I'm asking a sincere question based on a recent show I went to, and from the perspective of another performer. A week ago or so, I went to see my friends' show, Brotherhood of the Jug band Blues, at the Jalopy Theater in Brooklyn. His band put on a fun show to celebrate a cd release, and a good time was had by all!
Before they played, however, a band called, "the Dough Rollers" played, and though their sound was good (meaning they were skilled musicians), I got a bad feeling watching them, a bit of unease. Check out the video on their Myspace page and then read on.
Now, I should preface my comments by saying that after they were introduced, the main singer said a quick word of thanks in the sort of voice you'd expect a young, 20 something to have: no growl, no whisky soaked raspy timbre, no accent. He sounded fresh from Connecticut or something, and seemed very sweet. I must also stress that I think what he, and his band are doing, is from a sincere love of the music, which is important to note.
I watched them, was surprised when he sang like an old world weary black blues man. I say black man, as opposed to simply, old man, because he is singing songs from the catalogues of black blues men from the early 20th century or thereabouts. I thought they did a good job, and was simply amused, until I tried to imagine them performing in Harlem. I tried to imagine how I would feel if I were an African american, and watched this. Would I be impressed? or insulted?
Now, I have sung my share of covers. I've sung many genres, and have NO problem with people singing someone else's music. I have no problem with people singing in other languages which aren't theirs, styles they didn't grow up with, music written a hundred, or heck, a thousand years before they were born. White people have performed music written by African americans, and vice versa-this is not my issue. My problem, is that one should perform these songs honestly. With their OWN voice. I've sung Aretha Franklin tunes-I tried to sound strong, as she sang them, but I still sang them in my voice. I've sung "Summertime", and "Can't help Lovin that man", but as me. I would feel differently if he was a character in a play perhaps, but he's presenting this as his style.
On the flip side, here's a white man singing an old appalachian dirge which was used in the soundtrack of "O brother where art thou". Now, that's believable! That's clearly his voice. What a song, and what a difference!
There's got to be some kind of difference between trying to get to the essence of a sound, and interpreting a song, and imitating, or impersonating, an artist. I've done both, and I would hope someone would call me out on it, if I seemed to be so affected, as to be mimicking. In my early 20's I certainly did too much of trying to sound like others, in a way to learn how they made their sounds, and grow my "repertoire" of sounds in my own voice. But for a while, I forgot what I sounded like when I wasn't trying to imitate another person, and it took a long time to see what I could create more authentically on my own.
I'll sing, influences and all, whatever seems to fit the tone of the music and lyrics best, and what feels right to me, limited only by what my vocal cords can do. This is all personal, and preferential-what sounds good to me, doesn't sound good to everyone, but it's mine. Changing, growing, but mine. Can Malcolm say the same? Is that how he sang as a kid? Is that what his voice naturally does with ease, or -OR-is he mimicking the people he loves? Is this offensive? Is it really not?
What do you think? am I overreacting? being too sensitive?
I'm really torn here-not sure why it affects me so. I want to like these kids-but it feels kinda wrong.
