(February 21, 2024) There has been a lot written and said regarding what is a country song and who is a country singer. These discussions are often racialized because country music is sometimes viewed as the province of White people, both from artistic and world view standpoints. That’s despite the contributions made by Black artists over the years in that genre; contributions that continue to this very day
The music itself never fails to defy our attempts to be fenced in. Ray Charles cut an album that featured soulful versions of country songs like “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” In the aftermath of the kerfuffle regarding Beyonce’s release of an EP of country songs, we learned that country singers have been mining the Beyonce songbook in their live shows for years. Rhiannon Giddens, formerly of the old-time string band Carolina Chocolate Drops, did a bluegrass cover of the Blu Cantrell song “Hit ‘Em Up Style.”
(February 21, 2024) There has been a lot written and said regarding what is a country song and who is a country singer. These discussions are often racialized because country music is sometimes viewed as the province of White people, both from artistic and world view standpoints. That’s despite the contributions made by Black artists over the years in that genre; contributions that continue to this very day
The music itself never fails to defy our attempts to be fenced in. Ray Charles cut an album that featured soulful versions of country songs like “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” In the aftermath of the kerfuffle regarding Beyonce’s release of an EP of country songs, we learned that country singers have been mining the Beyonce songbook in their live shows for years. Rhiannon Giddens, formerly of the old-time string band Carolina Chocolate Drops, did a bluegrass cover of the Blu Cantrell song “Hit ‘Em Up Style.”
Great songs and songs and great lyrics will attract artists from every genre. That brings us to Alex Harris’s excellent remake of “Millionaire,” a song most famously associated with country singer Chris Stapleton, but that has been done by soul singer Solomon Burke. It is featured on Harris's upcoming April 12 Shanachie debut album, Back to Us.
Harris transforms “Millionaire” into a true soul song that taps into gospel, right down to the churchy piano and organ heard throughout the tune, the blues inspired guitar riffs and the call and response on the baking vocals.
Then there is Harris’s rich and gritty baritone and his ability to soar into falsetto range, seemingly at the drop of a hat. In Harris’s hands “Millionaire” serves as a reminder that a song with strong lyrical content and a great story to tell will always find a home. Check it out here.
By Howard Dukes