"I like colored people...!"
While sitting in my cube at work listening to some blues on my Ipod before I got started for the day, I was thinking about choices of songs for me to sing at karaoke. As I mulled over different choices, I thought about how those choices evolved over the last six years. That subject reminded me about what happened at a recent St. Paul Saints game that I attended.
Between Innings the PA announcer played a soul song (the name and artist escapes me right now) and while it played, I was singing aloud every word. When the song ended, this Caucasian woman who had obviously been digging on my singing said to me, "Yeah, we really love our Motown, right soul brother?" Now, I know that this woman probably had drank too many beers before she said this, but still, I didn't like her patronizing tone. So I responded, "Yeah, but I love MY Rock & Roll too!" after which she blushed, smiled a nervous smile and fell silent.
Now I am a pretty tolerant guy, but I have to say, I HATE THAT SHIT! How dare some people assume that I love/sing/have to know, certain songs just because I am a Black man? You might as well quote that old racism commercial they used to play in the early 70's:
"I like colored people,
they make good athletes,
colored people are happy go lucky,
they don't worry about things,
some of my best friends are colored..."
When I first started singing karaoke, I sang Country songs almost exclusively. My old sig/other had turned me on to it, and T likes it as well. I found that I liked the styling of it, and the lyrics were catchy and clear. I also found that my voice was suited to singing Songs by Toby Keith, Aaron Tippin, or Trace Atkins to name a few.
When I came on stage, and the title of the Country song I was about to sing would come up on the big screen, there would always be a bit of surprised murmuring, as if the crowd was shocked that I wasn't singing a soul song. It was so pronounced that at one time, that before singing,I would always say, "I'm about to do a Country song. Sorry if that messes you up!"
After singing, as I made my way back to my seat while receiving the usual kudos for doing a decent job, I would inevitably get a request to sing, a Black crooner song of some sort. The funny thing is, it would ALWAYS be some drunk White lady who would make the request.
"Heh, brotherman! Yerrrr great! Why doncha sang me some Bah-rry White/Al Green/Luther Vandross" etc. Well first of all, although I know of these artists, I don't know all of their songs well enough to be able to sing them for an audience. Second of all, these type of crooner songs are not what I do. So each time I am given that request, I respectfully decline, and go back to my seat, usually amid groans of protest from these women.
This kinda thing makes me feel like the Black railroad workers in Blazing Saddles singing a totally unexpected "I get a Kick Outta You" and then being asked by the boss to sing a "Real nigger song, like Camptown Ladies..."
Anyway, my songs of choice have evolved over the years, from Country to Pop, to 70's Classic Rock and Blues which is what I sing now. In expanding my song choices, I have finally decided that maybe it is a good idea to learn some Barry White tunes to add to my repertoire after all. These songs would challenge me as a singer, which is what I need to keep getting better. So I have ordered a disc with a few of his songs and one Luther Vandross song. If things go well perhaps I'll go into singing a few more soul songs. My good friend Ms. Classical had the line of the night, when we left the Karaoke bar on Saturday night. She told me something that left me in a fit out laughter for 10 minutes straight. She said:
"If you do sing any soul songs, you should get on stage and say, 'This is for all the drunk White women out there!'"
Between Innings the PA announcer played a soul song (the name and artist escapes me right now) and while it played, I was singing aloud every word. When the song ended, this Caucasian woman who had obviously been digging on my singing said to me, "Yeah, we really love our Motown, right soul brother?" Now, I know that this woman probably had drank too many beers before she said this, but still, I didn't like her patronizing tone. So I responded, "Yeah, but I love MY Rock & Roll too!" after which she blushed, smiled a nervous smile and fell silent.
Now I am a pretty tolerant guy, but I have to say, I HATE THAT SHIT! How dare some people assume that I love/sing/have to know, certain songs just because I am a Black man? You might as well quote that old racism commercial they used to play in the early 70's:
"I like colored people,
they make good athletes,
colored people are happy go lucky,
they don't worry about things,
some of my best friends are colored..."
When I first started singing karaoke, I sang Country songs almost exclusively. My old sig/other had turned me on to it, and T likes it as well. I found that I liked the styling of it, and the lyrics were catchy and clear. I also found that my voice was suited to singing Songs by Toby Keith, Aaron Tippin, or Trace Atkins to name a few.
When I came on stage, and the title of the Country song I was about to sing would come up on the big screen, there would always be a bit of surprised murmuring, as if the crowd was shocked that I wasn't singing a soul song. It was so pronounced that at one time, that before singing,I would always say, "I'm about to do a Country song. Sorry if that messes you up!"
After singing, as I made my way back to my seat while receiving the usual kudos for doing a decent job, I would inevitably get a request to sing, a Black crooner song of some sort. The funny thing is, it would ALWAYS be some drunk White lady who would make the request.
"Heh, brotherman! Yerrrr great! Why doncha sang me some Bah-rry White/Al Green/Luther Vandross" etc. Well first of all, although I know of these artists, I don't know all of their songs well enough to be able to sing them for an audience. Second of all, these type of crooner songs are not what I do. So each time I am given that request, I respectfully decline, and go back to my seat, usually amid groans of protest from these women.
This kinda thing makes me feel like the Black railroad workers in Blazing Saddles singing a totally unexpected "I get a Kick Outta You" and then being asked by the boss to sing a "Real nigger song, like Camptown Ladies..."
Anyway, my songs of choice have evolved over the years, from Country to Pop, to 70's Classic Rock and Blues which is what I sing now. In expanding my song choices, I have finally decided that maybe it is a good idea to learn some Barry White tunes to add to my repertoire after all. These songs would challenge me as a singer, which is what I need to keep getting better. So I have ordered a disc with a few of his songs and one Luther Vandross song. If things go well perhaps I'll go into singing a few more soul songs. My good friend Ms. Classical had the line of the night, when we left the Karaoke bar on Saturday night. She told me something that left me in a fit out laughter for 10 minutes straight. She said:
"If you do sing any soul songs, you should get on stage and say, 'This is for all the drunk White women out there!'"