Billie Holiday "St. Louis Blues"

“I hate to see the evening sun go down,” she says, in the song “St. Louis Blues.” Billy Holiday establishes this grief in the two first lines, but the second line is sung a little differently. By doing so, Holiday emphasizes her feelings, and the little adjustments to her vocals adds an empowering emotion, especially when she raises her voice to say, “I.” The A A’ B blues form is duplicated in the second verse, the approach of which is reminiscent of the first verse. Yet noticeably, Holiday leaves the A A’ B form just when she is divulging personal information about her man and their situation. The background musical arrangement infuses more instruments, its structure more complicated but vibrant. Moreover, it matches the range of emotions expressed in the 3^rd and 4^th verses since they contain very expressive words and thoughts, such as “the man I love wouldn’t go nowhere” and “He’s got a heart like a rock.”

At first, it seems that she is only complaining about some boy and how hard she has to work to keep him around. Angela Davis, however, urges us to look more into the lyrics of these women. In this Billie Holiday song, there is a social commentary about the sex roles of men and women during that period of time, which is that women are ridiculously expected to dress a certain way by their men.

Black Eye Blues

I chose to listen to the song “Black Eye Blues” by Ma Rainey because I thought that from the given title, the lyrics would probably go along with my personal perception of what the blues are supposed to portray. A soulful, swing-of-the-hips sound with a painful or somber story that is crooned in a most visceral sounding way. I think its safe to say I got exactly what I was expecting.

The song is a sad story about a young woman in an abusive relationship, most likely suffering due to the infidelity of the male counterpart. As most abusive relationships go, the one being abused convinces them self that their significant other didn’t really mean any harm and continues to stick around. Though this seems to be apparent for the relationship described in this song, I believe that Miss Nancy Ann realized what is being done to her, but insists on staying in her relationship until she can catch her significant other cheating on her. With the guttural tone of voice used to sing this song, I think the feeling of the pain induced from every slug to the face can be heard. One can really hear the sadness but also the anger that Miss Nancy feels as Ma Rainey sings from inside the abused character’s perspective. 

Bessie Smith's "Empty Bed Blues"

Bessie Smith follows the AAB configuration throughout the entirety of “Empty Bed Blues” as well as the 12 bar blues form. Two lines at the beginning of every verse are repeated and rhyming words at the end of corresponding A and B lines are used to tie the verses together. The song is also split into two parts; the first half tells of her man’s “new way of loving” and the second of him leaving her, and her bed, empty. In part one of Smith’s song, the interactions between Smith and the instruments are cheerful, passionate, and excited as she describes her man.  Part two is where she recounts her loss and the instruments accompanying her deepen to convey moral support for her situation.

Women during the 1920s used the blues to express themselves and their strength in their sexual relationships, instead of following the cultural norms and surrendering to the superiority of the man. As Angela Davis discusses in “Mamma’s Got the Blues,” through their lyrics, women were able to articulate themes sexual prowess, the rivalries between fellow women, and their ability to support their men financially. “Empty Bed Blues” features these themes. Smith expresses her ability to find a man knowledgeable in the ways of loving a woman, “He knows how to thrill me and he thrills me night and day.” The second major theme is identified with the mention of her “girlfriend Lou.”  Finally, her ability to keep her man secure financially is expressed with the lines, “Bought him a blanket, pillow for his head at night / Then I bought him a mattress so he could lay just right.”

Empty Bed Blues by Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith’s “Empty Bed Blues” is a definitive blues song of the 1920’s, in both the accompaniment and the vocals.  Recorded after the craze of Mamie Smith’s “Crazy Blues”, “Empty Bed Blues” represents a more commercial form of blues with some innovative concepts.  The song is in a standard blues 12-bar form. The first lyric “I woke up this morning with an awful aching head” is A. It is followed by the same lyric again with some vocal changes on the words “woke“ and “awful“, A’.  “My new man had left me just a room and an empty bed” finishes the verse as B, and also plays the “knock-down” to the “set-up” of the previous lines.   But Smith’s lyrical prowess displays deep emotion in the song.  Many of the words in her songs, such as “woke” and “awful” in her first lines, are emphasized with the power and pain of a strong woman vocalist.  It is clear she is in agony over losing her man, especially that she may have lost him to “her girlfriend Lou.”  In this way, Smith is sharing a lot with her fellow women blues artists, who also sing often about potentially losing their men.  In this song, the brass accompaniment in the back acts as a response to her calls, maybe acting as the male component of the song.   This song is truly beautiful, and a blues classic.

Prove it On Me Blues

Ma Rainey’s Prove it on me blues is a beautiful representation of the “sexual love” experienced in “physical and spiritual evidence- and the blues aesthetic evidence-of freedom” (page 45 “Mama’s got the Blues). In a time and place where homosexuality was looked down upon, Ma Rainey sung proudly about dressing up like a man and hanging out with women because she isn’t interested in men. She even talks from the perspective of a rough and tumble masquline type who gets in a fight and has a “gal” who runs off on her.

