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A review by thechanelmuse
Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop by Danyel Smith
5.0
In her interview with The Atlantic, veteran music journalist, Danyel Smith, said: "To just shine bright on behalf of myself is new." A number of our musical greats never experienced that lasting impression in the end on a timeless centerstage or their light was dimmed in exchange for their obstacles being elevated instead. This book presents them their vibrant bouquet as a start.
Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women In Pop is the music biography I’ve always longed to see as a book pay homage to our stapled Black American female powerhouses — from girl groups to solo acts — who head their own chapters in this book, with many of the other iconic songbirds weaved throughout to create a beautiful tapestry that holds each other’s imprints at some point in their own musical journey.
Danyel manages to tie in her own story as well, shaping this into an unconventional, fitting read. We see the pivotal stages of her blossoming into a young music enthusiast leading to her coming-of-age and veteran career in music journalism. Peeling back the layers of our highlighted vocalists that experienced pivotal highs and dipped lows, Danyel never shies away from their lasting impact and the beauty of their humanity and incomparable craft. She also unveils many intimate moments of her own journey where our legends are taken along for the ride, playing a part in her life that's highly relatable in so many ways because haven't we all done it? The song that got us through dark times? Takes us back to a nostalgic moment?
In the concluding chapter, she affirms a stance that is undeniable:
We must take the lead in upholding our stories, especially those that are the history of our lineage, to sustain our presence for future generations even after we've passed on. A firm platform with an endless spotlight. Shine Bright is a celebratory playlist that I will cherish in my collection. Thank you, Danyel. Now if only this can be turned into a documentary as well. *cough cough*
Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women In Pop is the music biography I’ve always longed to see as a book pay homage to our stapled Black American female powerhouses — from girl groups to solo acts — who head their own chapters in this book, with many of the other iconic songbirds weaved throughout to create a beautiful tapestry that holds each other’s imprints at some point in their own musical journey.
Danyel manages to tie in her own story as well, shaping this into an unconventional, fitting read. We see the pivotal stages of her blossoming into a young music enthusiast leading to her coming-of-age and veteran career in music journalism. Peeling back the layers of our highlighted vocalists that experienced pivotal highs and dipped lows, Danyel never shies away from their lasting impact and the beauty of their humanity and incomparable craft. She also unveils many intimate moments of her own journey where our legends are taken along for the ride, playing a part in her life that's highly relatable in so many ways because haven't we all done it? The song that got us through dark times? Takes us back to a nostalgic moment?
In the concluding chapter, she affirms a stance that is undeniable:
“There is this deep fear of stopping. Of resting in the rests. [...] Because if we stop, we will be forgotten. That is the fear. And it’s not an irrational fear, because so many Black women and so much of Black women’s work is undervalued and strategically un-remembered. We cannot sit quietly while everyone dresses like us and sings like us and writes like us and just kind of steals us from ourselves. That’s the part that makes us tired. But what’s even more heartbreaking than that is the thought that people may not truly know us, or the details of our lives. What if no one ever gets us right? What if our spirits and stories are never truly known? It could so easily be that we—except for our songs, our art, our children—were never here at all.”
We must take the lead in upholding our stories, especially those that are the history of our lineage, to sustain our presence for future generations even after we've passed on. A firm platform with an endless spotlight. Shine Bright is a celebratory playlist that I will cherish in my collection. Thank you, Danyel. Now if only this can be turned into a documentary as well. *cough cough*