Spirituals

Spirituals originated in the antebellum South, blossoming amongst enslaved African Americans who decided that singing their woes and hopes was much more enjoyable than a silent existence of toil; they clearly had a knack for turning despair into divine harmonies. Characterised by emotive lyrics, call-and-response patterns, and a blend of African musical traditions with Christian themes, these tunes often sound like a beautiful, soul-stirring conversation with the Almighty. The cultural impact is immense, laying the groundwork for pretty much every genre that followed, including gospel and blues, though I’m not sure if they anticipated their descendants would prefer sequined outfits and smoke machines.