Music is a great way to trace the history of a people and learn about their struggles, hopes, life, and aspirations. Expanding the National Narrative to include African American experiences into the American Experiment we listened to pieces produced by the Kennedy Center about the history of blues music in America. Below is a playlist of songs compiled by students that continue to show the influence of blues music and themes in American life.
Songs Selected by Students
Big Bill Bronzy
Black, Brown and White (1940s)
This is representative because it talks about how white people were disgraceful against whites saying whites pay less to blacks and that they never get called before whites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0c1c0ZsTLA
BB King
Chains N Things
This is representative because BB King talks about how slavery is just like a bad dream and he says numerous times that he cant lose the chains n things meaning he will never be free.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJJ4lI631Ng
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Fortunate Son (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0XKhAHR5I
I choose this song because it is about blue colar pride. It is also about the Vietnam War and that was a very blue time in history. Their influences were Little Richard, Hank Williams, and Elvis Presley.
Black Eyed Peas
Where Is The Love (2003)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc
I choose this song because it is about sad things that are are happening in the world like wars, gangs, drugs, and equality. This reminds me a lot of the blues era.
Aretha Franklin
Respect (1967)
Aretha Franklin is an African-American musician who started out singing gospel at her father’s church. This represents the blues and african american legacy in the sense that she is demanding respect and won't be made out to be “lesser” because of her skin color and gender. At a period in time such as the 60’s it was bad to be black and also bad to be a woman, for a song like this to be sung by someone who is both pretty amazing and in my opinion, revolutionary. It was revolutionary in the sense that she helped give a strong voice to the hundreds of women who did not have one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0
Lady Gaga
Born This Way (2011)
Lady Gaga is one of the centuries biggest pop icons and while her song “Born This Way” can be associated primarily with the LGBT+ community, this song stands for more than just that. The song shows that you shouldn't let the things that you can't change about you make your life miserable. In this case, your skin color. She states several times that the color of your skin doesn't determine your worth. She also talks about the bad things that you may have experienced because of your skin color which is something you can't change. It was a problem back then and it can still be a problem now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV1FrqwZyKw
Eagles
Hotel California
I picked this song because it’s a sad song. I also like a blues song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqODbP1T3nk
Def Leppard
Bring on the heartbreak
It’s kinda a blues song. It’s about a girl breaking his heart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiR71VvCYks
Rolling stones
Paint it Black
Its representative because the lyrics really set the mood for the blues. Muddy waters, Jimmy reed, and other blues artists influenced the Rolling Stones and got their name from the song Rollin Stone by Muddy waters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4irXQhgMqg
Elvis Presley
Aint nothin but a houndog
This was originally recorded in a blues style by Big Mama Thornton in 1953. It was a #1 hit and by far her biggest success, Elvis borrowed it and changed up the lyrics a bit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URayWTkEPYM
Albert King
Born under a bad sign (1967)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Py37G9qsfY&list=PLjzeyhEA84sQKuXp-rpM1dFuL2aQM_a3S&index=9
I chose this song because he’s singing about how he was born on the bad side.
It represents the blues because he sings about how he was alone since he was ten.
Robert Cray
Smoking gun (1986)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gQEDwjhaDE&list=PLjzeyhEA84sQKuXp-rpM1dFuL2aQM_a3S&index=77
I chose this song because he sings about how he’s going to find the smoking gun.
It represents the blues because he’s singing about the smoking gun cheating on him.
N.W.A
Fuck Da Police (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jOqOlETcRU
The reason Fuck da Police is related to Blue’s/African american legacy. The black were being mistreated in Compton by the Police that how it's been since 1950 were the blacks had rights but no one liked them. And they rapped about what was happen to them.
Hospin
ILL Mind of hopsin 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRVOOwFNp5U
The way ILL mind of Hopsin relates african american. He rapped about the stereotype the black community about what wrong. He talks about what is wrong with rap how it talk about doing drugs and killing people is cool and that's how you get street fame.
