reggaemusicprogress

Reggae and other things…

Posted on April 17, 2015 by steffy21

Has Jamaica lost its essence to produce music on the world stage? Where has the creativity gone? Where is the innovation? Where is the message? Has the overall grade of music changed? Or is it still the same? Has it progressed or digressed? When someone here the word “reggae” or “Rasta” the one thing that pops in to their mind is “marijuana” the picture that they see is someone smoking? Why is that? Are we stereotyping the music, the artistes and their culture? According to an article in The Daily Iowan, “Reggae music has developed a stereotype over the years of its existence, with images of Bob Marley, marijuana, and Jamaica coming to the minds of most”.

Is there a link between reggae and politics? Everyone can agree that music is an art form and like any art they convey a particular message. According to a paper on Hip-hop and Reggae: The Common Links of Politics and Music, “music reflect culture and society, as well as, containing political content and social message”. These music are vehicles to transport messages to one person to another and also from generation to generation. It serves as a mediator between individuals and the artiste. Just as Bob Marley included a message in his music that was seen as the voice of the oppressed and less fortunate so too is the music a form of informing people of situations in the country. These music provides entertainment and shines light on issues that are being faced in the country by citizens.

What about reggae music and Christianity? Is there a link between the two? Many people who read the Bible can identify that on hearing reggae or any music, lines from these sounds are from the Bible. On hearing it, one may not recognize it but after reading the Bible it will be refreshed. Most of these artists are quoting from the Bible and using Bible verses and even portion of scriptures in their music to relate to the Christian community and even to gain a wider listening audience.

Dancehall Religion and Reggae stated that “if you should go into most of the churches today in Jamaica the beats they are singing, clapping to and dancing to are beats that you will hear regularly in the nightclubs or street parties, they only voice a different tone and lyrics to them”. This can be seen as to some of believing that this is the cause of numerous violence that is gripping Jamaica and other countries.

http://www.dailyiowan.com/2010/10/22/Arts/19563.html

debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/carlis02.htm

articles.dubroom.org/751.htm

http://www.dancehallreggaeworld.com/Dancehall-Religion.html

Jamaica: More than just Music

Posted on April 10, 2015 by steffy21

Every country has something that it is known around the world for. Some countries may have the same thing but it is loved for various reasons. There are countries that will be recognized for more than one aspect of their culture. For Jamaica it is no different. When we hear “reggae, dancehall” we automatically relate it to Jamaica. It is as though Jamaica and these music are synonymous. But what else does this beautiful island have to offer? Is it just the music? Is there something more?

Sports is present and active in Jamaica but many are aware of Usain Bolt and his track career and the records that he made. One such sport that has gone unrecognized is Netball. According to the Jamaican newspaper Jamaica Observer, the Sunshine Girls are looking to “lifting Netball World Cup”. The captain of the team Nicole Aiken-Pinnock, informed the newspapers that the team has “set their sights on creating history, winning the 14th staging of the Netball World Cup, scheduled for August 7-16 in Sydney, Australia.” With setbacks as anything in life these girls are striving to make their country recognizable in netball by creating history when they win the world cup.

Cricket is another sport in the country that is making headway. Did you know that cricket was once the most popular sport in Jamaica? This is based on Jamaican Culture. The Caribbean being made up of many small islands are represented by one cricket team called the West Indies. But even with this, Jamaica still has their own cricket team that are showcasing their countries talents and skills for the game. Jamaican nationals on this team are another aspect of the countries culture that is not given the due appreciation that it deserves. Like many other things it is being disguised.

What about the beautiful beaches? Jamaica is a part of the Caribbean and beautiful beaches must be present. Blue waters, white sand and all-inclusive resorts are just a few of the many treats that one can experience in Jamaica other than their music. Why not try some water activities for the family or lie in the sun. According to an article in US TODAY entitled Jamaica’s Most Famous Beaches, Jamaica has “some of the best beaches in the world.” It continued to state that “Jamaica has more than 200 miles of pristine beaches”, one of its amazing beaches is Doctor’s Cave and it is known for “world-class resorts and golden sand. Other white-sand beaches like 7 Mile Beach in Negril are known as hippie hot spots with nude sunbathers.” Jamaica has more to offer than just its music.

