#OnRepeat: Aaron Neville’s “Tell It Like It Is”

This week, I’ve had Aaron Neville’s “Tell It Like It Is” #OnRepeat. I’ve been finding lately with a lot of the singers (who are performing more R&B, Jazz, Funk, Pop music) out there, recently, that they have elements of some of the original R&B and Soul singers in their music and performance; they may not be aware because these singers have become such a part of our musical culture that it’s almost second nature to see these elements now. While I was making these connections, I rediscovered this song.

Aaron Neville is a singer, songwriter from New Orleans whose music blends Soul, R&B, Funk, Gospel, Blues, Country, and Jazz music. Some of his most well-known hits (other than “Tell It Like It Is”) are “Don’t Know Much,” “Everybody Plays The Fool,” and “All My Life.”

“Tell It Like It Is” is a song told from the perspective of a guy who wants a woman to stop playing around with his emotions. Neville’s classic high, soulful voice gives the song an edge of playfulness, although the lyrics have more of a serious undertone. My mom is a huge fan of Neville’s voice and music because of that playful and tender element that you hear in his performance style and vocal timbre. Take a listen below:

So what do you think? Can you hear elements of Aaron Neville in other popular singers today? Leave a comment below!