Blues, Blues, Blues!

This is one of my personal favourites. Born (as far as we know) in the Mississippi Delta and sung by the descendants of slaves; sired by gospel and the troubles and fears of a black society.

Sweet, swingin’, seductive blues.

There have been many attempts to define what blues is; made up of often a very rigid chordal pattern, with improvisation and the use of “blues notes”. However none of these capture the essence of blues for me.

In my opinion the closest approximation to a definition of blues includes the above elements, yes, but also one crucial element. The feeling. Blues is about more than a set chord progression or a particular note in a scale. Blues is releasing your sadness, fears and even anger or frustration, through a music that allows you to make it your own.

No blues song will ever be sung the same way twice. Yes, the pattern of chords may be rigid and the arrangement may be simple, but it’s not about that; it’s about the passion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A