MIC SOUNDS NICE: Esperanza Spalding

BY VANGARDE GIRL P, FEBRUARY 16, 2011

It's not very often you hear of a female bassist. Less often that you hear of a female bassist singing lead. Throw in a grammy award and we're talking history made by Esperanza Spalding. She is the 26 year old classically trained bassist and jazz musician that is making her mark on the world. I was first exposed to her last year, when she performed at the BET Awards in tribute to none other than the purple piper of Paisley Park, Prince.

So with her Grammy Award win for Best New Artist over tween heart throb, Justin Bieber, Esperanza Spalding's name is on everybody's lips... or more so fingertips via twitter. Beliebers took to the internet as quickly as their harmonal bodies could hurry and threatened to huff and puff and blow itunes, youtube and wikipedia if the award wasn't rescinded and proceeded to attack every bit of Esparanza Spalding's character.
 
What didn't help was Justin's What you talkin' bout grammys? face upon her win! Now I like the lil runt that could's catchy tunes as much as the next person, but where do we draw the line?

It upsets me that her win spawned such a backlash on her talent, looks and popularity. Who is she? She looks weird. Where did she come from? Really world??? WHO ARE YOU???!! The public can be such spineless sheep when it comes to who they follow/like/love/support in the public eye. Just because her videos don't fit the flocka flame, gucci mane format of 106 & Puke---I mean, Park (yeah, that's it, Park) doesn't meant she's not talented. Just because she wasn't competing for the love of Ray J or Joe The Bachelor doesn't mean she's not a star. It seems society would faster accept a Tiger Wood jumpoff or a reality TV reject than they would a person who's devoted their life to their craft.

But you be the judge...

Check out Ms. Spalding's cover of Lauryn Hill's 'Tell Him' Live from the White House in 2009 below

Take a look at the full Prince tribute, including Esparanza Spalding's rendition of 'If I Was Your Girlfriend'

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