From R & B to funk to hip-hop, African-American music rules the world, shapes the way we think of pop music, and gives us all a chance to dance, make love, and party. The world is a better place because Americans of African descent have offered their songs and stories to the world.
I am an unabashed Motown fan. I refuse to get in to discussions over the relative merits of Motown versus Atlantic versus Stax/Volt. Each is important, each made major contributions to American music, and each had its own controlling ethos. At another time, I will discuss the other labels, but Berry Gordy's desire to sell African-American pop to the whole country as "The Sound of Young America" did as much to break down racial barriers as any March on Washington. The Miracles' "Ooh, Baby, Baby", as I understand it, began its life as the background to some between-song patter Smokey Robinson was giving an audience at the Apollo. Audience response to what the Miracles were vamping was so overwhelming, Smokey wrote an entire song centered around it - it moves through the whole song, even when it isn't sung, the unseen guest at this party. It is a beautiful love song.
George Clinton began as a hanger-on at Motown, doing some gigs as a studio musician. He went on, using the inspiration of acid and cannabis, to create the huge sound of P-Funk, with the best bassist in the history of music, Bootsie Collins, providing the groove that made anyone want to get up and dance. I can't get enough of P-Funk; they just make me smile and want to party. This is "Tear The Roof Off This Sucka":
There are few contemporary songs that are guaranteed to get people dancing more than the next one. While not a huge hip-hop fan, one can hardly argue with the success Usher has had combing rap and R&B. His clear high tenor voice, combined with the insistent beat and unabashed sexuality make "Yeah" a crown pleaser from the get-go. Plus, it's just got such a great hook.
