So, I opened my YouTube account a few days ago, and there was a
suggested video of a Korean female singer from the popular (in Korea) group Girls
Generation. The California native was singing the national anthem at an LA Dodgers
game. She did a creditable job. Her talent was evident. Our national anthem is
a difficult song to sing.
Naturally, this performance made me want to hear
Whitney’s version again. Now, that is ability. There are as many good singers
as there are families in the world. There are only a few who have a gift for
singing. Whitney was undoubtedly such a singer.
Also Marvin Gaye. His rendition of the national anthem is
award winning. The artistry is captivating. His voice is silk. I love it. To
make someone love hearing the national anthem is talent on a higher scale.
This leads me to “Got to Give it Up”.
When I walk between
school buildings for my classes, I put on my shades and sounds. The purpose of
the shades is obvious; I listen to music to take my mind off the heat. Anyway,
I was listening to “Got to Give it Up”, and instantly one can hear Robin
Thicke’s song, “Blurred Lines” (hmmm). While the young talents may not have
outright copied Marvin’s song, the author of Robin’s song had to hear Marvin’s
beat in his head as he wrote his own version. The rhythm is just unmistakeable.
Anyone from the Motown era would recognize it in a heartbeat. I just think the
young talents suffered from absence of historical perspective.
I appreciate the schtick (pardon the judgment) of Robin
Thicke’s blue-eyed soul. I like soulful white boys; it is a different kind of
sexy (though I have yet to experience one who can be comfortable in his own skin
amongst us while trying to be of us). Anyway, to further support the
accusation of plagiarism, one could write an essay on the parallel messages of
the two songs. However, the young ones lack the subtlety necessary for true
allure.
Their song is just nasty.
Marvin and Whitney, you are sorely missed.
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