# Ska. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 22, 2000, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225 "2000-11-22T02:34:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sk8rixtx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@sk8rixtx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sk8rixtx)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/1 "2000-11-22T02:34:16Z")
Okay, a few certain people in IRC have no clue what they are talking about when it comes to ska. Apparently people have very different views of what ska is. Define ska. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/2 "2000-11-22T02:44:32Z")
Hard to “define”, but I like it! (Since I’m a coffee addict, I like 7 Minds’ _Coffee_ :)) ---
**Author:** ![sk8rixtx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@sk8rixtx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sk8rixtx)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/3 "2000-11-22T02:47:48Z")
Okay, since its hard to define it. Tell me your opinion of what ska sounds like. Instruments involved and that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/4 "2000-11-22T03:05:12Z")
When I hear the word ska, I think of horns and some guitar. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/5 "2000-11-22T03:33:19Z")
It doesn’t matter what instruments are in it. I can do metal with a cello and a beer bottle. I can do classical with an electric guitar. It’s the beat. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/6 "2000-11-22T03:59:42Z")
Well, I think the point he’s trying to make is the real “ska” which is carribean, and kind of jazzy (if I’m not mistaken), and current popular “ska” which only has a few characteristics of the real ska. Jman ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/7 "2000-11-22T04:04:13Z")
Ska encompasses a lot. And I am willing to accept that some stuff that I personally don’t like (some of the new lets-make-a-punk-ska-bands, for example) I am partial to the older ‘first wave’ ska bands, as long as they stay away from too much raggae sounds. But there are some third wave bands that I enjoy as well, such as Hepcat, Let’s go Bowling, and Punch the Clown. But it bugs me to no end when people think that ska entirely third-wave punk-ska hybrids. There are lots of people who claim to love ska that couldn’t even tell you that ska originated in Jamaica. They don’t know anything about ska’s long and rich history. I’m okay with where ska is now, but it is a lot more than what many people believe. That said, I am sad that after the fad went away, the old bands that were there before ska became hip went away, too. There are far less ska shows now than there were before ska became so popular. It sucks that a trend can kill a genre, especially one I like so much. Stay Rude. ---
**Author:** ![Earthman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9dc877/32.png) [@Earthman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/8 "2000-11-22T04:19:18Z")
I’m interested in learning about just what Ska is, but to be honest, some of us just have no musical aptitude whatsoever. I love music, but I am a **listener** - I have trouble playing the radio. Can you give some examples of specific bands and/or songs? The only one I am sure of is No Doubt - and after reading the above posts, I’m not very sure about that, anymore. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/9 "2000-11-22T05:49:30Z")
Bands like No Doubt and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are Ska-influenced, but are definitely not ska. earthman, one song that you might recognize (it was fairly popular at the time (early 80s), and you still hear it in oddball places here and there) is the **Madness** song _One Step Beyond_. Listen to a clip of it [on this page](http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=511045610/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/album.html/ArtistID=MADNESS/ITEMID=1286257) Now, I don’t claim to be a ska-lor (everybody groan now) but I do know a little. Some good stuff (IMO): **older stuff** (it all starts in Jamaica): **Desmond Dekker**. Many consider him to be the grandpappy of ska, his career began in Jamaica the early 60s. He has at least one greatest hits comp. **The Skatelites**. according to their official webpage, they started in 1964. Traditional good old school ska. (check out more here: [http://www.skatalites.com/](http://www.skatalites.com/) ) **2nd wave** (came in the very late 70s and early 80s – mostly from England. Also sometimes referred to as “2-tone”) **The Specials, The Toasters, Madness** , etc. **Third Wave** is the new stuff, some of which incorporates punk. I dont care for the punky shit too much, but there are a few good current bands worth checking out, namely **Hepcat** and **The Slackers**. Some other new stuff includes Less Than Jake, Skankin Pickle, The Pietasters. and lots more I’m probably not thinking of. Also, I need to give props to some friends of mine who have toured around the northeast, **the B-3s**. Hell of a good group of folks, check out more here: [http://www.b-3s.com](http://www.b-3s.com) Like I said above–I know a tad, but I’m no expert. Here’s an open invitation for someone with a degree in ska to come in here and slap me around if I have any of this wrong. ---