Sources:

www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/

http://www.jamaicans.com › jamaican culture › jamaican sports

traveltips.usatoday.com › … › Caribbean Travel › Jamaica Beaches

Is it the end of Reggae for Jamaica?

Posted on April 3, 2015 by steffy21

According to Icons of Reggae, one of the top tourist destinations in the Western Hemisphere is Jamaica. “It’s indigenous Arawakan-speaking Taino inhabitants named the island Xaymaca, meaning the “Land of Wood and Water”, or the “Land of Springs”. Once a Spanish possession known as Santiago, in 1655 it became an English, and later a British, colony, known as “Jamaica””, stated the website.

Like anything that originates from a country, they it is considered to be part of the country and the people. Just as in Trinidad and Tobago, Soca and Calypso is considered to be a part of the country’s culture, identity and the citizens, so too is Reggae music for Jamaicans. It is what identifies them. It sets them apart from the rest of the world. It placed them on the world stage by Bob Marley and it still does today. When you hear reggae who or what do you think about? Its Jamaica, Bob Marley, Ali Campbell, John Holt, Dwayne Stevenson, Barrington Levi, Beres Hammond, Gregory Isaac and Jah Cure.

Since Jamaica is known to the world as the place that reggae music originated from, they are looked at the world to produce reggae music at a distinct quality from other countries that venture out into this genre. This question may have been through the minds of hundreds but no one had the courage to stand out and ask it until Sharon Gordon came on the set. An activist an artiste fighting for reggae music to regain its stance in the country of Jamaica and the world. Reggae in the twentieth century according to her was songs showing a near-total lack of creativity, with vulgar and derogatory messages? Sharon Gordon and her partner Carlyle McKetty founded the Coalition to Preserve Reggae (CPR) in 2005 with the aim of promoting talented musicians and restoring respect for the music. To this date the foundation is still pressing forward and accomplishing their goals of promoting musicians and restoring respect for the country’s music. With the help of this foundation, reggae is returning to its original state of positive uplifting music that it was once known for.

The country of Jamaica is reassuring the world that reggae is not about vulgarity and disrespectful music. All may not be well for the island but it will be soon, as far as reggae music is concern. The message is being restored to the genre. All is not done for reggae but anticipate a host of other things to come. It is not the end of the road for the island’s music but it is a bit of re-introduction and re-invention of artists as they become part of the genre and brings a youthful feel and taste to it that will captivate the youths and restore the love and passion that the country once had for the music.

southernworldartsnews.blogspot.com/…/activists-and-artists-fighting-to.h..

http://www.iconsofreggae.com

Is it more than music between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago?

Posted on March 27, 2015 by steffy21

There is more than what meets the eye between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. What is the relation between these two small islands? Jamaica gained its independence on August 6^th 1962. According to Country Studies, Jamaica was a “sugar-producing, slave-worked plantation society” from the mid 1600 until slavery was abolished in 1834. According to the National Library’s website of Trinidad and Tobago, the twin island state (Trinidad and Tobago) gained its independence in not only the same year but also the month. In fact, it was on August 31^st 1962 when the island became independent and no longer owed alliance to the Queen. It later became a Republic on August 1^st 1976. Another interesting trait that both nations have in common is having a female Prime Minister.

Trinidad and Tobago now has a reggae festival called “Reggae on the Bay” that started in 2012. While this is so, Jamaican citizens are vastly becoming a part of Trinidad and Tobago as people are travelling to the country seeking and finding employment. Education is another factor that pulls the two islands together as both country together with Barbados houses the University of the West Indies campuses. Nationalities from both countries are united on these universities and cultures are merged to create one.

Just as Trinidad and Tobago is referred to as a calloloo nation so too is the music in this country. Whatever genre you prefer, we have it right here. There is no need to pursue your search for a country that is as diverse in its food as its music.How does reggae fits into Trinidad and Tobago’s music culture? According to Distance From To, the air travel distance from Trinidad and Tobago to Jamaica is 1918km which is equivalent to 1192 miles. This flight can take approximately two hours thirteen minutes to arrive.

