“I like how it’s not so in-your-face and it’s not just about sex, it’s also love, romance and ‘I do want to have sex with you, but I also care about your emotions, well-being and soul,’ says singer-songwriter Schenay about music from Summer’s era. The song was perhaps the first of its ilk as a commercial single, while other songs of the time traditionally had a more take on sexuality. Although “Love to Love You Baby” was a disco hit, the BBC and several other broadcast companies banned the song because of strong sexual references. The late vocalist recorded the song’s demo with the intention of giving it to another singer, before the song’s co-writer, Giorgio Moroder, convinced Summer to release it. The dawn of disco and funk led to Black music taking a more erotic turn, as heard in Donna Summer’s 1975 staple “Love to Love You Baby,” where The First Lady of Love simulates an orgasm over a sultry arrangement. “They sang so beautifully and sweetly with so many harmonies that it went unnoticed,” Sultana explains. When blues was the authoritative sound of Black music during the early 20th century, vocalist Wynonie Harris pushed double entendre-fueled songs, notably his 1952 hit “Keep On Churnin’ (Till the Butter Comes).” A nod to ejaculation, the song was controversial and considered a form of “dirty blues.” But it was preceded by music from other Black women, including Lucille Bogan, Bessie Smith, Irene Scruggs and Julia Lee.Īfter R&B’s deviation from heartfelt doo-wop and soul music of the ‘50s and ‘60s, the ‘70s and ‘80s introduced bedroom-oriented quiet storm and smooth R&B, a transition that contemporary R&B singer Nia Sultana accredits to soul icons Minnie Riperton and Marvin Gaye. Despite recent controversies suggesting sexual content in the genre has suddenly gone too far, eroticism has been present in Black music since before R&B had its name. Direct in nature, women artists are taking the opportunity to vocalize their sexual desires, while some men have resorted to ‘toxicity’ and bedroom machismo. R&B’s era of hyper-sexual content is turning into music’s new taboo. In this piece, writer Jaelani Turner-Williams addresses claims that today’s R&B is too sexual.
Welcome to The State of R&B, ESSENCE’s look at the past, present and future of rhythm and blues.
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