Bob Marley

 Hello, well this is one is directly from the heart. Not only because this post is dedicated to one of the greatest musicians out there, but also because he has been one of the greatest influences to me as a person and I guess to all mankind, too. So here it is, my dedication to our “Soul brother”, Robert Nesta Marley.

So here he is, the guy about whom everyone is still talking. The only performer out there who really got into me along Micheal Jackson (about him later). Writing this post, I was really wandering what I was going to write about, considering the fact that everything you could possible think of regarding “Bob” has already been written, shot and published. However still have a moral and personal obligation to contribute to the memory of this great enlightened figure which is Bob Marley.

So my first encounter with his music was in my deep childhood, close to the year I started going to school in Cameroon, Limbe. My Dad used to wake me and my brother in the mornings for breakfast and prepare us for school. While having breakfast with us he used to play a lot of reggae music ranging from other greats like Lucky Dube, Alpha Blondy, but when it came to Bob Marley, placing the Tape (that's right those were the days of tape recorders), my Dad would always say “listen carefully children, it's Great Bob singing”. Needless to say, we both (I and my brother, Fred) listened with the outermost attention. I remind you that my family was some sort of a dictatorship where my dad was head dictator.
:-)

So back to that first encounter with Bob's music. The first song I remember distinctly listening to was “Buffalo Soldier”, still have a really nostalgic feeling the minute I listen to it. Remember my Dad, Africa and all childhood in fact. But of course we are not here to talk about that, so let's move on.

This is exactly how I perceive Africa today and that's sad...

Growing up, although dead, Bob was still a popular figure and to speak honestly, I think he was even more popular than when I was first listening to him. I think it's when I reached secondary school that all the ideas behind Bob's music really started kicking into my mind. And it's then that the perception of the world I used to have started changing. Not only due to the fact that I was listening to Bob of course, nut I guess it was the combination of this and the fact that I was living in Cameroon back then. Consequently, I was constantly surrounded by poverty, lack of infrastructure and facilities, as well as the sheer difference in wealth among the population. Indeed being from a wealthy family, this difference in classes and all the negativity you can get from it was even more drastically felt by me. Though I was on the “well off” side of the balance, being a witness to all this poverty made me sick and full of frustration.

So all we had left (I mean the unsatisfied youth of our time), was to listen to this kind of music and at least think in the right direction. It helped, but let's admit it, it isn't really enough to change the world and that's a pity. Recently there was a release of a biographical documentary which speaks about the life and of course tragic death of Bob entitled “Marley”. If you didn't watch it, well here is the poster and trailer to this movie, hope it will be informative.

Marley the movie.php

I for one thing, thanks to this movie, reckoned some interesting facts connected to Bob, some of them are presented in the link below:

Interesting facts on Bob Marley

So, that's it guys I really hope this article gave you a bigger idea of who I am and what moves me to write this blog and change the perception of the world people have today. One more thing, since Bob Marley is all about the music wanted to give you guys a Live performance of the song “Crazy Baldheads”, a song which I consider the best in Bob's discography. Hope you enjoy it.

And to conclude as for all artists, here are 7 songs of Bob which stand out for me. Waiting for your feedback on this, it will be much appreciated

• Crazy Baldheads
• Rebel Music
• Crisis
• Redemption Song
• Rat Race
• Roots, Rock, Reggae
• Kinky Reggae

If you are interested in more music reviews posted by me go to this link: Music

And if you aren't yet tired of reading this post, here have a look at this interview with Bob, real "Rasta"!!! Peace, Love & Unity.