Sleepy John Estes or John Adams Estes, was a well-known Blues singer from Tennessee. Estes was known for his vocals, Estes teamed with Yank Rachell, a mandolinist, and Hammie Nixon, a harmonica player which helped him on his road to success (Pearson, Barry Lee). Estes is described as the “Tennessee country blues king who popularized “Drop Down Mama” and “Milk Cow Blues” (Pearson, Barry Lee). Sleepy John Este recorded this song in Memphis on May 13th, 1930. It appears that at this time he was not under any record label. This recording features instruments such as a piano and mandolin. Sleepy John Estes starts his song off slowly, with natural strummings of the mandolin. Estes’s song tells of an affair, that leads to depression. Earlier it was discussed that main topics can be seen in each cover of “Milk Cow Blues”, Estes clearly talks about the ending of a relationship with the line “Now, went upstairs to pack my leavin’ trunk”. At no point in his version is a milk cow actually …show more content…
They are said to have transformed “Milk Cow Blues” “into a number that would appeal to their audiences” (Boyd, Jean A). As for the main themes, he repeats similar lyrics to Kokomo Arnold “ If my good gal quits me, I don’t want nobody else” and “I can’t do right, baby, you don’t do right yourself”.
While looking at Cliff Bruner and His Teas Wanderer’s version of “Milk Cow Blues” to Kokomo Arnold’s, many similarities and differences can be noticed. His lyrics are extremely similar to Arnold’s first version, Bruner did modernize the phrasing and remove some repetition from the lyrics. Ultimately the largest difference between Bruner’s version and Arnold’s is the sound and instruments. Bruner was not afraid to step away from the blues sound and create more of a country western feel. A piano can be seen in both renditions of this song, but Bruner is the first to add a bass, a guitar, and an electric
Transcendentalism in Country Music What is the message that an artist is trying to send when they write or sing a country song? Though some country songs seem to be filled with lyrics about girls, alcohol, and trucks, many deliver words that suggest a more free and truthful way of life. Although songs of all genres can be pointless and dumb, many artists portray their transcendentalist thoughts through their music. Ideas such as self-reliance, importance of nature, and nonconformity have unceasingly continued to appear in the lyrics of many Country songs and can be identified in hits including “Wide Open Spaces” by Dixie Chicks, “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack, and “Real Live Woman” by Trisha Yearwood.
In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” there are many theories as to who Arnold Friend is and what his role. The story does not introduce Arnold till the middle and end of the story when Arnold Friend and Ellie Oscar, his friend, decides to pull up to Connie’s house trying to be gentle, but threatening at the same time. The tone sets the mood of the story, the way he talks is suave, so he doesn’t scare her as much but you could sense a little of annoyance in his voice when she refuses. He asks her to come ride with him, but then starts to threaten her family so she would get out the house and be with him.
In excerpt V the song “Honey Hush” by Joe Turner, the aspects that are similar to rockabilly is the dominate impression of the back beat that is heard in this excerpt. With the common back beat that it includes from the instrumentation that was used from the voice, piano, drums, stand-up bass, saxophone, and even the handclaps. The elements that were later found in rock & roll was that rhythmic section that was offered from rhythm and blues. The lyrics even gave a sense rock drive with the catchy melody that it had offered. All the elements that I have observed had led me to believe that “Honey Hush” should be considered one of the first rock & roll songs because of the prominent back beat that is heard along with the catchy melody that is
Even though Bryan brings in these aspects which are not typically in a country song, he also tries to salvage the traditional feel by bringing electric
Elvis and Big Momma Thornton made two similar, yet distinct songs through their personal point of view. Some differences between these two songs are glaring. The Elvis version has more emphasis on the instruments and is more Rock ‘n’ Roll. It has an up tempo rhythm and is easy to dance to. The Big Momma Thornton version was true to rhythm and blues.
These following songs affected the bluesman’s vocal and the guitar style in the later centuries. Furthermore, the song "Come On In My Kitchen” in my kitchen was another popular and dominant blues music during the 1920 to 1930s. This song wasn’t like the ones which influence the tone and style of the song, but it totally revealed the impact which was caused by Skip James “Devil Got My Woman”. The lyrics of the song was written as poetry and Robert Johnson sang it with a strained voice to make the tone and the output of the song more nervous. What’s more, another song,”From Four Until Late”, showed that Johnson’s ability in blues style did not only associate with the Delta.
