Blues Feelings: the Origin and Development of the Blues

Blues, is originated in the 1960s from a kind of American black music. It is an art form for black people in the United States under the oppressive environment safely to express their feelings. It helps people to express the true feelings of life, anger, and love as the typical representative of the black culture. Blues music is also an important basis for the study of black literature and black culture. This paper analyzes the social influence and cultural significance from the aspects of the origin of the Blues music history and black life, Black’s lifestyle, social status, music and culture.

The origin of Blues music culture

Blues music with a unique temperament and sadness, seems that it was given a melancholy emotion from the moment it was born. Blues music, which is blues, in English means sadness and pain (Baker). Perhaps because of this meaning, it will make us feel the kind of music very sad.

The result of Blues with melancholy color need to be considered from its origin and its subsequent development. The earliest occurrence time of Blues is not very accurate, and generally considered to be in Africa between 1870 and 1900 (Oliver). As the black slave trade, Blues integrated into the American music. From the amateur musical of poor black slaves, it evolved as a type of music with numerous varieties and complex forms. It is not only spread throughout the United States and later in Europe, Africa and the rest of the world region it also generated local forms and influence (Westrup). The earliest Blues recording is in the 1920s. And with the development of popular music, many industries studied and made "African American music" and "traditional music" and other types of music to attract black or white customers.

The blues is determined to be a better way to express the emotional catharsis and sustenance of black people in the United States by its origin. Combined with the experience of black American, it’s understandable that Bruce music has a melancholy color. And just this color adds music charm to the blues.

Blues music seems to be born from the moment it is given the color of melancholy. And we know that in the English language is sadness. Perhaps it is because of this meaning, so that the first time to study the music of Bruce, how many are worried that: this type of music will not be sad?

Actually otherwise. Bruce is the second half of nineteenth Century the black people singing songs, religious songs, spirituals and ballads. It originated in the delta of the Mississippi River, which was born in the south of the United States in 1820s. In the singing, often with trembling cry sounds howl, complaints, grief sorrow, love is very rich. In spite of this, there are some happy and joyful works of Bruce. It is worth noting that Bruce's singing style is free, there is no general restrictions during the song of those law-abiding. In concert at the same time, with the life of the language emotion combined with falsetto, moaning, crying, muttering way, a good rendering atmosphere. In the emotional expression of the United States South African people in the face of poverty, homeless and family quarrel with the helpless and the performance of the conflict, so it’s most basic function is to “vent" the emotional inside.

Blues lyrics Art and Development of Modern Blues

Related to the origins of Blues is its lyrics form. The early blues tended to be loose narrative songs. The singers wrote lyrics by telling a personal experience of their own brutal reality: loss of love, cruelty of police officers, and persecution from the whites, arduous years, and etc. which is the early themes (Baker 79). Compared with the other musical recordings, there are gritty and real emotions in lyrics of many early blues records. But it is precisely because of its lyrics are mostly about tough and unfair life, and it often faces the public with the form of crying. So some people will always associate the Blues with poverty and oppression together. However, the blues lyrics not only involves the hardships and injustices of life, but also there are many humorous ingredients implied therein. Later, prosperous blues with happiness and dexterity gradually accounted for most of the blues theme and shouting is the main way of singing - singers’ purposes is just free to express their grief, rather than vaguely whispering.

Modern Blues is a broad concept that encompasses all modern blues artists. Although they are different from the old-fashioned blues masters, but they generally followed their steps in the form and expression. Modern Blues not only uses an acoustic guitar but also an electric guitar, and then combines with elements from rock to pop and to folk. Therefore, Blues expresses sadness but is not cacophonous. It declares a kind of purport of willful spirit and pursuit of better life.

Appreciation

The classic of Blues master Muddy Water, Got My Mojo Working, is not only with the flexible genre, but also the forms combined speaking, singing and roaring, which makes the tunes without losing the regularity in the clutter (Westrup). The memorable song makes people relaxed, cheerful, and easy to accept.

The span’s Blue by Follow. Otis Spann is more rhythmical, giving a strange feeling. The melody is smart, lively, and fully demonstrates the unique combination of piano and drums, which makes people feel excited and joyful.

Howlin wolf’s Love Me Darling is different from the first two, and the whole music is clear. Although Howlin wolf sing this song with a slightly hoarse voice, but without losing the open feeling. This song has a slightly sad pain, seems to be requesting and shouting.

The Spirit

Blues are focusing on self-emotional catharsis and originality and immediacy. This also makes the blues have a special spirit, which is the blues spirit. The spirit is the feeling of life attitude and emotion, and refers to free, unconstrained spiritual level. Blues spirit is also used to describe this group of people - tirelessly pursuing material wealth in order to enjoy the rich of spirit, who are formal spiritual people, and also the materialist in reality. They use an optimistic attitude towards the miserable life, just as Jimi Hendrix said, “Dare to face the bleak life."

Conclusion

Blues music is a treasure in the history of world music. The development of Blues has a huge impact on the world’s pop music. And the development of today's popular music is really existing from blues music’s prevail in America. It can be said that blues music has a crucial impact on the changes and development of popular music.