Check the Following Terminology Associated with Reggae Music

Reggae music has a rich history and culture associated with it. If you’re new to the genre, it’s important to familiarize yourself with some of the key terminology. In this blog post, we’ll cover some of the most important terms associated with reggae music.

Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae is derived from the word “raggedy”, which was used to describe the clothing worn by Rastafarians. Reggae is a type of music that is very similar to ska and rocksteady. Reggae is typically characterized by a heavy bassline, drums, and guitars.

Ska

Ska is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s. Ska is characterized by a walking bass line accented with rhythms on the off beat. Ska developed from mento and calypso and has been an influential precursor to rocksteady and reggae. The origins of ska are uncertain, but may be related to a combination of African, Caribbean, and Latin American music traditions.

Rocksteady

Rocksteady is a genre of popular music that originated in Jamaica in 1966. The term rocksteady comes from a style of dance called the “rock steady”. The music was a slower development of ska and rock and roll. It was also influenced by R&B, jazz, and early reggae. The style is characterized by strong lead vocals over slow, laid-back grooves, accompanied by backing vocals harmony.

The first recordings of rocksteady were by the Wailers (later to become the core of Bob Marley & The Wailers), and the early hits included “Simmer Down” and “Nice Time”. Other artists like Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe, and Slim Smith also had big hits with rocksteady. In the late 1960s, producers like Duke Reid and Sonia Pottinger started to experiment with mixing rocksteady with other genres like soul and funk, which resulted in the creation of what is now known as “reggae”.

Dub

In reggae music, dub is a style that grew out of ska and rocksteady in the 1960s. Dub mixes elements of Jamaican music and digital technology to create a unique sound. The term “dub” comes from the practice of adding echo and other effects to recorded music.

Dub music is created by producers who mix tracks from existing records and add their own elements, such as drums, bass, and vocals. This style of music is often characterized by its use of delay effects, reverb, and echoes. Dub artists often use sampling to create new sounds from existing recordings.

Notable dub artists include Lee “Scratch” Perry, King Tubby, Scientist, Augustus Pablo, and Mad Professor. Dub has been fused with other genres of music such as hip hop, techno, and drum & bass.

Reggae Artists

Bob Marley is probably the most famous reggae artist. He was a singer, songwriter, and musician. He was born in Jamaica and his music was heavily influenced by the country’s folk music. Marley’s music was also influenced by the political and social climate of the time.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley is considered one of the most influential reggae artists of all time. He was born in 1945 in Jamaica, and rose to fame in the 1970s with his group Bob Marley and the Wailers. Marley is known for hits like “No Woman, No Cry,” “Buffalo Soldier,” and “One Love.” He died of cancer in 1981.

Burning Spear

Burning Spear is a reggae artist who is known for his political and spiritual lyrics. He has been active in the music industry since the late 1960s and has released more than 20 albums. Spear is considered to be one of the pioneers of roots reggae and has been nominated for several Grammy Awards.

Lee “Scratch” Perry

Lee “Scratch” Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry, 20 March 1936) is a Jamaican record producer and songwriter who has been working in the music industry for over 60 years. He is best known for his work with Bob Marley and the Wailers, as well as his own solo work. Perry was a pioneer in the development of dub music, and worked with many other influential reggae artists including The Upsetters, Max Romeo, The Congos, and Junior Murvin.

Reggae Songs

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae is derived from the word “raggedy,” which describes the fashion style of the rastafari movement. Reggae music is known for its distinctive beat and lyrics, which are often political or spiritual in nature.

“I Shot the Sheriff”

I Shot the Sheriff is a reggae song written by Bob Marley and originally recorded by his band The Wailers. The song was released as a single in 1973 and became an international hit, reaching the top ten in several countries. The song is about a man who is arrested for shooting the sheriff, but claims he did not do it.

“No Woman, No Cry”

“No Woman, No Cry” is a song written by Bob Marley and recorded by Bob Marley & The Wailers. It first appeared on the 1974 album Natty Dread. The song became one of the best-known tracks from the album and was released as a single in 1975. It is one of Bob Marley’s most popular songs.

The lyrics of the song are about Marley’s childhood in Trenchtown, a ghetto in Kingston, Jamaica. The song makes reference to a food shortage that occurred in Trenchtown in the early 1970s. Despite the hardships that Marley and his friends faced, he expresses optimism and hope for the future, with the famous line “Everything’s gonna be alright”.

The melody of “No Woman, No Cry” is based on a traditional folk song called “Mama Boo”. The lyrics were adapted by Bob Marley from a version he heard sung by Vincent Ford, who ran a food kitchen in Trenchtown that was frequented by Marley and his friends.

The song has been covered by many artists including Fugees, Steve Wonder, Lauryn Hill, and Bohemian Rhapsody (a film about Queen).

“War”

War is a popular topic for reggae songs, as it is a very real and serious issue in many parts of the world. Reggae artists use their music to raise awareness of the dangers of war and to call for peace. War songs often have a message of unity, understanding, and compassion.