Something Blues: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
Content added Content deleted
m (general cleanup)
No edit summary
 
(9 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:


See also [[The Something Song]] and [[Ballad of X]].
See also [[The Something Song]] and [[Ballad of X]].
{{examples}}


{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] ==
== [[Anime]] ==
* ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'': The ending song "The Real Folk Blues" and the episode title "Asteroid Blues".
* ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'': The ending song "The Real Folk Blues" and the episode title "Asteroid Blues".
* The ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' American dub had a large number of episodes titled "Something-or-other Blues".
* The ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' American dub had a large number of episodes titled "Something-or-other Blues".


== [[Comic Books]] ==
== [[Comic Books]] ==
* ''[[Judge Dredd]]'' story "Hell Street Blues".
* ''[[Judge Dredd (comics)|Judge Dredd]]'' story "Hell Street Blues".
* Comic strip ''[[Baby Blues]]''.
* Comic strip ''[[Baby Blues]]''.
* ''[[Spider Man]]: Blue" by Jeph Loeb
* ''[[Spider-Man]]: Blue" by Jeph Loeb


== [[Film]] ==
== [[Film]] ==
Line 24: Line 24:
* There have been three movies called ''St. Louis Blues''. The first was a jazz short in the 20's that depicted the only film footage of W.C. Handy (see the Music entry below). The next one was made in the 30's. It was a musical comedy starring Dorothy Lamour. The third was a musical bio-pic about W.C.Handy made in the 50's with Nat King Cole as the lead. Because of this last film, the aforementioned 1930's ''St. Louis Blues'' was retitled to ''Best of the Blues'' for television.
* There have been three movies called ''St. Louis Blues''. The first was a jazz short in the 20's that depicted the only film footage of W.C. Handy (see the Music entry below). The next one was made in the 30's. It was a musical comedy starring Dorothy Lamour. The third was a musical bio-pic about W.C.Handy made in the 50's with Nat King Cole as the lead. Because of this last film, the aforementioned 1930's ''St. Louis Blues'' was retitled to ''Best of the Blues'' for television.
* "The Weary Blues" from ''Summer Holiday''.
* "The Weary Blues" from ''Summer Holiday''.
* ''Gaz Bar Blues''


== [[Literature]] ==
== [[Literature]] ==
Line 30: Line 31:
* Bizarro author Jordan Krall's ''Squid Pulp Blues''
* Bizarro author Jordan Krall's ''Squid Pulp Blues''
* [[Derek Robinson]] did two, not related: ''Red Rag Blues'' and ''Kentucky Blues''. Both could be puns, with "blues" in the first title contrasting with "reds" (i.e. Communists), and "blues" in the second one alluding to the [[American Civil War]].
* [[Derek Robinson]] did two, not related: ''Red Rag Blues'' and ''Kentucky Blues''. Both could be puns, with "blues" in the first title contrasting with "reds" (i.e. Communists), and "blues" in the second one alluding to the [[American Civil War]].
* ''Volkswagen Blues''
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20170510165018/http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/bluewater-blues Bluewater Blues]'', part of the ''Bluewater Bay'' series
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20170618123217/http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/trowchester-blues Trowchester Blues]''
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20170613065617/http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/junior-hero-blues Junior Hero Blues]''


