Destination Jam: Our Top 5 iconic blues songs that will help you beat that dreaded Monday morning feeling
It's Monday, and as much as it sucks to make such an announcement, we want to offer you a pep-up to the world's most dreaded day of the week. Originally, a genre that is predominantly saddening, blues has been studied and loved worldwide, yet there is no cure to feeling down like music. The tapping on our heartstrings with certain artistic sounds or just the idea that someone out there feels the same as we do is a comfort in its own right, and that's why we deem blues as a style of music that can also leave you feeling good.
Check out our top five blues songs of all time below.
BB King - 'The Thrill Is Gone'
We couldn't go on sharing a blues playlist without The King of the Blues himself. B B King is certainly a name off the tip of everyone's tongues when on the topic of the blues genre and it's easy to see why. With tracks like 'The Thrill Is Gone', King makes his guitar yearn, cry and charm our ears. Coupled with warm bass and his iconic vocals and you can either get fixated on dissecting the musical artistry or kickback to a solid blues number.
Jimi Hendrix - 'Red House'
Blues music is often centered around guitar work and our next track features a musician who is famously one with his guitar. Hendrix most often produced music for the rock and roll scene, but his blues-charged music is just as epic. 'Red House' was inspired by earlier blues songs and has the musical form of a conventional twelve-bar blues. Music writer Keith Shadwick has compared the song to a vocal, calling it a "close approximation of the human voice ... scooping and bending his phrases to maximum expressive effect."
The Rolling Stones - 'Down In The Hole'
An often underrated track by The Rolling Stones, 'Down In The Hole' featured on the band's 15th British and 17th American studio album, 'Emotional Rescue'. Over a laidback beat and guitar licks that form to their own accord, frontman Mick Jagger sings, "Buy you forgiveness. Keep you from sickness. Or keep you from cold? Will all your money. Keep you from madness. Keep you from sadness. When you're down in the hole? 'Cause you'll be down in the gutter."
Eric Clapton - 'Little Wing' (with J J Cale)
We have another Jimi Hendrix track for you, but this Eric Clapton version remains ever sweet. Originally written by Hendrix, 'Little Wing' has seen Eric Clapton performing the song throughout his career, beginning in 1970 with Derek and the Dominos. Hop on to YouTube, and the comments section for the below clip is filled with much fan-love for Clapton's version. "This is the best version of hendrix's amazing song and ı m afraid it will never be played better again," says a fan.
Etta James - 'I'd Rather Go Blind'
We want to calm your senses and wrap up our Destination Jam playlist with this stunning Etta James track. Like the genre contrasting both positive and negative, lyrically, 'I'd Rather Go Blind' can cut deep yet its musical accompaniment is super relaxing and comforting. Listen to 'I'd Rather Go Blind' below.
Destination Jam is a daily list of songs that will keep you entertained and grooving up top in lieu of feeling drained and losing the plot. Look out for a fresh selection of great tunes from MEAWW to refresh your mood every day!