As the article “Mama’s Got the Blues” says, the blues women wrote songs that they hoped other women, maybe not all women but at least some would relate to. Although most of Ma Rainey’s songs were not about cross dressing and hanging out with women she knew that there were some women in her audience who would feel empowered by her song. This song has “decidedly feminist implications” because it is about being proud of feeling sexual feelings towards anyone you want, however it is also about hiding these feelings because “they” need to prove she did what she did.

This song is sung in deeper voice than all the other songs by Ma Rainey on our playlist because she is playing a different role of the other songs she sings, she is the male role in this song. In most songs today women don’t sing about cross dressing and being attracted to women. If a song gets popular about being attracted to women if you are a woman it has to be sexy and feminine ( examples include “I Kissed a Girl” the original country-ish song with that title, as well as Katty Perry’s version, and Tatu’s “All the Things She Said.) Ma Rainy doesn’t try to be cute about it, she tries to be butch about it, almost transgender about it. She says that no one can prove it was her, and sings proudly about being mistaken for a man. This song should be an example that songs by women do not have to be all about femininity, songs can be about being a masculine female, or a crossdressing female, or a female who get in fights and gets drunk and hits on women.

Ma Rainey’s “Prove it on Me Blues” is the only song about a woman being attracted to other women I have ever heard that was not about being sexy and exciting men, who should have no place in the song.

Take that Katty Perry! Who gives a sh*t about what your boyfriend thinks.

"Black Eye Blues"

The blues granted black women the chance to defend themselves not only among a prevailing white culture, but also among males in their respective communities (65). Gertrude “Ma” Rainey’s “Black Eye Blues” is one of the many blues songs of this time that thoroughly demonstrated an important point made in Angela Davis’ article stating that “blues was an aesthetic evidence of freedom” (45). In the song, Rainey tells a story about a woman named Nancy Ann that has been repeatedly abused physically and emotionally by her man. However, despite this dilemma, she manages to rise above and refuse defeat declaring to her man, “gonna catch you with your britches down.” Nancy Ann’s outspoken character exemplified the autonomous nature arising in women at this time, as well as the need to share life experiences in order to show other women how to carry out their lives (53).

The song models the standard ABAB format, followed by a chorus. What was interesting to find was that although the song apparently addresses the sensitive issues of relationships through its lyrics, the upbeat nature of its melody does not necessarily fit. While one would assume the song to have a more somber melody because of the immoral actions expressed in the lyrics, this fact is somewhat masked behind the cheerful melody accompanying it.

"Black Eye Blues"

The amusing thing about the song “Black Eye Blues” is that before Ma Rainey even mutters a word about these black eye blues you can already tell that the song is going to have much more feeling than what the joyful piano guiding the song in the background presents because of the emotional guitar picking that reigns over it.
The song follows a basic ABAB pattern followed by a chorus. The A sections remain steady until the end of each line when Ma Rainey raises her pitch a notch in order to emphasize the last few words at the end. The A sections seem to serve as a bit of a filler, providing background information about Miss Nancy and her man, but it is during the B sections where the real story takes place. During the B sections, her pitch goes down in the first line, creating a more somber tone, alluding to a more serious subject matter, and then goes up again in the second line to emphasize some sort of empowerment. For example, in the second B section she says, “He beat Miss Nancy ‘cross the head,” and the pitch goes down, but then when she switches to the next line: “When she rose to her feet, she said” the pitch goes up.
Although Miss Nancy has been beaten, the song continues on into a chorus, accompanied by an upbeat melody, that supports Miss Nancy’s empowering message that even though she has stuck around despite being beaten, mistreated, and cheated on, she ain’t no fool, and one of these day’s she’s going to catch her man when he least expects it: with his “britches down.”

The song then goes into an instrumental break with a plucking guitar solo with that same range of emotion that gave away these black eye blues right from the beginning, and then back to the chorus.

Dream Blues Ma Rainey

The song I choose to analyze is “Dream Blues” by Ma Rainey from the Pre-war City Blues. The first thing that attracted me to this song is the melody and the meaning behind the lyrics. I am still not truly able to decipher the lyrics and am very interested in what other people in the class have come up with. My first initial thought of this song was that it does sound very depressing and I instantly noticed a string instrument in the background (maybe a banjo). She seems to be singing about her worries and whether or not her life is a dream or if it is reality. What I got from the lyrics is that she feels mistreatment from men from different parts of her life and does wish that it is a dream that she could wake up from so that it will be all over.