== [[Live Action TV]] ==
== [[Live Action TV]] ==
Line 41: Line 46:
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-xIulyVsG8 Subterranean Homesick Blues]" by [[Bob Dylan]]
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-xIulyVsG8 Subterranean Homesick Blues]" by [[Bob Dylan]]
** Along with Tombstone Blues and Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again
** Along with Tombstone Blues and Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again
** As well as "Talkin' World War III Blues," "Bob Dylan's Blues," "North Country Blues," "Black Crow Blues," "Outlaw Blues," and dozens of others. Bob Dylan used [[Something Blues]] titles a lot, especially on his earlier, folkier albums.
** As well as "Talkin' World War III Blues," "Bob Dylan's Blues," "North Country Blues," "Black Crow Blues," "Outlaw Blues," and dozens of others. Bob Dylan used Something Blues titles a lot, especially on his earlier, folkier albums.
* "Dallas Blues" by Hart A. Wand.
* "Dallas Blues" by Hart A. Wand.
* "St Louis Blues" by W.C. Handy.
* "St Louis Blues" by W.C. Handy.
* Both Utah Phillips and Grandpa Jones have a song called "Cannonball Blues".
* Both Utah Phillips and Grandpa Jones have a song called "Cannonball Blues".
* There are numerous songs called "Freight Train Blues".
* There are numerous songs called "Freight Train Blues".
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZGjB2saGXs D.B. Blues]" by [[WASP (Music)|WASP]].
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZGjB2saGXs D.B. Blues]" by [[W.A.S.P.|WASP]].
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-MTO9gHmqY Nursing Home Blues]" by D.R.I.
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-MTO9gHmqY Nursing Home Blues]" by D.R.I.
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ7Voy9YK1I Whorehouse Blues]" by [[Motorhead (Music)|Motorhead]]
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ7Voy9YK1I Whorehouse Blues]" by [[Motorhead]]
* "Stepped in Cow Shit Blues" by Anal Blast.
* "Stepped in Cow Shit Blues" by Anal Blast.
* Just "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOwVpdPFhJ8 The Blues]" by Switchfoot.
* Just "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOwVpdPFhJ8 The Blues]" by Switchfoot.
Line 54: Line 59:
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV-_kOTW-BU Wolverine Blues]" by Entombed.
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV-_kOTW-BU Wolverine Blues]" by Entombed.
* "Melancholy Blues" by [[Queen]]
* "Melancholy Blues" by [[Queen]]
* "A Junkie's Blues" by [[Queensryche]].
* "A Junkie's Blues" by [[Queensrÿche]].
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgvFge-Go0U Nodding Donkey Blues]" and "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGiEreZxFdA Black Bart Blues]" by [[Iron Maiden (Music)|Iron Maiden]].
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgvFge-Go0U Nodding Donkey Blues]" and "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGiEreZxFdA Black Bart Blues]" by [[Iron Maiden]].
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL9upQvSGeM Slow Lane Blues]" by Saxon.
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL9upQvSGeM Slow Lane Blues]" by Saxon.
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1NLVVKU5Vk Slow Blues]" by [[Thin Lizzy]].
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1NLVVKU5Vk Slow Blues]" by [[Thin Lizzy]].
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT5FhRWQT8I Down Payment Blues]" and "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skoXHEzC1iQ Satellite Blues]" by [[ACDC (Music)|ACDC]].
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT5FhRWQT8I Down Payment Blues]" and "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skoXHEzC1iQ Satellite Blues]" by [[ACDC]].
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e6qmAp2nTM Buckingham Blues]" and "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSZ4k6voAVM Generic Blues]" by [[Weird Al Yankovic]], the latter ofwhich is [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin]].
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e6qmAp2nTM Buckingham Blues]" and "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSZ4k6voAVM Generic Blues]" by [["Weird Al" Yankovic]], the latter of which is [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]].
* "[http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4280076/11500249 Bell Bottom Blues]" by Derek and the Dominos.
* "[https://web.archive.org/web/20100129073102/http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4280076/11500249 Bell Bottom Blues]" by Derek and the Dominos.
