.jpg)
Jamaica-Jampan Jnr. Raglan available at cafepress.com/2007jamaica.jpg)
Jamaica "Look Deh" white t-shirt @ zazzle.com/jonbret: kindly click on product to browse or shop2008 Jamaica_Reggae_T_shirt & Entertainment
It is ironic but finally, Reggae music has been given official status in Jamaica, with February recognized as Reggae Month. Several events are planned for the month, and beyond. Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding has directed that this avenue be expanded. This particular brand of music is identical to Jamaica, as the place of its origin. Having experienced the eras of ska in the 1960’s, evolving from Jamaica’s Independence thru to rocksteady to reggae, it’s good but it needs some cleaning up. It needs some housework. It is a primary marketing and unique tool of Jamaica and impacts on tourism, which is a primary factor of the GDP.
Reggae is heavily promoted and performed in such countries like America, Britain and Canada where there is a large Jamaican and reggae population; and other countries like Germany, Italy, Japan and The Continent of Africa. Reggae music and related events call Jamaicans together, whereever they are without any prompting, especially when in such countries as America, Canada and Britain where half the Jamaican population reside.
The reggae music attracts many visitors from across the globe to our shores, many of whom attend the annual REGGAE SUNFEST (July) in Montego Bay.
Reggae in Jamaica to me, is like the people are using this brand of music to promote some peace and love and positive vibes, but on the contrary the opposite is also used to draw a particular following or disciples or crowd, which sometimes have had negative spin-offs. It is singing, dancing, entertainment, whether at the dancehall, ‘on the corner’ or at the church but it is business. Show biz. Competitive business, based on the craft masters and mistresses, groups, networkers, promoters and more including individual and business goals.
Reggae is played in the homes, shops, at birthday functions, funeral “wakes”, national events, celebrations, in buses and taxi, at some bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants, selected hotels, sometimes at the beach, playing field and frequently from the sidewalks by the mobile music and video businessmen or CD shops.
Reggae music is sold almost everywhere in Jamaica. Sales and promotion have been involuntarily decentralized due to job creation, plagiarism, piracy and other factors. In other words, you could make or release a single today and by tomorrow, someone you have never met or have any business deal with, maybe selling your single on CD without permission. I sometimes refer to such plagiarists and pirates as the mobile CD shops…. they are always on the move. There are hundreds of artists working at the craft in their own unique way daily, in a highly competitive local and international market. And there are also new ones frequently, male and female, from singers to DJ’s to other lyricists such as dub poets. “Mutabaruka” is the eminent dub poet and precedes most of our local artists. Dis ya bredren run sum deep lyrics.
A local spin-off of reggae is the dancehall competitions, where the ladies or females, produced their best in order to be crowned Dancehall Queen of The Year. This title carries certain privileges and niceties; hence the Queen is in great demand, especially at concerts. This leads to other spin-offs such as “beverages” and dress code. The individual dress code of the “Queens” and participants has great influence on the youngsters, creating a unique clothing market. Frankly, with all the female body parts been shaked or thrown around at these dances, especially the butts, (and many Jamaican women carry some big but sexy butts, if you may pardon my language here if offended), and been scantily clad or revealing and somewhat provocative, cast a spell on the men. This is a form of local entertainment. Beenie Man and Macka Diamond are seen as the king and queen respectively of the dancehall.
Due to plagiarism or piracy, whether via the Internet or by CD and the resultant loss in sales, artists make physical appearances as frequently as necessary, based on personal and popular demand and or lifestyles.
There are radio stations in Jamaica where more than 90% of their airtime is geared to reggae. Reggae is a tool used to communicate to the local people, and to the World via CD, the Internet and concerts, for those who can understand or translate the lyrics or vibes.
Big ‘reggae and dancehall names’ are linked to big promotions, whether in business, social events, charity, politics or the church. The church has a very unique brand of vibes masters or artists, just like the dancehall with names such as ‘Goddy Goddy’ and The Prodigal Sons. On many occasions and excluding the dress code, the performance at a dancehall is liking to that of the church, been different only by the objective or target group. Yes ..I. Sum a dem run de lyrics hard. “That sell off yow”.
