It seems odd to post about the blues on one of the year's biggest party nights, but I'm of the opinion that just about any time is a good time for the blues. Even though the subject matter is often sad, blues music itself is full of energy and life. To me, it's an especially poignant reminder of how we can find beauty in almost any situation and how creativity and dedication can help us to overcome life's trials and tribulations. As we reflect on 2012 and look forward to 2013, I hope we can all make the most of both the good times and the bad times.
Today's longread is a poem from Billy Collins. The poem itself isn't long, but it's worthy of a long read (or maybe being read more than once). Below the poem, I've included a link to Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan playing "Stormy Monday" in 1983. It's a great performance (as is the whole video, which is definitely worth your time). Happy New Year!
"The Blues" by Billy Collins
Published in Sailing Alone Around the Room, 2001
Much of what is said here
must be said twice,
a reminder that no one
takes an immediate interest in the pain of others.
Nobody will listen, it would seem,
if you simply admit
your baby left you early this morning
she didn't even stop to say good-bye.
But if you sing it again
with the help of the band
which will now lift you to a higher,
more ardent, and beseeching key,
people will not only listen,
they will shift to the sympathetic
edges of their chairs,
moved to such acute anticipation
by that chord and the delay that follows,
they will not be able to sleep
unless you release with one finger
a scream from the throat of your guitar
and turn your head back to the microphone
to let them know
you're a hard-hearted man
but that woman's sure going to make you cry.
"Stormy Monday" at In Session with Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZB57b3lPQE#t=29m29s
Eric
It's so wild that Albert King plays the guitar backwards!
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