Bad Luck Blues
Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 11:46 AM I choose to discuss the song “Bad Luck Blues” by Ma Rainey. It is a in the Pre-War city Blues section of the site. It is obvious it is from this time because of the constant use of “blue” notes throughout the song. The song is in a A, A’, B format. What I find interesting about it is that the A’ lines are the exact same lyrics as the A lines, they are just emphised different to create a new sounding line. I think Ma Rainey did this because this creates more emphasis on the emotion in the words she is saying. By saying it again, it causes the listener to really pay attention to what she is saying. Also, after every line is what sounds a trumpet solo, doing a blues solo that really adds to the bluesy sound of the peice. The piano in the background seems to not flow too well, and that could be because of the recording we just cant hear every note. It seems to come in and out and the notes’ volume level varys.
This song is very representive of the blues. The lyrical themes are exactly what most people would say are blues lyrics. Lyrics like “What’s the use of living if you can’t get the man you love.
You might as well go die, give your soul to the Maker above”
Reader Comments (3)
In analyzing the form here, you may want to take it a step further, and think about how the trumpet's "response" changes in relation to each line sung. Does it become more complex or longer? Does it imitate the voice or do something different? On the lines that you indicated were emphasized by repetition, does the trumpet respond differently when the line is repeated?
You describe the music here often as being "bluesy". We react that way in listening to this music because it was categorized and marketed after its development as the "blues." So instead of saying that something sounds "bluesy" try to describe it as sad, angry, etc. You may want to re-read the Ferris article which discusses the development of this particular blues style, and then think of this song in relation to those ideas.
The songs “Bad Luck Blues” and “Empty Bed Blues” both are in a AA’B verse form, and are accompanied by piano with one or two other instruments that “respond” to the singer. (In “Bad Luck Blues” there is a muted trumpet with a very faint clarinet in the background, and “Empty Bed Blues” has a trombone.) What is your reaction to the piano part? Does it it convey the same mood as the singer and instrument? How does the instrument (trumpet or trombone) respond to the singer? Lastly, you can talk about how the third line in each verse (the “knock-down” B line), works in the song. Is it effective or not? Here are two posts that address some of these questions well. Please comment on one of the two posts to add your thoughts to the discussion.
http://benleedscarson.com/ma-rainey-and-bessie-smith/bessie-smiths-empty-bed-blues.html
http://benleedscarson.com/ma-rainey-and-bessie-smith/ma-raineys-bad-luck-blues-1.html
I agree it seems like Ma Rainey is trying to get people to really listen to her story and wants people to feel her pain. I just had a question about the B line I thought it added a contrast to the harmony and gave a feeling on unstable intense motion? I was wondering if you found the same thing? I also thought that the piano in the background was supporting the singer, echoing her in the third line of each verse when the situation became more intense and the pitch changed to low fast paced notes.