Crazy Blues by Mamie Smith

Blues Music

a. Crazy Blues by Mamie Smith

This particular record blew my mind since it was the initial major hit soundtrack blues.

Due to this song, Mamie Smith became the foremost African-American woman famous singer to

lead a commercial soundtrack. More than 75,000 copies were sold in its initial month. The

popularity of this song proved that blacks made up a practical market for the recording firm that

had not been tapped into. After ‘Crazy Blues,’ several big recording industries welcomed black

talent into their studios (Brooks 2).

The ferocity of its closing lyrics, which alluded to drugs and vigilantism, drew people’s

attention and broke down walls: Something taboo was articulated on a record for the first time in

a popular song by a Black female performer. Initially appearing to be a song about a woman

whose man has abandoned her, it turns out to be about a woman who is moved to kill her abusive

partner upon closer examination (Brooks 3).

Tough Luck Blues by Ma Rainey

This song spoke to me because it primarily focused on racism and stereotypes associated

with black culture. Thanks to her solid folk-blues tradition, Ma Rainey gave personal expression

to problems shared among black people (Lott 33). The scenes prompted in this music highlight

the collective plight of African Americans in the working class, who are constantly on the

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receiving end of the worst. Black cats cross people’s paths, carrying their fair share of misfortune

with them, but this symbol is non-existent in front of black people. A never-ending series of

mishaps beset black people’s lives due to their social circumstances (Lott 41).

Even though she praises God, he does not seem to help alleviate her or her people’s

economic situation. Lastly, the lyrics depict a common occurrence in the black community: the

criminal justice system bringing false charges against them. Even though her friend committed

suicide in her absence, she is charged with murder (Lott 32).

These songs sound bluesy because they are lyrical, and they express feelings rather than

tell stories. Blues has a homophonic texture, with a single melodic line accompanied by a guitar

or a band. The bluesy effect is due to certain chords played by the blues musicians, usually a

combination of two or more notes generally at a slightly lower pitch than on the regular musical

scale. The sound becomes darker, sadder, or more mysterious as the pitch is lowered somewhat

(Davis 4).

As evidenced by contemporary approaches to sound and rhythm in music, African

American sound inclinations emphasize sounds and ideas in African presentation practices. The

“aesthetic” in African American culture is still being shaped by new technologies, influenced by

the universal market mainly via intercultural and intracultural borrowing (Davis 4). Black

cultural productions played a significant role in shaping African American popular culture.