don’t mean she’s soul. That don’t mean nothing to me in the grand scheme of my life as a black person. As a songwriter, I get what they do. As a black person, I’m like: you’re telling me this is my music? Fuck that!“
It’s one thing to express an opinion on the current situation in the music/media industry regarding [a lack of] multiculturalism, but to go on and bad mouth other artists for having the success they have had – is a whole different [and rather ugly] matter.
It’s not hot to come down on those who have had success or are having success just because they are singing Soul music - they really are not the ones you need to be venting your frustrations out on. Estelle is obviously proving that there is more than enough room for more artists [from all ethnicity's for that matter] to make an impact in the British media, but by knocking other artists in the way she has appeared to have done here – well, it’s not only nonconstructive, it also weakens her credibility.
That’s our take on the matter anyhow…What do you think?
Peace, Love & The Universal Language [Music]
SpeakerBox
P.s We can’t help but think, that maybe this whole issue/interview is more in the name of publicity than political awareness. It comes at an all-too-convenient time we think…Hmmm..?
There is nothing wrong with what she is saying-There is a distinct pattern in the way the (white) media deals with black music-first they hate it, then they try to 'integrate' it under the guise of 'diversity' and, in order to appeal to the masses who both in america and the UK are a white majority, cater to them–once that is done, they steal it and claim it as their own-Rock N Roll is a PERFECT example, so is Samba and so is Salsa and countless other music art forms. It is EXACTLY what they tried to do with Eminem; Eminem, himself having admitted it. The fact is, there is no respect for black people's music-No black people have equalled the success certain white people have obtained in white music forms, like country music, for instance, where black people STRUGGLE to get ANY airplay whatsoever. IT seems to me that what belongs to everyone else, belongs to everyone else, and what belongs to black people, belongs to everyone else, hence you talking about 'Universal'-White people have earned more money off of black people's music than BLACK people themselves, FACT-Jimmy Iovine ALONE has earned more than ANY rapper, FACT.
YES, music IS universal; the CONCEPT of music is universal, but so is the concept of life, but everyone has their own interpretation of that. Music is expression of self, and if you know anything about the histories of the music people listen to today, Rock N Roll, Soul, Hiphop, etc (and if you don't, research it) they ALL came from a struggle, and they ALL had their music snatched from them. Black people are undoubtably frustrated, and who is anyone to begrudge them that right?
There is an adage now, famous in America, and it goes so 'the blacks create it, then the whites hate it, then they integrate it, then they take it'–nothing could be truer.
Even Elvis, the so called 'King' (who gave white people the right to call him that? Did anyone ever consult Domino Fats, Little Richard or Ike Turner, even (credited with the worlds FIRST ever Rock N Roll song?) (The very word 'Rock N Roll being Black American slang for rough intercourse) before bestowing upon a Kingdom THEY created a 'King' that the hijackers 'annointed'? Never), even the the 'King' of Rock N Roll credited his stance and style to 'colored folks', claiming to have simply 'goosed it up', realizing his advantage as a white man in a white supremacist society.
The fact is, Estelle has EVERY right to say what she said, and even, CLAIMED within that SAME interview (which you ommited, I noticed, smh) not to have anything against the acts in question, that as a song writer she digged them (dig and cool both calques from West Africa, btw, 'dig' being an actually word too, just an etymological lesson, amongst many more). This is beyond the artists themselves, as you stated-She acknowledged the MEDIA in this, if you never picked it up and only truly mentionned them in passing, and so your article is void.
Music IS universal, but black people's music ISN'T, period. When white people stop trying to appropriate everything to them and show some REAL respect, then maybe Estelle won't feel compelled to say what she is saying. I don't have a number one hit record, neither do my friends, my barber or my lawyer 'uncle' (a friend of the family), and we all feel the same way, so deal with it. Why you expect black people to sit and have to suffer these Adeles and Whinehouses on TV and say nothing, when you won't award us in other art forms, not even ours, is totally beyond me-You can't seriously be suprised.
I like Amy Whinehouse's music, personnally (watch them leave these bits out), BUT what the MEDIA is doing is so blatant, it's damn right insulting to EVERYone who calls themself black in this country and the US.
Sanka
Estelle had a point in that there is not a single black soulful artist in the press. However, before attacking artists like Adele, one thing to look at is the bloody industry itself- the top dog! Record labels/companies are the ones putting these artists out and I do think as black people we are to quick to blame and shame people. Also, the simple reason why artists like Whinehouse and Adele are represent soul singers in the UK is simply that this is what sells. It sad I know but why market someone when you know they will not sell records and unfortunately when it comes to black artist we are constantly fighting to be seen and heard. One thing I do not understand is, we know that white people dominate the music industry, but why as black people are we constantly trying to be part of this ‘white world’ and integrate ourselves so much? You look at other ethnic minorities and you get this sense of identity and value, which we seem to have lost. Instead of trying to integrate so much we should first look at uniting as community (I know very corny!). As, a black person myself, we do not stick together. We constantly have this battle not only with the ‘white man’ but also with each other and do not help to support one another. We are so quick to put each other down most of the time, rather then see one another do successful. Soo quick to say he/she ‘sold out’, and we are constantly fighting against the next black person that we forget to actually go out and purchase singles/albums etc and support our fellow black artists who are trying to make it to the top! How can we complain that black music is not represented, when we do not try to do anything about it ourselves? It is the little things in life that will help if we want to be heard.
As a white man, if I said what Estelle is saying it would be classed as Racism. What gives her the right to say that white people can't write or be praised for so-called 'black' music. To some other peoples comments who say that black people are being brought down by the white run music industry. If you were to ask the public, 'Who is one of the biggest names in music at the moment?'. My answer would be Kanye West. Now did Estelle feature Kanye West in her song 'American Boy' because he was black or because she knew it would sell singles? I think you know the answer so stop looking at things in black and white and let music be music.
I totally agree with what Steven said. It's double standards again, If someone who's "white" says something racist, they will be blasted with anger and hate, but if someone who is "black" says something racist, they get away with it. Just because a type of music is invented by black people, doesn't mean it's black music, Music is Music. For the record, Bo Diddly, Little Richard and Chuck Berry are far better than Elvis in my opinion, is it because they are Black? NO! It's because they are just better, colour of skin does not have an effect on wether your music is good.
Billy Connolly once said that the only people you can get away with mocking nowadays is Straight Male Caucasians. That's pretty much true, but it seems Females in that classification will suffer as well if Estelle's comments are anythin to go by.
Morgan Freeman has also said:"I am going to stop calling you a white man and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man," The same can be said for music. He believes that there shouldn't be labels of black and white and that is very true.
Both these men are much more talented that this Estelle, I'd even go as far as to say Billy Connolly has a better singing voice, I'd much rather listen to The Welly Song than hear that nauesiating "American Boy" song for the millionth time. (Kayne West's section is alright though, in fact, it almost makes up for the 2mins of crap before it.)
Estelle sides with people by skin color and in the same breath criticizes others for doing the same thing. Conclusion: racist and hypocrite.