Soul Music Finally Gets Its Due with an Oscar

The Oscars have finally given soul music its due by awarding the best original song to “Stand Up For Something” from Marshall.

The history of soul music and its influence

Soul music has a long and storied history, one that has been largely overlooked by the music industry. However, that all changed this year when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded the Oscar for Best Original Song to `Glory` from the film Selma. This marked the first time that a soul song had won the prestigious award, and it was a well-deserved win.

The origins of soul music

The term “soul” has been used to describe a variety of music styles over the years, but it wasn’t until the early 1960s that soul music truly came into its own. Pioneered by artists like Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and James Brown, soul music combined elements of gospel, R&B, and pop to create a sound that was both spiritual and earthy, sensual and political.

With its roots in the African-American experience, soul music was reflective of the struggles and triumphs of the Civil Rights movement. As artists like Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder rose to prominence in the 1970s, they continued to explore themes of social injustice and personal hardship in their music, infusing their songs with a deep sense of emotion and spirituality.

Today, soul music retains its status as one of the most popular and influential genres in America. Its impact can be heard in the work of contemporary artists like Adele, Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, and John Legend, who continue to carry the torch for this truly American art form.

The rise of soul music

The rise of soul music can be traced back to the early 1940s when African American musicians began to mix gospel and blues to create a new sound. One of the first exponents of this new style was Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a gospel singer who incorporated elements of blues and jazz into her performance. This new sound quickly found its way into the mainstream with artists such as Ray Charles and James Brown helping to popularize it.

In the 1960s, soul music reached new heights with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder becoming some of the biggest names in popular music. The impact of soul can be heard in subsequent decades with artists as diverse as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Adele all being influenced by this genre.

Despite its popularity, soul music has often been overlooked by the Academy Awards with only two films (‘The Help’ and ‘Green Book’) receiving nominations in the best picture category. This year’s Oscars ceremony saw that finally change with ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ becoming the first film with a predominately Asian cast to be nominated in the best picture category. While it ultimately lost out to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, its nomination is a sign that Hollywood is starting to recognize the Contributions of this hugely important musical genre.

The influence of soul music

It wasn’t until the late 1950s, however, that soul music began to develop its own distinctive sound and style, thanks in large part to the visionary work of two producers, Jerry Wexler and Ahmet Ertegun. Wexler, a former journalist, was one of the first to recognize the creative potential of bringing together black and white musicians in the recording studio. Ertegun, the son of a Turkish diplomat, was the founder of Atlantic Records, which became one of the most important independent record labels of the 1960s.

Under Wexler’s and Ertegun’s leadership, Atlantic helped to transform soul music from a regional phenomenon into a national craze. The label’s roster included such groundbreaking artists as Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, and Aretha Franklin—all of whom made records that combined elements of gospel, R&B, pop, and blues into a sound that was both deeply emotional and irresistibly danceable.

In addition to serving as a critical showcase for soul music’s biggest stars, Atlantic also helped to develop the careers of several behind-the-scenes figures who would go on to have a profound impact on the genre. These include Arif Mardin, an accomplished jazz arranger who brought a sophisticated musical sensibility to such classic recordings as Franklin’s “Respect” and Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour”; Tom Dowd, a pioneering recording engineer whose innovative use of multitrack technology breathed new life into songs like Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”; and Chips Moman and Dan Penn, two songwriters whose co-written hits like Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” demonstrated an uncanny ability to capture both the ecstasy and heartbreak of romantic love.

The success of Atlantic’s soul artists eventually led other record companies to take notice of African American music audiences—and before long, soul was no longer just a regional phenomenon but a national craze. By the early 1970s, artists like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield had all reached new heights with albums that expanded upon –and in some cases decisively broke free from—the sonic template established by earlier generations of soul pioneers. These records were not only commercial successes but critical touchstones as well; in many cases they went on to win Grammy Awards and receive widespread acclaim from music critics.

The Oscars and soul music

The Oscars are no stranger to music. In fact, music has been a part of the Oscars since the very beginning. This year, however, soul music is finally getting its due with an Oscar.

The Oscars and music

The Oscars have been recognizing popular music in film since 1934, when the first Academy Award for Best Original Song was handed out to “The Continental” from the film The Gay Divorcee. Since then, the category has undergone several changes—including a brief period when songs from non- feature-length films were eligible—but its purpose has remained largely the same: to honor advance the use of outstanding songs in movies.

In recent years, however, the Academy has come under fire for its annual selections in the Best Original Song category. While classic Hollywood musicals and contemporary pop hits have both been honored in the past, critics argue that the Oscars have failed to adequately recognize soul music—a genre that has long been an integral part of American film. Even though soul songs have been nominated for Best Original Song on multiple occasions, none have ever won the coveted gold statuette.

This year, that may finally change. “Stand Up” from Marshall is one of five songs nominated for Best Original Song at the 90th Academy Awards, and it stands a very good chance of taking home the prize. If it does win, it would be a historic moment not just for soul music, but for music in film as a whole.

