The Soul Vocal Style
Soul music has what is probably one of the most distinctive of all popular music's vocal styles. Rooted in African American gospel music, Soul emphasizes range and power on the part of the vocalist, a tight instrumental section where sloppiness is not tolerated in the least and, oftentimes, a sort of call-and-response dynamic between singer and instrumentation.
Much of this has to do with the church roots. Gospel music expresses a connection with the transcendent through the exaltations of the singer. Oftentimes, the lead singer will engage in a call-and-response with the choir and, frequently, the audience as well. This translated into two important features of Soul music: One, the music itself often features the singer vocally interacting with the band; two, the music very often deeply involves the audience in its message, as well as its rhythm.
Aretha Franklin's voice, in many ways, is one example of the Soul aesthetic. Incredibly powerful, capable of a range that could intimidate most pianos and possessed of a passion that infuses whatever song she's singing with its own life. This sort of fire is characteristic of Soul music and the vocalists who sing it.
James Brown is another example of the Soul ideal. The legendary skill of his band combined with the exuberant, powerful quality of his voice created an infectious, all-encompassing sonic experience that forced anyone within earshot to not only move, but listen. Like the Gospel music singers that preceded them, Soul singers have never shied from expressing a message, usually political or social, through the power of music. Their throwing themselves so fully into their music only emphasized the power of the message.
Through the years, some have accused Soul of becoming more sound than skill, but a live performance by any Soul artist will soon lay this accusation to rest. Soul remains a form of music where the vocalist and the story they tell are delivered powerfully, yet intimately, in very human terms. This is the music of the African American experience that has translated itself into an expression of the experiences of people all over.
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