Wednesday, December 19, 2007

the river delta




this past week i got to drive through the mississippi delta, the birth place of the blues. i got to go to the delta blues museum in clarksdale mississippi and see the cabin muddy waters lived in while he worked on the stouval plantation. it blows my mind to think of how much truly brilliant music came from this part of the country and how it influenced the music we hear today. it is really hard not to hear the influence when you turn on the radio, it is everywhere! if we didn't have the blues we wouldn't have rock'n roll. i think the common misperception is that the blues is only about bad things happening to you or bad things that have happened to you in the past. sure you can find several songs about a woman cheating or about drinking your sorrows away but the blues are about everything. the brilliant "muddy waters" said that there was a point where he wasn't sad about anything and he could pay his bills but he still had he blues, he said it just must be in his blood. i think he is definitely right about that, the blues are in his blood. when you drive through the muddy and tragically beautiful mississippi delta you feel something different from any other place. it is amazing that such a humble place birthed so many kings. all i am trying to say is this, give the blues a chance! listen closer and you will hear things you have never heard before. i will leave you with this quote from "muddy waters",

" a lot of people think the blues are something we need to forget...something from the past. i think the blues should live forever."

6 comments:

Arnold Austin Jr said...

When I hear the blues, I think of all the good things I miss from Louisiana. This makes me happy and sad all at the same time. In a nutshell, that's what the blues are all about.

Right now I'm having a Blue Christmas.

Melanie said...

It's true, the blues have influenced a lot of music. Sounds like your visit had quite an impact, too. IT sounds really cool. :)

Darc.Harbinger said...

I never really liked the blues, but I love punk. So you mean then that by understanding Blues, one better understands Rock. Nice perspective.

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Cherylyn. said...

phenomenal.

come back to your blogarooney, mister.
please?
i love your words.
we need more of them.

p.s. i hope to see your face in Virginia Beach [or somwhere nearby] soon.
thanks.

p.p.s. i am anticipating your amazing album with excitment.

Macarossi said...

Do you still use the same "old&creepy" AIM screen name??