As music grows in the world. The overlapping of music into various countries is evident. Gospel music for instance has artistes that are venturing out into the reggae field. One well-known gospel artiste, Joel “Positive” Murray holds reggae close to his heart and uses it as just another vehicle to bring gospel to the wider society. In 2012 he had 13 nominations and won 6 Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards. Reggae is not the only genre that is being fused into other types of music but there are artists that fuses reggae music with that of other types. One example of this is Jah Cure fusing John Legends song All of Me into a reggae like rhythm. These same artiste work with other singers to transport the genre of music that they sing in.

These are only a few commonalities found between the two islands of many more. It can be viewed that they share a lot more than it appears to be. Both countries share historical, educational, social and political affiliations. All of which creates a stronger bond between them. Both countries are being united by and through music. A piece of Trinidadian identity can be found in Jamaica and part of Jamaican identity can be found in Trinidad and Tobago.

www.nalis.gov.tt/Research/SubjectGuide/RepublicDay/tabid/.

countrystudies.us/caribbean-islands/19.htm

www.reggaereflection.com/4/category/trinidad

change

Could this be LOVE or CHANGE?

Image | Posted on March 20, 2015 by steffy21

Sometimes for people to appreciate something it must go through some change. Change can either build it up or destroy it. At times the pressure of society diminishes the possible outcome of the task and thus the goodwill is buried by the negative criticisms. Reggae has underwent tremendous changes as you all are aware of by now since it emerged as being part of a country’s identity. From the influences of Jazz to Ska to Rocksteady and others to reggae. The music united with other genres to create a dynamic one.

Reggae did not magically appear on the face of the earth or may I say on the face of Jamaica. It was born out of dream, a passion and a love for music that the artiste shared. Characteristics from other forms of music and even other parts of the world influenced its movement. It is a thread of love, ideals and goals that singers shares with each other even though they never physically met.

Time is a non-participating factor when it comes to music, as these artiste continued writing, singing and producing reggae music even after the founding fathers of the genre died. With change of course, features of everyday life and everyday music are added and lost to spice up the music and make it a lot more relatable to listeners not just in Jamaica where it was born but throughout the world by its regionally and internationally fans. It provided people with something that they all can relate to. It was like a massive force upon the world and nothing was left but to embrace it. Music on a whole hits you but reggae music echoed the sounds of the lashes and enabled you to keep standing in spite of what was occurring.

It moved from providing the voiceless with a voice and a method to share their opinions based on poverty and government oppression to situations of love, social issues, and personal standings among other things. According to the Gleaner, the Jamaican newspaper in an article entitled The Evolution of Music- Embrace the Change, says Jamaica Music Museum Curator many argue that reggae music has changed and blames the rise of dancehall music as the core cause. While others believes that it is due to the lifestyle of the artistes and they are to be blame and not the music. Reggae is described as being “the diamond of Sierra Leone that has lost its lustre and appeal in the country that it has brought fame” and does not reel in the younger generation as there are “a lack of fresh, credible reggae acts.” While this can be seen as true to many, we must take into consideration that reggae was born out of the evolution of other genres of music that played influential roles in its existence.

Due to these influences the world were blessed and fortunate enough to have a genre that was more relatable and relaxing to the world’s population. This new dancehall can be seen as a tool for the younger generation to identify themselves with something. Violence is a facet of everyday life and is a problem in all country so too is sex and sex related matters and I endorse the sentiments that are echoed by Herbie Miller the director of the Jamaica Music Museum that “the younger generation who knows nothing about the history of Jamaican music that are dispelling music through different media and, naturally, he says, they only purport what they know and are a part of – which is the dancehall culture.”

