R'n'B singer Estelle might seem to have it all at the moment. Her single 'American Boy' is sitting pretty on top of the UK singles chart for the second week, her new album 'Shine' is released today and she's been confirmed to perform at this year's Glastonbury festival. But Estelle is far from a happy bunny. Why so glum chum?
It's those other pesky female singers, especially Duffy and Adele that have Estelle ranting in an interview with the Guardian, as she lays into the media labeling their music as 'soul'. "It's hilarious," says Estelle. "I'm not mad at them - but I'm just wondering, how the hell is there not a single black person in the public eye singing soul? Adele isn't soul. She sounds like she heard some Aretha Franklin records once and she's got a deeper voice - that doesn't mean she's soul."
"That doesn't mean anything to me in the grand scheme of my life as a black person. As a songwriter, I get what they do. As a black person, I'm like, 'You're telling me this is music?' F**k that! People keep trying to tell me what soul music is and I'm like, we know what soul music is, stop f***ing around with us!"
Eek – I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of this star. But does Estelle have a point? Is today's definition of soul music sorely lacking or does this musical debate veer into one of racial ownership? What do you think Star Trippers?
[via Female First]
