I saw a video on YouTube I need to share.
I have heard a lot of men, (always men), complain about a vocal style. I have noticed the style before too. But I am not bothered by it. Scrolling through YouTubes, I came across this gem. I think this person is brave or stupid depending on if he knows how sexist he sounds. He doesn’t point out male examples. He points the finger at goddesses, every one. It’s more like he has OCD than he does preferences.
Everyone? Really?
So many questions.. Is “everyone” an SEO word because this video even mentions it in the title yet lists maybe 4 examples? Don’t know what the color is in his sky, but that’s hardly everyone. What bothers him exactly? Is it the gorgeous pitch control or the quiet vibes? How many male jazz musicians are we going to admire for quiet, intentional tone? Why not give these ladies the same respect? They have earned it.
Wes Montgomery was the greatest, and quietist.
Wes Montgomery played very quiet guitar. He had to practice so he wouldn’t bother the neighbors. He learned a method with his thumb that was quiet and worked well for him. He became very busy playing that quiet tone. He’s one of my favorite guitarists of all time because of it. I can’t play like that. I have to listen to him to hear it. That’s exactly how I feel about these women.
Miles Davis took whisper tone mainstream.
Miles Davis got made fun of starting out for his tone, but that’s because his style of music wasn’t invented yet. He blew up the jazz world with a whisper tone. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Jazz gods for one album. Yet, in truth, he reinvented music for his tone every decade. A very influential musician. I give all that and the fact they don’t actually beat on women to these women.
Whisper tone has been around as long as dudes have been speaking out against it. I think it’s fun, personally. If I record a vocalist with that agility and control like any artist he mentions, I am going to have a good day.
It reminds me of vocal fry.
Several years ago I heard men complaining about a thing called “vocal fry.” To me, they were complaining about “the way some women talk.” I would listen to NPR and understand what they were referring to, but it never bothered me and I never noticed it before that. I can’t tell if they were trying to make me more attentive to women speaking or if they were telling me to criticize it, regardless, I never really listened to “they” as much as I did “women.” Not only that, also seems OCD.
Sexism. All it is.
If you don’t like someone’s music for their tone and because they are a woman, why not leave the woman part off? There’s a good possibility they aren’t whispering to you anyway. What does it matter to you, is that the part that bothers you? The fact their music might not be aimed at you? That’s not their problem.
Before your next post or video complaining about women artists goes up, why not keep that puppy to yourself? Women have historically had it rough in the “music business” and I for one am rooting for them. The thing is, guy music to me typically sucks without women involved somehow. I hate locker rooms, cars, trucks, gyms, guns, video games. contests, electronics, hunting, fishing, sports, getting muddy or dirty in any fashion, I don’t even like swimming. If it wasn’t for women friends and musicians, I’d be screwed here in Texas for company most days, (and not in a good way, haha).
It’s dudes, always dudes.
You talk shit about women? You’re talking shit about me too. I honestly don’t understand why everyone doesn’t feel that way. I mean, I guess I could see it if they’re a chauvinist.
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