In Remy Shands' video for "Take a Message", he (a white man) walks into a club (run by black men) to audition for the position of "soul singer". The black men are originally skeptical, but after hearing his straight-outta-Al-Green falsetto, they start nodding their heads in appreciation of his music.

I'm all for eliminating racial stereotypes, but what exactly is the message here? Remy must prove that he "belongs" in the role of "soul singer". Well, if he had doubts about belonging, then those doubts are likely not unfounded. OK, this isn't real-life, it's a video. But that only accentuates the point -- why would he go to great lengths of shooting a video, showing the world how black, white, and Asian youngfolk can have a great time getting down to his music, all just to prove he "belongs"? If he really does belong there, and he believes it, then why the need to demonstrate it?

I can't imagine any real-life black person listening to Remy Shand and thinking "damn, this boy's white, he's no soul singer!", but after listening to him for a while, adjust his or her opinion and think "wait a minute, I had it all wrong, this white boy has soul, I'm digging this now!". But that's exactly what happens in the video. Presumably, Remy Shand is worthy of reconsideration solely due to his race.

Are people really that ignorant? People listen to music and decide if they like it. That's it. I've never enjoyed a piece of music, but later found out that the singer was white or black or purple and decided not to like it as much. I've never not enjoyed a piece of music, but later found out that the singer was white or black or green and decided that I liked it after all.

The REAL reason he need to demonstrate that he "belongs" is because he's signed to Motown, and all his ideas are culled straight from early 70's Temptations and Stevie Wonder records, with little in the way of stylistic interpretation that would distinguish him from a mere copyist stance of the heroes he so blatantly wears on his sleeve. He's got to prove that he's more than just a white boy with a decent falsetto.

But we've already got one Jamiroquai, and I don't see why the world would need another.