I really enjoyed this song because it is filled with hope, strength and faith. The level of racism that is being exerted from the ruling class is really a lot to stomach. lately I’ve been feeling like I’m just in place of limbo but this song soothingly reminded me that God is standing by my side at all times. In the beginning of the song the melody is calm and then later on it feels like the song becomes more militant. I felt like I was in the crowd jubilating. The message is clear and direct. No matter what is going on God is right there by my side regardless of the trouble and the strife that surrounds us. The class warfare that’s being waged against people who are deemed to be second class citizens is unbearable at times but as I listen to this song I’m reminded that these are old social problems that have always existed. We always get through it and this song is has a wonderful message of hope. Black Existentialism is the Blues Theory term that was evoked during this listening.
Jack of Diamonds
This song was really cool and as I listened to it I realized that I’ve been playing the Jack of Daimonds for the majority of my life, I wouldn’t have put any other way. I’m an Aries so naturally I’m a risk taker. Since I was about 7 years old I felt like I was dealt a bad hand but I’ve had to make the most the cards that were dealt to me. I really like how the artists melody was chaotic throughout the whole song. He went on to say that in every situation he came up against the Jack of Diamonds was in his hands. The Jack of Diamonds represents courage and initiative, a hero, and willingness to take risks. I’ve lived through 2 hurricanes that took the roof of our home in the Caribbean both times and we really didn’t have the 15 cents to turn into a dollar. Fema failed us and we had to collect firewood to cook a meal after catching some fish and those times prepared me for all the tough times that life decides to throw at me. Bring it on! The lyrics in the song repetitively reminded me that no matter what situation was presented to me I faced it with courage no matter the end result and I am still here. Cultural memory and Identity is the Blues Theory term that was evoked during this listening.
Sinner’s Prayer
This song is so universal in my opinion, it speaks to the tough economic times that I’ve been facing due to the Macro economy. The lyrics and melody embodied a tone of lamentation. Tough times can fall on anyone suddenly and you naturally ask yourself what did you do wrong to anyone, so the sinners prayer to God makes this song so powerful because at one point or the other we’ve all faced economic hardship and the remaining question is why of God why? Ray Charles said that he used to have plenty money, the finest clothes in town and then bad luck and trouble overtook him and he proceeded to cry out to the lord to please have mercy on him. This verse was so real to me because things can get so tough that you can’t even remember when you bought yourself a nice t-shirt just to be able to look good and feel good on a nice spring day. The question of why bad luck has befallen me definitely makes me question who did I wrong. Is it karma because that entity sure comes at the wrong time. But the cause of my suffering is something that will remain a mystery until I surrender to the process and see what lesson God is trying to teach me this time. This song is a hit in my book and I’m a true music lover. The Blues Theory that was evoked during this listening was the Blues Aesthetic.
I’d like to share this song with you all because it also embodies how I’ve been feeling lately. It’s titled Sitting in Limbo by Jimmy Cliff. Its really Bluesy, enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjU8L6go1VA
Music Is Life 