Introduction for Reggae Unit

My expectiations for this unit is to be able to have a wider range of knowledge about reggae. Also to be able to play a reggae song within my band. So far that is going okay. However, we need to do some more practising to make it better. I hope it
will continue to be as fun as it is now.

Before we got started on the reggae unit we were asked to do some research about it. we had to look up some reggae history, compare two songs (I shot the sheriff and No woman no cry, both by Bob Marley) and write some of out expectations for the unti. I will post the essay bellow.

Reggae
Reggae was first born in Jamaica in the late years of 1960. It developed out of a similar style of music called “Rock steady” which was inspired by another form of music called “ska”. Both rock steady and ska also started in Jamaica. Rock steady was very popular for two years during the 9060’s, but started to die down after a while. Suddenly Reggae became very famous and spread through many parts of the world.
The difference between reggae and normal music is that the base drum plays on the off of beat. This is also known as skank. Is gives the song more jump, it is a very bouncy type of music.
Toasting is used in Reggae, Ska and Rock steady. Toasting means too lyrically chant. It can also mean deejaying.
Reggae has influenced several other styles. For example, hip hop. What many people do not know is that hip hop originally came from reggae. In many Reggae songs the singer talks the lyrics, he doesn’t sing them. As in hip hop songs today, the singers rap, which is almost the same thing as talking. Hip Hop may not have existed today if reggae had never been developed. However, it could have existed, but not is the same form as we now know it to be.

Reggae Songs
In class we listened to different reggae songs by Bob Marley. I thought some of them were good, but some of them I didn’t like. We listened to six different songs, and they were all very different, yet extremely similar. Some of them were slow, and some of them were fast, but they still had the same flow to the rhythm. We had to compare and evaluate two songs called “No women, no cry” and “I shot the sheriff”.
No women, No cry
No women, no cry is a very good song. I really like it because it has a slow rhythm and it is relaxing. I love the melody because it’s soulful and inspiring. I like the lyrics too because it is not just random sentences in like other songs can be. These lyrics tell a story.
I shot the sheriff
I shot the sheriff is a fun and jumpy song. I like the beat and it is fun to sing too. However, I don’t like the lyrics. They are comical which is good, but they are not inspiring and they don’t make very much sense.


Expectations for this Unit
For this unit I wish to play a song by Bob Marley in a band. I would like to experience playing reggae, and seeing how it sounds to play it yourself since it is a bit different from normal music. At the end of the unit I want to have a clear view of what reggae is and what it is all about. I can’t wait to get started!

//Hellen Cockburn