The blues is a genre and a form, but it is also a feeling. You’ve probably heard the phrase I’ve got the blues or I’m feeling blue. Being blue refers to feeling sad, melancholy, downtrodden, heartbroken, down, guilt, despair, or other gloomy emotions. Although there are happy and uplifting blues songs, blues music is focused around harsh realities of life. Love is also a central subject, love and loss, being mistreated, and romance gone wrong are frequently sung about.
The presentation of the subject matter is expressive, honest, and straightforward. Since the blues is expressing pain, the performer should have and understanding of and be able to communicate that pain. The language used in that communication is simple and down to earth. Lyrics are accessible and tend to avoid embellishment, convolution, picturesque descriptions, or grandiose settings.
When blues artists share their truth, both artists and audience feel that deep meaning. Not every blues artist has had a rough upbringing, struggled with poverty, had to do grueling labor, or had their heart broken the way they describe in their music. However, what blues musicians are honest and truthful about is the feeling of having the blues. Genuine blues music isn’t learned, it’s felt.
The presentation of the subject matter is expressive, honest, and straightforward. Since the blues is expressing pain, the performer should have and understanding of and be able to communicate that pain. The language used in that communication is simple and down to earth. Lyrics are accessible and tend to avoid embellishment, convolution, picturesque descriptions, or grandiose settings.
When blues artists share their truth, both artists and audience feel that deep meaning. Not every blues artist has had a rough upbringing, struggled with poverty, had to do grueling labor, or had their heart broken the way they describe in their music. However, what blues musicians are honest and truthful about is the feeling of having the blues. Genuine blues music isn’t learned, it’s felt.
- Released in: 1980
- Genre: Folk, Country
- Written by: Rodney Crowell
"Willie Nelson received the 2015 Gershwin Prize in Washington, D.C., in November and feted with a series of events. The prize honors a living music artist’s lifetime achievement in promoting song to enhance cultural understanding, entertaining and informing audiences, and inspiring new generations."
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