TikTok creator posts viral video with controversial revelations…
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By Charlie Sawyer
Published on June 20, 2024 at 12:29
Reading time: 1 minute
Shortly after James Charles announced the song’s release date in an embarrassing green screen video, a TikTok user pointed out that the song in question has a long history tied to the black South.
James Charles has been on the Internet for almost a decade and has been the focus of countless various controversiesMost recently, the influencer found himself in trouble – literally – after announcing the upcoming release of a new song titled “Bring Me Water,” which is set to drop on Friday, June 28, 2024. While most of us viewed this bizarre and crazy move as merely a way for Charles to become relevant online again, some eagle-eyed internet users made a rather astute observation.
For those unfamiliar with the story of James Charles, there is a viral video/memes from when Charles sang the song “Bring Me a Little Water, Sylvie” for a group of fans.
@jamescharles BRING ME WATER 🔥💦 Mark my next single now, it will be released on June 28th at midnight 🤭🫶🏼
♬ Original sound – James Charles
@allanthedoll Reply to @nad James has so many hits #jamescharles @James Charles
♬ Original sound – Allan
Shortly after Charles announced the song’s release date in an embarrassing green screen video, a TikTok user said: Annettepointed out that the song in question has a long history connected to the black South and also to slavery plantations.
@annetteswrld From the black south, slavery, Huddie William Ledbetter “Leadbelly”, Moira Smiley and James Charles. Let’s talk about Bring Me Water Sylvie and folk music icon Leadbelly. #jamescharles #leadbelly #jamescharlespalette #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #blackartist #musichistory #historynerd #ericclapton #musiclives #louisianacheck #louisianatiktok #americanhistory
♬ Original sound – Annette
The creator further notes: “This is thanks to none other than legendary folk singer and musician Huddie Ledbetter, his name was informally referred to as ‘Lead Belly’. Lead Belly had quite a turbulent life, this video of James got me talking about this piece of history and where ‘Bring Me a Little Water, Sylvie’ comes from.”
Annette further explains that the origin of the song can be traced back to a worker calling his wife Silvie to bring him water. Other accounts also suggest that the song has direct links to plantation work.
“‘Bring Me a Little Water, Sylvie’ was definitely a song that was influenced by working on that plantation and so I just wanted to talk about it and I hope that James Charles and others who might sing that song keep that in mind and keep that impact in mind when they sing it as well,” the TikToker concluded.
Other social media users also made the following observations about X:
James Charles is criticized for posting a video of Lead Belly’s song Bring Me A Little Water Sylvie. Lead Belly told his audience that the song was about his uncle who worked in the fields and ploughed the soil, and when he was thirsty he would ask his wife Sylvie to bring him water. pic.twitter.com/1m3MlazUho
— The Gworls Fight (@baddietvv) June 19, 2024
James Charles singing a slave song to promote his song is kind of wild, NGL 🫠 Take him back where you found him
— Toy boat by Tesfaye (@Mrlyain) 20 June 2024
James Charles releases a single with an interpolation of a slave song
— J (@looleylooleyloo) June 17, 2024
At the time of writing, Charles has not responded to online comments about the song.