Music Series #1 - SRV, Jimi Hendrix "Little Wing, Voodoo Child"
My first music blog obviously has to be about my favorite artist.
That would be Stevie Ray Vaughan.
For this entry I wanted to talk about not only him, however; but also talk about Jimi Hendrix as well.
Stevie Ray covered two of Jimi's songs, "Voodoo Child," and "Little Wing." Naturally, I wanted to write about them at the same time.
I discovered Stevie Ray Vaughan (SRV) through my father. My father has been the lead singer/guitarist of a cover band for as long as I can remember, before my memories started. Naturally through him I developed an ear to pick out the guitar in musical compositions and appreciate it specifically.
I remember specifically the day I first experienced the wonder that is SRV. I was 14, sitting on the couch. My Dad sitting in his chair, naturally, with the VCR remote in his hand. I was doing some difficult homework, and I was pretty focused. My Dad told me to watch this video. I was annoyed because I was already being distracted (I was a focused student).
The video was a live performance of SRV and Double Trouble live at a place called El Mocambo.
The way he played the guitar mystified me. He seemingly sang lead and played lead blues guitar flawlessly. The call and response method of his songs tie layers of bluesy guitar riffs with intense vocals and Double Trouble added the jazzy drums and bass. I had never seen anyone play guitar that intensely, and still haven't since.
Stevie could play guitar upside down, he could play with the guitar behind his back, he could play with his teeth. He was amazing. To me, he was the most amazing guitar player who ever lived. His life was colorful and entertaining. His brother was always the famous one to him, it seemed. Even when Stevie got to do Austin City Limits without his brother, he always thought it was because of him. He always said he was ripping off Albert King. The man literally would not give himself credit.
I guess it is hard to give yourself credit when you spend a lot of years being an alcoholic. When you turn your life around you walk a line with your ego so you keep reminding yourself you aren't as strong as you think you are, so you can keep yourself away from falling off the wagon. It's sobering and humbling. And he never gave himself enough credit. I mean, he even called his beloved guitar "Number One."
So back to the couch, when I was 14. That was the first day I heard the song "Voodoo Child."
Well I'm standin' next to a mountain, chop it down with the edge of my hat..
I didn't know at the time it was a cover of Jimi Hendrix's music. I knew at that age that Hendrix was a rock God but all I really knew about him was that he played the Star Spangled Banner on his guitar backwards. I didn't know he was a blues man. I didn't know much of his story at all.
So it was a surprise when I learned he was also the original artist of "Little Wing."
Little Wing
Little Wing is my favorite SRV song. And Stevie's version is actually not a song, it's an instrumental version of the song, that is originally done by Jimi Hendrix.
I can get lost in the beauty that is Little Wing. It doesn't even need words to feel like a masterpiece. And Double Trouble with that beautiful foundation of jazz percussion and bass. One of the most beautiful compositions in popular music. So bluesy and jazzy and beautiful.
The lyrics are fantastical and psychedelic and colorful, and in Jimi's version are perfectly placed and perfectly appropriate.
Well she's walking through the clouds
with a circus mind that's running wild
butterflies and zebras
and moonbeams and a fairy tale
that's all she ever thinks about
riding the wind
When i'm sad she comes to me
with a thousand smiles she gives to me free
it's alright she says... it's alright
take anything you want from me
anything
Fly on little wing
yeah, yeah, yeah
fly on little wing
I identify with this song so much.
I am a little wing. I give all of myself to my Alpha and he helps me fly. <3
I am a very giving, free spirited person, deep down.
I love nature, and I LOVE THE MOON!
And I love the BLUES.
Blues music is everlasting.
Favorite Movie Quote about Blues Music:
"See, the thing is...
And I believe this, man... . Rap is coming back home to the South.
- Yeah, man.
- Because this, man… This is where it all began.
Heavy percussion, repetitive hooks, sexually suggestive lyrics.
Man, it's all blues, brother.
"Back Door Man" to "Back That Ass Up."
It's all about pain and…
And pussy!
Sorry, baby. And making music, man.
With simple tools,by any means necessary.
You've got to get what you got to say out because you got to.
Every man, you know what I'm saying?
Every man has the right, the goddamn right!!…
...to contribute a verse!!"
I love DJ Qualls in that scene. What a pimp! And he's absolutely right! When there is a song inside of you you will do whatever it takes to get it out…to feed that creativity.
Sadly, on August 27th, 1990, Stevie Ray Vaughan boarded a helicopter to catch an early ride home along with Eric Clapton's friends and died shortly after when it crashed into the side of a mountain. He had worked so hard, and had overcome living "Life by the Drop," but it seems God didn't want to wait any longer to bring him home.
Stevie and Jimi let the spirit of the blues flow through them. They had to, even though it meant an early demise, in one way or the other. And I am eternally grateful for their existence and their immortal contributions to history.
They made the Fender Strat their bitch.
And the world owes them for it. <3
