Bob Marley - Quotes on Music



Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 20:58:57 -0400
From: Judith Kalil <jkalil@earthlink.net> Organization: Irie Productions, Inc. & Ltd. (JA)

Greetings,

Respect to all who have been contributing to the reasoning. As an American involved in "this business of Reggae music," may I suggest that nuff Bob word dem may be relevant.

"Anything can happen in music, we only experiment. It's never wise to limit yourself. Them people think that I should do the same this year as last! Maybe people don't like it...[but] you can't stay in one place. -- Bob Marley, 1974

"Music free and without prejudice. Music don't care...music just wanna be." -- Bob Marley, 1975

"I don't care what people do with the music. Every time I play, I get fresh inspiration. It fresh, and no one hear a song that you write until it out on a record. So people can capitalise on reggae as much as they want. We can play different music from the kind we play now. So if someone try to catch up with we, we can leave and change again because that's what we've been doing over the years." -- Bob Marley, 1975

"Soul, jazz, calypso, blues--I like plenty good music. Jazz, that's a complete music. Music with feeling....Every song is a sign." --Bob Marley, 1976

"Reggae is a music that has plenty of fight. But only the music should fight, not the people." --Bob Marley, 1977

"[Reggae] music is like the news. The music influences the people, the music do everything fe the people." --Bob Marley, 1980

Music--and particularly contemporary reggae music--is like language: it's a vital, living force that reflects and refracts what we think and feel about the world around us. Just as we use language (meaning words and syntax and grammar and so forth) to express our thoughts and feelings about what a gwaan, so too may we use a jazzy sax or a bluesy horn or the voice of an unknown Nyahbingi chanter to express and enhance our music. That mode of expression goes to the kind of experimentation Bob talked about and practiced. At the same time, the willingness to experiment, to keep in tune with the times so to speak, keeps the music current.

Personally, me love roots and get nostalgic for a less digitalized, more real sound. However, I am increasingly drawn to and connected with dancehall because it is the most contemporary of JA sounds and affords me the greatest opportunity for creative experimentation. I can put in horns & harmonies to suggest a rocking riddim, a bassoon to emulate the abeng, couple them with that JA driving (as oppposed to a grooving) bass, maybe add an American rapper to the voicing (why not? ;) ) and emanicipate the music, make it fresh and gree, but still acknowledge its roots and allow the music to evolve.

We praise Creation through creation. Let us come together to forward the vibe. Everytime.

Oneness.
Judith
dub three-0
************************************************************************
irie productions, inc. & ltd. * irie-negril * irie vibes [ascap]
"MUSIC FREE AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE....MUSIC JUST WANNA BE" ************************************************************************

Posted: Mon - February 3, 2003 at 09:30 PM      


©