Talk:Reggae

Ska and rocksteady are actually the precursors to reggae. Can they really be qualified as sub-genres?

Hi, I asked myself the very same question when I first put the box together. See here: Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Music_genres for my question about this. The thing is though, I think the box is about reggae in its broadest sense, and in that sense Ska and Rocksteady are a type of reggae music. I asked myself, when I'm filing my music, where do Ska and Rocksteady go? In my collection, they go in amongst all the other Reggae records. Do feel free to change this though - I'm still unsure about this myself --Bwmodular 14:47, 6 Apr 2004 (UTC)

I'm pretty new to wiki, and I am defender of the ska, but hey, most people associate ska & rocksteady as being a form of reggae. In retrospect, I say let it stand, because if you go to Ska, it does say that it was the origin of reggae. I'm not familiar enough with Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Music_genres, so it has given me something new to learn --Isol8d 08:48, 7 Apr 2004

There are two meanings of the word reggae, one being essentially a synonym for Jamaican music, and the other referring to a specific genre that evolved out of ska and rocksteady. Since there's already an article on Jamaican music in general, the first paragraph should make it clear how the word is used and then focus on the more specific term, IMO. Tuf-Kat 16:28, Apr 7, 2004 (UTC)

Whenever I get the chance, I will make this change unless someone convinces me not to. Another question: Is the piano really typical in reggae? Doesn't strike me as being very common at all, but I may be out of touch... Tuf-Kat 05:13, Apr 8, 2004 (UTC)

I've moved Ska and Rocksteady from the sub-genres section of the info box to the influences section. However, I've left them in the genres section of the box which appears at the bottom of the all the Reggae genre pages - I think in that context it still makes sense to have them linked along with the other genres, even if they're not reggae in the strictest sense of the word.

Re. Piano - well, maybe it would be better to replace both piano and organ with the more generic 'keyboards' as there are plenty of albums with Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Clavinet, Synths, etc, but the Wiki page for musical keyboards really doesn't convey what would be needed here. It's unusual for a reggae album not to have keyboards of some sort, but I've removed Piano for now, as you're right - organ is really the keyboard sound one most associated with reggae. --Bwmodular 10:25, 8 Apr 2004 (UTC)

re: Piano - Look no further than the classic album Double Barrel... yeah, keyboards would make more sense, as they play the offbeat with the guitar....Isol8d 10:57, 8 Apr 2004

Keyboards: the piano off beat "bang" is very important, frequently played with the guitar, but lower in the mix. As well as playing riffs, keyboard players help define whether the tune is rocksteady, ska by accenting high-hat beats. A dry "pop" noise is played quickly twice on the 2nd and 4th beat for ska, but a hammond organ "stab" is played on the 3rd beat of the bar for rocksteady. email sue-keys@hotmail.com

Reggae Festivals

Reggae Sunsplash has not been held for a few years now. The festival is defunct. It has been replaced by Reggae Sumfest, which is held in Montego Bay, Jamaica each year. The website is www.reggaesumfest.com

Homophobia in reggae music

what about homophobia in reggae music and - inspired by reggae and rastafari - queerbashing and murder (esp. in Jamaica)?

By all means write something up about this - either start a new page, or add to existing ones where appropriate. There is a less positive side of Jamaican music which should be acknowledged - homophobia, misogyny, gun culture have all been features of some artists' work, and how many jamaican artists have been murdered? Go ahead and write an article about this if you feel inspired to do so.--Bwmodular 15:17, 21 Jul 2004 (UTC)

Police seek Jamaican singer after armed attack on gay men

Sports Giant Threatens Antigay Reggae Singers

Puma threatens sponsorship withdrawal over anti-gay reggae row

Police Begin Criminal Probe Of Beenie Man, Three Other Anti-Gay Singers

I think you'll find that Reggae's often homophobic lyrics are a result of the homophobic culture in jamaica, not the other way around. Don't beleive everythying Peter Thatchell tells you. Birdseed 19:22, 2004 Sep 24 (UTC)

I think this article is the only appropriate place for any mention of homophobia in reggae music. It is NOT required on EVERY popular reggae artists page and I will continue to delete the contributions of those who seek to grind their particular axe anywhere but this page. --Scientz

Closely realted to...

Rastafarianism? Surely not. A small minority of Reggae artists have been rastafarians. Birdseed 19:24, 2004 Sep 24 (UTC)

You what? I totally disagree. Its like saying that gospel has got nothing to do with Christianity, SqueakBox 14:51, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

Origins of the word Reggae

Since it seems to be a fairly new word, I'd assume we'd know where it came from etymologically. However, there is no mention of it in the Reggae article. Can someone amend it with that information please?

Answer- Some Ska band had a song called "Do the Reggay," and it was a Reggae-sounding song, and that's where the term came from.

That was a song by Toots & The Maytals, released in 1968. It even has its own wiki article: Do the Reggay --Jakup r 09:28, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

In the 3rd edition of the Rough Guide to Reggae, Lerry Marshall is interviewed about his musical style, and makes mention of the word "reggae" in conjunction with the word "ragged." Whether or not this bears any influence on the origin of the word is unspecific, though it is not entirely implausible, as reggae music reflects a poor Jamaica.

"th" and "dh" sounds

Isn't it standard in reggae music to change "th" and "dh" sounds to "t" and "d"? I believe this is even used in rhymes sometimes.

I wouldn't say it's a standard in reggae music, but it's a feature of Jamaican Creole. Teklund 13:03, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

Ranking?

What does "Ranking" mean, as in "Ranking Ann", or "Ranking Joe"? Is it similar to "Ranks" as in "Shabba Ranks"? It looks like a lot of performers/DJs, etc., used to call themselves "Ranking" something, then it stopped. Any reason why?

It's short for 'high ranking'. It has military connnotations and probably derives from street gangs and rudeboy culture where it would be used to describe criminals ' ie. 'ranking gunman'. Cheers illWill 10:22, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

Also the ranking within a dancehall competition. Top ranking will be the winner, hence the Bob Marley song, SqueakBox 14:04, August 29, 2005 (UTC)

Skinhead Reggae

Suggestion. Add chapter about traditional skinheads and their favorite artists like Laurel Aitken, Desmond Dekker, Judge Dread, Symarip/Pyramids, The Pioneers, Dice The Boss etc. Describe skinhead reggae as another related genre like rocksteady.

Links to read: Trojan Records Symarip Reggae Ska MP3 samples

Nov. 20 Edit

This did not fit in the edit summary, so I'm puting it here: Copyedits, wikilinks, removed external links to websites of a personal nature, non-english language websites, websites with no informative content or no information of general interest to the subject matter, and removed one POVish paragraph (the one about the king and prince of Reggae / Ezeu 19:58, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

Generic radio stations

The article claims that no generic radio station plays reggae. This is clearly not true, as plenty of radio stations around the world often play reggae. Is this some US-centric thing? Zocky | picture popups 14:24, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

Well spotted and removed. Unfortunatrely many especially new US editors labour under the illusion that this a US encyclopedia whereas nothing could be further from ther truth. It is an international encyclopedia with a strong US bias that needs lots of volunteers to counteract, SqueakBox 14:53, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

Homophobia

I removedthat quotation from village voice that asserted that homophobia, sexism and misogyny "blight almost all current reggae." These things are present in some modern dancehall, but "almost all current reggae"!? That's a hugely exaggerated, unqualified statement.