Daryl Hall – of the group, Hall & Oates – had a LOT to say about the idea of white singers who are in the soul R&B genre during a prior interview. The “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” hitmaker and his group member, John Oates, are still heavily involved in the music industry, even having released a new album in recent years. But wait ’til you see what Hall had to say when asked about White singers in today’s and yester-year’s soul music category.
DARYL HALL ON CRITICS WHO DO NOT THINK WHITE PEOPLE SHOULD CREATE SOUL MUSIC: “SHUT THE F UP!”
When asked, in a 2016 interview with Salon, about his thoughts on what some call “cultural appropriation” when it comes to today’s artists, such as Sam Smith, Adele, and others, creating soulful R&B music, Daryl Hall gave a classic response:
Daryl Hall- “Are you trying to say that I don’t own the style of music that I grew up with and sing? I grew up with this music. It is not about being black or white. That is the most naïve attitude I’ve ever heard in my life. That is so far in the past, I hope, for everyone’s sake. It isn’t even an issue to discuss. The music that you listened to when you grew up is your music. It has nothing to do with ‘cultural appropriation.’ […]Anyone who says that should shut the fu*k up.”
DARYL HALL EXPLAINS HIS HATRED FOR THE TERM ‘BLUE-EYED SOUL’
Although we don’t see anything wrong with the term, ‘blue eyed soul,’ Daryl Hall’s point is the same point we’ve said here at ILOSM, and that is that ‘soul music has no color, soul music simply has soul.’ Yet, there are a few key points he failed to acknowledge. See why Hall hates the term below…
“We live in America. That’s our entire culture. Our culture is a blend. It isn’t split up into groups. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool – worse than a fool – a dangerous fool. […] It is for this very reason: There is no color to soul. Soul music comes from the heart. It was generated out of the church, and it became secular gospel,” says Hall.
Thoughts?
I agree with Daryl Hall when he said soul music was “generated out of the church.” However, when discussing the origins of soul music, one must give credit where credit is due…that is one key element Hall failed to mention. He should have said ‘soul music was generated out of the Black church’ because, well, it was.
Additionally, he also seemed out of touch with the actual reasons why the term, “cultural appropriation,” is of relevance – it’s because people of all races know that ‘white privilege’ is real and therefore, should not be undermined, nor overlooked by some who may be in a position to abuse that ‘power’ in America – including within R B music.
As far as Hall’s grievances over the term, ‘blue-eyed soul,’ we’ll continue to put it to good use to describe our soul music ‘brothas and sistas from another mother.’ I respect Hall’s opinion, but I think that term is a term of endearment…not condemnation.
Overall, Hall made some interesting points, and his honesty is refreshing in this politically-correct entertainment world we live in today. In other words, when you let people freely show you who they really are, believe them – be it good or bad – because that’s never a bad thing. Thoughts, ILOSM family?
