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A review by tangodiva
Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop by Danyel Smith
3.0
Still catching up on my reviews from this Spring...
Danyel Smith had me at the description - that this would explore many undersung Black female pop stars, such as Marilyn McCoo, Jodi Watley and Deniece Williams - all huge favorites.
However, I did not realize it would also be an extended essay on Smith herself, and how she grew up and became a professional in the music business (writer/editor). This is not a criticism - it would be if the telling were uninteresting, but it was solid.
Where I see eye to eye with Smith is in her experience as a young girl/woman who experienced abuse for a male alcoholic father figure in her life, and how music was one of her only refuges. I do indeed understand THAT circumstance. But I would have liked even more written on the subjects she sheds light upon. Their stories are what I came for, and I just felt a little underwhelmed by what was presented - some of it personal interviews from her magazine writing past, but a lot of it just anecdotal quotes with footnotes.
The writing is interesting, she has a great voice and I certainly read it quickly. And I don't expect to agree with everything a music critic writes. While I concur that the O'Jays' "Use ta Be My Girl" IS a perfect song, I was a bit taken aback by her rather abrupt dismissal of Dusty Springfield. Different strokes, I guess.
Danyel Smith had me at the description - that this would explore many undersung Black female pop stars, such as Marilyn McCoo, Jodi Watley and Deniece Williams - all huge favorites.
However, I did not realize it would also be an extended essay on Smith herself, and how she grew up and became a professional in the music business (writer/editor). This is not a criticism - it would be if the telling were uninteresting, but it was solid.
Where I see eye to eye with Smith is in her experience as a young girl/woman who experienced abuse for a male alcoholic father figure in her life, and how music was one of her only refuges. I do indeed understand THAT circumstance. But I would have liked even more written on the subjects she sheds light upon. Their stories are what I came for, and I just felt a little underwhelmed by what was presented - some of it personal interviews from her magazine writing past, but a lot of it just anecdotal quotes with footnotes.
The writing is interesting, she has a great voice and I certainly read it quickly. And I don't expect to agree with everything a music critic writes. While I concur that the O'Jays' "Use ta Be My Girl" IS a perfect song, I was a bit taken aback by her rather abrupt dismissal of Dusty Springfield. Different strokes, I guess.