Ep 4 | Everyone's Got the Blues

In this episode of Music: The Unifying Force, Janis Siegel and Yusuf Gandhi explore the blues and gospel as a global language of emotion. Moving from early American blues and gospel to Indian ghazals, Sufi qawwali, African choral traditions, and desert blues from North Africa, they trace shared musical structures like call-and-response, harmony, and storytelling. Along the way, they reflect on legendary artists, sacred spaces, and lived experiences that show how music transcends culture, religion, and history—proving that while the sounds may change, the feeling remains the same.Songs in the PodcastMARY LOU WILLIAMS: THE RAG OF RAGSBESSIE SMITH: NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT.PLAY ROBERT JOHNSON – CROSSROADS THE DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS – BEDSIDE OF A NEIGHBOURTHE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET – ATOM AND EVILSAM COOKE AND THE SOUL STIRRERS – TOUCH THE HEM OF HIS GARMENTBIG MAMA THORNTON - HOUND DOG NDLOVU YOUTH CHOIR - BOHEMIAN RHAPSODYPETER GABRIEL, JOAN OSBORNE, GLORIA ESTEFAN, NATALIE MERCHANT, NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHANFor a deeper dive, visit www.musictheunifyingforce.com to explore playlists, links, and more insights into the stories behind the music.Listen Now on Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit musictheunifyingforce.substack.com