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That was awesome; thanks for that. I think it’s not well enough understood the extent to which having a “weak” or “odd” vocal instrument can often be one of the keys to being a great singer. Fred Astaire had a thin, reedy voice, but it enabled him to do things with expression his contemporaries weren’t doing. In addition to having to WORK on expression to even be serviceable (and then some), it also projects a vulnerability that the listener then responds to. A stronger singer who’s doing more things “right” leaves the listener cold.

I’m not saying Minaj has a weak instrument, but if you start out like Macy Gray or Betty Boop, that “weird, odd” choice is often a perfectly rational pathway to get to emotional places you can’t otherwise reach. Cf. also Ween and Art Brut doing a variety of original things through humor that other bands could never do, because they’re not “serious.” The Court Jester will never be Chancellor of the Exchequer, but he gets all the good lines and he has more fun too.

Showing my age and limited rap familiarity a bit, but is there a clear lineage of rap jesters? — thinking specifically of Flavor Flav here. Who’s in that category? Are Minaj and Flav even in the same category? Or maybe many if not most successful rappers have some jester element? I’m all ignorance here.

This is going to sound harsh, but I myself wouldn’t use a term like court jester. It makes it seem like the artists it’s referring to are doing something related to minstrelsy, which I feel (in this case) they aren’t.

They aren’t in a minstrel, that term and concept is so irrelevant its unbelievable.
Besides if you say that, arguably all famous black Americans are in a minstrel show because they are all atheletes, actors and singers, performing for white America.
But that would just be ideological Black Studies’ idiocy imo.

Chillax, that term woulda been used about a white person, and the mere SIMILARITY of the concept jester to “minstrel” (which wasn’t necessarily about humour btw) is…

you’re just wrong mmkay on SO many levels!

Well, yes, Gaga is part of a lineage that includes Jones. But Minaj is part of a culture that has become more open to this sort of outlandish presentation thanks to the major commercial success of Gaga. So yes, Gaga opened a door for Nicki, but it’s part of a much longer cultural tradition.

i know the writer is aware of grace jones, my post was largely sarcasm. like “oh you don’t remember grace jones? should i show you some examples to refresh your memory of how lady gaga completely jacks her style and writers seem to like not giving grace credit for it ever”

yknow dude? come on. i think a “PROFESSIONAL MUSIC WRITER” should be a little more thorough in their reporting

Actually, UGHHHH, Lady Gaga has more in common with designers like Vivienne Westwood and performers like Leigh Bowery and James St James - she’s more unhinged baroque/club kid than the skewed and slick ultra-cool of Grace Jones. Gaga’s also drawing on David Bowie’s alien glam and Elton John’s showmanship - you know the guy who would perform at a piano in a Donald Duck outfit?

And Matthew’s right - Lady Gaga has popularized a form of Bowery-like drag that was huge in the gay and club communities about two years ago, and it’s forced some of her competitors - notably Rihanna - to play catch up. Her popularity has made someone like Minaj seem bankable instead of niche. Grace Jones is awesome for many reasons, but she’s not the only originator of outre pop performance.

Oh, and if you don’t know Leigh Bowery - watch this and prepare to shit your pants:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-StXakMMNw

Grace Jones’ biggest followers have always been gay men, of every ethnicity. She built up her following in Gay Clubs like The Paradise Garage and by hanging around (at least when a photo-op presented itself) Gay Icons like Divine and Warhol. She was bigger in countries like the UK and France than she ever was in the US. And like Minaj, I don’t think she’s African American nor does she live in America today.
It’s also unfair to compare Gaga to Bowery. When Gaga spends nine hours a day designing all of her looks herself then she can be compared to Leigh Bowery, but really she’s a poor man’s Grace Jones.