Re: [Harp-L] Blues cliches

[Philharpn@xxxxxxx]

There are blues cliches and then there are blues standards.

Basically, the blues is a format -- different from Country, Bluegrass, Folk 
and Jump and Swing. Without the proper characteristics, a tune is not a blues 
or a country song.

A cliche uses the same trite and hackneyed riff and lyric that has been 
beaten to death. Sittin' On Top of World   uses the irony of Happiness (I'm so 
happy   I'm sitting on top of the world) except the rest of the lyrics contradict 
this happiness theme with losing his woman and celebrating Christmas in his 
overalls.

It is often said that one of the chief characteristics of the blues is an 
uptempo tune featuring lyrics about a depressing situation.

The old joke about what you get when you play a country record backwards: You 
get you dog back, you get your car back, you get your house back and you get 
your wife back has an element of truth. The difference between a country song 
(crying music) and blues song (I'm so happy I'm sad) are just a different 
response to the same loss, disappointment, etc.

A good rule of thumb (hackneyed phrase) is that any phrase (musical or 
verbal) that you have seen in print or heard of before is a cliche -- and should be 
avoided. 

Play classic blues songs -- blues standards -- is one thing. Given the 
choice, I would rather heard a collection standards than originals. But don't steal 
the solos and best riffs out of great songs and think you have created a new 
work of art. Those solos and riffs are cliches. If you want to play those solos 
and riffs, play the whole song. Don't   "sample it."

The remarkable thing about the blues is the   variety that has come out of 
such a limited form. 



Phil Lloyd
"A day without the blues is like a day without sunshine."


In a message dated 10/6/07 12:11:59 PM, bradford.trainham@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
writes:


> They're either cliches or that which binds a tradition to what has
> gone before.
> It seems to me the feeling behind the delivery would say whether or
> not the phrase, trite or not was a cliche or a linguistic-emotional
> macro.
> Brad Trainham
> On Fri, 5 Oct 2007 19:20:45 +0300, you wrote:
> 
> >Drori hammer <drori_hammer@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >"This is one  of the (many) reasons why the late Paul deLay was such a 
> great blues artist in my opinion. His Blues was never white or black. It was 
> unaffected and unpretentious, always honest and never an attempt to imitate 
> anybody. He always steered clear of the blues clichés, in his singing, his 
> songwriting and his harmonica playing."
> >
> >Blues cliches is a thin line, both musically and grammatically. It might be 
> funny to hear early 60s Mick Jagger singing "I wants to be loved." But in 
> blues, cliches are essential. Especially on vocals and harp you have to have an 
> understanding of the genre. Just listen to Johnny Dyer and he's right up 
> there with the correct tone and phrasing. Call it a cliche or an essential 
> ingredient is in the ear of the beholder.
> >
> >Harri
> >
> >
> >
> >
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