Blues is referred to as the origin of modern
western music. From jazz to hard rock, most of the genres that we listen to
were created by artists who were inspired by the blues. But where did the blues
come from and how did it evolve?
“I’ll never, I’ll never
Get out of these blues alive
You know I’m doomed to the blues,
I’ll be doomed till the day I die”
– John Lee Hooker
There is a deep history when it comes to understanding where
the Blues really came from. As the name suggests, in the simplest terms, it is
music that came, primarily, from your blues—one’s melancholia, longing and
despondency. And as times passed, it became an embodiment of expressing one’s
deepest emotions. However, with the introduction of electronic instruments and
revolutionary musicians, Blues slowly transformed giving birth to multiple new
genres like jazz and rock & roll.
Blues wasn’t born in any
studio, or a pub. It came from the American plantations in the 19th
century. The African-American who worked as slaves in these plantations were
bearers of some of the most heinous atrocities known to humankind. They were
sold, beaten, killed, and treated like animals. In such times, they used to
play music with some guitars and drums to ease their pain. The beats were
similar to their African culture and their lyrics would be very descriptive of
their struggles.
While singing at religious choirs and doing their chores, it
became a popular phenomenon amongst them, and there were groups throughout the
nation that would meet and forget their worries by playing music.