The Oscars and soul music

The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, have been recognizing the best in film for over 90 years. But it wasn’t until this year that a soul music film was finally awarded one of the top prizes.

The film “Green Book” won Best Picture at this year’s Oscars, and while it isn’t apurely soul music film, it does feature several soul music legends, including Aretha Franklin, Bobby Bland, and Sam Cooke. The film tells the story of pianist Dr.Don Shirley (played by Mahershala Ali) and his driver Tony Vallelonga (played by Viggo Mortensen) as they embark on a concert tour through the Deep South in the early 1960s.

The film has been widely praised for its depiction of race relations in America, and for its strong performances by both Ali and Mortensen. But some have criticized its portrayal of Shirley as a victim who is saved by Vallelonga, instead of depicting him as the groundbreaking artist that he was.

Regardless of its flaws, “Green Book” is an important film because it shines a light on a period in American history that is often ignored in mainstream media. And while it may not be a perfect representation of soul music or race relations in America, it is a step in the right direction for Hollywood’s treatment of both subjects.

The influence of the Oscars

The Oscars are the highest honor in the film industry, and their influence is felt throughout the entertainment world. This year, the Academy Awards will feature a special performance by Mary J. Blige, a nine-time Grammy winner who is up for two Oscars: Best Supporting Actress for her role in Mudbound and Best Original Song for “Mighty River.”

This recognition of Blige’s work is a long overdue acknowledgement of the contributions of soul music to American culture. For too long, soul music has been relegated to the margins of the mainstream music industry, despite its popularity and critical acclaim.

With this performance, Blige will help to bring soul music into the spotlight and show that it deserves to be recognized as one of America’s great musical traditions.

The future of soul music

Despite its name, soul music has been a largely neglected genre when it comes to awards. In fact, the genre has never been represented at the Oscars. But that may be about to change.

The future of soul music

In recent years, soul music has been enjoying a renaissance, with artists like D’Angelo, Lee Fields, and Charles Bradley helping to reintroduce the genre to a new generation of music fans. And now, it looks like soul music is finally getting its due in the mainstream, with the announcement that the film “Hidden Figures” has been nominated for an Oscar in the Best Picture category.

“Hidden Figures” tells the true story of three African-American women who worked as mathematicians at NASA during the Space Race of the 1960s. Along with its Oscar nomination, the film has also been nominated for two Golden Globes and is already being hailed as one of the best films of 2016.

With its mix of historical drama and feel-good moments, “Hidden Figures” is sure to appeal to a wide range of moviegoers. And its success could help bring soul music back into the spotlight. After all, much of the film’s soundtrack is composed of classic soul tracks, including hits by Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown.

If “Hidden Figures” does win an Oscar on February 26th, it will be a huge moment not just for the film’s cast and crew, but for soul music as a whole. Here’s hoping that this is just the beginning of a long-awaited revival for one of America’s most beloved genres.

The influence of the Oscars

It would be easy to mistake this year’s Academy Award for Best Original Song as a victory lap for soul music. The winner, “Stand Up,” performed by Common and Andra Day for the movie “Selma,” about the 1965 civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., has all the elements of classic soul: a rousing call to action, a gospel-inflected call-and-response chorus and an insistent beat. But while “Stand Up” may have felt like vindication for a genre that has been too often overlooked by the Oscars — only three previous songs classified as soul have won in the category, which was first handed out in 1934 — it was also a reminder of how much the film industry has changed in recent years.

Soul music, which is often described as a fusion of gospel, R&B and blues, has long been an integral part of American culture. But despite its popularity — or perhaps because of it — the genre has been largely overlooked by Hollywood. In recent years, however, that has started to change.

The success of “Selma” at this year’s Oscars is just the latest example of Hollywood’s increasing interest in soul music. The film won two other Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and its soundtrack was nominated for Best Album. “Selma” is not the only movie to feature soul music prominently in recent years. “The Help,” another Best Picture nominee, featured an original song by Mary J. Blige; “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” included tracks by Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder; and “Hidden Figures,” another Best Picture nominee, featured several tracks by Motown artists.

The increased visibility of soul music in Hollywood is likely to have a ripple effect beyond the awards season. As more movies feature soul songs and artists, it is likely that the genre will become more popular with moviegoers and music fans alike. And as more people become familiar with soul music, they may be more likely to seek out its legends — like James Brown, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye — who have been somewhat overshadowed in recent years by younger artists like Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper.

The future of the music industry

The music industry is in a constant state of flux, and soul music is no exception. For years, the genre has been relegated to the sidelines, overshadowed by other genres like rock, pop, and hip-hop. But recently, soul music has been enjoying a renaissance of sorts, thanks in part to the success of films like “Black Panther” and “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

With the Oscars finally recognizing the genre with a Best Original Song nomination for “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born,” it seems like soul music is finally getting its due. And with more and more artists like Janelle Monae and Solange pushing the boundaries of what soul music can be, it seems like the genre is only going to continue to grow in popularity.