Reggae

The more and more I delve into different genres of music, the more I realize something. I freaking love the way music unites us as a society, which ironically, is the message Bob Marley, probably the most famous reggae artist, "preached".

Reggae is a truly unique form of music, with influences from Caribbean music, American blues music, calypso, soul, jazz, and ska. It developed in Jamaica in the 1960's, but was popularized by Bob Marley.

Reggae first hit American charts in 1968 with Johnny Nash's "Hold me Tight, and eventually The Beatles came out with "Ob La Di , Ob La Da", a rock song with reggae beat. And I thought The Beatles influenced everything. Now, The Wailers, a band featuring Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer, came together in 1963, and they recorded in all three progressions of reggae, ska, rocksteady, and reggae.

Reggae in musical characteristics is even more "strange". Accents are usually on the second and fourth beat, like rock n roll, but the rhythm guitar either holds or emphasizes the third beat until the fourth is played. Lead guitar in reggae is always rhythm, and the bass follows a two-bar riff, focusing on the thickest, heaviest note. The bass in reggae is the dominant instrument, in some instances, larger than the drums, vocals, and guitar. Keyboards were used to double the rhythm guitars, playing chords staccato and adding fillers here and there. The time in reggae is either common time (4/4) or swing time, as the symmetrical rhythmic pattern does not

work well with 3/4 time.

Traditionally, social criticism has been the theme in reggae, but it also touches on love, marijuana, and criticizing materialism. All topics that in my opinion, our society should start taking these lessons seriously.

As I said in the beginning of this blog post, as my muscial taste, and appreciation grows, I fall more in love with human creativity. Music is freedom.

I challenge you to listen to at least 5 Reggae artists this week.

Best Wishes,

Amos13