Jimi Henderiz
Machine Gun
I chose Machine Gun because i'm a huge fan of Jimi Hendrix and I knew for sure when our teacher told us the songs we choose needs to involve the blues and hard times Jimi was the one. Jimi Hendrix is a blues guitarist so all I had left was to choose a song out of his many great ones. Originally I had several songs picked out of his, such as voodoo child, star spangled banner(but that wasn't very “bluesy” even though it's great) freedom, red house, and power of soul. In the end I chose Machine Gun because to me it showed its meaning easiest and I thought it would be the best one for my peers. In the song Jimi Hendrix channels years of pent up anger and disillusionment of the Vietnam War into a frenzied attack that touches the aspects of the war. He turns his guitar into a glorious weapon to fight back and opens thousands of eyes to the horrors of the war.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRE3kjL3Yjg
Ray Charles
America
My second song is America the Beautiful by Ray Charles and I chose this song because I decided to use an actual blues song and this is one of my favorites. This song is done by many but Charles by far did it best. The beautiful lyrics talk about our once great country and show true patriotic feelings. I chose this song because it’s literally blues and one of my favorites, it touches the soul. I become one with it, understanding it. That song embodies the blues and is evidence of great music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRUjr8EVgBg
12 Years as a Slave- Choir Song
Roll Jordan Roll (2013)https://youtu.be/7oFcFzJT7Tw
The Golden Gospel Singers
Oh Freedom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veiJLhXdwn8&feature=youtu.be
Lauryn Hill
Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You (1967)
This song is related to the blues genre because it's personal but not private. She singing about her feelings, which is personal but it’s not private.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ5BXfXUYwM
Lauryn Hill
Everything Is Everything (1998)
This song is related to the blues for the same reason the other one is it’s her personal problems not in private.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3_dOWYHS7I
XTC
Song Title: Dear God (1987)
This song was released by an English band in 1987 and vividly describes the range of human suffering addressing it directly to God himself. The song starts off with a little girl singing the opening parts “Dear God, hope you got the letter and I pray you can make it better down here.” After the first verse, the main singer then starts in and talks about how believers in God always seem to be fighting on thoughts concerning God, “And all the people you made in your image, see them fighting in the street ‘cause they can’t make opinions meet about God.” It also talks about the doubt that people have about God, saying “Did you make mankind after we made you?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlJwO664WLI
Austin Coleman, Joe Washington Brown and group.
Good Lord (Run Old Jeremiah) (1934)
This song is a Ring Shout which is, after is was first performed by African-American slaves, a religious act where worshipers move in a counterclockwise circle shuffling their feet, clapping their hands, and spontaneously singing. The words are hard to understand but the song does show multiple singers with lyrics below the cut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL0FpB26VSg
Johnny Cash
Hurt (2002)
I think this related to slavery because, Johnny Cash’s reasoning behind this song was that he was addicted to drugs. While, I do not think that the slaves were addicted to drugs, I do think that they were “hurt” by the choices of their owners. I say that because, some of the slaves didn’t get treated as well as some did. Some slave owners would beat their slaves and/or rape them. There is a line that says “ What have I become, life's sweetest friend” This reminds me the most of slavery because, that is probably not what they wanted to do with their lives but, some of them know nothing besides that.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt1Pwfnh5pc
Billie Holiday
I’ll Be Seeing You (1944)
This song was released was during a time when it wasn’t common for girls to get their voices out there. Also around this time, it wasn’t common for African American voices to be heard. Billie Holiday defeated the odds on both accounts. A lot of slaves didn’t get to let their voices be heard. They weren’t able to share themselves with the world like Billie Holiday was able to do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXRiKEybN0s
Black, Brown and White (1940s)
This is representative because it talks about how white people were disgraceful against whites saying whites pay less to blacks and that they never get called before whites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0c1c0ZsTLA
BB King
Chains N Things
This is representative because BB King talks about how slavery is just like a bad dream and he says numerous times that he cant lose the chains n things meaning he will never be free.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJJ4lI631Ng
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Fortunate Son (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0XKhAHR5I
I choose this song because it is about blue colar pride. It is also about the Vietnam War and that was a very blue time in history. Their influences were Little Richard, Hank Williams, and Elvis Presley.
Black Eyed Peas
Where Is The Love (2003)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc
I choose this song because it is about sad things that are are happening in the world like wars, gangs, drugs, and equality. This reminds me a lot of the blues era.
Aretha Franklin
Respect (1967)
Aretha Franklin is an African-American musician who started out singing gospel at her father’s church. This represents the blues and african american legacy in the sense that she is demanding respect and won't be made out to be “lesser” because of her skin color and gender. At a period in time such as the 60’s it was bad to be black and also bad to be a woman, for a song like this to be sung by someone who is both pretty amazing and in my opinion, revolutionary. It was revolutionary in the sense that she helped give a strong voice to the hundreds of women who did not have one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0
Lady Gaga
Born This Way (2011)
Lady Gaga is one of the centuries biggest pop icons and while her song “Born This Way” can be associated primarily with the LGBT+ community, this song stands for more than just that. The song shows that you shouldn't let the things that you can't change about you make your life miserable. In this case, your skin color. She states several times that the color of your skin doesn't determine your worth. She also talks about the bad things that you may have experienced because of your skin color which is something you can't change. It was a problem back then and it can still be a problem now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV1FrqwZyKw
Eagles
Hotel California
I picked this song because it’s a sad song. I also like a blues song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqODbP1T3nk
Def Leppard
Bring on the heartbreak
It’s kinda a blues song. It’s about a girl breaking his heart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiR71VvCYks
Rolling stones
Paint it Black
Its representative because the lyrics really set the mood for the blues. Muddy waters, Jimmy reed, and other blues artists influenced the Rolling Stones and got their name from the song Rollin Stone by Muddy waters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4irXQhgMqg
Elvis Presley
Aint nothin but a houndog
This was originally recorded in a blues style by Big Mama Thornton in 1953. It was a #1 hit and by far her biggest success, Elvis borrowed it and changed up the lyrics a bit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URayWTkEPYM
Albert King
Born under a bad sign (1967)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Py37G9qsfY&list=PLjzeyhEA84sQKuXp-rpM1dFuL2aQM_a3S&index=9
I chose this song because he’s singing about how he was born on the bad side.
