Music performers don't seem to admit it, but "intangibles" contribute a lot to the quality of their songwriting. Noel Gallagher may think his band is "mega", but it's obvious that the message in their music was more genuine when they really were working classmen, rather than just writing songs about it. Similarly cast out is Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes, to nobody's surprise, it's far less poignant (and considerably more eerie) when you're 40 than it is when you're 20 to be singing about not being able to get the girls. These are but two examples, but it the concept is itself not surprising to a blues fan. When you're Robert Johnson, growing up poor, son of a plantation worker, the blues are for real. When Eric Clapton plays the blues in the spacious, air conditioned Royal Albert Hall, it's a notable suspension of reality. That's why I still chuckle when I hear his version of "Hoochie Coochie Man", right at the point when he says "I wanna make pretty womens". Gets me every time.