It would a wonderful experience to hear the chief artists from the dancehall in an incentive-based musical clash or showdown, with those from the church and defending their names and reputation in the field of reggae, ALL ON ONE STAGE. And let the M.C be a true “fire-bunning “ Rastaman. The Grouping of people with sometimes diverse views, in peace and love as Jamaicans.
Reggae was once banned in many churches, as some church factions and preachers had referred to it as “ the devil ‘s music”. It attracted crowd away from the church and its ‘sweet’ so to speak. With the introduction of electronic gadgets and drums into the church, and a more radical public relations view to churchism, reggae got its place in some churches and places of worship.
Frankly, some of those old church songs were boring as was, or presented, based on the Anglo-Saxon hand-down. This may have had its merit then for whatever reason or psyche, but many fell asleep in church back then. I sometimes ponder those paintings by famous artists and given great names, of semi-naked women painted in the top or on some wall in some of those olden European churches. It keeps the parishioners awake, I assume or is it just art. And please don’t misunderstand me, as if religion is boring but religion must also keep up with the times. Today, reggae in the church is used to keep the people awake, entertained, mesmerized and energized, while conveying religious message to the believers. I may just add here that some churches still stick to the old routine, while others such as “The Pocomina, Revivalist or some Pentecostal Churches” chiefly uses pure drums and chanting. This is where the drums and chanting it is believed, sometimes lead to spiritual cleansing and inner projection. All these principle mixed together have been used by the local Rastafarians for decades.
In the Rastafar I world, “Jah Selassi I” is the Infinite or term used in reference to GOD. Their place of meeting, worship or “THE BINGI” has always been intertwined with reggae and the drums in whatever form or era, in expressing their religious and political beliefs, to which they have an unquestionable universal right. Hence, Bob Marley and the Marley Clan, Culture, Peter Tosh, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Burning Spear, Jacob “killer” Miller, Beenie Man, Queen Ifrica, Buju Banton, Maxi Priest, Coco Tea, Tarrus Riley, Jah Cure,Turbulance and many other artists, most of whom are Rastafarians or look-alikes, more frequently dominate the reggae scene in terms of volume and popularity locally and internationally.
In the real world of reggae music and international entertainment, The Late Hon. Bob Marley at some point and time was identified or synonymous to reggae and ultimately Jamaica. Bob Marley, Jamaica’s first reggae ambassador-at-large was born in February and so is reggae, officially.
However, other eminent or big names in reggae are not Rastafarians in physical presentation, such as the Grandmaster Beres Hammond or Shaggy, Shabba Ranks, The Infamous Richie Stevens, Sean Paul, Macka Diamond, Ninja Man, Vybz kartel and more.
‘Nuf respec’ to the South African reggae legend Lucky Dube, whom was our musical guest in body and spirit for The 2007 World Cup Cricket. He expanded on reggae across the African Continent and more. Mi bredren, life is a mission. ‘Nuf respec’.
Reggae Competitions held in schools, and other national events such as The Digicel’s Rising Star Contest are used to identify new and upcoming talents in the field such as Chris Martin, Noddy Virtue and the trio group-One Third. If these along with 2007 winner Romain Virgo can organize themselves for a common goal, it’s a lot of talent and the age group is right. How about an annual musical clash or showdown of the best talents from Jamaica-Digicel’s Rising Star and similar talent shows in The Caribbean, America, Canada, Britain and Europe, with a level playingfield like the 100 metres.
This Reggae is embedded into the roots, psyche, blood, culture or way of life of most Jamaicans. It all started, I suppose with those drums. Those African Drums used for communication. Dem hear e but neba wen know a wha. Yah mon. A so mi seet.
Reggae is a product of Jamaica. If its not Jamaican, its imitation. Other Jamaican music has attracted greats such as Jamerican blood Harry Belafonte and Americans such as Roy Hamilton and Johnny Nash.
Now, how can we expand this market to include the Chinese, Arabs, Russians and Indians? That’s a large market.
Congrats to the world’s fastest male and female: Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell, and L. Stanbury for the Reggae Academy. Umpire Steve Bucknor, nuf respec. Somady pinch mi an tel mi seh carnival gwine hot dis yere.