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fevQPZDyxdk Yer Blues]" by [[The Beatles]]. "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HJ2zDu_11w For You Blue]" could count.
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fevQPZDyxdk Yer Blues]" by [[The Beatles (band)|The Beatles]]. "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HJ2zDu_11w For You Blue]" could count.
** [[George Harrison]]'s solo career has produced "P2 Vatican Blues" and "Marwa Blues".
** [[George Harrison]]'s solo career has produced "P2 Vatican Blues" and "Marwa Blues".
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF83aaIV0Jo Birmingham Blues]" by [[Electric Light Orchestra]].
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF83aaIV0Jo Birmingham Blues]" by [[Electric Light Orchestra]].
Line 72: Line 77:
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A0wGO3c2T8 Deacon Blues]" by [[Steely Dan]]
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A0wGO3c2T8 Deacon Blues]" by [[Steely Dan]]
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti-72KavxHQ Shotgun Blues]" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti-72KavxHQ Shotgun Blues]" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd
** Also [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzdMiswQqEY Shotgun Blues] by [[Guns N' Roses (Music)|Guns N' Roses]]
** Also [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzdMiswQqEY Shotgun Blues] by [[Guns N' Roses]]
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf1Zg-nuL84&feature=related City Boy Blues]" by [[Motley Crue (Music)|Motley Crue]].
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf1Zg-nuL84&feature=related City Boy Blues]" by [[Motley Crue]].
* St. James Infirmary Blues, a traditional number with varying versions of lyrics.
* St. James Infirmary Blues, a traditional number with varying versions of lyrics.
* [http://www.rockpapercynic.com/music.html "Zombie Apocalypse Blues" and "SYSTEM ERROR Blues" by Rock, Paper, Cynic.]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110107205427/http://rockpapercynic.com/music.html "Zombie Apocalypse Blues" and "SYSTEM ERROR Blues" by Rock, Paper, Cynic.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ykAsNn6OeE Running Gun Blues] by [[David Bowie]].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ykAsNn6OeE Running Gun Blues] by [[David Bowie]].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7wPjziMIL8 Long Island Blues] by Julian Casablancas.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7wPjziMIL8 Long Island Blues] by Julian Casablancas.
Line 85: Line 90:
* [[Johnny Cash]] had several throughout his career, including his hit, "Folsom Prison Blues."
* [[Johnny Cash]] had several throughout his career, including his hit, "Folsom Prison Blues."
* "Travelling Riverside Blues" by [[Led Zeppelin]].
* "Travelling Riverside Blues" by [[Led Zeppelin]].
** Also the separate but related, "Traveling Riverside Blues" by [[Robert Johnson]].
** Also the separate but related, "Traveling Riverside Blues" by [[Robert Johnson]].
* "Dachau Blues" by [[Captain Beefheart]] on [[Trout Mask Replica]]
* "Dachau Blues" by [[Captain Beefheart]] on [[Trout Mask Replica]]
* [[The Rolling Stones]]' unreleased "[[Intentionally Awkward Title|Cocksucker Blues]]"
* [[The Rolling Stones]]' unreleased "[[Intentionally Awkward Title|Cocksucker Blues]]"
* Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues by Todd Snider.
* Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues by Todd Snider.
* A subversion: a blues from ''[[Chicago (Music)|Chicago Transit Authority]]'' titled "South California Purples".
* A subversion: a blues from ''[[Chicago (band)|Chicago Transit Authority]]'' titled "South California Purples".
* "Blues for Alice", by [[Charlie Parker]].
* "Blues for Alice", by [[Charlie Parker]].
* "The Cape Verdean Blues", Horace Silver.
* "The Cape Verdean Blues", Horace Silver.
Line 96: Line 101:
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMqy72C-KIQ Rich Kid Blues]", The Raconteurs.
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMqy72C-KIQ Rich Kid Blues]", The Raconteurs.
* Helplessness Blues by the Fleet Foxes.
* Helplessness Blues by the Fleet Foxes.
* "Summertime Blues", originally performed by [[Eddie Cochran]], later covered by many acts, including [[Blue Cheer]], [[The Who]], and [[Rush]].
* "Summertime Blues", originally performed by [[Eddie Cochran]], later covered by many acts, including [[Blue Cheer]], [[The Who]], and [[Rush (band)|Rush]].
* "Short White Blues" by [[Eric Bogle]].
* "Short White Blues" by [[Eric Bogle]].
* "Fighting Man Blues" by THE BACK HORN.
* "Fighting Man Blues" by THE BACK HORN.


