Using one rhythm to create many songs is a popular practice in Jamaica. They call it ‘ride the rhythm’.
Here is an example of the original from producer Arif Cooper. It is a haunting rhythm called “Guardian Angel”.
Then Alaine Laughton does Rise in Love with the same rhythm.
And from my last post, Richie Spice does World is a cycle. Richie and Alaine take the original rhythm and make it there own. Sometimes they make complete albums out of one rhythm. Every song a different artist. I am not sure how many artist made “Guardian Angel” their song.
Went to hear Jahgape last night at Yabo’s Restaurant/Bar in Fort Myers. It is a local reggae band. First time I hear them they played a mean Richie Spice. The singer def had a spice voice. It was exciting to hear some old school reggae. So now I am spiced up to post about Richie Spice.
Richie Spice, aka Richell Bonner, is a member of the Rastafarian Movement. Referred to as “prince of fire”, Spice uses culturally uplifting, spiritually fortified words to defeat what he conciders the negative content that informs much of popular (Jamaican) music.
The first song is “Gideon Boot”. This is what Richie’s website says about this song.
“In the Old Testament’s Book of Judges Gideon led Israel to victory over the Midianites, who dwelled in the southeast of Palestine, with a small army equipped with only trumpets, lit torches and jars to conceal the torches’ flames. Following Gideon’s instructions, his three hundred soldiers blew their trumpets and smashed their jars as they shouted “a sword for the Lord, a sword for Gideon”. With that, the tens of thousands of Midianite troops fled in fear.”
“I need a Gideon boot and a khaki suit to stand out inna Babylon and defend the truth/ I got a strong reggae beat with a mic in my hand fe lead out de youth dem outta destruction and let de people know right from wrong.”
Living in love is one of my favorites. Conscious Reggae, Let’s stick together, cross over the river, We got to live like sisters and brothers, Only true love can save the world, let our lights shine brighter.
This next video is Babylon Falling. Quoted from Spice’s website, “The traditional Rastafarian Nyabinghi drumming that dominates the opening cut “Babylon Falling” heralds the seriousness of Spice’s musical mission.”
World is a cycle is sung over producer Arif Cooper’s haunting “Guardian Angel” rhythm, is, as Spice explains on his website, “a song for the children and for the parents saying be careful because what you do can fall right back on you and your kids.”
Let go, live like ya wanna, let yesterday burn an throw in a fire, live like a warrior.~ Matisyahu
Lyrics:
Feel like the world don’t love you
They only want to push you away
Some days people don’t see you
You feel like you’re in the way
Today you feel, as if everyone hates
Pointing their fingers, looking at your mistakes
You do good, they want great
No matter what you give they stilll want to take
Give your love and they throw it back
You give your heart they go on attack
When there’s nothing left for you,
Only thing that you can do, SAYYYYYY
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Fight like a Warrior,
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Live like a Warrior
Some things you should let go, there only gonna pull you down,
Just like weight on your shoulder they are only gonna make you drown
We all swing high, we all swing low,
We all got secrets people don’t know
We all got dreams we can’t let go,
We want to brave, Don’t be afraid
OHHHHHH
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Fight like a Warrior,
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Live like a Warrior
Your heart is too heavy from things you carry a long time,
You been up you been down, tired and you don’t know why,
But you’re never gonna go back, you only live one life
Let go, let go, let goooooo, Let go, let go, let goooooo,
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Fight like a Warrior,
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Live like a Warrior
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Fight like a Warrior,
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Live like a Warrior
Matisyahu is a Jewish American Reggae/ Alternative Rock artist who recently cut his beard, dyed his hair blond and took off his skull cap (yarmulka).
Wow! It says his career started in 2000. Where have I been for the last 12 years? I have been in a conventional life bubble since 2003. That is the year I started working in the dentist office doing office stuff. They called me the office manager. I felt like I was playing office.
It was fun but yet fucked up. A type of time warp. I was answering to Doctors and patients. No more reggae store, no more children store. No more working for myself. We partied after hours, I threw my partners clothes in the back of his truck and started working out in the gym regular. I got skinny and single. Then a long journey back to forgiveness and togetherness.
Then 2005 I took a journey state-side for my children and the time warp spiraled deeper.
Rastaman Chant was not even in my world till I started drumming. Sanibel Causeway, ocean, waves and drums, the year is 2011. Sam and his baby momma sang it and I fell in love with the song.
Bob Marley sang it with soul, heart and love. A song 100% his. Or so I thought. Tonight I see this Matisyahu person sing and I fell in love with it in a different way. I think Bob would feel alright rocking to Matisyahu singing his song. I think, really, he would be irie if anyone sang his songs with love in their heart. That was Bob Marley’s message all ways. One Love, One Heart. Lets get together and feel alright.
Listening to Bob or Matisyahu, I feel my heart expand.
This is video of Bob Marley rehearsing in 1980. Bob passed May 11th, 1981.
Forever Loving Jah was from the Uprising Album put out in 1980. It was his last studio release and his most religious.
Wo-o-o-o! Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya! Woy-oh!
Yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah! Oh!
(We’ll be forever loving Jah;
We’ll be forever loving Jah!)
Some they say see them walking up the street;
They say we’re going wrong to all the people we meet;
But-a we won’t worry, we won’t shed no tears:
We found a way to cast away the fears,
Forever, yeah!
(We’ll be forever loving Jah) We’ll be forever!
(We’ll be forever loving Jah) Forever, yes, and forever!
(We’ll be forever loving Jah) There’ll be no end.
So, old man river, don’t cry for me;
A-have got a running stream of love you see.
So, no matter what stages – oh stages -
Stages – stages they put us through,
We’ll never be blue
No matter what rages, oh rages,
Changes – rages they put us through,
We’ll never be blue:
We’ll be forever, yeah!
(We’ll be forever loving Jah) We’ll be forever!
(We’ll be forever loving Jah) Forever, and ever, yes, and forever!
(We’ll be forever loving Jah) ‘Cause there is no end.
‘Cause only a fool lean upon -
Lean upon his own misunderstanding, oh ho, oh, yeah!
And then what has been hidden
From the wise and the prudent
Been revealed to the babe and the suckling
In everyt’ing, in every way, I say, yeah!
(We’ll be forever loving Jah) We’ll be forever!
(We’ll be forever loving Jah)
‘Cause just like a tree planted – planted by the rivers of water
That bringeth forth fruits – bringeth forth fruits in due season;
Everything in life got its purpose,
Find its reason in every season,
Forever, yeah!
(We’ll be forever loving Jah) We’ll be forever!
(We’ll be forever loving Jah) On and on and on!
(We’ll be forever loving Jah) We’ll be forever, yes, yes -
we’ll be forever.
(We’ll be forever loving Jah)