It represents the blues because he sings about how he was alone since he was ten.
Robert Cray
Smoking gun (1986)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gQEDwjhaDE&list=PLjzeyhEA84sQKuXp-rpM1dFuL2aQM_a3S&index=77
I chose this song because he sings about how he’s going to find the smoking gun.
It represents the blues because he’s singing about the smoking gun cheating on him.
N.W.A
Fuck Da Police (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jOqOlETcRU
The reason Fuck da Police is related to Blue’s/African american legacy. The black were being mistreated in Compton by the Police that how it's been since 1950 were the blacks had rights but no one liked them. And they rapped about what was happen to them.
Hospin
ILL Mind of hopsin 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRVOOwFNp5U
The way ILL mind of Hopsin relates african american. He rapped about the stereotype the black community about what wrong. He talks about what is wrong with rap how it talk about doing drugs and killing people is cool and that's how you get street fame.
Jimi Henderiz
Machine Gun
I chose Machine Gun because i'm a huge fan of Jimi Hendrix and I knew for sure when our teacher told us the songs we choose needs to involve the blues and hard times Jimi was the one. Jimi Hendrix is a blues guitarist so all I had left was to choose a song out of his many great ones. Originally I had several songs picked out of his, such as voodoo child, star spangled banner(but that wasn't very “bluesy” even though it's great) freedom, red house, and power of soul. In the end I chose Machine Gun because to me it showed its meaning easiest and I thought it would be the best one for my peers. In the song Jimi Hendrix channels years of pent up anger and disillusionment of the Vietnam War into a frenzied attack that touches the aspects of the war. He turns his guitar into a glorious weapon to fight back and opens thousands of eyes to the horrors of the war.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRE3kjL3Yjg
Ray Charles
America
My second song is America the Beautiful by Ray Charles and I chose this song because I decided to use an actual blues song and this is one of my favorites. This song is done by many but Charles by far did it best. The beautiful lyrics talk about our once great country and show true patriotic feelings. I chose this song because it’s literally blues and one of my favorites, it touches the soul. I become one with it, understanding it. That song embodies the blues and is evidence of great music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRUjr8EVgBg
12 Years as a Slave- Choir Song
Roll Jordan Roll (2013)https://youtu.be/7oFcFzJT7Tw
The Golden Gospel Singers
Oh Freedom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veiJLhXdwn8&feature=youtu.be
Lauryn Hill
Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You (1967)
This song is related to the blues genre because it's personal but not private. She singing about her feelings, which is personal but it’s not private.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ5BXfXUYwM
Lauryn Hill
Everything Is Everything (1998)
This song is related to the blues for the same reason the other one is it’s her personal problems not in private.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3_dOWYHS7I
XTC
Song Title: Dear God (1987)
This song was released by an English band in 1987 and vividly describes the range of human suffering addressing it directly to God himself. The song starts off with a little girl singing the opening parts “Dear God, hope you got the letter and I pray you can make it better down here.” After the first verse, the main singer then starts in and talks about how believers in God always seem to be fighting on thoughts concerning God, “And all the people you made in your image, see them fighting in the street ‘cause they can’t make opinions meet about God.” It also talks about the doubt that people have about God, saying “Did you make mankind after we made you?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlJwO664WLI
Austin Coleman, Joe Washington Brown and group.
Good Lord (Run Old Jeremiah) (1934)
This song is a Ring Shout which is, after is was first performed by African-American slaves, a religious act where worshipers move in a counterclockwise circle shuffling their feet, clapping their hands, and spontaneously singing. The words are hard to understand but the song does show multiple singers with lyrics below the cut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL0FpB26VSg
Johnny Cash
Hurt (2002)
I think this related to slavery because, Johnny Cash’s reasoning behind this song was that he was addicted to drugs. While, I do not think that the slaves were addicted to drugs, I do think that they were “hurt” by the choices of their owners. I say that because, some of the slaves didn’t get treated as well as some did. Some slave owners would beat their slaves and/or rape them. There is a line that says “ What have I become, life's sweetest friend” This reminds me the most of slavery because, that is probably not what they wanted to do with their lives but, some of them know nothing besides that.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt1Pwfnh5pc
Billie Holiday
I’ll Be Seeing You (1944)
This song was released was during a time when it wasn’t common for girls to get their voices out there. Also around this time, it wasn’t common for African American voices to be heard. Billie Holiday defeated the odds on both accounts. A lot of slaves didn’t get to let their voices be heard. They weren’t able to share themselves with the world like Billie Holiday was able to do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXRiKEybN0s
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