MUS120 - A Comparison of Aretha Franklin and James Brown's Vocals

This essay provides a comparative analysis of the vocal styles of Aretha Franklin and James Brown, two prominent figures in soul music. It explores their gospel music backgrounds and how it influenced their secular performances. The essay highlights Franklin's powerful keyboard playing and vocal interpretation skills, as well as Brown's incorporation of gospel energy into his music. It also discusses their duet song "Gimme Your Love" and contrasts their approaches to fusing gospel techniques with secular music. The essay concludes by comparing the production work and musical styles of both artists and referencing other artists like Bob Dylan. Desklib provides access to more solved assignments and study resources for students.

Discussion essay

1. Comparison of Aretha Franklin and James Brown focusing on vocals
Aretha Franklin and James Brown were the artists whose names were linked with soul music
in 1960. These artists stand out exceptional among all the artists with multi-decade careers.
At that time these artists were the top two rhythm blues artists of the entire time period
(Denise, 2019). These artists had brought the experience with gospel singing for bearing upon
their secular material performance. They had developed flamboyant, gritty, individual and
intense approach for singing pop music. Franklin had grown up gospel music as her father
was pastor in Detroit for a large Baptist congregation. Her first recording was as a Gospel
singer when she was 14. In the midst of her career she as a pop singer she turned to recording
gospel music. This album was the most successful album of her whole career. Franklin was a
powerful key board player and a vocal interpreter. She used all that in the vocal arrangements
which were coloured by call ad in response of the gospel traditions in which she had grown
up. She had brought gospel styles in soul music in the mid 60’s. By the end of this decade she
was known as the Queen of Soul. She protested her style of singing which displayed virtuosic
vocal technique as well as emotionally charged vocal melodies (Kajikawa, 2021). For
example: the music in franklin’s songs is usually loud filled with energetic drums which can
be seen in song “Gimme your love”. The music in James’s songs is also very similar as there
are energetic drums and loud music as seen in one of his songs “I got you”. However, the
tone of both the artists is different.
James brown had started his career by singing in church choir. He was a member of gospel in
his school. When his career expanded, he started changing the sound and started following
gospel music. It stared gaining a mass following. He brought the gospel energy in his act and
music as well which helped him in capturing the white and black both the audience. James
brown’s beats are still used by hip hop artists as he was a slower style of gospel singer
(Alexander, 2021). The example can be his song “Please, please, Please” in which he change
he gospel song about yarning for God’s love and changed it into yarning for a girl’s love. It
was a revolutionary movement when the gospel singer had changed the gospel song into
secular songs. Both the artists have recorded a duet song together in 1889. It is called as
“Gimme your love”, which was a lead track on Franklin’s album. In the music of James
brown, there are some moments of scale. For example in song “I feel good” but the note
choices i.e. melodies are predictable. Songs are very intense as well as are passionate. In his
music the songs usually starts with some interactions such can be seen in “I feel good”.

I feel that both the artists have approached fusion of gospel techniques and fervour to secular
music but in different styles. As both the artists had grown up in culture where they were
constantly exposed to gospel music. The difference is that James brown had started his career
with this music and continued it even when he gained popularity. However, Franklins started
her career with gospel and then turned to pop music. Occasionally she adopted the gospel
again with the fusion of pop music (Alexander, 2021). Thus, there approaches were
somewhat same but in different styles. The difference between both the artists can be spotted
in their duet song which is “Please, please, please”. Franklin is more subtle than James. The
ideas in both of their songs change over time. In the same song, both the artists use high and
low both the notes for dramatic effects.
There is difference between less produced tunes and rock band backing which the artists have
come from. The less produced tunes are soft in tone and while playing. The rock band
backing includes to the basic formula of bass, drums, piano, guitars. Yes, the production
work of Phil Spector makes for more exciting and emotionally compelling music as the music
which is being produced helps in creating value for the sound which the music produces.
The music of Bob Dylan is different from that of defying pop music conventions. Dylan
explored country music and released series of albums of contemporary gospel music. He
produced music and songs in manner which helped him gain popularity and made him
famous in American culture. The example of sparser instrumentation provides the music with
different tones and tunes to be played. It focuses on the simple, minimalistic and all geners of
moods.

REFERENCES:
Books and journals:
Denise, D.L., 2019. The Afterlife of Aretha Franklin's “Rock Steady:” A Case Study in DJ
Scholarship. The Black Scholar. 49(3). pp.62-72.
Alexander, D., 2021. Selected Discography. In Real Love, No Drama (pp. 190-195).
University of Texas Press.
Alexander, D., 2021. 3 Ladies, Ladies, It Is Our Turn. In Real Love, No Drama (pp. 20-32).
University of Texas Press.
Kajikawa, L., 2021. The Race of Sound: Listening, Timbre, and Vocality in African
American Music, by Nina Sun Eidsheim.