Music and the Fictive Dream

 Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues

    Hello everyone and welcome to my blog. Today I would like to talk about the song Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues, performed by Chris Thomas King and used in the soundtrack for the movie O' Brother Where Art Thou, which was released on December 22, 2000. The song was originally written by the late Blues Musician Skip James in 1931. The song however found new popularity with it's part in O' Brother Where Art Thou. 

   

    Directed by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen, O' Brother Where Art Thou is actually a take on the "Odyssey" which was written by Homer around the 7th Century B.C. The movie revolves around three escaped prisoners, Ulysses Everett McGill, Pete, and Delmar, and their journey to a promised treasure before it is lost forever. All of this while being on the run from the authorities. 

    Throughout their quest the three escapees run into all manner of strange characters, but the one who sticks out to me is a man named Tommy Johnson. Tommy, played by Chris Thomas King, is a hitchhiking musician who had claimed that he had sold his soul to the devil in return for his talent on the guitar. The gang was hesitant to believe him but after hearing him play commented "Hot damn Tommy I believe you did sell your soul to the Devil!). 

    Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues makes it's appearance when the crew find themselves sitting around a campfire one night, talking about what they will do with their share of the treasure. Tommy and his guitar steal the scene, earning complete silence from the listeners with nothing but the sounds of a crackling fire and chirping crickets. 

Campfire Movie Scene

Chris Thomas King - Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues

    The movie only captures about a minute of the song so I attached the full song for you to enjoy and listen to while I talk about why I enjoy it as much as I do. 

    The song has a folk style form, beginning with an introduction of guitar playing and using chords that instantly place you in a state of blues. As the singing begins the melody becomes just a voice with the accompaniment of a guitar. I believe that was how this song was intended to be heard, just like it is displayed in the movie. There are no choruses, the artist instead takes you through verses of powerful lyrics that tell the troubles of the killin' floor where he worked. Though the dynamics of this song are soft, it is still so powerful with the emotions that it evokes from the listener. 

    Overall, I don't think there could have been a more perfect song for this movie. The setting taking place in Mississippi during the Great Depression, the character of Tommy Johnson drawing inspiration from real life musician Robert Johnson who claimed that he had made the same deal with the devil, and even the the musician that they chose. Everything about this selection and this scene just seemed to work perfect for me. I hope that you have enjoyed this post, and if you get some free time go watch or re-watch the movie and enjoy it like I have. 

Sources

Chris Thomas King, "Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues", O' Brother Where Art Thou (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), 2000, Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk_g3_o_ELs. 

O' Brother Where Art Thou, Joel and Ethan Coen, Touchstone Pictures, Universal Pictures, 2000. 

IMDB, "O' Brother Where Art Thou", https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190590/, accessed on April 9, 2024. 

Country Roads Magazine, "Chris Thomas King: Musician, Artist, Producer, Actor... and Author", East Baton Rouge Library, https://countryroadsmagazine.com/travel/overnight-escapes/About-the-Author-Chris-Thomas-King/, Accessed on April 9, 2024.  

Role of the Performer

 Waylon Jennings

Today I would like to talk about the late Waylon Jennings and his importance as a performer in country music. Known later in his career as "The Outlaw", Waylon Jennings was an American country singer born in Littlefield, Texas in 1937. He started his career in the music industry early, working as a radio DJ as a young teenager, where he would meet his new friend Buddy Holly, whom he began playing the bass for. After the death of his close friend and band mate he moved back to Texas, working as a disc jockey.

Waylon picked back up his music career and eventually found himself in Nashville, Tennessee, roommates with none other than the Man in Black himself, Johnny Cash. Waylon quickly became recognized as an Outlaw with his attitude and actions against the music industry. Waylon wanted to perform the songs that he enjoyed playing, and was always advocating for himself against the records companies. 

I'd like for you to listen to the rebellious lyrics while listening to this musical example. In the song Waylon tells the story of a drifting musical performer who has seemingly grown tired of his ramblin' ways.The lyrics along with the gritty tone of his voice perfectly capture the outlaw lifestyle.

Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean

Composed by Steve Young, Performed by Waylon Jennings, "Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean", Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean, RCA Records, 1973. 

Waylon began to find like minded performers who also wanted to perform music in their own way, not under the control of the music industry, such as Willie Nelson. Together the two performed music and even released an album entitled "Wanted! The Outlaws", Waylon Jennings, RCA Records, 1976. The album was awarded with Album of the Year by the Country Music Awards (CMA). 

In this next song example I would like to for you to take notice of the steady rhythm that follows the song. It's quite simple, you can play this song on the guitar using only a D and a G chord. But through his steady rhythm and bluesy guitar riffs, he makes this song very enjoyable.  

 Waymore's Blues

Composed by Curtis Buck, Performed by Waylon Jennings, "Waymore's Blues", Dreaming My Dreams, RCA Records, 1975 

 

Waylon continued playing music and performing live all through the 80's and 90's, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He passed away shortly after in February of 2002. 

I believe that Waylon Jennings was crucial and even needed for the country music industry. He left a legacy of emphasizing the enjoyment of the performer. His rebellious and uncompromising stance paved the way for many artists to follow in his footsteps and challenge the music industry who have taken advantage of performers for so long. 

 

Sources

Country Music Hall of Fame, "Waylon Jennings", accessed on April 2, 2024, https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/waylon-jennings

Biography, "Waylon Jennings", accessed on April 2, 2024, https://www.biography.com/musicians/waylon-jennings 

 

 

 

Musical Trip

For my musical trip I took a journey to Mongolia to explore the style of music known as Khoomei, or Mongolian throat singing. Khoomei is an enthralling technique of singing that combines usually a single instrument, most commonly the Morin Khuur (horse head fiddle), with multiple vocal pitches created by one singer. The harmonics created by the lone singer are hypnotizing, creating a trance like atmosphere. 

This music is used for many things such as luring animals, summoning spirits, and even as lullabies for their babies. Khoomei is a bridge, connecting the people, animals, land, and spirits of the environment. 

Below are two examples of Khoomei music. 

Chinggis khaanii Magtaal - Batzorig Vaanchig

Su-Ren Jiabu

I believe this music fits perfect with the sprawling landscape of Mongolia, the harmonics mimicking natural elements as they roll across valleys and echo off of jagged cliff walls. It really makes me feel the deep sense of connection that the people of Mongolia have with the land that provides them with life. 

References

Battushig Bars, "The Khuumii: Mongolian Throat Singing as An Extraordinary Vocal Technique", https://www.mongolianz.com/post/2020/04/25/the-khuumii-mongolian-throat-singing-as-an-extraordinary-vocal-technique/, posted April 25, 2020. 

Encyclopedia Britannica, "Throat-singing", https://www.britannica.com/art/gymel, accessed on March 20, 2024. 

Evolution of the Mandolin

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog about a musical evolution that is is very special to me. Today I want to talk about the evolution of the Mandolin, how it evolved from the Mandora and how it has impacted music since it's evolution. 

Today's Mandolin is a member of the Lute family and is believed to have evolved from the Mandora sometime around the 18th century. The Mandora was a very popular instrument across Europe as it was known to be a good instrument for beginners. Because of this, people of all backgrounds were able to enjoy the sounds of the Mandora. As people traveled across Europe, they brought their instruments with them, evolving the sound and shape. And then in Italy around the 19th century, the Mandolin was born. 

The Mandolin was developed even further when it was brought to America. Bill Monroe brought much popularity to the Mandolin in the 1920's when he began playing the instrument for his Bluegrass group. 

Below is a video of what you might have heard from a Mandora performer if you were in Europe in the 17th Century. 

Mandora - Renaissance

While it is a very pleasant instrument to hear, it feels fairly simple, and easy to follow. But it easy to be enjoyed and would pair nice with a calm atmosphere.

Next I want to show you how the Mandolin has evolved to become a vibrant and expressive instrument. Though it is small is very capable of producing strong tones and being very dynamic. 

Grasstowne - In The Pines

As you could hear, this Mandolin player has taken the Mandolin to new heights, hitting a wider variety of Chords as well as having a more intense Dynamic than the Mandoras of old. These two elements I believe have been impacted the most. Because of this I believe that the evolution was a step forward, greatly improving the sounds and experience of the Mandolin. 

