Music Analysis Essay Song 1 I have selected ‘Cross Roads Blues’ written and recorded by Robert Johnson in 1936, one of the best Delta Blues singer, song-writer and musician (May 8, 1911-August 16 1938). Robert Johnson performed ‘Cross Roads Blues’ as a solo piece with his vocal and acoustic slide guitar in the style of Delta Blues, produced by Don Law. This song has become a part of Robert Johnson’s mythology because in this song he is talking about the place where he met the devil and sold his soul to the devil in exchange of his musical talent, even though lyrics do not comprehend those references. ‘Cross Roads Blues’ prove that Johnson’s singing style and impressive guitar skills, still copied by Blues and Rock n’ Roll musicians to this
The style of blues performed in this song are the Delta Blues. As mentioned previously, the Delta Blues are a style of blues that have a voice accompanied by a
The musical styles of each are the results of the collision of traditionally African rhythms and musical techniques with European classical and popular music genre. Each are adored American styles of music. Miles Davis “So What” and Robert Johnson’s “Cross Roads Blues” have some similarities and some differences. Miles Davis “So What” is Modal Jazz, used whole band tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Piano, Drums, trumpet, bass, and emphasis on melody and rhythms whereas Robert Johnson’s “Cross Roads Blues” is Delta Blues, used only slide guitar and vocals in his track (solo), and defining Racism, phobia and violence. The precise origins of each jazz - blues are quite covered.
The poem is written in a blues poem structure, which means that it is derived from musical tradition of blues with certain elements coming from African-American dialect. A blues poem such as this is usually connected to themes of struggle and loneliness, which can be related to the word “weary” in the title. Similar to a blues song, blues poems also often feature a repetition of phrases in order to emphasize these themes (“Poetic”). “He did a lazy sway / He did a lazy sway” (6-7), “Ain’t got nobody in all this world / Ain’t got nobody but ma self” (19-20), and “I got the Weary Blues And I can’t be satisfied. Got the weary blues And can’t be satisfied” (25-28) are all great examples of repetitive lines being used in this poem in order to to emphasize a relaxed, yet depressing mood.
INTRODUCTION Have how listening to ABBA, Chic, Earth Wind and Fire and other 70s tune? If you have listen, do you know what genre it is? Let me tell you it was “Disco”. Disco is genre that was popular around 1970s and containing the elements of Funk, Soul, Pop, Salsa and Psychedelic. The term “Disco” is derived from discotheque and its initial audience are from the African American, Italian American, Latino and Psychedelic communities around New York City and Philadelphia around 1970s.
“Depot Blues,” sung by Son House, is a song unrelated to working or prison experiences. It is, however, a love song that has entertainment purposes. In Alan Lomax’s recording, House describes an experience at a train station. He desperately wants his old significant other, whether his ex-girlfriend or ex-wife, who he lost to return to him. In the 4th verse, House states that if he were strong enough, “[he] would set this train off the track” (from c.d.
This article ties in along with its musical form, and its many other forms of social aspects in James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues." In the short story jazz explorers a mutual bond between the "human connection
Both styles have always shared some elements such as second line rhythms and ostinatos. This similarity in elements likely served as the starting point for the overall integration of these two styles. Alternatively, prior to the “second wave” of Rhythm and Blues, only Mardi Gras Indian music incorporated elements such as chant like vocals, secret languages, syncopation. As the new era of Rhythm and Blues, often referred to as the “second wave” rolled in, artists began experimenting with some of these elements that were previously exclusive to Mardi Gras Indian music. For example, artists like Dr. John picked up elements like syncopation and began playing with “that syncopated New Orleans feel”(New Orleans R&B- The “ Second Wave”.)
The poem Refugee Blues is written by Wilfred H Auden in 1939 who moved to Germany in the late 1920’s and observed Hitler 's rise to power. Refugee blues is in reference to the abuse of human rights and the suffering, despair and isolation that all refugees experience during their journey of survival. The refugees in this case were the Jews. The poem is written as a conversation between two people, possibly a husband sharing his thoughts to his wife. Despair is first shown in the structure of the poem.
“Their voices blended into a threnody of nostalgia about pain. Rising and falling, complex in 1harmony, uncertain in pitch, but constant in the recitative of pain.” The Blues Aesthetic is a catharsis of pain, suffering and cultural wisdom gathered from the age of slavery. It is a means of transmission of narratives that builds on the oral tradition of storytelling; a compilation of stories peppered with suffering, sacrifice and loss narrated through lyrics of songs, “The Blues arises as a late nineteenth century/early twentieth century secular thrust of African-American culture, whose oldest musical and lyrical heritage was Africa but whose changing contemporary expression summed up their lives and culture in the West.” In Morrison’s words,