History YMMV / SoulTrain

** White singers were tolerated, but only a few of them (including Music/EltonJohn, Michael [=Mc=]Donald, Music/DavidBowie [[note]] hilariously, as he was transitioning to his aristocratic, "emotionless ''[[NaziNobleman Aryan]]'' [[{{Ubermensch}} superman]]" "Thin White Duke" phase [[/note]], Hall & Oates, Music/PetShopBoys and Teena Marie) were deemed worthy.

* BrokenBase: Regarding the eras. TheSeventies are well liked while TheNineties and TheEighties are polarizing. Maybe or maybe not related to nostalgia, and the shift in musical trends and genres. Either way discuss at your own risk.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Several, but the best known is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GN7ODPaAJY&ytbChannel=lyslinger Cheryl Song aka "the Asian chick with the hair"]].
** Another famous example would be the other Asian chick with the long hair who replaced her, Sally "From the Valley" Achenbach.

* MemeticMutation: ''THE '''SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUL''' TRAIN!''
** Also parodied was Cornelius' tendency to sway when [=MCing=], lampshaded on ''Series/{{MADtv}}'' once.

* TheScrappy: Any white male dancer in the ''Soul Train'' Line. Bro, give it up — you can't dance.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Several, but the best known is Cheryl Song aka "the Asian chick with the hair".

** Barbara, the "Cuban Barbie". Though her detractors point out she couldn't dance, and people only liked her for [[MaleGaze other reasons]].

** The cute Filipina girl from the late 90's who went by the name "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rln_SjvC4C0&index=7&list=PL-JETDgz_I3oKNS8LRtnhFVOTj9qENT16&ytbChannel=phttech Apple]]".

** The cute Filipina girl from the late 90's who went by the name "Apple".

* WTHCastingAgency: Some of the white rock acts that made it onto the show made sense because of their R&B, soul or funk influences, particularly with some of the British new wave bands that were able to get on...and then there was the inexplicable 1985 appearance of [[Music/{{Eagles}} Don Henley]], who performed the decidedly non-soulful "The Boys of Summer".

* WTHCastingAgency: Some of the white rock acts that made it onto the show made sense because of their R&B, soul or funk influences...and then there was the inexplicable 1985 appearance of [[Music/{{Eagles}} Don Henley]], who performed the decidedly non-soulful "The Boys of Summer".

** White singers were tolerated, but only a few of them (including Music/EltonJohn, Michael [=Mc=]Donald, Music/DavidBowie [[note]] hilariously, as he was transitioning to his aristocratic, "emotionless ''[[NaziNobleman Aryan]]'' [[{{Ubermensch}} superman]]" "Thin White Duke" phase [[/note]], Hall & Oates and Music/PetShopBoys) were deemed worthy.

** White singers were tolerated, but only a few of them (including Music/EltonJohn, Michael [=Mc=]Donald, and Music/DavidBowie [[note]] hilariously, as he was transitioning to his aristocratic, "emotionless ''[[NaziNobleman Aryan]]'' [[{{Ubermensch}} superman]]" "Thin White Duke" phase [[/note]]) were deemed worthy.

** White singers were tolerated, but only a few of them (including EltonJohn, Michael [=McDonald=] and DavidBowie[[note]]hilariously, as he was transitioning to his aristocratic, "emotionless ''[[NaziNobleman Aryan]]'' [[{{Ubermensch}} superman]]" "Thin White Duke" phase[[/note]]) were deemed worthy.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Several, but the best known is Carol Song aka "the Asian chick with the hair".

* OlderThanTheyThink: Carol Song had been a ''Soul Train'' Dancer since at least the late 1970s.

* JumpTheShark: Most people point to Cornelius giving up hosting duties.

* BrokenBase: Regarding the eras. TheSeventies are well liked while TheNineties, and TheEighties are polarizing. Maybe or maybe not related to nostalgia, and the shift in musical trends and genres. Either way discuss at your own risk.

** Also parodied was Cornelius' tendency to sway when [=MCing=], lampshaded on ''MadTV'' once.

** White singers were tolerated, but only a few of them (including EltonJohn, Michael [=McDonald=] and DavidBowie[[hottip:*:hilariously, as he was transitioning to his aristocratic, "emotionless ''[[NaziNobleman Aryan]]'' [[{{Ubermensch}} superman]]" "Thin White Duke" phase]]) were deemed worthy.

** White singers were tolerated, but only a few of them (including EltonJohn and DavidBowie[[hottip:*:hilariously, as he was transitioning to his aristocratic, "emotionless ''[[NaziNobleman Aryan]]'' [[{{Ubermensch}} superman]]" "Thin White Duke" phase]]) were deemed worthy.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Several, but the best known is Carol Song aka "the Asian chick with the hair".
* JumpTheShark: Most people point to Cornelius giving up hosting duties.
* MemeticMutation: ''THE '''SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUL''' TRAIN!''
** Also parodied was Cornelius' tendency to sway when [=MCing=], lampshaded on ''MadTV'' once.
* ReplacementScrappy: After Don Cornelius stepped away from hosting, every subsequent host was tolerated at best by the fandom.
* TheScrappy: Any white male dancer in the ''Soul Train'' Line. Bro, give it up — you can't dance.
** White women tended to avoid this Trope, holding their own on the dance floor.
** White singers were tolerated, but only a few of them (including EltonJohn and DavidBowie[[hottip:*:hilariously, as he was transitioning to his aristocratic, "emotionless ''[[NaziNobleman Aryan]]'' [[{{Ubermensch}} superman]]" "Thin White Duke" phase]]) were deemed worthy.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Several, but the best known is Carol Song aka "the Asian chick with the hair".
* JumpTheShark: Most people point to Cornelius giving up hosting duties.
* MemeticMutation: ''THE '''SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUL''' TRAIN!''
** Also parodied was Cornelius' tendency to sway when [=MCing=], lampshaded on ''MadTV'' once.
* ReplacementScrappy: After Don Cornelius stepped away from hosting, every subsequent host was tolerated at best by the fandom.
* TheScrappy: Any white male dancer in the ''Soul Train'' Line. Bro, give it up — you can't dance.
** White women tended to avoid this Trope, holding their own on the dance floor.
** White singers were tolerated, but only a few of them (including EltonJohn and DavidBowie[[hottip:*:hilariously, as he was transitioning to his aristocratic, "emotionless ''[[NaziNobleman Aryan]]'' [[{{Ubermensch}} superman]]" "Thin White Duke" phase]]) were deemed worthy.