Dance do the Reggae
Reggae is a music genre that first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s.
The little “story of how”:
In the 1900s, the island of Jamaica was suffering from political problems, slavery, colonization etc. The idea of independence was clearly imposed in 1961, and Jamaica finally gained its independence on the 6th of August 1962.
By then, “ska” became the music of choice for Jamaican youths who seeked for music that was their own.
Ska is a music genre that developed from American R&B and mento (style of Jamaican folk music); it is mostly notable for its Jazz-influenced horn riffs, a quarter note walking bass line, guitar and piano offbeats.
Later on, by 1966, musicians started playing the rhythm of ska slower, and that ended up in a new music genre called “rocksteady”.
From Ska and Rocksteady, and introducing the “double skank” guitar strokes on the offbeat, came Reggae.
The most reliable suggestion claims that the word reggae derived from the Latin “regi” which means “to the king”, so musicians called reggae “the king’s music”. The shift from rocksteady to reggae was mainly illustrated by the organ shuffle, which is a performance practice in which some notes with equal written time values are performed with unequal durations on an organ.
Reggae lyrics are sometimes borderline incomprehensible to Americans, as they are usually in an English-based but distinctly Jamaican “patois” (mix of Jamaican and English –much spoken in Jamaica). Many exclusively Jamaican slang terms and alternate verb forms are used, as are frequent references to Rastafarian terms, such as “Jah” (God).
The Rastafarian movement was a significant influence on reggae. But, what is the Rastafarian movement?
Rastafarianism is a religion that is very common among Jamaicans of African origins. Rastafarians worship Haile Selassie who was the Emperor of Ethiopia (1930-1974): most of them saw him as Jah –Biblical name of God-, the incarnation of God on earth, and believed that he will lead the righteous way into creating a perfect world called Zion (the ultimate paradise for Rastafarians).
In this culture, “I and I” is often used instead of “We” to emphasize the equality between all people. Most of the world’s most famous reggae musicians practice this religion, therefore, many reggae lyrics reflect the beliefs and traditions of Rastafarianism.
Reggae music stereotypes:
In Rastafarian practices, marijuana (or cannabis, plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug and as a medicine) is used as a sacrament; the belief is that it brings a person closer to God and makes the mind more open to receiving His testimony. Therefore, cannabis (referred to as “ganja” in Jamaican slang) often features prominently in reggae lyrics. Unfortunately, a few decades of American teenagers have misinterpreted this sacred ritual and use it as an excuse to partake.
Not all reggae lyrics contain references to ganja, just as not all reggae musicians are rastafarians.
Who started reggae?
The Pioneers' 1968 track "Long Shot (Bus' Me Bet)" has been identified as the earliest recorded example of the new rhythm sound that became known as reggae.
In the USA, Neil Diamond's “Red Red Wine” was the first reggae hit by a pop musician.
Shortly afterwards, Johnny Nash's “Hold Me Tight “(1968) propelled reggae onto the charts.
“Do The Reggay” (1968) by Toots And The Maytals was the record that gave the music its name.
Jamaican music was very much a ghetto phenomenon, associated with gang-style violence, but Jimmy Cliff's “Wonderful World Beautiful People” (1969) wed reggae with the "peace and love" philosophy of the hippies, an association that would not die away.
After the introduction of reggae music to the world, Bob Marley and The Wailers (a band started by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer) took over the stage. (For more information about Bob Marley, check the video below).
Which instruments are mostly used in reggae?
The guitar:
The bass guitar:
The organ:
The percussions:
The saxophone:
What now?
Reggae was a precursor not just to the modern Jamaican style of Dub,
but also to American ska , Jambands and British reggae-based bands. Also often ignored is that reggae is the precursor to hip-hop and rap music, and a very clear line can be drawn between the two.
Now, time to check the video!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpZfXJd2hsM