When in doubt, I think any singer should bring in a black gospel choir, or African singers to sing back-up. Gotta hit record? Let some black women in kente Cloth sway behind you echoing your chorus. Now it's epic. Gotta a so-so song? Bring in the Chicago Mass Choir to belt out the la la la's. Now you have a mild hit. It may be a strength in numbers thing but more likely it's America's deep rooted love for motherly black women.
QSN: Motherly is the key. For centuries the symbol of domestic activitiy was a always a rotund friendly black woman. America's love for the “Around the Way girls” I grew up with doesn't run quite as deep. Although, I got nothing but love for 'em.
I wish I could test my theory. I truly believe Lou Bega could release Mambo Number 6 tomorrow if he had some strong black women singing back up. He just needs a little Mahalia in his life.
Great Elvis Costello song, Every day I Write The Book, made a little better by some groovy dancers one who happens to be a young Carol Wheeler from the group Soul to Soul.
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I'd actually love to have such a choir on-hand to help me out in my daily life. If someone cut me off on the freeway in a dangerous manner, they could lean out the windows and give them an almighty blasting of warnings and mild expletives {in harmony!}
I remember seeing the video for Madonna's Like A Prayer when I was younger and naively wondering how she managed to get a gospel choir to sing the chorus of a song that was potentially about seducing Jesus. Only later did I realize that they were actually an ensemble of porn character actors who managed to have mellifluous voices. Lucky breaks for both.
Also, you know I love that Costello song. "When your dreamboat turns out to be a footnote, I'm the man with a mission in two or three editions."
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