“If you ain’t got the money, you got
the blues, coz you thinkin’ evil. Anytime you thinkin’ evil you thinkin’ ‘bout
the blues”- Howlin Wolf (1966). There
are many interpretations as to what exactly is the blues. In the Oxford
Dictionary it is defined as “a type of slow sad music with strong rhythms,
developed by African American musicians in the southern US”. Blues has influenced many other genres of
music and has gained popularity worldwide.
The lyrics are often witty. In most of
the lyrics, specific lines are repeated several times. “Thrill is gone, The
thrill is gone away, The thrill is gone, baby, The thrill is gone away”- B B
King. “How many more years have I got to let you dog me around?, How many more
years have I got to let you dog me around?”- Howlin Wolf. The words are simple
and often reflect a tone of depression, lost love or poverty. It
is sung is as if the singer is talking in a rhythmic manner. The most common
instrument used today by blues musicians is the guitar.
Some of my favourite blues performers
include B B King, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, John Lee Hooker and Robert
Johnson. BB King aka “The King of Blues” is one of the most iconic blues
guitarist. His style of playing is quite distinctive and it seems like he makes
his guitar “Lucille” sing. "When I sing, I play in my mind; the minute I
stop singing orally, I start to sing by playing Lucille." King, who is an octogenarian remains quite active
with boundless energy and enthusiasm and continues to perform til this day. One
of my favourite tracks is Thrill is Gone.
Eric Clapton, an accomplished British
musician was formerly a member of the Yardbirds and Cream. He became well-known in the mid-60s and
progressed to be ranked second in Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest
Guitarists of All Time”. Robert Johnson is his most important influence and he
has accompanied numerous iconic performers during his time. His songs, especially
“My Father’s Eyes” and “Tears in Heaven” frequently explore highly personal
themes. “Wonderful Tonight” I’m sure has moved the hearts of many women all
over the world. One of his famous performances held frequently is the
Crossroads Guitar Festival to raise funds for a center he established in 1998.
The center helps people who suffer from substance abuse. Like many musicians,
Clapton is sometimes outspoken and vehement in his opposition towards
increasing immigration.
It
seems that Blues is here to stay and will remain pervasive in the world of
music.