I was born and raised in Gulfport, Mississippi, an area immersed in a relaxed coastal culture and a vibrant jazz and blues heritage. Gulfport is located right off the Gulf of Mexico and less than an hour from New Orleans, Louisiana. Living near the Gulf, heavily influenced my childhood, I would spend weekends at the beach, and long hours traveling to distant islands far from the coast I called home. The music you would hear at the beach were always from timeless Americana artist; such as, Bob Dylan and Jonny Cash. My parents, not musicians themselves, were infatuated with the music of the late 1980’s from artists like Prince, Michael Jackson, and Journey.
Blues and bluegrass are some of the most common of these subgenres (Peterson, 1997). Country Blues usually have a mood of mourning the harsh times in life. Bluegrass is a mixture of country music from Kentucky and Tennessee, and has jazz influences from Southern areas like New Orleans, Louisiana. When you mix the two together, you have this upbeat tune with improvisation that usually contains banjos, or mandolins and drums. Bill Monroe introduced the subgenre of Bluegrass Country in the late forties early fifties in America.
I interviewed one of my high school science teachers about her favorite song. Dr. Barr told me that her favorite song is from the bluegrass genre called “Wagon Wheel” (I had never heard this song before). She said that this song is her favorite because it is really catchy, but it does not have any special meaning for her. I asked her if she was able to remember this song’s lyrics and she could recall them partially. “Wagon Wheel” was released in the year of 2004 by a group called Old Crow Medicine Show and the instruments used during the song are banjos and guitars.
The Chicago blues is a subgenre of blues music local to Chicago, Illinois. It 's foundation is revolved around the sound of the electric guitar and its enhancer. In this paper, I will investigate what made is the essentialness of Chicago blues and what prompt to production of this subgenre in the city of Chicago and it 's legacy in the present setting. The blues initially started to show up close to the end of the 1800s after the Emancipation Proclamation.
While Pat Boone’s cover of “Ain’t That a Shame” (1955), originally performed by Fats Domino, has many similarities to the original, there are a few differences that alter the song and arguably its meaning. Although the two versions have nearly the same rhythm, harmony, and form; the groove, vocal delivery, and a subtle lyric change make the two versions of the song quite distinct. Because of these differences, the Fats Domino version of the song has a much more easygoing and optimistic vibe than the Pat Boone cover, which seemingly puts more emphasis on the heartbreak described in the lyrics. Additionally, the alterations Pat Boone made to the original song allows him to appeal more to a white, conservative audience. Despite Pat Boone putting
He has always been faithful to this traditional country music sound, regarded as having led country music as a whole out of the heavily pop infused sound it had and back to the roots of the genre. George’s authenic sound is due in part to the fact he is not a singer pretending to be a cowboy, he is a real life, down to earth cowboy. He was born and raised in Texas, home of the real cowboy, and a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He is not singing about a life he has only read or heard about but one he has actually lived and continues to live.
Theme: Friendship Song: “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Randy Newman “You've got a friend in me. You got troubles then I got them too. We stick together, we can see it through cause you've got a friend in me.” Justification: This song relates to the relationship George and Lennie had because even though Lennie was always getting in trouble, George was beside him no matter what. Also, when they got to the ranch, Slim said to them that is not common to see such good friends like George and Lennie, who travel together and look out for each other.
Carol Joyce Oates’ “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?” presents how falling into temptation leads to giving up control and innocence. Though her mother is unapproving of her actions, Connie spends her time seeking attention from male strangers. Home alone, Connie is approached by a compelling creature who convinces her to leave her life and join him on his unknown journey. Through disapproving her family, having multiple appearances, listening to music, and her desperation to receive attention from boys, Connie gives up control of herself losing the purity of adolescents and contributing to her detrimental fate. It is imperative that one should not be controlled because of a desire to impress others.
The pianist in “The Weary Blues” sings about his pain out loud where anyone could hear him, “I ain’t happy no mo’/and I wish that I had died” (Hughes, lines 29-30). The dancer seems to hide the way she feels behind her dancing and appearance, “But, looking at her falsely smiling face” (McKay, line 13). The dancer may be younger and a woman compared to older pianist but it seems they share the same sadness. The narrators in both works however are able to see the pain and despair that the performers are going