Great Black Music: Recommended Masterpieces
The great achievement of Black music is not only that it gave birth to genres like jazz, blues, gospel, and soul.
It has also been a wellspring of inspiration for legendary songs in the histories of rock and pop, and it is the most influential force on musical genres since the 20th century—an influence that continues unbroken into the 21st century and beyond.
To explore the roots of this magnificent Black music, this time we’re researching classic tracks mainly from the soul and R&B realm spanning the 1960s to the 1990s.
In the latter half, we also introduce more recent songs, so whether you love the latest hip-hop and R&B or aren’t very familiar with Black music, this is a must-check!
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Great Black Music: Recommended Masterpieces (111–120)
Four WomenNina Simone
This song, written by pianist and jazz singer Nina Simone and released in 1966, features four African American women in its lyrics, just as the title suggests.
By singing about these four women, she powerfully speaks to the circumstances they face in this world.
When discussing Black music, isn’t it both important and essential to understand the history and social position of African Americans in the United States?
Hate That I Love You ft. Ne-YoRihanna
It’s an R&B love song performed by the songstress Rihanna—who has great vocals, looks, and fashion sense—together with Ne-Yo.
In the music video, the scene where Rihanna in a black coat and Ne-Yo in a white suit meet in an elevator feels like a moment from a film, and their voices, gently layered over a wistful, beautiful piano melody, evoke a sense of mature romance.
Broken ClocksSZA
This is the song “Broken Clocks” by neo-soul singer SZA, included on her 2017 album Ctrl.
The album was nominated for Record of the Year at the Soul Train Music Awards.
The dreamy arrangement—like the use of a voice changer—is stylish and really nice! SZA’s cute vocals sound especially heartrending on this track, and it’s just perfect!
You Are The Sunshine Of My LifeStevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder is an artist who supported neo-soul music and continues to be active at the forefront to this day.
He has achieved both artistic and commercial success, and among solo singers, he has won the most Grammy Awards.
One of his signature songs, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, was released in 1972 and won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Girls Need LoveSummer Walker, Drake
This is the song Girls Need Love by Summer Walker.
It’s included on her debut album, Last Day of Summer, released in 2018.
Summer Walker is an R&B singer from the United States and a rising artist to watch.
Influenced by Erykah Badu and Amy Winehouse, she’s an artist we can be very excited about!