(ThyBlackMan.com) Adele, born May 5th in Tottenham, London, United Kingdom, is stirring up a bit of controversy in regards to many calling her a blue-eyed soul singer. Amanda Petrusich wrote an article for The New Yorker in November of 2015 stating that “at twenty-seven years old, Adele is the most popular living soul singer in the world”. Petrusich goes on to describe soul music as “an amalgamation of black gospel and rhythm and blues”.
Daren W. Jackson wrote a piece on WaterCoolerConvos in December of 2015 stating “Adele gets away with being mediocre in the music industry because she is soulful by white standards” and that “if you find yourself a good Black Baptist church on any Sunday, you’ll be able to find somebody who that could belt Adele under the table”. Jackson goes on to list Black soul singers who are alive and well such as Jazmine Sullivan, Jill Scott, Fantasia, Tyrese, Tamia, Jennifer Hudson and Luke James.
Both writers perspectives are very interesting and they leave me wondering if Adele is a blue-eyed soul singer or soulful only by white standards?
According to Billboard, Adele’s album entitled “25” becomes the firs
t album by a woman to spend its first 7 weeks at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart since 1987. Her rival? None of than the infamous Whitney Houston whose voice has been referred to as a national treasure, spent 11 weeks in then number 1 spot for her second album, Whitney. Whitney Houston held on to the number one spot from June 17, 1987 until September 15, 1987.
I must admit that while I had heard Adele’s name ringing out in the community, I didn’t become familiar with her or her work until Florida rapper Plies posted a video on Instagram singing “hello”. Plies was singing with such intensity and passion with his beverage in hand that I immediately went over to YouTube to hear the original version for myself. I’ve been singing “hello” for a few weeks now!
I admire Adele’s voice, putting race aside, she has an amazing presence and voice. Adele has a style which is unique amongst “blue-eyed soul singers” and at only twenty-seven years old, she no doubt has room to grow and master her art even more. Now going back to Petrusich’s definition of soul music as a mix between Black gospel and rhythm and blues, I completely agree that Adele is the most “popular” soul singer living due to the massive support and promotion that has went into her projects however, Adele is certainly not the best living soul singer in the world.
I find it very interesting that many blue-eyed entertainers within the music industry cross genres and immediately that genre begins to get major attention and of course, the blue-eyed entertainers get raised to the highest level possible for praise as if they, alone, revived genre that was already thriving. Meanwhile when black artists cross genres into rock, punk or country, they’re often met with hostility and their self identity is quickly questioned. As I sit here listening to songs by Adele, many of which have a minimum of a million views, I certainly wonder if her fame is based solely on her being soulful or simply because she is one of the best blue-eyed singers of her time.
What are your thoughts?
Staff Writer; Dina Tuff
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