Reggae music hailing from Jamaica combines African hand-drumming rhythms, lead bass arrangements, offbeat guitar chords known as skank and lyrics written in Jamaican patois language with joyful melodies and peaceful yet bohemian lyrics to produce its distinctive sound. Reggae has become synonymous with cheerful melodies that feature peaceful or bohemian lyrics that resonate in popular culture today.
Black Uhuru members have an uncanny ability of conveying powerful, yet comforting lyrics in ways that uphold and give strength to listeners – this song is no exception.
1. The Harder They Come
The 1972 classic Jamaican crime film, The Harder They Come, showcased rising reggae star Jimmy Cliff as Ivanhoe Martin – and introduced reggae music and culture to a wider audience through Ivanhoe’s unapologetic antiheroism and persistence, which inspired The Clash to include him in their song “Guns of Brixton”.
While the movie itself was an incredible success, its soundtrack truly stole the show. Packed with some of the most beloved reggae artists and songs of its era – all relatively unknown to American listeners back then – this album introduced them to ska, rocksteady and reggae for many listeners for whom this music was new. Jimmy Cliff’s anthemic title track as well as hymnal “Many Rivers to Cross” by Johnny Lennon were two songs featured on it that have since been covered by Linda Ronstadt Ronstadt John Lennon and Annie Lennox among many others!
Film and soundtrack of The Harder They Come are still being celebrated for introducing reggae music to wider audiences, while its stage adaptation, now running off-Broadway at the Public Theater, continues this legacy. Although play doesn’t use visual medium like camera shake, director Sally Ann Howe and choreographer Edgar Godineaux make do with what they have. One of only few musicals that utilizes Jamaican reggae classics as its musical foundation, The Harder They Come has received critical acclaim.
2. Love Is The Answer
Reggae has always been a socially conscious genre, though over the years its focus has shifted considerably. When first popular, reggae often featured messages of liberation, spiritual growth and unity and justice; more recently it has been heavily influenced by Rastafarian ideology which stresses female agency and the Omega Principle of necessary balance between man and woman; this trend can be found among artists like Queen Ifrika (“Lioness on the Rise”), Jah Nine (“New Name”) Hempress Sativa (“Skin Teeth”) Koffee (young female rapper-DJ who just won a GRAMMY for Best Reggae Album).
Reggae music often asserts its message and speaks directly to specific issues. One of Bob Marley’s signature tunes, “One Love,” embodies Rastafari spiritual tenets by emphasizing universal love rooted in God – its message has since become an international mantra, touching listeners across borders and generations alike.
Musicians outside Jamaica have often altered reggae music to fit their local cultural context, with this process becoming particularly prominent in Britain. Rock bands like the Clash combined reggae with punk to produce ska, while Specials members and their contemporaries transformed reggae into radical 2 Tone Ska.
Even white rock enthusiasts have fallen for reggae rhythm’s allure, with Herbie Mann and Eric Clapton tapping its potential with jazzy reggae numbers by Herbie Mann and his version of Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff.” However, white reggae often fails to reflect its roots and ethos: simply covering one of Bunny Wailer’s classics cannot replace singing songs about fighting oppressive forces and taking a stand for justice.
3. We Are The World
Many will recognize this song from Blondie’s cover version in the 1980s, but the original release by The Paragons remains an iconic hit that gets you moving and singing along. No wonder so many musicians have released their own versions – this classic tune provides the perfect opportunity to showcase your dancing talents!
Reggae music may seem like it was designed exclusively for beachside enjoyment and socializing, but its power can extend far beyond this realm. One example of this can be seen with “We Are The World”, part of Band Aid charity album featuring different musicians of various genres collaborating together on raising money for Ethiopia famine relief efforts; its success earned record of the year and Quincy Jones received a Grammy award as its producer.
Though the song was successful, there were a few issues surrounding its production and artists weren’t pleased with their performances; furthermore, its lyrics weren’t politically appropriate.
“Blackheart Man,” released in 1976 and written and recorded by Bunny Wailer’s band, The Wailers, proved an enormous hit and favorite with their fans. It featured gentle melodies with emotive lyrics that captured audiences while showing off drummer Carlton Barrett’s talents – being capable of shifting seamlessly between gentle rim clicks and harder hitting beats that would become iconic of later reggae songs.
4. I Just Can’t Stop Loving You
Don Gibson is known for creating poignant, powerful songs about love. From mourning dead lovers or dealing with betrayals, to finding someone new – this classic hit from him says something important about how important love truly is – in all forms and circumstances. Everyone can relate to its universal message that there will always be someone for us who’s just the right match – even after decades have gone by!
Michael Jackson’s album Bad’s lead single spent three weeks at the top of both US Billboard Hot 100 chart and Adult Contemporary chart in America, becoming his only chart-topping single to date in America.
Siedah Garrett performed her part as part of a duet. Garrett was an established singer-songwriter who wrote demos and provided session backup singer services for other artists, most notably Madonna. Quincy Jones mentored Garrett; together they co-wrote one song off Bad: Man in the Mirror album.
Garrett used her voice in both UK and US versions of this song; its US rendition became most well-known after reaching No 2 on Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1987. Re-released as part of Bad 25 album in 2012 with original mastered album version with spoken intro, plus B-side featuring Don’t Messin ‘Round as B-side.
Michael Jackson’s Thriller album was an enormous success, while Bad was even greater. “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” from that album became one of five US #1 singles and became the best-selling single of 1987 in America – making it his second biggest worldwide hit!
5. I Need You
If you’re in search of a reggae song to put you in an upbeat and romantic state of mind, this one should do it. With lyrics about unrequited love that will certainly speak to any unfulfilled desires you might be harboring, as well as its upbeat, bohemian tune, this will have you smiling throughout its entirety!
Reggae music has long been used as an outlet for political struggle, yet its joyous celebration can also serve a political purpose. Toots and the Maytal’s track is testament to this; not so much about any particular story as about an overall feeling of peace and love pervading Jamaican culture – this classic should be experienced at least once during one’s life!
Bob Marley is one of the most celebrated international reggae musicians of all time, and this song, recorded near the end of his life, bears testament to this fact. Although seemingly simple in composition, its message of freedom and emancipation are powerfully expressed through Marley’s guitar playing alone. Since its release, several heavyweight musicians have covered it and it has since become a global anthem.
Reggae music first emerged in Jamaica during the late 1960s and was heavily influenced by various forms of musical influences, such as African hand-drumming, Skaville ska music, New Orleans rhythm and blues and Rastafari (a religion and sociopolitical movement originating in Jamaica). Reggae’s distinctive sound features a loping beat, an underlying bassline, offbeat guitar chords called “skank”, lyrics written in Jamaican patois language lyrics sung by some notable musicians such as Bob Marley himself; other notable artists include The Temptations King David Bunny Wailer