Musically, we have learned that blues has an AA’B format. To me this song stays true to the format and is very apparent in the first verse. I do feel that the song doesn’t change much in melody, but the way Ma Rainey sings it shows deeper emotion as the song progresses. The melody or tune of the song matches perfectly to the lyrics.

 

“Dream Blues”

Ma Rainey’s performance of “Dream Blues” paints a picture of sorrow and hopelessness. It starts off with a banjo strumming a sad tune. In the beginning she sings about how she ‘had a dream last night and the night before’ her words sound drawn out and tired. She makes her audience feel what she is feeling through her singing. It’s like she is actually talking to you personally about her problems. Nothing is held back in her performance.

The recurring theme is men in her life who treat her badly. It is shown through the gloomy tone of her voice. The sad tone carries through the rest of the piece. In the last stanza of the song her singing gets louder and it is almost as if she is crying out. The form is ‘ABABA’, it keeps a constant beat to the song almost like a question and response. You can hear the melody build up and drop at the end of each phrase giving the song more of a blues feeling. Something else I noticed is the banjo or string instrument in the background is not very loud. All attention is on the message Ma Rainey is trying to get out to her audience.

"St. Louis Blues," Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday’s recording is very moving in regards to the melody produced by the horn and the piano.  She changes her pitch to express emotion throughout the song.  From the lyrics, it seems that she had a man but other factors played into their relationship. He left her for other ventures, but she’ll love him until the day she dies because he is what she fancies.  As we mentioned in lecture, Holiday follows the flexible use of pitch as did early African-American music in the 19^th century.

The first verse seems to be A A’ A, and she uses her voice to introduce the listener to the overview of her situation.  The second verse, B B B, explains to us that she isn’t happy with what is going on and knows that tomorrow will be just like today is, sad.  The third verse, A A B C, she gets a higher pitch to show emotion towards the other woman that her man has left her for; also, she changes her pitch between the double “nowhere”. The fourth verse, B B B, she emphasizes St. Louis and then keeps the same level pitch throughout the rest of the verse.

Girls Kissing Girls- "Oh My!"

“Prove It On Me Blues” is the story of a woman who is in conflict with her female interest. Various instances of the song imply us to the idea that queer relationships existed in the time period of 1923-1924 in which the song was recorded. This however maybe surprising to some considering that these are topics rarely discussed when it comes to “American History.” Sexual orientation between same sex beings has recently become “appropriate” to discuss openly over the dinner table. As argued by Davis, “the blues was a privileged site in which women were free to assert themselves publicly as sexual beings.” Not only did the blues provide a free space for African American women to speak about personal sexual encounters but it served as a platform to challenged ideas around gender roles.

Rainey’s lyrics are powerful in that she is not afraid to voice that she is a powerful woman that can tend to a female just as a male can and is unashamed about. She even boasts about the way she talks to females “just like any old man.” Her tone in this lyric is one of a “hahahaha bet you didn’t know I could do that?!”  Rainey is almost daring someone to say something to her about it or questions her actions in her decision to play the role of what is normally understood to be the role of the male species.  The comfort level that Rainey has with speaking on this topic is very present in her tone of voice while singing it as well as in her lyrics. What makes the song stronger however is the lack of male presence in the song. Not one time in the song are we introduced to male character that has any say so or welcomed opinion about the main woman’s involvement with someone of her same sex.

Though Rainey’s attitude about may seem a bit bold, a few of today’s contemporary artist can be found speaking on the same exact topics however in a more or less welcoming setting. Female artist such as rapper Nicki Minaj openly speak about there sexuality just as Rainey did with lyrics like, “She so fuckin fine that I touched her up again, told her last time she can bring her other friend,” from “Girls Kissing Girls” by Nicki Minaj.  In contrast, however, lesbian relationships seem to be hyper sexualized, by male artist and other matriarchal controlled media. Many male perspective songs and other forms of media serve as a tool toward this hyper-sexualization by inviting themselves and creating what is called a ménage à trios, or threesome. For example, in Lil Wayne’s recent song “Every Girl” featuring Drake, the line “are any of ya’ll into girls, lesbiahonest (let’s be honest),” almost takes away the ownership lesbian women should have over their identity. In comparison however I like to think that despite time differences and generation gaps that both Minaj and Rainey were just requesting acceptance of loving whomever they desire to love. 

St Louis Blues

As mentioned in Mama’s Got the Blues, recurring themes in women’s blues music had to do with problems with male lovers in heterosexual relationships. In Billie Holiday’s recording “St. Louis Blues,” she sings a solemn tone about problems she is having with the man she loves. She discusses that the man leaves her for a wealthy woman with a diamond ring, powder make-up and store-bought hair, which enflames her jealousy of this St Louis woman. The feelings she has of knowing he leaves for the wealthy woman pushes her to contemplate leaving. But this somber scenario continues for four verses then suddenly the instruments play an upbeat tone in which she sings the last verse with a different kind of attitude towards the man. She ends the song with a verse expressing “I love my man ‘till the day I die.” I think this song was a great example of a common theme for the blues and the strong emotions that played a role in many of women’s lives and their relationships.