For some cool Jamaican & reggae t-shirts, kindly click on the links below please.
http://www.7jamaica.blogspot.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/hipstrip http://www.zazzle.com/jonbret
http://www.cafepress.com/2007jamaica http://www.cafepress.com/motivat
http://www.cafepress.com/7h2o http://www.cafepress.com/jonbretjamaica
http://www.cafepress.com/jonbrettshirt
Thank You and One Love
It is ironic but finally, Reggae music has been given official status in Jamaica, with February recognized as Reggae Month. Several events are planned for the month, and beyond. Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding has directed that this avenue be expanded. This particular brand of music is identical to Jamaica, as the place of its origin. Having experienced the eras of ska in the 1960’s, evolving from Jamaica’s Independence thru to rocksteady to reggae, it’s good but it needs some cleaning up. It needs some housework. It is a primary marketing and unique tool of Jamaica and impacts on tourism, which is a primary factor of the GDP.
Reggae is heavily promoted and performed in such countries like America, Britain and Canada where there is a large Jamaican and reggae population; and other countries like Germany, Italy, Japan and The Continent of Africa. Reggae music and related events call Jamaicans together, whereever they are without any prompting, especially when in such countries as America, Canada and Britain where half the Jamaican population reside.
The reggae music attracts many visitors from across the globe to our shores, many of whom attend the annual REGGAE SUNFEST (July) in Montego Bay.
Reggae in Jamaica to me, is like the people are using this brand of music to promote some peace and love and positive vibes, but on the contrary the opposite is also used to draw a particular following or disciples or crowd, which sometimes have had negative spin-offs. It is singing, dancing, entertainment, whether at the dancehall, ‘on the corner’ or at the church but it is business. Show biz. Competitive business, based on the craft masters and mistresses, groups, networkers, promoters and more including individual and business goals.
Reggae is played in the homes, shops, at birthday functions, funeral “wakes”, national events, celebrations, in buses and taxi, at some bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants, selected hotels, sometimes at the beach, playing field and frequently from the sidewalks by the mobile music and video businessmen or CD shops.
Reggae music is sold almost everywhere in Jamaica. Sales and promotion have been involuntarily decentralized due to job creation, plagiarism, piracy and other factors. In other words, you could make or release a single today and by tomorrow, someone you have never met or have any business deal with, maybe selling your single on CD without permission. I sometimes refer to such plagiarists and pirates as the mobile CD shops…. they are always on the move. There are hundreds of artists working at the craft in their own unique way daily, in a highly competitive local and international market. And there are also new ones frequently, male and female, from singers to DJ’s to other lyricists such as dub poets. “Mutabaruka” is the eminent dub poet and precedes most of our local artists. Dis ya bredren run sum deep lyrics.
A local spin-off of reggae is the dancehall competitions, where the ladies or females, produced their best in order to be crowned Dancehall Queen of The Year. This title carries certain privileges and niceties; hence the Queen is in great demand, especially at concerts. This leads to other spin-offs such as “beverages” and dress code. The individual dress code of the “Queens” and participants has great influence on the youngsters, creating a unique clothing market. Frankly, with all the female body parts been shaked or thrown around at these dances, especially the butts, (and many Jamaican women carry some big but sexy butts, if you may pardon my language here if offended), and been scantily clad or revealing and somewhat provocative, cast a spell on the men. This is a form of local entertainment. Beenie Man and Macka Diamond are seen as the king and queen respectively of the dancehall.
Due to plagiarism or piracy, whether via the Internet or by CD and the resultant loss in sales, artists make physical appearances as frequently as necessary, based on personal and popular demand and or lifestyles.
There are radio stations in Jamaica where more than 90% of their airtime is geared to reggae. Reggae is a tool used to communicate to the local people, and to the World via CD, the Internet and concerts, for those who can understand or translate the lyrics or vibes.
Big ‘reggae and dancehall names’ are linked to big promotions, whether in business, social events, charity, politics or the church. The church has a very unique brand of vibes masters or artists, just like the dancehall with names such as ‘Goddy Goddy’ and The Prodigal Sons. On many occasions and excluding the dress code, the performance at a dancehall is liking to that of the church, been different only by the objective or target group. Yes ..I. Sum a dem run de lyrics hard. “That sell off yow”.
It would a wonderful experience to hear the chief artists from the dancehall in an incentive-based musical clash or showdown, with those from the church and defending their names and reputation in the field of reggae, ALL ON ONE STAGE. And let the M.C be a true “fire-bunning “ Rastaman. The Grouping of people with sometimes diverse views, in peace and love as Jamaicans.
