I totally agree that racism is alive and well today and as a white person, I have NO IDEA what it's like to think (or be made to think) about my skin color everyday.

But that doesn't mean that racism was what was holding Ty back or was the only thing or even the main thing. Look at Marty (so white he's practically albino.) Read through back posts here - Marty used to be a strong leader then many, many people started getting sick of his all-grunge-all-the-time. It was oft said he should be trying out for Nirvana, not INXS. INXS even came out and told him they were having a hard time seeing him with the band.

What did he do? A little FU to INXS (still screaming) then paid the price (bottom 3) then knocked it out of the ballpark blending grunge with INXS in "Don't Change." Then really stretching himself and trying a different style, dropping his screaming altogether if only for a song.

So, whether or not Ty is soul or isn't soul (by the way, does soul mean you really feel what the singer is singing? If so, then I haven't felt Ty since No Woman, No Cry.) I mean, he says he soul, the band says he is, so I guess I'll just have to accept it.

But the question is: Is INXS soul, or more importantly - do they wanna be?

I know someone told me earlier that I don't know INXS at all if I don't know they are soul, but I swear, I don't really hear it. I'm not their biggest fan so I don't know the whole catalog, but I woulda never called them that.

Just like the question could be are or wanna be grunge?
Or power rock/belting it out? - Deanna
Or country rock? - Brandon

Why is it that they can say to 8 other people - your style and our style don't mix and it's accepted but they can't say that to Ty? And don't you think what they say is reflected in the voting? Ty outlasted many, many performers.