References

Georgia Pick and Bow, "The History of the Mandolin". https://www.georgiapickandbow.org/history-of-mandolin/. Accessed March 4 2024.

Encyclopedia Britannica, "Mandolin". https://www.britannica.com/art/bandurria. Accessed March 4 2024. 

ArtistWorks, "A Mandolin By Any Other Name: Ancient Origins". https://my.artistworks.com/blog/mandolin-any-other-name-ancient-origins. Accessed March 4 2024. 

Musical Analysis #2

El Paso

        Hello everyone, and I hope that my first Musical Analysis has brought you back for another. Today I will doing an analysis of the song El Paso by Marty Robbins. This song is a classic cowboy ballad performed by the greatest to ever perform cowboy ballads. I have been in love with this song ever since I first heard it as a child, and today I would like to go over what elements stand out to me. I will be covering the Melody, Meter, Chords, Range, and Form of this song, and why they are special to me. As always I hope that you enjoy this analysis, and most of all I hope that you enjoy the music. 

        El Paso was released by Marty Robbins in September of 1959 in the United States. And was actually written by Marty himself. The album it was on featured a number of these story telling songs that will leave you wanting to sit around a campfire on a cool night, swapping stories and eating beans. 

Marty Robbins, "Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs", September 1959. 

El Paso - Marty Robbins

Melody

        If you couldn't already tell, I truly love lyrics that tell a story. And by the end of the 4 minutes and 20 seconds of this song you feel like you've just watched a 2 hour spaghetti western. The lyrics gallop along with the strumming of the Spanish guitar and accompaniment of perfectly times backup vocals. The melody remains consistent throughout the song, guiding you through this bittersweet love story. The melody just feels smooth for me, everything works together to keep me entertained and hanging on to every lyric. 

Meter

        The meter for this song is using 3/4 time signature, which is used in a lot of Latin music. I think this helps tremendously in creating an atmosphere of a Spanish setting. It feels like the meter is used in this song to propel you forward, as if you're riding on horseback alongside the young cowboy. I believe the meter helps to tell the story of this song, which is why I think it is so important.

Chords

        The chords used in this song fit the setting perfectly, using a mix of cowboy chords to make you believe that you could close your eyes and open them to find yourself on a prairie in the old west. Though the chords are fairly simple, they are paired with a folk style strumming pattern that makes them feel deeper and more complex. I could listen to chords like EM and A7 all day, and sometimes I do!

Range

        There is a variety of range used in this song in the vocals as well as the guitar. The singing starts off low and soft, describing the setting and the beautiful love interest (Felina). As passions arise and tempers flare, the range and dynamics are elevated, evoking more emotion from the listener. Then when the dust settles, it's back to soft and smooth singing and strumming. This song demonstrates perfectly how Range can take you on a journey and make you feel very engaged in the story.

Form

        The Form in this song is very interesting, in that it doesn't use a traditional chorus. Instead of choruses, some verses are amplified with backup vocals that shift the tone of the song. This is used well to carry the story along, helping you too understand the subtle details such as how dark the eyes of Felina seemed, and how the bullet in his side felt to the cowboy. The song is also opened and closed with a guitar lick. The opening lick starts the song on a upbeat note, opening the sounds for the town of El Paso, and the closing lick trends downward, ending the story with the closing of the cowboy's eyes. 

        I could probably ramble about how perfect this song is until I am blue in the face. But these elements are what project to me most. I hope that my analysis has given you new respect for the song, and possible even opened your ears to this genre of music. 

        Here is a link to a popular website which reviews music albums, we share some agreements on the story telling abilities of Marty Robbins and the amazing album he created. 

Country Exclusive, Reflecting on: Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, July 17, 2017. 

Country Exclusive - Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs

        The next link is a review and also a bit of backstory of Marty Robbins.

Paul W. Dennis, Classic Review: Marty Robbins - "Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs", September 16, 2015.

