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Unfortunately it has everything to do with music and all the arts.

When society flourishes there is enough time and freedom to to make some music.

When people are to concerned with survival, the arts do not flourish.

Just a little history.

I'd bet you're wrong on this one, Glen. Ppl just channel their artistical energies into the propaganda of their choice, when things get all stirred up.

Like this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdIYVWA0 ... verified=1

Not really true. It depends on what art you mean I guess. Periods of poverty and struggle have always fueled the arts creatively. Maybe that's why old blues records from the Great Depression are better than the upper class middle aged white guys at The House of Blues.

Mike Nobody wrote:Not really true. It depends on what art you mean I guess. Periods of poverty and struggle have always fueled the arts creatively. Maybe that's why old blues records from the Great Depression are better than the upper class middle aged white guys at The House of Blues.

Wait, people play blues at the house of blues? I thought that was just for the people who have some radio play, but not enough to merit an arena.

Mike Nobody wrote:Not really true. It depends on what art you mean I guess. Periods of poverty and struggle have always fueled the arts creatively. Maybe that's why old blues records from the Great Depression are better than the upper class middle aged white guys at The House of Blues.

The reason why old blues records from the Great Depression are better than the upper class middle aged white guys is not necessarily because of poverty and struggle but mainly becasue the old blues records were created by people who did nothing but music their entire life. They put in way more practice at their craft. Some middle aged white guys get together with people for a few weeks and think they're good enough to gig. Sorry, it doesn't work that way...

fisherman bob wrote:

Mike Nobody wrote:Not really true. It depends on what art you mean I guess. Periods of poverty and struggle have always fueled the arts creatively. Maybe that's why old blues records from the Great Depression are better than the upper class middle aged white guys at The House of Blues.

The reason why old blues records from the Great Depression are better than the upper class middle aged white guys is not necessarily because of poverty and struggle but mainly becasue the old blues records were created by people who did nothing but music their entire life. They put in way more practice at their craft. Some middle aged white guys get together with people for a few weeks and think they're good enough to gig. Sorry, it doesn't work that way...

Well, considering that the Blues were invented by American slaves, who didn't have a lot of free time to commit to music, are you saying that their music was in some way inferior? As far as sheer skill goes I've seen 5 year olds who can play circles around many adults.

I have to go with that. There was very little instrumental skill shown in the old original blues. It was song oriented and a bunch o middle aged white guys would be hard pressed to write an authentic blues song... ya gotta live it to get/give it!

I write blues because I live it. You can live a comfortable and somewhat happy life and write a blues "arrangement", but it likely aint gonna be no blues song with the true heart o the blues!

not sayin it aint possible... juss sayin

Sorry, ppl, but I think that is just so much bullshit.

Ya gotta LIVE the blues? Tell it to Gershwin. Tell it to Gary Moore. C'mon! That old wives' tale just doesn't hold up in real life.

philbymon wrote:Sorry, ppl, but I think that is just so much bullshit.

Ya gotta LIVE the blues? Tell it to Gershwin. Tell it to Gary Moore. C'mon! That old wives' tale just doesn't hold up in real life.

You're gonna compare GERSHWIN to Leadbelly? Compare Gary Moore to Blind Lemon Jefferson? You are SO FUNNY!!!

Mike Nobody wrote:

philbymon wrote:Sorry, ppl, but I think that is just so much bullshit.

Ya gotta LIVE the blues? Tell it to Gershwin. Tell it to Gary Moore. C'mon! That old wives' tale just doesn't hold up in real life.

You're gonna compare GERSHWIN to Leadbelly? Compare Gary Moore to Blind Lemon Jefferson? You are SO FUNNY!!!

I guess you're right after all...if ya don't have a funny name, you can't write or sing the blues.

Right, bob?

Oh, & I'd stack up the Gershwin brothers against just about ANY composer you wanna bring up, in terms of timeless, ageless music.

I,m a middle aged white guy.












He he he heee

Hard times never stopped people from doing music because we musicians have always been broke, well many of us are. When depression comes, I don't see it any different than when society had money. If anyone ever took some statistics, there have been more musicians living off significant others, collecting unemployment, fake disability and welfare than any other group because they felt they couldn't operate in the corporate machine and wanted to do their art. I know musicians like this today. When I went to the England it was no different. Most musicians were on the Dole, living in squats so they could do their music.

As far as blues, it wasn't just about guys living music all day long. They didn't even necessarily thought about it as art. It was what it was. For black people back during the time when blues thrived, there were two things you could do. Play for the church or play blues and make some money. The respectful thing to do was to play for the church, but church didn't pay you. When you were faced with a crappy job out in the fields vs. making the same thing playing on the streets during the day and at some juke joint at night, many black men opted to play blues. Plus it made them popular, they could have the freedom to travel around and women would throw themselves at them. Yeah, who wants to work in the cotton fields all day? Also blues gave them an outlet to protest the unfairness of life for them when black people had no voice.

Chaeya

Chaeya wrote:When you were faced with a crappy job out in the fields vs. making the same thing playing on the streets during the day and at some juke joint at night, many black men opted to play blues. Plus it made them popular, they could have the freedom to travel around and women would throw themselves at them. Yeah, who wants to work in the cotton fields all day?

I was referring to slaves.

But, this sounds like every musician I ever knew.

Being a Blues musician in Mississippi was probably the most dangerous job you could have. Every night you risked your life dealing with jealous husbands and so forth.

Back in those days if you even played guitar you were considered "evil". It was a pretty outcast existence.

Definitely a lifestyle that kept on giving the blues. Inspiration was definitely not a problem.

Mike Nobody wrote:

I was referring to slaves.

But, this sounds like every musician I ever knew.

My post wasn't directed at you, Mike. I was just adding my input.

As far as the other statement, it is and it isn't quite the same thing. Back during a time when black people had no status or choices at all to exceed beyond "slave" labor, having freedom, popularity and all meant far more to him than some guy who has a choice to make something of himself, but stubbonly refuses to get involve because he hopes to be a "star."

Chaeya