Blues - The only enduring 'modern' music form?

[fogpotion]

I have come to the conclusion (after months of calculations) that Blues
is the only 'modern' form of music that has any chance of surviving for
more than this century. I am of course referring to all forms of Blues
- including the kinds that aren't played on hard core Blues stations -
like the Blues played by the Stones, Dylan and other modern artists.
This insight ( signs of senility?) has come to me along with the
realization that most of what was popular music in the boomer era will
be a oddity for musicologists to study much like ragtime.

What do you think?

[Lee]

I can go with that, however I would also add reggae to the very short
list.

[Ian Pollard]

I can't agree with this, but I'm interested in your calculations --
whatever they may be.

Here's my reasons why I disagree:

[1] Short of monolithic blues or blues rock artists, the blues --
accepting the genre's evolution no further than the Stones or Dylan --
is a stagnant genre with small sales outside the established
upper-echelons of the industry. It won't grow any more than it already
has, hence we're dealing with a finite group of artists and records
that won't grow substantially.

[2] Rock -- from metal to emo to punk -- is far more heterogeneous;
hence, although derivative from more pure forms of blues, its legacy
is still developing into interesting new genres and ideas. Math rock,
anyone?

[3] The limitation of the blues pentatonic, or other formal musical
structures like the 12 bar, and the ever uniform 4/4 time signature,
means there's only so much you can do with the format before it
becomes something else.

[4] The legacy of the Delta: the parameters of being accepted as
"authentic" blues are harsh. You need to be born poor, black,
miserable, and die young. It's a small crowd that accepts few
pretenders -- Clapton and the Stones are rare things.

[5] Despite the title of his most recent album, Dylan ain't a "modern
artist". He's a relic out of step with contemporary music -- and good
on him for that!

If you'd said jazz, I might have agreed. Particularly with electronic
music's fascination with the genre and its ability to create highly
abstract music and complex beats even the greatest jazz drummer could
not replicate. See Squarepusher or Autechre.

xxxianxx

--
"No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

[Lee]

Arrggghhh Ian get out of here with your logic and you non love of the
blues.

Damn you man.

Seriosuly though if you count blues as being all of it's evoled forms,
rock, metal included then I think the OP has a very valid point.

I must admit to not thinking about the jazz thing, okay lets add that
to the ever growing list then huh!

[Ian Pollard]

I love the blues, Lee. But I'll take Howlin' Wolf and Robert Johnson
over the Rolling Stones or Bob Dylan. :)

I just wanted to point out if you're being very pure about it then
you're discounting a lot of diverse and influencial stuff... and,
really, you can look back to jazz as an influence on blues too.

xxxianxx

[gabbydott]

Congratulations on your conclusion! Blueskys and deep waters - what
more do you want four eternal blessings?

[fogpotion]

I assumed that jazz blues would be included in my equation, but now I
see on reading my blurry logic that I omitted this important thread.
Good catch lee.

[fogpotion]

Don't forget to nominate me for the Nobel Peace Prize. This is
earthshaking stuff here.

[dkw1...@yahoo.com]

Perhaps. Also, if you are old enough, you have seen how rock and roll
evolved into a whole range of music with very little in common, so
blues might also branch out into lots of areas.

I think Gospel Music will be around a long time, although modern gospel
music is not much like the church music of 50 years ago.

I heard Dixieland is the only American invention, so that might still
be around and common in New Orleans. It seems to have changed the least
over the last 100 years.

The patriotic music will still be around. Nobody is going to change
America the Beautiful or the Star Spangled Banner very much except for
the occasional Jimmie Hendrix or Rosanne Barr inflections.

I love the Blues. I remember watching BB King in Indianapolis in 1970
as a student. He is as much fun to watch as he is to hear, because he
puts his body and especially facial expressions into the music.

Hey, don't forget Elvis is still around and presumably in hiding
somewhere. He could always come out and make some more of those balads
he was famous for 50 years ago. Are You Lonesome Tonight and Love Me
Tender. I still have the 45's dkw