Shine Bright

A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop

By: Danyel Smith

Narrated by: Danyel Smith

American pop music is arguably this country’s greatest cultural contribution to the world, and its singular voice and virtuosity were created by a shining thread of Black women geniuses stretching back to the country’s founding. This is their surprising, heartbreaking, soaring story—from “one of the generation’s greatest, most insightful, most nuanced writers in pop culture” (Shea Serrano)

“Sparkling . . . the overdue singing of a Black girl’s song, with perfect pitch . . . delicious to read.”—Oprah Daily

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, The Root, Variety, Esquire, The Guardian, Newsweek, Pitchfork, She Reads, Publishers Weekly

SHORTLISTED FOR THE PORCHLIGHT BUSINESS BOOK AWARD

A weave of biography, criticism, and memoir, Shine Bright is Danyel Smith’s intimate history of Black women’s music as the foundational story of American pop. Smith has been writing this history for more than five years. But as a music fan, and then as an essayist, editor (Vibe, Billboard), and podcast host (Black Girl Songbook), she has been living this history since she was a latchkey kid listening to “Midnight Train to Georgia” on the family stereo.

Smith’s detailed narrative begins with Phillis Wheatley, an enslaved woman who sang her poems, and continues through the stories of Mahalia Jackson, Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, and Mariah Carey, as well as the under-considered careers of Marilyn McCoo, Deniece Williams, and Jody Watley.

Shine Bright is an overdue paean to musical masters whose true stories and genius have been hidden in plain sight—and the book Danyel Smith was born to write.

Brilliantly written; I needed to know this part of HERstory for history’s sake!

I blew through this book in two days! It should be required course for every music student in USA studying pop or any form of American music.

Musical Love Affair Shinning Bright

The performance, the story, where do I begin. I love the depth Danyel takes us with her musical knowledge and her personal story in between. She really loves the artist that she spoke about did her research and gives us all the tidbits that you don't think of with the artist in the music. Only a music head would know that, that was Confunkshun at the end of the Beyonce song with the remix of Frankie Beverly. I felt like I was sitting interviewing her, listening to her stories drinking a glass of wine. I didn't want it to end I wanted to know about another artist. I listen to her Podcast as well weekly wondering which artist she's going to talk about next I loved the book definitely get it for those who were on the fence you won't regret it.

The True Herstory of American Music

Now that Danyel Smith has created the text, we must read, share and teach the true history (really her story) of American (as in USA) music.

A verbal quilt of black music history

I’ve been reading Danyel Smith longer than I’ve know. Of Danyel Smith. An avid music nerd growing up I had nearly every issue of XXL, The Source, & Vibe. It wasn’t until becoming a huge fan of Danyel’s husband, Elliot Wilson through social media and their now defunct podcast “Relationship Goals” in which they discussed so much of their past work that I learned “Oh she wrote that article that I read before!”

It was that same feeling that I found myself having while reading this book and learning how so many black female artist got their way in the door, or their recognition as “oh she wrote that song, or she sang that hook,” so many times it was accolades after the fact. Danyel gives these ladies their flowers. She tells their stories the way they deserve to be told in a way that informs you but also makes you to want to be sure if at all you can never create those same roadblocks for the women in your own life.

Smith masterfully intertwines her personal life into the lives of the many female artist she admires so seamlessly you lose who’s story you’re more intrigued by, hers or the artist. This book is talent on display, in its writing, it’s history, and it’s spirit, it does indeed Shine Bright.

Love Letter to Black Women

Initially I thought the author as narrator would take away from this novel. However, Danyel Smith's voice was perfect, the portions that made me tear up were also the parts that I could hear the author still become emotional about. I especially loved that she still sounds wowed like she can't believe this was her life. Her 'Outro' is SUPERB!! Black Woman will physically respond when Ms. Smith outlines how accomplishments are erased and how our humanity is marginalized and then when its appropriated how it becomes celebrated. This book is a love letter to Black Women in pop and a crown adjustment to all Black Women.