9 - Reggae, Disco, Punk Flashcards
What are the influences in reggae? Where did it originate?
influences
- traditional jamaincan music (roots in trad. african music)
- american rhythm and blues (picked up on radio in jamacia)
originated in jamaica
What are reggae music identifiers?
- 4/4 time sig, empahsis on 2 and 4 (like Pfunk a lil)
- strophic form = repeated verse and chorus, nothin fancy (pre-chorus/brudge)
- rock lineup (vocals and backup, electric guitar and bass, drum kit)
- prominent bass guitar rff
- simple chord sequences
- reference to rastafari = religiion in jamaica from 1930s
What are the main types of reggae and their defining features?
Mento = strophic in form, light hearted lyrics, banjo (folky guitar)
Ska = fast dance style, lyrics about serious social issues, folk of mento mixed with electric guitar and horns of rhythm n blues (jazzy)
Rocksteady = slower style, followed from ska, loud repeated melody (riff) on bass guitar, political lyrics (chiller)
What are 3 other styles of reggae?
- dancehall = more sparse version of reggae
- lovers = romantic sound and content
- dub = electronic music grown out of reggae
What did Bob Marley do for regae as a genre and for people in general?
reggae = hes def the reason it got to be so well known rather than just hidden in jamaica
people =
- he was a heroic figure and voice for them
- his own story from poor and oppressed to international superstar gave hope
- he used his pwer to relelntlylesly call gor political change
=CHAMPIOING HIS PEOPLE like folk artists, bessie smith
Where did bob markely start with music? What style?
formed a group with peter tosh and bunny wailer = The Wailers (or Bob Marley and The Wailers)
style =
- successful at start with dancey songs in Ska style
- added social commentary, transformed light ska into heavier slower reggae sound
= encapsulated the soul and sound of a NATION
How did the wailers begin to gain international success?
- Bob marley made alliance with Chris Blackwell (wealthy white jamaican who had record label “Island” for rock stars)
- Chris offered them a contract cuz he saw that they had the potential to bring reggae into popular music
- Chris marketed them the same as any rock group
- in the end, wailers were oft discovered through others but it was Bob Marley’s vibe and the calming island vibe of the music that kept people
What was one important catalyst to the popularity of the wailers?
Eric Clapton (rock and blues guitar guy) did a cover of “I Shot the SHeriff”, which became a worldwide hit, got many of his fans to discover wailers
What are some examples of songs by The Wailers?
- buffalo soldier
- coudl youo be lvoed
- i shot the sheriff
What are the maiin things that “Disco” referred to?
- musical style (what disco sounds like)
- peformace site (nightclub etc)
- mode of participation and musical fnadom (the collective identity)
What genres influenced/tied inot disco?
influecnces
- motown soul
- latin inflected funk
- sophisticated yype of soul associated with philadelphia based producers
- Jimi Hendrix use of electronics
What people was disco msuci for? Why?
people = gay, african american, latino subcultures
why: the music that was not mainstream intended to match with people who also did not fit the mainstream
–> when you ostracize, you radicalize
=> exclude/dont accept people, resutls in them creating own culture/space
Who is Manu Dibango and what was his impact?
Cameroonian jazz-pop artist
had national hits that crossed over from dance clubs to pop radio (like many other dance artists at teh time)
= resulted in more popularizatin of disco/electronic dance style
What songs were the beginnings of the “disco” label?
- Rock the boat by the hues corporation
- rock your baby by george mccrae
- THE HUSTLE by VAN MCCOY = most popular dance step of the era
What was one huge change to nightclubs that disco brought that completely altered things forever?
THE DJ!!!
= dont get tired so can party all night, extend from traditional concert
