Contemporary R&B

I make a distinction between Rhythm & Blues, as we discussed it earlier this semester, and R&B (or “Contemporary Rhythm & Blues”). R&B, in my opinion, is basically Rhythm & Blues Pop Music. It therefore contains much of the common characteristics of Commercial Music, focussing primarily on revenue. This new style of R&B became popular in the 1980s, and inherited the synthetic dance rhythm from Disco music, and sometimes even use Hip-Hop style beats.

An interesting characteristic in R&B is the use of “melisma” or “melismatic singing.” Usually when people sing, one syllable is sung on one musical note. In melismatic singing, one syllable is sung over several musical notes. The success of melisma singing in R&B may also be a contributor to the popularity of the “Auto-Tune”-phenomena over the past decade and a half. Some popular melisma singers include Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

Following is a short selection of representative R&B songs:

• Leo Slayer: “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” (1976)
• Anita Baker: “Giving You the Best that I Got”
• Michael Jackson: “Billy Jean”
• Whitney Houston: "I Will Always Love You"
• Mariah Carey: "We Belong Together"
  
• R Kelly: “I Believe I Can Fly”
• The Fugees: “Killing Me Softly”
• Alicia Keys: “Fallin”
  

Exercise: Discuss how the music, for instance the melodic contour, contributes to the lyrics in this song.