Enjoying the Blues through Reading

I really love the blues. And it would be ideal if I could show off my blues guitar skills on social media,




but unfortunately, I'm not that good, and it's going to take a while to reach that level... (lol) However, I also love reading, and I've read quite a few books




about the blues. So, I'm going to introduce some books I've chosen to help you enjoy the blues starting from zero prior knowledge, and prove that you can enjoy the blues through reading.




Well, feel free to read this to kill some time (lol).

1. Understanding American History in One Volume

No, no, wait. I know what everyone wants to say.





However, the blues is a genre of music that is closely connected to society,





and you can enjoy it much more by first gaining some background knowledge of American history.





So, I chose an easy-to-read book on American history that also serves as a warm-up to get you used to reading.

2. Griot Music and Culture

It was cheaper when I bought it... (´･ω･｀) The blues has roots.





This is a book that traces those roots. What kind of country existed and what kind of music was played there.





By touching on that history, the way you see the blues will change.





So, personally, I'd like to recommend it, but considering the price, it might be better to wait until it gets cheaper.





I think it's fine to just wait until the price drops (lol).

3. Encountering songs that stir the soul

Sorry to keep you waiting... (laughs) Finally, here is a book that introduces the history of the blues.





That said, this book is less about the history of the blues and more about the culture created by Black people.





The history of the blues is long and voluminous, so it's tough to start reading it from the beginning.






That's why it's better to take it step by step, like 'Ah, so this is what America is like, and this is where the blues came from, and this is how Black culture was born and grew.'













The page count is around 200 pages, which is just right for reading a little bit at a time whenever you have some free time.That's why I chose this book.

4. Blues Poetry

This is a book that digs into what the blues is by focusing on 'poetry'.





It covers things like how it's structured, what kind of language is used, and what kind of lives people were living at the time...





You might think 400 pages is a lot, but since it features poetic works, you don't really feel the volume that much.





There are many parts that touch on the structure of poetry, and since I call myself a poet, it's educational, so I find myself re-reading it quite often.

5. Deep Blues

It feels like a classic history book. It shines a light on the lives of Black people while incorporating the historical background,





mixing in the history while delving into famous bluesmen.





Now, you might say, "Well, why didn't you introduce this one first?" and that's fair enough,






but since it's a hefty volume of over 400 pages, it was hard to recommend as a starting point.





If you're someone who says, "I'm pretty confident," then I think it's fine to challenge yourself with this book from the start.

6. The History of the Blues

Nowadays, if you want to and take action, you can listen to music of any genre.





However, you can't go back to that era and listen to it in real-time. So,





personally, I listen to my favorite genres with a sense of joy and pleasure, but also with a touch of sadness.





That's why this book is special. It features photos of what things were like back then.





Personally, it's my favorite among all the blues-related books, and even though it cost about 10,000 yen when I bought it, I feel it was worth it.

7. So, what exactly is the blues?

If I were asked that, I'd answer,"The history of a way of life passed down by many Black people."After arriving in America and beginning their lives there, they faced hardship and sorrow, and sang to encourage themselves while working...






I think those moments piled up to become music, culture, and history. So, I don't think it contains any political intent.






They weren't making music with political intentions, after all. I believe it has reached the present day by changing its form as the times passed and the values of various people were incorporated into it.

8. Why did you write an article like this this time?

I think the biggest reason was simply my love for the blues. While I was playing music, I encountered it, fell in love with it, and started playing blues guitar, but I kept hitting walls and giving up. A few years ago, I started approaching the blues from a different angle (reading), and little by little, I became able to play blues guitar. There are mountains of people who are better at blues guitar or more knowledgeable than me, but I wanted to leave a record of how I encountered the blues in this way. Also, I think it was because of the fear that the music I love would be forgotten. The music I love hasn't been in the mainstream for a long time. So, it's being forgotten year by year. But by sharing it here (on social media), I feel like I can at least delay it being forgotten and maybe even pass it on to the next generation.

9. What are you going to do from here on out?

What should I do? (laughs) I haven't decided what to write next or when to write it. Considering my mental health, I can't be sure about my physical condition, so the amount of work I can do in a day varies. However, whether it's reading, philosophy, the blues, or my other music, I'm aware that I'm a light fan—what you'd call a casual fan—so I think I'll continue writing articles with the direction of 'doing it to enjoy it as a hobby' rather than deepening my knowledge and pursuing those fields. Basically, I'll do my best to aim for about three posts a day using the tweet function. Well, wait patiently for me, okay? (laughs)













The End