The blues as a genre of music is one of the most popular categories of music in the modern world. Unlike genres such as hip hop and rap that appeal to mostly urban male audiences, blues are appreciated by both urban and non-urban audiences of both genders and ages (Ewen 57). The blues as a form of music has its foundation in the southern part of the United States (Oliver 34). The special songs that slaves used to sing in moments of prayer to reach out to God to deliver them from slavery gave the blues their soft touch. The most common term that is used to describe blues is rhythm and blues; usually abbreviated as r & b. However, in contrast to the sadness that used to be the predominant mood in southern blues that arose during slavery times, modern-day blues convey love and great enthusiasm in the musicians who sing such music as well as the audience. This is not to say that there are no blues that have sad storylines and therefore a sad mood. In this essay, I will disclose my feelings after listening to blues and try to explain why I feel the way I do.
My feelings after listening to blues are easy to describe because they run deep and last for a longer time. I am a fan of love-oriented blues by such musicians as Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. I usually feel calm and happy after listening to blues. My heart glows with passion and it is not surprising to find me smiling during such times. It is after listening to blues that I am always ready to hug anyone willing to be hugged. I also listen to people who have problems and give a word of advice wherever I can. My willingness to provide a shoulder to someone to cry on is high after I have listened to blues. Another behavior that I have observed is that I am very generous after I have listened to blues. Is this behavior that I have observed only once or a few times?
The above-described behavior is not something that has taken place only once. I will not be lying if I state in this essay that since I began listening to blues, that is the kind of behavior I have displayed. Therefore it is justifiable to say that it is a stable reaction to the form, lyrics, and rhythm of blues. The blues take the form of chords like most genres and operate on a wide range of chords ranging from eight (8) bars to twelve (12) bars. The twelve-bar format is the most common and most popular. There are unique compositions of blues that have been staggered to sixteen chords, but this is not a common trend. Why do I react to blues in the way I have described above? What are the possible reasons for this reaction?
The reason why I respond in this manner after listening to blues is what I have been searching for for a long time. In the process of trying to figure out why I behave in the manner disclosed above after listening to blues, I came up with several possible reasons. The first possible reason is the nature of the lyrics. In most blues, the lyrics are organized in a simple poetic manner that soothes the soul of the listener. There is a strong sense of flow and rhythm that comes out of lyrics once they have been given a poetic flow. This poetic nature works in unison with other elements to excite warm feelings in my mind leading to happy feelings and a warm countenance.
Apart from the above, the message in most blues is love-based. If a blues song is not about a lover who is so adorable; chances are that it is about a beautiful girl or boy who is being targeted by the persona. This is because there are times, and this is true for most songs when the musician is not the one speaking in the song. Therefore the love message being delivered is not from the person singing the song. Due to this love-based message, my heart warms up and feelings of beauty and a happy life begin flowing through my system. In such a moment, anyone I meet will not miss the warm eyes, a smiling face, and open arms.
It is also possible that the beats that are employed in blues are responsible for my reaction. Blues are famous for soft beats that do not disturb the eardrums but penetrate the mind and arouse a sensational feeling of youthfulness, love, and freedom of the spirit (Ewen 67). This is not present in most genres where you can only find haphazard beats that are either too high or too low. These beats work together with the rest of the elements identified above such as the poetry and the love message to make my system react in the way explained above.
In conclusion, the blues as a form of music has its beginnings in the Southern part of the United States. The music has a love-based inclination and is one of the most popular genres given that it cuts across ages, genders, and locations. Both the urban and the country people appreciate blues. I react in a friendly manner whenever I listen to blues.
Works Cited
Ewen, David. Panorama of American Popular Music. New York: Prentice-Hall, 1957.Print.
Oliver, Paul. The Story Of The Blues (new ed.). New York: Northeastern University Press, 1998.Print.