His voice, weathered and soulful, conveys a depth of emotion that words alone cannot capture. There’s a vulnerability in Blade’s delivery, a sense of bearing his soul for all to hear, that makes “Tell ‘Em” all the more affecting.
Terry Blade’s “Tell ‘Em” arrives stripped to the bone, a soul-bearing blues single that cuts straight to the heart. Eschewing the more expansive arrangements of his past work, Blade delivers a performance of raw, almost painful intimacy. The track’s skeletal structure—just Blade’s weathered vocals and the mournful twang of his guitar—is a deliberate choice that underscores the song’s authenticity.
While the influences of blues giants like BB King and Muddy Waters are felt, particularly in the guitar’s phrasing, “Tell ‘Em” also evokes the spirit of protest singers like Odetta and Nina Simone. There’s a quiet defiance in Blade’s delivery, a refusal to be silenced in the face of injustice. The stark production amplifies this sense of immediacy, as if the song were recorded in a single take, the raw emotion bleeding through every note.
Blade’s voice cracks and strains with emotion, textured and deeply expressive, carries the weight of the song’s potent lyrics: “Tell my sister to stay strong… Tell my brother, always watch your back.”
The production, handled by Bobby Cole, preserves the song’s sheer simplicity, making it an intimate experience that is powerful and moving. This is blues at its purest and most poignant—a tribute to the genre’s roots and a beacon for its future. It’s a reminder that even in its most skeletal form, music can still carry the weight of the world.
Music Credits:
Main Artist: Terry Blade
Producer: Terry Blade
Associated Performer: ASCAP
Producer: Bobby Cole
Lyricist: Larry Robertson
Composer: Bobby Cole
Music Publisher: Blade Modus Publishing
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