There are NO Iconic Singers in this Era.

[I'm Blackman]

I understand the Coli hates Adele but she's going down as one of the GOATs

This. I don't know what dope they smoking and she can really sing.

 

[Mindfield333]

Icons, with the possession of natural talent are made with the financial backing of a label which includes top notch production, songwriting, marketing, promotion…. Labels don’t really invest in r&b music like that

 

[Velvet_Ace]

billie eilish is not that great but this song is a timeless classic

Funny you mentioned it because a while ago I saw a youtube video of a professional musician who trashed this song and judged its composition subpar compared to the Bond themes of past eras. His argument was that ever since Skyfall the Bond themes were musically poor (very sparse music only helped with a few orchestration here and there) and that it was a sign of the times that music doesn't have any ambition anymore.

 

[Kliq_Souf]

Icons, with the possession of natural talent are made with the financial backing of a label which includes top notch production, songwriting, marketing, promotion…. Labels don’t really invest in r&b music like that

This

The talented singers pool is still deep
They just aren’t major recording artist, they’re making YouTube videos. And if you ain’t checking for that, you’ll never hear or see them.

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

The Weeknd and Sza are purportedly up there - according to some

They are stars no doubt but they are not icons for their voices the way those names in OP are

Jazmin Sullivan had a shot but she doesn’t have the stardom or consistency to get here there

 

[null]

Funny you mentioned it because a while ago I saw a youtube video of a professional musician who trashed this song and judged its composition subpar compared to the Bond themes of past eras. His argument was that ever since Skyfall the Bond themes were musically poor (very sparse music only helped with a few orchestration here and there) and that it was a sign of the times that music doesn't have any ambition anymore.

they should have got professional musicians to write it then i suppose big mistake

 

[2 Up 2 Down]

Anderson Paak can become iconic because he is very talented.

 

[Hathaway]

Adele
Snoh alegra has some good lyrics
Frank Ocean is one of the best song writers
The-Dream isn't a goos singer but he is/was a great song writer
T-Pain was a decent singer. he was a hit maker tho

Jene Aiko
SIR
Snoh Alegra

You nikkas still don't get it. This is an example of how far the bar has fallen.

TPain? Snoh? Dream? Iconic Singers? Generation defining voices?
Talented yes but iconic? Nah.

I don't like Adele. Her singing is just vocal yawning to me most of the time. Hell she's not even the best British vocalist. Sam Smith is if we keeping it a buck. But I'll allow it. Adele got chops. I won't front. I'm just not wowed by her.

 

[Sad Bunny]

Excuse me

 

[Velvet_Ace]

they should have got professional musicians to write it then i suppose big mistake

The thing is the Bond themes are absolutely written by professional musicians.

They wanted a trendy/popular singer to reach a wider audience and judging by the fact that so many people liked it I can’t blame them. The wider point that the youtuber made was that when you’re a kid and you’re used to listen to music that has complexity, a lot of things going on purely from a musical standpoint, it kinda trains your ear and influence the next generation of musicians.

I absolutely have nothing against Billie Eilish but it was just an interesting perspective.

 

[Drake's Tan]

It's hard to become iconic in this era.

So many want to be, and often do, famous for no reason. Plus people are more privy to how manufactured the personas of artists are nowadays that the level of reverence and mystique isn't quite what it was back in the day. And with social media cancel culture, people who get some buzz get taken down for dumb shyt on the regular.

 

[JD2019]

Might have missed these two but Jennifer Hudson for the 00’s and I think Leon Bridges deserves some recognition but he needs to show some longevity. I like Daniel Cesar too but need to see what else he has out there.

 

[Ty Daniels]

You nikkas still don't get it. This is an example of how far the bar has fallen.

TPain? Snoh? Dream? Iconic Singers? Generation defining voices?
Talented yes but iconic? Nah.

I don't like Adele. Her singing is just vocal yawning to me most of the time. Hell she's not even the best British vocalist. Sam Smith is if we keeping it a buck. But I'll allow it. Adele got chops. I won't front. I'm just not wowed by her.

Breh,

These dudes must be Young AF or DON'T really listen to R&B.

People keep on bringing up "SZA" and "The Weekend", SMH.

When we're talking about Vocal LEGENDS like...
- Whitney
- Anita Baker
- Luther
- Aretha
- Stevie Wonder
- Brian McKnight
- Donny Hathaway
- Marvin Gaye
- ETC...

Another Breh, is tying to argue about the Gospel Roots of R&B, like there is actually something to "Debate".

SHYT is FOOLISHNESS.

 

[Ty Daniels]

Like I said, if you cared about the quality of the voices, you'd be listening to gospel music.

The labels want what is going to sell. All the great vocalists on social media could be good to great artists, but it takes a label to give them decent songwriters, a decent push for radio play, etc.

Going to church, just to learn how to sing, and then to go into the world to be an R&B singer doesn't make sense. Most of America doesn't care to hear how well you can sing Blessed Assurance or Holy is the Lamb.

Joe Jackson showed everyone the new way and they've been expanding on that ever since.

Breh,

1. I DO listen to Gospel Music, raised in the Black American Church. I also listen to QUALITY R&B Singers, NOT THAT MODERN GARBAGE "R&B"!
2. GOSPEL MUSIC is the ROOT of both R&B and SOUL Music, THIS IS NOT UP FOR "DEBATE"
3. "Going to Church to learn how to sing...., BLAH, BLAH, BLAH" <--- R&B STARTED with GOSPEL MUSIC, NOT UP FOR "DEBATE"
4. Joe Jackson and Family were Jehovah's Witnesses, Michael got his start singing in the church.

LINK: Michael Jackson: A Gospel Singer At Heart​

Though he is primarily known as a pop icon, Michael Jackson actually got his start singing gospel music. He grew up singing in the church choir with his family, and his first recordings were gospel songs

Jackson credited the “Godfather of Soul” James Brown as his major influence.

Brown began his career as a gospel singer in Toccoa, Georgia.

As a vocalist, Brown performed in a forceful shout style derived from gospel music.

All of the Major "Iconic" Black Singers, either Grew up singing in the Church or,
were INSPIRED by other singers who Grew up singing in the Church!

 

[Be Strong Blackman]

Adele

You nikkas still don't get it. This is an example of how far the bar has fallen.

TPain? Snoh? Dream? Iconic Singers? Generation defining voices?
Talented yes but iconic? Nah.

I don't like Adele. Her singing is just vocal yawning to me most of the time. Hell she's not even the best British vocalist. Sam Smith is if we keeping it a buck. But I'll allow it. Adele got chops. I won't front. I'm just not wowed by her.

Adele and Ariana grande are the best vocalists in mainstream. Adele is legendary.

It’s true that ppl don’t sing like they used to because they don’t have to. Aretha and them weren’t just naturally blessed, they trained a lot. That’s the difference. A coolness factor is more of the appeal nowadays. R Kelly isn’t an amazing vocalist either but has a ton of hits. Times have changed. If the market demanded great vocalists, we’d have them.