Mapile 1

Ranica Mapile
English 115
Professor Lawson
14 November 2014
Exercise 1: Argument Proposal
Word Count: 670
Where is the love?
Where is the love we used to see in R&B Music before the 2000s and how has that love
changed with the music we are accessed to today? R&B has made its mark in the music industry,
starting from the Early 70s to the 2000s and is still continuing on. The earlier generations of
R&B music come from the likes of Marvin Gaye while the present generations include the works
of Trey Songz and Chris Brown. Has the depiction of love in R&B music changed throughout
the years? If so, was the change for the better or for the worse? As the R&B music industry
continues to strive on, the love and romance begins to fade. There are many who argue that its
only gotten better, but I can only stay true to myself and believe that R&B has took a turn for the
worse in terms of love and how its expressed today.
The meaning of love has truly lost its touch in todays R&B music. What once was the
focus of being in love has changed into the lesser means of love through sexual contact. The
romance and the tenderness of love have failed to be shown in the music we listen to today.
Before the 2000s, many R&B artists focused on the true meaning of love and how valuable ones
love was. How to cherish each moment with the one you love by showing all aspects of tender,
love, and care. Unfortunately, this isnt depicted in the now generation. Songs on today's urban
radio playlists are drained of romance, tenderness and seduction (Blake). Todays music is

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focused on how valuable and essential a great sex life is to have. Sex and love are two totally
different topics that many artists have failed to notice when they speak of such things in the
music they make.
The music genre has only gotten better and appeals to the more hype and rather now
generation. The meaning of love hasnt changed but the way they look at R&B music sure has.
Its only the new sound of the genre that has really changed. Some believe that changing the
sound of R&B music will ultimately bind together the many different cultures and societies with
the new sound combined with the old tunes weve grown to love (Hawking)
One major problem with these claims is that not everyone has the same specific type they
favor in R&B music. Some may prefer the older generations of the music genre because they
may believe that the music back then holds more meaning to it when it comes to loving someone
and making love. Other people may prefer the R&B music we have today because it is more
upbeat and catchy, and it can definitely appeal to the younger crowd in the forms of love todays
society focuses on. Another problem with these claims is that some people may be drawn to both
versions of R&B, thus having a very neutral standpoint to the topic. They may very much enjoy
the music from before the 2000s primarily for the meaningful lyrics of love and the more
soothing tone those songs bring.
What does it mean when love becomes lost in translation? Well, first love is a very strong
word and a sensitive subject to discuss. Love that is expressed today can be terribly loss in
translation due to the lack of knowledge of love being taught to the now generation. This is
especially depicted in R&B music of today. Now you have many R&B artists going outside the
box of the classical R&B age and making music that doesnt really conform to the original works
of R&B music from the 70s to the 90s (Denzel). They have now developed a new sound and a

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new meaning of love. Today they focus on means of a great sex life rather than a love life and
this has affected the way that many people from the younger now generation in teaching them
the wrong meanings of love.

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Works Cited
Denzel, Rashaad. The Baby-Making Music Is Gone: Has Classic R&B Disappeared? Elite
Daily. Elite Daily, 9 Oct. 2013.
Hawking, Tom. Why I Cant Stop Worrying and Learn to Love R&B. Flavor Wire. Flavor
Wire, 21 Aug. 2012.
Blake, John. Where is the Love in R&B Music? CNN. CNN, 3 Dec. 2011.