CHAPTER
COMMENTARY
One
of the forms that rock and roll music evolved from was “the Blues.”
Besides containing some inspirational rhythms and jams, Blues artists
typically would sing songs about the pains of life, such as loneliness, sadness,
regret, remorse, and discontent. The
concept behind the blues is that joyous music could come out of a bad situation.
The
Blues started out back in the time of the Civil War, evolving from African music
brought over by slaves. By the
1920s and 1930s, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, and Lightnin' Hopkins
had spread the popularity of the Blues throughout the South.
In the 1940s and 1950s, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and Elmore James
had popularized their styles in the North, while B.B. King and others
popularized their styles in the South. These
legends of music set the stage for the growth of the Blues in England during the
1960s by such acts as Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix.
In the great tradition of the Blues, this category contains song lyrics
that convey regret, sadness, and loneliness.
Music
can provide friendship and act as a reliable companion to people.
Like a friend, sad melancholy songs can provide empathy and comfort on a personal
level. Empathy and compassion by
friends can assist in the self healing process in life.
However,
at some point people need to move on to bigger and better things, taking with
them any positive memories and lessons learned. By moving on to new experiences, new developments and
opportunities may occur. In
addition, it gives someone something to look forward to in life, which helps the
healing process even further. The
end result is new memories will be generated to take the place of the more
sorrowful and painful memories.
Life
is full of ups and downs. Because
of this, perhaps one should take appreciation in the good things that have been
presented to us each day while we have them, and not take them for granted, no
matter how small or insignificant they may seem.
Although sadness and the blues are a natural part of life, does it have to last an entire life time?