Jamaican music

 

Music can be a good way to express a message, an opinion through lyrics or the way to sing. In Jamaica, has been a lot of styles of music. That's why, I will try to explain only the most important styles which brought a clearly message in the moment of their appearances. I'm also going to talk about how the Jamaicans expressed their feelings, what message is brought through the different types of music and rhythms.

Nyabinghi Music 

 

Nyabinghi (traditionally Burru) music is the most integral form of Rastafarian music. It's an African rhythm imported from Jamaica probably by slaves. It is played at worship ceremonies called grounations, that include drumming, singing and dancing, along with a prayer and the smoking ganja ritual.

Why this style of music? What message contained these songs?

The name Nyabinghi comes from an East African movement from the 1850s to the 1950s that was led by people who militarily opposed European imperialism. In Jamaica, the concepts of Nyabinghi were appropriated for similar anti-colonial efforts, and this style is often danced to invoke the power of Jah against an oppressor. The texts have a social and religious impact. The lyrics are in English.

Famous group:

Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus

Mento

 
Mento is a Jamaican music, popular from late in the 1800's to the early 1960's, derived from the calypso in Trinidad with a more swinging rhythm . It preceded ska and reggae, and emerged with industrialization. Mento songs are a mixture of polkas, waltzes, shanties, hymns and military marches in Europe, coupled with African expressions and songs. It features a fair balance of African and European elements. Originally rural, mento traditionally used instruments like banjo, guitar, bass, maracas, drums, but also the rumba box or thumb piano, violin, piano and saxophone bamboo.

What was the message in this new type of music?

The topics frequently mentioned by mento style are critics of the social and political life.

Famous singer:

Stanley Beckford - Israelites

Ska. 1960 – 1966

Ska combined elements of American R&B and boogie-woogie. In the early 1960s, ska was the dominant music genre of Jamaica and was popular among British mods. Later, it became popular with the skinhead movement. Ska was a soulful genre which featured harmony singing, danceable rhythms and songs that are frequently about love.

Radios and record players became popular in Jamaica in the 1950's. Jamaicans became more enthusiastic about American music and developed an important interest for American rhythm and blues.

What is the key behind this style?

The emergence of ska occurred at the same time as the emergence of rude boy culture. They reflect the angry of ghettos where the rude boys (youngers in popular districts) protest against the living conditions.

Some people associate ska music with the optimism of independence. Others think that the music expressed the problems of the working class.

Ska appears like a joyful and enthusiastic musical form. But listening this polyrithmic pulsations, we discover that it is also the anger from West neighborhoods of Kingston, where there are chronic unemployment, gangs violence, and rivals political groups. Thus, we find protesters messages, or traditional messages about popular folk song near to calypso. The lyrics are in English too.

Prince Buster - "Wash Wash”

Dancehall & sound systems. 1950 – 1960

In Jamaica, sound system is a kind of concert or party very popular. The sound system can be considered as a kind of walking disco. The sound system scene is generally considered as an important part of Jamaican cultural history and is the origin of ska and dub. The master of the sound system is the disc jockey, King Stitt. He sang in Enlgish.

What was the intention of this new type of music?

Most of people are illiterate, and don't read newspapers. Sound system was a good way for social informations, DJs often sang current topics.

Dancehall music emerged in the late 1970s as a modernized form of reggae music, which reflected increasingly violent and impoverished conditions in Jamaica.

Rocksteady 1968

Rocksteady is the result of ska transformation. This is a mixture of ska, north american soul and R & B, broadcasted by radio in the United States.

We can find mostly trios rocksteady singing love songs (The Heptones). It represent mostly a transition between ska and reggae which open the way in 1968.
Quickly, the ska era ends to give way to rocksteady, a kind of ska with slow rhythms . Legend says that this slow rhythm was born during a very hot summer, and that's why the tempo was more slowly. The lyrics are in English.

 

What was the message in this new type of music?

In 1966, there were violent confrontations between rival gangs of JLP (Jamaican Labour Party) and PNP (People's National Party) supporter. Theses social changes had an effect on music.

Famous group:

The Heptones

Reggae

Reggae music appeared after Rocksteady in 1968. In 1969, the lyrics are dedicated at Jah .

Trough the texts, rasta ideology is conveyed. Reggae was heavily influenced by Rastafarianism.

What was the message in this new type of music?

This new style is militant and denunciatory because of the persecution of the police during many years. In the 70's, ten years after the independence, the violence and the crime are present in Jamaica. The politicians no found solutions to resolve the unemployment. In 1972, the PNP (People's National Party) won the election. Unfortunately the policy of PNP socialist democracy is responsible for a leakage of foreign capital and inflation exceeds 50%. The only relief for the poor masses are music and Rastafarianism with its peace doctrine, universal love, mutual aid and anti-corruption. Rastafarianism reggae had a depth influence. More musicians embrace the religion and wear "dreadlocks".

Famous singers of this period:

Bob Marley, Peter Tosh ( lyrics in English)

Ragga 

Ragga an abbreviation of “Raggamufin” is a musical genre, born of the dancehall reggae movement. Ragga appeared in Jamaica at the end of the 80's, and is best known for his repetitive diction.

What message?

“Ragga” means, in the slang of Jamaica, idler, and defines a marginal lifestile: a person who has a hard time but who is always honest. Therefore, “Ragga” is an expression that can define a kind of person and a musical genre. The “ragamuffins” Jamaicans produce themselves their own discs, and talk about the current situation. They also sell their discs by themselves in the cities. Ragga is divided by two differents, and complementary categories: the slackness, whit bawdy and sexists lyrics, and the lover, more romantic and peaceable. 

 

Jamaican Music's Influence on the World

Jamaican music's popularity has spread throughout the world, and manifested in many different ways. It is omnipresent in various ways on pop music charts from around the world. Jamaican music is deeply entrenched in the musical culture of the world, and will likely continue to be that way for a long, long time. 

source: http://www.davibejamaica.com/news/medias/du-ska-au-reggae-l-evolution-de-la-musique-jamaicaine.html 
 

Posted by Alicia MAY