It’s been said that you can’t know the sweet if you don’t know the bitter. This could very well be true. Though the reality of what constitutes the bitter is all relative isn’t it? What if you’re born in to a family like the Rothchilds or maybe the Rockafellers or something like that. Heavily connected to the world at large. You have all the privileges that end up meaning you don’t have to worry about money or consequences. You’re likely taught all the strings on how to manipulate. Would you know the sweet? Is it inherent to know? Would it lead to doing extremely perverted stuff because there is no baseness? Hmmm…
Now what if you’re born to the ghetto. Raised without good guidelines and have to fight to survive. What would it take to understand the sweet? Would you even care to know it?
We always hear that the great art comes from tragedy and hunger. But does it really? If you experience tragedy and it leads to great art that sells extremely well, do you know the sweet?
I had a strange dream last night that caused me to think about such things this morning. At least what I could remember of it did. I can certainly understand how hunger can play into it. I’m not sure the hunger always leads to creation but I suppose it can help. Maybe that’s why the blues became so popular. It was an identity to the harshness of life. A way for musical story tellers to relate their stories. Of course now it’s extended itself well beyond those boundaries. But the roots are still there.
Today’s song instantly reminded me a scene in Vanilla Sky – a movie by Cameron Crowe starring Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz. There’s a scene where Jason Lee confronts Tom Cruise about hitting on a girl (Penelope) brought to the party. They discuss the bitter and the sweet. More interesting is that the movie has it’s roots based on a movie of the same name from Mexico starring Penelope. I believe the concept is similar but overall it’s a different view of it. Certainly an entirely different production of it.
It’s also how I envision the song. It’s got an uplifting vibe for a blues song. I don’t care that it’s a strange juxtaposition. It’s got a groove that causes my foot to tap and my head to bob. Even as I’m writing I’m thinking that I could be shakin my booty too. That’s the purity of the rock that is infused in this blues tune. I’m also enamored with the harmonica tones. It becomes an entirely different instrument when it’s in the hands of someone like Sugar. I can hear that there is a bunch of distortion going on with it, probably even a crushing blow of compression. Yet it creates a really tight and fun sound.
I like the solid foundation coming from the drums and bass. The intertwined lines of the piano that has a slight ragtime feel to it is also blended in nicely. Overall I’m diggin it. I’m thinking that if this song didn’t give you any inkling to move your feet or even dance – you might have a mis-wired connection in your head and ears. Aside from the super riche, we’ve probably all experienced some blues and what better way to lift you up than something like this. For that alone it’s worth adding to your library (legally of course). Go now! Have a great day!