Why was the blues a sad form of music?

In the 19th century the English phrase blue devils referred to the upsetting hallucinations brought on by severe alcohol withdrawal. This was later shortened to the blues, which described states of depression and upset, and it was later adopted as the name for the melancholic songs that the musical genre encapsulates.

Is blues music meant to be sad?

A lot of people think the blues are sad. Other blues are angry, moody, scary, frightened, and some are bouncy, joyous, exuberant, happy. Clearly, the blues is unusually rich in emotional expression. So, no, the blues is not sad music, and they do not tend to make us sad.

Does listening to the blues make you sad?

The answer is a qualified “yes.” Different people respond to music in different ways. Some people report feeling exulted by happy music and depressed by sad music. Other listeners who enjoy music just as much do not seem to be so susceptible to the emotions it expresses.

How does blues music affect your mood?

Blues singers routinely sing about themes such as unhappiness, heartache, depression, sorrow, distress, sadness, dejection, woes, lamentation, wretchedness, gloom, worries, despondency, desolation, misery, melancholy, despair and heartbreak.

How does blues make you feel?

If you have the so-called blues, you might feel sad or tearful, want to spend time by yourself, and lack your usual energy or motivation. These feelings usually tend to be pretty mild, though, and they generally pass before too long.

Why does the blues sound so good?

People listen to the blues because it is one of the most emotionally intense genres of music. By shunning the complex chord progressions and rhythms of classical, jazz and more sophisticated forms of rock, blues musicians are forced to make their music exciting by playing with feeling.

Can blues music be happy?

Early blues were often comical or raunchy. Songs like Led Zeppelin’s “The Lemon Song” continue that tradition. And some blues are downright joyous like Stevie Ray Vaghan’s “Pride and Joy,” or pure fun like the old standard “Jump Jive and Wail.” The common thread in blues is that it’s very personal.

Why does the blues make you feel?

“The blues style represents . . . a saying of things that are very painful, deep and poignant, with a feeling of ease. In the very best blues the pain changes, because of the music, into something light.” At its best, the blues is a oneness of pain and pleasure, defeat and exaltation, sadness and joy.