Connections of R&B
Introduction
Rhythm and Blues, or R&B for short, is one type of music genre and has become popular throughout the years. It has evolved and changed as time went on, resulting in many different styles and spread throughout the world. They come in a wide variety such as; Jazz, Blues, Funk, Rock N. Roll, Swing, and Hip-hop, and they also come in any language. Another common R&B is Korean R&B, K-R&B, which became popular recently, and there are some connections between them.
Throughout this blog, it will talk about the History, Changes and Development, the Connections, and some artists and music.
History
Starting back in the late 1940s, it came to life in urban centers like New York, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, which had seen an increase of African Americans. But the term, "Rhythm and Blues" was coined by a music journalist, Jerry Wexler. The growth of R&B occurred as segregation became worse, and people wanted to see performers, so they came together and made music, eventually becoming R&B. On the side, the top picture is Jerry Wexler, and the video below is a song that he helped produced.
Jerry Wexler
Development
Throughout the years, R&B became bigger and more popular, spreading throughout the US, and eventually worldwide. First in the 1950s and 60s, rock 'n' roll was introduced to R&B. Next was funk and disco in the 70s, and then to a more smooth sound. R&B has evolved to include other types of genre like funk, rap, and pop, so that it does not "die out". No one likes to listen to the same sound over and over again, so changing things up will attract more people and will make the music sound better. That is also when R&B spread across the world, and the next popular R&B is Korean R&B. K-R&B also has many different styles of music, some of them being energetic, some being soft and sad, and many more. Just like regular R&B, there are some connections between them and all of them. Below is one of the most known R&B songs from Whitney Houston.
Connections
Between regular R&B and K-R&B, there are some similar things about them. There are probably a connections between all R&B, but regular R&B and K-R&B are most known right now. Some similarities between them or all are the melody, the message is somewhat similar, and the feelings or tone of the music is similar. Even though each music is different from each other, there is always something that is similar. Same thing with K-R&B, the melody might sound the same and the context can be similar. Below are some artists and there songs, and may have something similar to each other.
Artists and Songs
Put Your First by Etham and Gemini
Irene by Jimmy Brown
Nothing by Bruno Major
Home by Luke Chiang
Conclusion
Rhythm and Blues (R&B) stands as a dynamic and influential music genre that has undergone significant evolution and diversification over the years. From its origins in the late 1940s in urban centers with a growing African American population, R&B has expanded globally, encompassing various styles such as Jazz, Blues, Funk, Rock 'n' Roll, Swing, and Hip-hop. The genre has spread throughout the world and has adapted to other cultures.
With the impact of R&B globally, K-R&B was introduced and showed some connections between them and all other R&B music. Despite cultural and language differences, there are similarities in melody, message, and emotional tone, and it shows the universal appeal of R&B. In the end, music is what connects everyone, which is why there is some type of connection. Despite the different laguages and styles, there will always be people out there that will like the music.