Popular music of
Jamaican origin having
elements of Calypso
and rhythm and blues, usually
with an accent placed
on the offbeat.
1960’s
SKA JAZZ
Music genre derived by
fusing the melodic content
of jazz with the rhythmic
and harmonic content of
early Jamaican music
ROCKSTEADY
Features off beat rhythms
along with a slower tempo.
The musical style is a little
more romantic.
MENTO
A fusion of European and
African Folk Dance Music
CALYPSO
A style of Afro-Caribbean
music that originated in
Trinidad and Tobago during
the early to mid 20th
century. It became the voice
of the people, and was
characterized by highly
rhythmic and harmonic
vocals
• Heavy backbeat rhythm
• Beats 2 and 4 emphasized (4/4 time)
• Drummer emphasizes beat 3 (4/4 time)
INSTRUMENTAL REGGAE BEAT MUSIC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yREtLKb9N_4
A religious cult based on a belief that
Ras Tafari (Haile Selassie) is the Messiah
and that Africa (especially Ethiopia) is
the Promised Land.
• Religious and social movement evolving in
Jamaica during early 1930’s
• Rastas typically come from disadvantaged
backgrounds
• A largely unorganized group
• Dreadlocks: “psychic antenna”
• National colors: red, green and gold
• Marijuana: “holy herb”
• Language: Jamaican Patois
Could You Be Loved
One Love
No Women No Cry
I Shot the Sheriff
Buffalo Soldier
Jammin’
• Reggae lyrics are sometimes borderline
incomprehensible to Americans
• Usually in an English-based but distinctly
Jamaican patois
• Many exclusively Jamaican slang terms and
alternate verb forms are used
• Frequent references to Rastafarian terms,
such as “Jah” (God)
PATOIS PHRASES:
TRANSLATION:

“A fe me cyar.”

“It’s my car.”

“Mi a —go lef today.”

“I am leaving today.”

“Im is badda dan dem.
No badda mi.”

“He is worse then they
are. Don’t bother me.”

“Bwaay! Mi ded tink de
test was eazy.”

“Boy! I thought that test
would have been easy.”
A Lesson in Jamaican Patois
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6MyCK7xLFY
Reggae’s Influence
AMERICA
BRITAIN
•
No Doubt
•
UB40
•
Sublime
•
The Beatles
•
Reel Big Fish
•
The Police
Adele—”Set Fire to the Rain”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh6qXWmLprY
http://www.dimusichub.com/reggae-renaissance/
http://worldmusic.about.com/od/genres/p/Reggae.htm
http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/sites/music/reggae.php
http://www.island-stage.com/history-of-reggae/reggae/
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backbeat
http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=rastafarianism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i-gcWdBUb8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTY8H7zjdtc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh6qXWmLprY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZNHYgzHkKM
http://www.taringa.net/posts/imagenes/16270151/Keep-Calm-And.html
http://home.wlu.edu/~lubint/touchstone/Rastafarianism-Magee.htm
http://www.nevillestaple.com/
http://debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/herbold.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6MyCK7xLFY