Impact of blues on society

[ibanez]

What do other people think of the impact jazz/blues music has had on society? not just in recent years, im talking about across the years, like in the 1900's and anywhere across the globe?

[synic]

Blues are the basis of virtually all popular music, as far as I know. The work songs of the slaves are the source of the Blues.

[It Should be You]

Originally posted by ibanez
What do other people think of the impact jazz/blues music has had on society?

What other people? Did I miss something? Did anyone here say what they thought the impact was? Did you?

I think blues has had a big impact for anyone who thinks it's fun. I think having fun has a big impact.

Is this a political thread?

Try this question at the Web site for the Devil's Music Forum, a blues discussion group. Those people will probably have some ideas about the impact of blues.

[Andy D]

For me 'Blues' has been part of a political movement, a way that a section of society have been able to articulate their protests, their feelings and their sense of injustice and a way that they have managed to have a voice in the face of a dominant culture and ethnic group that set out to wipe out this culture.

In American, 'Blues' gave people great hope and created the possibility, that black people could challenge the abuse that they had suffered over many years.

Regards

Andy D.

[Fran]

Outside of suggesting that the answer should fill a few hundred volumes I suggest Chris see if he can boil the answer down to something coherent and manageable.

[Andy D]

I prefer to hear all the different views of people that wish to contribute to the discussion;)

Regards

Andy D.

[Saundra Hummer]

You couldn't consider "Ole Man River" a Blues song, but I think it had an impact, I remember people being saddened by that song when I was a little girl seeing it sung in the movie "Show Boat." It was one of the first songs that made an impact nation wide about blacks plight. So much emotion and condition packed into one little short tune.

[Andy D]

One of the CD's that I play often is a collection of protest and political songs by the great Paul Robeson, a giant of a man in many ways.

He sings the song 'Ole Man River', and I swear that I can feel the pain and the emotions in this song.

Regards

Andy D.

[Saundra Hummer]

Originally posted by Andy D
One of the CD's that I play often is a collection of protest and political songs by the great Paul Robeson, a giant of a man in many ways.

He sings the song 'Ole Man River', and I swear that I can feel the pain and the emotions in this song.

Regards

Andy D.

Everyone could, anyone with half a heart anyway.

[Andy D]

Sandi.

You know Robeson's life was a reflection of the experiences of many 'black' people in the States. He was a very educated man, had a fantastic voice, was a great US Football player and a classic actor.

Yet he suffered great discrimination, had his passport taken away from him, and yet inspired people from Canada to the coal mines of South Wales.

His music was a reflection of this, he was able to take 'simple' songs, and sing them with emotions and with a sense of pride and protest. His versions of "Nobody Knows Da I've Seen" and " Sometimes I Fell Like A Motherless Child", are amongst the most potent 'Blues' I have ever heard.

You guys should have a Paul Robeson day, along with a Martin Luther King Day;)

Regards

Andy D.

[Saundra Hummer]

Agreed!

[Andy D]

I meant of course "Nobody Knows Da Trouble I've Seen";)

Regards

Andy D.

[Saundra Hummer]

Wasn't his voice amazing? Powerful, and such depth. It's too bad that the recordings of his time aren't as technically advanced as todays. There were some great songs out there performed by the most amazing talents, and not a good recording to be had by todays standards.

[Tenorman]

wasn't there a film or TV program about Paul Robson's time in the Welsh Valleys?

[Saundra Hummer]

I don't know about the Welsh era, but there have been several times that he has been the subject, or one of the subjects on American T.V., shows which were very well done, and very sympathetic towards him, they were very compelling viewing. Much has also been written about him. An interesting man in interesting times. Remember the Chinese curse?

[Andy D]

Yes there was a TV programme about his life, which I have a copy of, on the anniversary of his death. Robeson's book "Here I Stand" was also re-issued and is well worth reading.

Robeson had strong links with the Welsh mining communities, who never gave up their support for him. Like many other working class communities, they felt a genuine sense of brotherhood with him. When the US Government took away his passport, and he was unable to travel, he went to Canada and broadcast a live performance of his songs to the people of South Wales, as a way of saying thank you for their support. He was unable to get work and they sent money to him etc, even though they had little themsleves . It was one of the first transatlantic concerts.

You guys and Girls in American should be very proud of Paul Robeson.

Regards

Andy D.