== Radio ==
== Radio ==
* One game in ''[[I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (Radio)|I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue]]'' was to improvise a Blues song. The title would always be in this form (eg, "The Trichologist's Blues" or "The Kerry Packer Blues"). In one case the song was called "The West Indies Blues", but was sung as a calypso.
* One game in ''[[I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue]]'' was to improvise a Blues song. The title would always be in this form (eg, "The Trichologist's Blues" or "The Kerry Packer Blues"). In one case the song was called "The West Indies Blues", but was sung as a calypso.


== [[Theatre]] ==
== [[Theatre]] ==
Line 115: Line 120:


== [[Video Games]] ==
== [[Video Games]] ==
* Little unrelated, but [[Mega Man (Video Game)|Proto Man's]] japanese name is Blues.
* Little unrelated, but [[Mega Man (video game)|Proto Man's]] japanese name is Blues.


== [[Web Comics]] ==
== [[Web Comics]] ==
* ''[[Afterlife Blues (Webcomic)|Afterlife Blues]]''
* ''[[Afterlife Blues]]''
* The ''[[Order of the Stick]]''' book ''No Cure for the Paladin Blues''
* The ''[[The Order of the Stick]]''' book ''No Cure for the Paladin Blues''
* ''[[Sordid City Blues]]''
* ''[[Sordid City Blues]]''
* ''[[Fall City Blues]]''
* ''[[Fall City Blues]]''
Line 139: Line 144:
[[Category:Title Tropes]]
[[Category:Title Tropes]]
[[Category:Music Tropes]]
[[Category:Music Tropes]]
[[Category:Something Blues]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Latest revision as of 02:44, 15 April 2023

Common method of naming things "The (Something) Blues". Very prevalent in Blues music, although there are also many, many non-blues songs with a title like this.

See also The Something Song and Ballad of X.

Examples of Something Blues include:

Anime

  • Cowboy Bebop: The ending song "The Real Folk Blues" and the episode title "Asteroid Blues".
  • The Sailor Moon American dub had a large number of episodes titled "Something-or-other Blues".

Comic Books

Film

  • Postman Blues
  • Habana Blues
  • Miami Blues
  • Varsity Blues
  • The French title of Analyze This was "Mafia Blues".
  • Undercover Blues
  • Biloxi Blues
  • There have been three movies called St. Louis Blues. The first was a jazz short in the 20's that depicted the only film footage of W.C. Handy (see the Music entry below). The next one was made in the 30's. It was a musical comedy starring Dorothy Lamour. The third was a musical bio-pic about W.C.Handy made in the 50's with Nat King Cole as the lead. Because of this last film, the aforementioned 1930's St. Louis Blues was retitled to Best of the Blues for television.
  • "The Weary Blues" from Summer Holiday.
  • Gaz Bar Blues

Literature

Live Action TV

Music

Radio

  • One game in I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue was to improvise a Blues song. The title would always be in this form (eg, "The Trichologist's Blues" or "The Kerry Packer Blues"). In one case the song was called "The West Indies Blues", but was sung as a calypso.

Theatre

  • "Women's Club Blues" from Love Life.
  • "Homesick Blues" from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
  • "The Red Blues" from Silk Stockings.
  • "Buddy's Blues" (also known as "The God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues") from Follies.
  • "L.A. Blues" from City of Angels.
  • "Papa's Blues" from Starlight Express.
  • "The Fatherhood Blues" from Baby.
  • "'The Half Of It, Dearie' Blues" from Lady, Be Good!.
  • "The Where-Has-My-Hubby-Gone Blues" from No No Nanette.

Video Games

  • Little unrelated, but Proto Man's japanese name is Blues.

Web Comics

Web Original

Western Animation

  • Metalocalypse pokes fun at this in one episode, with an old man telling bizarre circumstances in which various songs with these kind of title, which are often massively convoluted, were made, including one that a person apparently composed as they were being killed by a train.

Tropes