**Author:** ![TomH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@TomH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TomH)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/10 "2000-11-22T11:18:57Z")
If reggae is characterised by an off-beat bass, ska is characterised by an off-beat “click” or other higher-pitched sound. _One Step Beyond_, linked to by mouthbreather, is an excellent example, as is most early Madness. [QUOTE] 2nd wave (came in the very late 70s and early 80s – mostly from England. Also sometimes referred to as “2-tone”) [QUOTE] 2-Tone was the name of the record label on which bands like the Specials, Madness and the Selecter were released. I believe the name was chosen to reflect the fact that many of the bands had both black and white members, which was unusual in those days. ---
**Author:** ![Serendipity28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@Serendipity28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serendipity28)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/11 "2000-11-22T12:38:03Z")
Swedish porn star? ---
**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/12 "2000-11-22T13:12:26Z")
A lot of ska started in the early to mid 50’s, but it all sucked (IMHO). Now a days ‘Ska’ doesn’t really have any certain feel to it, besides that up-pause-beat so common to the guitars and the fact that they employ a horn section. Just look at some of the common bands (considered Ska) who are playing and compare their styles: the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Rancid, the Pietasters, Fishbone, Sublime, Less Than Jake, No Doubt (who now sound like a female Smashing Pumpkins), Save Ferris, Reel Big Fish, etc… what do they all have in commmon? PUNK snot dead, broccoli! ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/13 "2000-11-22T13:43:30Z")
You’ve all given examples of what bands you think are Ska …but no one has said what it is…here goes. The quick answer is this. Ska is White Reggae. ---
**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/14 "2000-11-22T13:49:44Z")
Jimmy: I didn’t say I thought those bands were Ska. I said the general public does. And I agree on the reggae, but i’d say punk reggae, not white reggae. I know too many people of all different colors who can’t stand Ska (I like it.) punk snot dead, broccoli! ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/15 "2000-11-22T13:51:40Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by oldscratch_ > **I can do metal with a cello and a beer bottle** Hmm. I would probably pay to see that. 😉 Ska: The Toasters, The Specials, The Skatalites, The Agents (local Providence area band). ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/16 "2000-11-22T14:12:30Z")
The second wave of Ska started in the UK around about the time that Punk broke. DJ’s didn’t have enough Punk records to fill out a full set, so they played old Reggae tracks to fill in. The mutual interests of both forms started to meld, and as such, a renewed interest in first wave Ska came about. As a result, bands like The Selector, The Specials and Madness formed, followed by bands such as Bad Manners (Lip up fatty!) a few years later. ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/17 "2000-11-22T18:26:17Z")
Leave it to Twisty to **really** explain Ska. Good job. I remember Punk coming into it’s own around 75-76. Did Ska appear about then too? **Broccoli** True. Punk Reggae is more accurate. Since most punk bands are white, I still get half points though, right? I’m trying to think of a non-white Punk band…is there any? I’m drawing a blank. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/18 "2000-11-22T18:29:46Z")
Bad Brains is probably the most famous black punk rock band. ---
**Author:** ![JosephFinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JosephFinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JosephFinn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/19 "2000-11-22T18:48:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JimmyNipples \* > \*\*You’ve all given examples of what bands you think are Ska …but no one has said what it is…here goes. > The quick answer is this. Ska is White Reggae. \*\* Ummmm…perhaps you should look at the makeup of The Skatalites, The Specials and Fishbone before making such a statement. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225/20 "2000-11-22T19:12:32Z")
From [Encylopædia Britannica](http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/8/0,5716,130158+1+118222,00.html): > [@](#): > > **ska** > Jamaica’s first indigenous urban pop style. > > Pioneered by the operators of powerful mobile discos called sound systems, ska evolved in the late 1950s from an early Jamaican form of rhythm and blues that emulated American rhythm and blues, especially that produced in New Orleans, Louisiana. A new beat emerged that mixed the shuffling rhythm of American pianist Rosco Gordon with Caribbean folk influences, most notably the mambo of Cuba and the mento, a Jamaican dance music that provided the new music’s core rhythm. The boogie-woogie piano vamp characteristic of New Orleans-style rhythm and blues was simulated by a guitar chop on the offbeat and onomatopoeically became known as ska. The beat was made more locomotive by the horns, saxophones, trumpet, trombone, and piano that played the same riff on the offbeat. All the while the drums kept a 4/4 beat with bass drum accents on the second and fourth beats. EB also mentions four “waves” of ska: Jamaica, early 1960s, e.g. Desmond Dekker and the Aces England, 1970s, e.g. Selector or The Specials USA mid-1980s, e.g. General Public USA mid-1990s, e.g. Sublime, No Doubt I’m not so sure I agree with the examples they give for the “fourth wave”. I think that a band such as Voodoo Glow Skulls would be a better example. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ska/42225.md?page=2)