Wait, Are We Talking About The Same Soul II Soul?

Dan Gibson | May 23, 2008 11:30 am
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BBC’s Newsbeat featured Soul II Soul today for their incredible contributions to music, among them changing the face of R&B, setting the stage for Britpop, and re-introducing British music to America. Wait, what did they just say?

Maybe I’m thinking of a different Soul II Soul. Here’s the one I remember.

Let me check the article again:

“Soon to follow were classic tunes Keep on Movin and Back to Life which ensured the success of their debut album Club Classics Vol. I.”

Nope, they’re talking about the same group, Somehow, I must have been listening to something else while Soul II Soul were dominating North American airwaves (admittedly, two R&B number ones have some significance), because they were busy changing music as we know it.

Vocalist Rose Windross: “Mary J Blige and Alicia Keys have stemmed from the concept that we created.”

The new sound also helped the collective to break into America.

DJ Roy the Roach said: “After the Beatles, they were the next British group to really storm America. They were absolutely huge over there and still are.”

Speaking at the Ivor Novello Awards, singer Beverley Knight said: “When Jazzie B came along it was 1988 and music was kind of in a bit of a doldrums.

“He came along with the Soul II Soul beat… suddenly you had indie bands listening to Soul II Soul and taking the passion and the kind of vibe from the drums and running with it.”

“And right after that, obviously five years later came Britpop. He changed the face of young music.”

Rose Windross added: “Jazzie is probably the original of all the Puffy Coombes [sic] and Jay-Z’s of this world and probably broke down doors in order for those mega superstars to come through.”

Forget the Bee Gees or Duran Duran or U2: the ’70s and ’80s were characterized by a nation waiting for the sound of Britain to come back and show us how music is really made. And with tracks like “Jazzie’s Groove”, how did I fail to hear the brilliance? He’s talking while music plays! Genius!

They should sue Alicia Keys…every one of her songs sounds JUST LIKE THAT.

How Soul II Soul changed music [BBC]