Winter Blues. Birthday Blues. Baby Blues. The Blue Devils. When you think about the blues you think of well, sadness.
However, in the genre of Blues music – the sounds, the lyrics the feeling aren’t necessarily sad at all. While blues lyrics often deal with the loss of love, loss of a job, etc, the music itself goes far beyond self-pity. The blues is also about overcoming hard luck, saying what you feel, ridding yourself of frustration, letting your hair down, and simply having fun. Blues music is emotional. From unbridled joy to deep sadness, no form of music communicates more genuine emotion.
The blues has deep roots in American history, particularly African-American history. The blues originated on Southern plantations in the 19th Century. Its inventors were slaves, ex-slaves and the descendants of slaves—African-American sharecroppers who sang as they toiled in the cotton and vegetable fields. It’s generally accepted that the music evolved from African spirituals, African chants, work songs, field hollers, rural fife and drum music, revivalist hymns, and country dance music.
Discovery
No single person invented the blues, but many people claimed to have discovered the genre. For instance, minstrel show bandleader W.C. Handy insisted that the blues were revealed to him in 1903 by an itinerant street guitarist.
My personal discovery of the Blues was in the late ‘80’s when a friend introduced me to the music of Miss Billie Holliday.
Billie’s Music Touches Me.
When I find I’m in a blue mood, I can put on “Lady Sings the Blues” or “Good Morning Heartache” and somehow I’m comforted. Maybe it’s a case of “Misery Loves Company” or even, “Damn! Billie’s got it worse…” but suddenly after singing along, I don’t feel so bad.
Some say the reason is that in the same way exercise boosts endorphin flow, singing also releases the brain’s “feel good” chemical – resulting in a sense of euphoria, enhanced immune response, and a natural pain relief. Singing also triggers the release of oxytocin, which helps relieve anxiety and stimulates feelings of trust.
That’s the funny thing about the Blues – even if it’s sad, it can lift you up.
The drawing.
My drawing of “The Blues” was made with blue Bic pen. My sparrow is sad mostly because the piano is old, some of the keys are broken and stuck but mostly because there is no one there to play. He just needs to remember that he has a voice of his own… and can make music wherever he is.
“Lady Sings The Blues”
Lady sing the blues
She’s got them bad
She feels so sad
And wants the world to know
Just what her blues is all about
Lady sings the blues
She tells her side
Nothing to hide
Now the world will know
Just what her blues is all about
The blues ain’t nothin’ but a pain in your heart
When you get a bad start
When you and your man have to part
I ain’t gonna just sit around and cry
I know I won’t die ’cause I love him
Lady sings the blues
I’m tellin’ you, she’s got ’em bad
But now the world will know
She’s never gonna sing them no more
‘Cause the blues ain’t nothin’ but a pain in your heart
When you get a bad start
When you and your man have to part
Ain’t gonna just sit around and cry
I know I won’t die ’cause I love him
Lady sings the blues
I’m tellin’ you, she’s got ’em bad
But now the world will know
She’s never gonna sing them no more
No more
UPDATE:
I’m thrilled that “The Blues” received an Honorable Mention in the Blue Mood show at the Virginia Beach Art Center. Additionally, the piece sold during the show! If you’re interested in prints – let me know!