I chose “St. Louis Blues” because I feel that it was a great example of a common theme in its time. The strong emotions and the lifestyles of the middle class tied together with love and relationships. This song allowed for Billie Holiday to express herself and affirm the dominant middle-class ideology.

Ma Rainey's Wringing and Twisting Blues

In the song Wringing and Twisting Blues by Ma Rainey her despair and violence is laced throughout the lyrics, melody, and accompaniment. Another woman stole her man away and her grief turns to anger and a lust for revenge. The sorrowful pitch and slow rhythm reflect the hurt that she has experienced. The shape of the song builds on her wanting to get even. The lyrics portray these strong emotions,

“But if I know that woman that caused my heart to moan

I’d cook a special dinner, invite her to my home

…………………………………………….………

If she eats on my table, she will be graveyard bound

I’ll be right there to tell her, when they put her in the ground

You’re the cause of me having those wringin’ and a-twistin’ blues.’”

The melody has a distinct blue note that sums up her loss. The accompaniment has a wonderful texture with the chords and notes that in all produce a longing rhythm. This song demonstrates the relationship between men and women, but especially women and women. Her love had another woman on the side and her first reaction is not to blame her man, it is to get revenge on the woman who stole him away. It exemplifies the violence and competition between women.  The relationship between the man and woman is that he is not responsible the other woman is, allowing him to get off easy because it is only the women’s fault. This song demonstrates perfectly the anguish and hatred that this woman experienced. Ma Rainey exemplifies all the defining characteristics of the blues through this song.

Melissa Stoll

Prove It On Me Blues

The song “Prove It On Me Blues” by Ma Rainey has the obvious aspects of a blues song as well as a level of uniqueness, which surprised me while listening. The first three lines seem to follow the typical AAB 12 bar blues form, but after that the song breaks off and begins what sounds like an ABAB structure that carries through until the end. This change seems to make the song different from others. One aspect of the accompaniment was very interesting and sounded almost like someone was spitting into a microphone on each count starting after the first refrain.  Following regular blues form the melody was very upbeat and almost happy sounding while the lyrics were depressing.  Blue notes were prevalent throughout.

The lyrical makeup of the song was what really surprised me. At fist glance I assumed to song was about her preference of women over men and maybe even her lesbianism. She talks about dressing in men’s clothing, being with one woman, and that she wants the whole world to know what she’s doing. However I find it hard to believe the topic was being discussed in 1924 when even in 2009 the gay and lesbian community face extreme scrutiny. This point along with the melodic makeup of “Prove It On Me Blues” makes it a very entertaining song to listen to. 

Ma Rainey - Dream Blues

Ma Rainey’s “Dream Blues” begins with a quick and simple banjo riff that continues throughout the song by itself.  Ma Rainey comes into the song with a delicate yet desperate tone.  Her lyrics depict a recurring dream that she has been experiencing night after night.  She explains how the men in her life treat her badly and she can’t take it anymore.  She cries out to God asking him how to handle her situation but she eventually states that she has given up by saying “mama don’t mind dying”. 

The first verse where she sings “Had a dream last night…and the night before” is slightly higher pitch the first time around.  This change in pitch enhances the feeling of sadness that she is experiencing being mistreated.  The song form is A A B because the second verse is repeated and then the 3rd verse acts as the “punchline”.  In addition the feeling of the song begins a little unstable but gradually intensifies with Ma Rainey’s increased emotion.  

Black Eye Blues

            Society’s “ideological prohibitions required women either to be silent of to engage in a ‘proper’ way of speaking about [sex]” (Davis, 45) but ‘Ma’ Rainy challenges this in her song “Black Eye Blues”. Throughout her song ‘Ma’ Rainy sings of vengeance on a man who abuses her. She acknowledges man’s power over women in society without disputing it, but also characterizes herself as an independent woman.

            I found that the song contains the form A, A, B , A and the B line is used to catch the listener’s attention. Important words to the plot of the song such as “beat, mistreat, and low down alligator” can be found in the B lines. Her ultimate point can also be found in the final B line when she threatens her subject that she will take vengeance upon him “sooner or later” and during this point there is also an influx in her voice and her pitch changes. This change reinforces her message and the instrumentals used in the piece change with her. The instrumentals also stop at a certain point to emphasize that the man’s wrong doings and bring attention to the fact that he “[took] all [her] money, [blackened] both of [her] eyes, [gave] it to another woman, [came] home and [told her] lies”. This empty air leaves room for the listener to hear ‘Ma’ Rainy’s lyrics describing her troubles as a woman in the late 19^th century.

Sarah Cohen