Ray Charles

     I've listened to Ray Charles' "I believe to my soul" and I found this to be an emotionally driven piece. The lyrics were sung with passion while dialogues were trading back and forth between the lead and backup singers. The style of the instruments playing were very "lazy" and chill. The tempo was taking its sweet time. There was no need to rush. The melody was a bit mellow, but at the same time, the overall mood of the piece was not completely grim. The spirit of the song portrays that there is a hopeful moment that will come very soon.

  

  Not only Ray Charles was a prominent musician, but he was a influential figure when it came to racial equality. Through his music, he tried to help society to integrate the countries through racial boundaries. Considering he was blind since the age of five, becoming such a powerful figure in America must have been a monumental success not only as a handicap but also a minority that had a harsh history in this country. When I read the lyrics of this song I can only help but wonder if he had some unresolved issues that he tried to conceal from people, even from his loved ones. 

One of these days and it won't be long,
You're gonna look for me and I'll be gone
'Cause I believe (I believe, yes I believe)
I say I believe right now (I believe, yes I believe)
Well I believe to my soul now,
Tryin' to make a fool of me (I believe it, I believe it)

Well you're goin' 'round here with your head so hard,
I think I'm gonna have to use my rod
'Cause I believe (I believe, yes I believe)
I say I believe right now (I believe, yes I believe)
Well I believe to my soul now
Tryin' to make a fool of me (I believe it, I believe it)

Last night you were dreaming and I heard you say
"Oh, Johnny" when you know my name is Ray
That's why I believe right now (I believe, yes I believe)
I say I believe right now (I believe, yes I believe)
Whoa I believe to my soul now
Tryin' to make a fool of me (I believe it)

   

   I wonder how he overcame the struggle of people taking advantage of him since he was a minority within a minority. I wonder how he overcame the struggle of being incredibly vulnerable and how he was able to trust and depend on people to get by everyday.

   

    Blues, gospel, and soul music was one of many genres that influenced his musical expressions. This sounded like a 12-bar blues progression. The 'blues' has a very melancholy and sad element not only lyrically, but their meaning as well. There is also a call-and-response with Charlie and the background singers which traditionally found among African-American style music which carried back from their native roots.