First Listen: Butterscotch amazes us with “Summertime”
(January 27, 2016) Biz Markie, The Human Beat Box, Doug E. Fresh, Rahzel of The Roots, Erykah Badu and yes, even the late, great MJ. All of them did, or do, sound effects and percussive embellishments in their songs or rhymes, AKA “beatboxing.” It’s a specialized form of vocalization in and of itself, but rarely has it been incorporated into the verses of a timeless classic……until now.
Meet Butterscotch, a young lady who lent her acoustic guitar and meticulous beatboxing expertise to a recent Los Angeles fundraising benefit for the Southern Poverty Law Center, flooring all in attendance with her innovative, lung-defying rendering of the Gershwin standard, “Summertime.” Enhanced the intriguing story backdrop, guitar chords and, of course, the half-sung half-beatbox version may not move traditional listeners, but those who have a hearty appreciation for any of the artists above will find the skill set mesmerizing and as expected, hard to overlook or forget about. Make the music with your mouth Scotch….streets is watching, and folks are listening.
By Melody Charles
Butterscotch – “Summertime”