Wordpress Review - Marty Robbins

Musical Analysis #1

Deep Water

    Hello, and thank you for reading my blog, which will be a musical analysis of the song "Deep Water", performed by Kainen Kellum. The song is a haunting and melancholic tune that tells a story of the murder of a young man. Today I want to talk about the elements of this song that resonate with me, and the characteristics that have left me listening to this spooky tune, time and time again. As well as giving a brief overview of Kianen and his music.

"Deep Water" was released on May 13th of 2022 in the United States. The song has several elements that continue to keep me engaged every time I hear it. But today I want to focus on the Chords, Melody, and Tempo of the song.  

Deep Water

Chords

    While it only takes four chords to play this song, they still manage to take you on an emotional journey. The song starts off with a lonely guitar riff, playing a set of Minor chords that set the tone of the song. This song has just started and it is already producing deep emotions of mystery and sadness. Then Kainen begins to sing, producing a low range with his voice, matching the guitar chords perfectly. The progression leads you to the chorus, where it then adds a C7 chord that chills you to the bone. The chords in this song represent perfectly what I love in music, chords that can move you and make you feel emotion from start to finish.

Tempo

    The tempo remains pretty consistent throughout most of the song. Steady and slowly progressing the story through two verses and two choruses. The slow tempo keeps the story unsettling and quite somber. The deliberate strums on the guitar do a good job at setting the energy of the song. It makes you just want to sit around a campfire and listen to the cautionary tale that it brings. The setting remains slow paced until the Outro begins, a chorus where Kianen slowly begins to pick up the pace. You feel the lyrics coming at you faster and faster, as if the killer has picked you as his next victim. Approaching you quickly, and then the final chords play and the song is over. The tempo in this song perfectly commands the energy of the listener. Keeping them engaged with a moderate pace, until you've heard the story and then the pace picks up, shocking you with what has happened. 

Melody

    The Melody of this song invokes an emotional impact on me every time that I hear it. The background of the guitar strumming, with the guitar licks in between the lyrics, keep the story moving along. Almost acting as a horse for the lyrics to ride on. The soft lyrics sung by the growl like singing voice. Warning the listener of the dangers lurking. Everything is integrated perfectly to frame the song and make it stand out in your memory. The melody leaves an impact on you, leaving you disturbed and sad, but begging for another verse. This melody is very catchy and memorable, simple yet profound. It is exactly what I look for when searching for new music. 

    Being an up and comer in the music scene, there's not much to find about Kianen Kellum. He is labeled as a Country singer, but I personally think a lot of his music draws inspiration from Folk music. He writes his own songs and released his debut album A Fool's Pipedream, in May of 2022. Kianen has garnered respect from fellow artists such as Drayton Farley, who continues to praise Kianen's songs, and even performs alongside him. 

Interview with Kianen Kellum

Kianen Kellum and Drayton Farley

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope that you have enjoyed the music and the analysis that I have made. Kianen Kellum knocked it out of the park with this song and I hope that he continues to deliver with this type of beautiful story telling music. 

A Fools Pipedream

My Old Kentucky Home

Hello my fellow music lovers! My name is Cameron Elkins and I am from the beautiful state of Kentucky, The Bluegrass State. I was born and raised right in the heart of the Appalachians Mountains, and grew up playing and exploring the Daniel Boone National Forest. I have traveled and lived in many places, but My Old Kentucky Home will always be special to me. I love the scenery, the people, and especially the music that this area has given life to. 

I was raised almost exclusivity listening to Bluegrass music. So I have always enjoyed listening to that style and remembering my homeland. I have a musical family who holds Bluegrass music very close to their heart. Growing up listening to the beautiful melodies that my mother would play with my grandpa, has always made me want to learn to play with them. So in recent years I have started learning to play the guitar. These days I have broadened my spectrum of music that I listen to and enjoy attending concerts of newer styles of folk and country. 

The link here will take you to an old song performed by the great Dr. Ralph Stanley. Regarded by many as one of the greatest Bluegrass Musicians of all time. 

Medicine Springs

The picture below is of The Natural Bridge, a natural landmark in the Natural Bridge State Park. I have hiked to the top of this beautiful bridge many times and enjoyed it stunning views.