Education is key and in some instances it is power. In this case it is both key and power for Jamaica to have a “bright future for reggae music” stated William ‘Bunny Rugs’ Clarke, lead singer of the Third World band (Jamaica’s longest running reggae band). The younger generation must be educated about the history of Jamaica music and maybe it will captivate them and they will grow to love the classical genre of music or dancehall may just become the new reggae for the generation as the lyrics of the songs are mirrored by the society they live in and the world by extension. If this is the case then I say we embrace the new genre of music and artiste must tone down on the level of sexual and violent content that are currently rampant in the music.

This can be viewed in a positive light as a new genre of music that was influenced by reggae to take over the airways. It is as a result of change, just as reggae once was. Change is a continuous process and can occur in anything. To some it will be seen as rebellion against the norm and to others it will be as adapting to society. Could this be LOVE for the country and music or CHANGE? Change for the better. Could it be change to place Jamaica at the top of the musical map once again? Or could it just be change in the country that is driving this LOVE and it is perceived as CHANGE?

Additional Readings:

debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/spiker.html

jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130312/ent/ent1.html

www.jamaicaobserver.com/…/Reggae-and-social-change

Reggae and Jamaica and its Singers!

Posted on March 13, 2015 by steffy21

Like many things, they come and go or at times they are improved. For that of reggae, it has remained with us up until this day and proves to be one of the most popular music that were ever created. Its popularity lives on despite the fact that one of its biggest advocates and father (Bob Marley) had passed away. This could only have happened due to the other skilled and multi-talented singers that there were and are today who believed in the music and the power that it had. This musical baton was passed down from singers like Gregory Isaac, Jimmy Cliff and the giant himself Bob Marley to capable people like Romain Virgo, Etana, and the classical Jah Cure and Beres Hammond and countless others.

These singers were willing and ready to take up this huge task and not just walk in the shoes of the great talents that already existed but to create paths of their own and bring reggae music to the wider world and make it a more unique form of entertainment for individuals from various parts of the world, background and beliefs.

Jamaica took the world and the acceptance of a new type of music by storm. Because of this small country, the world knew the sounds of “Ska, reggae or even hip-hop, all of which were born on this tiny island in the West Indies.” Reggae has made a name for Jamaica among the world as the “cultural powerhouse” but because of the genre going global many fear that people will remember the music and forget or in some case, not even know the existence or birth of it, Jamaica. As the genre of music is now being created in other countries. How can Jamaicans educate the world that reggae music was created in an island country comprising the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles? This question cannot yet be answered. But to date, music festivals and celebrations are being kept and the sounds of Bob Marley can still be heard.

According to Michael “Ibo” Cooper, a musician who is chairman of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association, “Reggae was given to the world by Jamaica so nobody can or ever should discourage anyone overseas from making this music. But we think there should be acknowledgment that reggae was created in Jamaica.” People will try but nothing can compare to reggae music from the motherland Jamaica itself.

Hi all, The Origins of reggae

Posted on February 27, 2015 by steffy21

What is reggae? Most people believe that reggae music is a specific type of music that is created and sang by Rastas (a follower of Marcus Garvey who worships the Almighty in the person of Haile Selassie). According to the Oxford dictionary, reggae is “a style of popular music with a strongly accented subsidiary beat.” As everyone may know, this genre of music originated in Jamaica by Bob Marley. Reggae evolved in the late 1960’s from ska and other local variations on calypso, rhythm and blues.

Reggae was able to be placed on the international stage by Bob Marley in the wake of his success in the 1970’s. Other names in reggae music like Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytals, Steel Pulse, Lee Scratch Perry, Dennis Brown and Black Uhuru were also instrumental in the spread of the music.

Jazz had an important role in the genre of music as the music was sweeping over the nations of the world. With time passing, the musical interest of many began to change and as a result, Jamaicans were searching for something new and ska music was developed. It is unsure as to the actual time period that the type of music began as some argue that it began in 1959 whereas others claims that it was from 1950, 1960 and 1961.

Here are a few pictures to put you in the inspirational and relaxed mood that reggae music gives.

Blog photos

For further information these sites can be looked at:-

Hello world!

Posted on February 26, 2015 by steffy21

This is your very first post. Click the Edit link to modify or delete it, or start a new post. If you like, use this post to tell readers why you started this blog and what you plan to do with it.

Happy blogging!