Reggae was once banned in many churches, as some church factions and preachers had referred to it as “ the devil ‘s music”. It attracted crowd away from the church and its ‘sweet’ so to speak. With the introduction of electronic gadgets and drums into the church, and a more radical public relations view to churchism, reggae got its place in some churches and places of worship.
Frankly, some of those old church songs were boring as was, or presented, based on the Anglo-Saxon hand-down. This may have had its merit then for whatever reason or psyche, but many fell asleep in church back then. I sometimes ponder those paintings by famous artists and given great names, of semi-naked women painted in the top or on some wall in some of those olden European churches. It keeps the parishioners awake, I assume or is it just art. And please don’t misunderstand me, as if religion is boring but religion must also keep up with the times. Today, reggae in the church is used to keep the people awake, entertained, mesmerized and energized, while conveying religious message to the believers. I may just add here that some churches still stick to the old routine, while others such as “The Pocomina, Revivalist or some Pentecostal Churches” chiefly uses pure drums and chanting. This is where the drums and chanting it is believed, sometimes lead to spiritual cleansing and inner projection. All these principle mixed together have been used by the local Rastafarians for decades.
In the Rastafar I world, “Jah Selassi I” is the Infinite or term used in reference to GOD. Their place of meeting, worship or “THE BINGI” has always been intertwined with reggae and the drums in whatever form or era, in expressing their religious and political beliefs, to which they have an unquestionable universal right. Hence, Bob Marley and the Marley Clan, Culture, Peter Tosh, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Burning Spear, Jacob “killer” Miller, Beenie Man, Queen Ifrica, Buju Banton, Maxi Priest, Coco Tea, Tarrus Riley, Jah Cure,Turbulance and many other artists, most of whom are Rastafarians or look-alikes, more frequently dominate the reggae scene in terms of volume and popularity locally and internationally.
In the real world of reggae music and international entertainment, The Late Hon. Bob Marley at some point and time was identified or synonymous to reggae and ultimately Jamaica. Bob Marley, Jamaica’s first reggae ambassador-at-large was born in February and so is reggae, officially.
However, other eminent or big names in reggae are not Rastafarians in physical presentation, such as the Grandmaster Beres Hammond or Shaggy, Shabba Ranks, The Infamous Richie Stevens, Sean Paul, Macka Diamond, Ninja Man, Vybz kartel and more.
‘Nuf respec’ to the South African reggae legend Lucky Dube, whom was our musical guest in body and spirit for The 2007 World Cup Cricket. He expanded on reggae across the African Continent and more. Mi bredren, life is a mission. ‘Nuf respec’.
Reggae Competitions held in schools, and other national events such as The Digicel’s Rising Star Contest are used to identify new and upcoming talents in the field such as Chris Martin, Noddy Virtue and the trio group-One Third. If these along with 2007 winner Romain Virgo can organize themselves for a common goal, it’s a lot of talent and the age group is right. How about an annual musical clash or showdown of the best talents from Jamaica-Digicel’s Rising Star and similar talent shows in The Caribbean, America, Canada, Britain and Europe, with a level playingfield like the 100 metres.
This Reggae is embedded into the roots, psyche, blood, culture or way of life of most Jamaicans. It all started, I suppose with those drums. Those African Drums used for communication. Dem hear e but neba wen know a wha. Yah mon. A so mi seet.
Reggae is a product of Jamaica. If its not Jamaican, its imitation. Other Jamaican music has attracted greats such as Jamerican blood Harry Belafonte and Americans such as Roy Hamilton and Johnny Nash.
Now, how can we expand this market to include the Chinese, Arabs, Russians and Indians? That’s a large market.
Congrats to the world’s fastest male and female: Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell, and L. Stanbury for the Reggae Academy. Umpire Steve Bucknor, nuf respec. Somady pinch mi an tel mi seh carnival gwine hot dis yere.
For some cool Jamaican & reggae t-shirts, kindly click on the links below please.
http://www.7jamaica.blogspot.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/hipstrip http://www.zazzle.com/jonbret
http://www.cafepress.com/2007jamaica http://www.cafepress.com/motivat
http://www.cafepress.com/7h2o http://www.cafepress.com/jonbretjamaica
http://www.cafepress.com/jonbrettshirt
Thank You and One Love
