# When is enough Bob Marley enough? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 11, 2013, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950 "2013-02-11T06:44:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/1 "2013-02-11T06:44:16Z")
They had another tribute to him on the 2013 Grammys tonight. I like Bob Marley as much as the next person but come on. Haven’t we done that enough. It’s the Grammys, there are hundreds of talented contemporary musicians and singers I would rather see. . ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/2 "2013-02-11T07:25:29Z")
Everyone has had enough Bob Marley by the time they’ve: 1. graduated a four year university 2. been to Jamaica\* \*If you travel to Jamaica as an undergrad, you are eligible to opt out of Bob Marley for your junior and senior years. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/3 "2013-02-11T07:47:16Z")
I’m sorry, my friend, but, there will NEVER be an end to this. I feel for you. But, I have my own troubles. It seems to me as if the Woody Guthrie thing is just getting started, and I had asked your very question 20+ years ago, in re: WG. And few people even know 2 of his songs by name. For somebody who has 3 or more songs that people recognize, e.g., Marley, you may as well say he can go another 30 years before Phase 2 kicks in. I weep bitter tears, and, for you, I shall weep yet more. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/4 "2013-02-11T09:37:09Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > It’s the Grammys, there are hundreds of talented contemporary musicians and singers I would rather see. Was it not contemporary musicians performing this tribute? To say something or other about their influences? ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/5 "2013-02-11T09:49:07Z")
I’m afraid you may be [Waiting in Vain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6NNGVHrqho). Jah Mon! ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/6 "2013-02-11T09:56:23Z")
Ah yes, the Bob Marley phenomenon! Ask anybody if they like Reggae and 99 times out of 100 the answer will be “Oh yeah! I love Reggae. Bob Marley. I Shot the Sheriff” Uh-huh, yeah, well who else do you like? “Uh, uh, uh…Bob Marley”. Ever heard of Toots and the Maytals? Black Uhuru? U Roy? Mutabaruka? The Skatalites? You’ll get a blank stare and some mumbling about Bob Marley…reggae…sheriff…i got a t shirt…poster… I know this is not the forum to rant but it pisses me off that Bob Marley is held up to be the God of Reggae. I’m not knocking his talent. He was a very good musician but there were/are many others who came before and after him who go completely unrecognized because people who claim to know about music don’t know shit, and don’t take the initiative to research the music they claim to love. Now don’t get me started about The Blues. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/7 "2013-02-11T11:32:52Z")
It’s the Grammys. They’re so out of touch, they think a tribute to Bob Marley makes them look relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/8 "2013-02-11T11:43:32Z")
Well, they’re _way_ behind the curve to be doing it in 2013, but maybe acknowledging the influence of Bob Marley in popular music make them a _little_ more relevant than never doing so. Still, point taken–if you’re looking for relevant contemporary music, why are you watching the Grammys? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/9 "2013-02-11T12:00:03Z")
Did the OP not watch the Grammys? They played exactly one Bob Marley song during that tribute. But, hey, let’s stop mentioning his name cuz he’s dead and he gets mentioned a lot. While we’re at it let’s kill all that Beatle noise. And Beethoven? Get over his long dead ass already! ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/10 "2013-02-11T12:17:37Z")
I’d guess they did it because there was a well-received film length documentary about him released last year. I meant to go see it when it was in the cinema but was too busy, so I can’t say myself how good it was… Personally, of the Wailers, I always preferred Bunny Wailer’s solo stuff. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/11 "2013-02-11T12:26:06Z")
Bob Marley is not a phase, to think ‘enough’ is to misunderstand. Don’t get me wrong, it’s ‘nice’ that he and reggae eventually found a market in the US but for most of the rest of the world this has been mainstream since the late 70s. In fact, in my inner city, mulit-cultural experience, Marley is the closest thing to a common musical denominator; whether African, Muslim, Sikh, Caribbean, European, south American, etc - Marley has a place in every culture everywhere. For sure more so than any other musician. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/12 "2013-02-11T14:12:34Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Ah yes, the Bob Marley phenomenon! > > Ask anybody if they like Reggae and 99 times out of 100 the answer will be “Oh yeah! I love Reggae. Bob Marley. I Shot the Sheriff” Uh-huh, yeah, well who else do you like? “Uh, uh, uh…Bob Marley”. Ever heard of Toots and the Maytals? Black Uhuru? U Roy? Mutabaruka? The Skatalites? You’ll get a blank stare and some mumbling about Bob Marley…reggae…sheriff…i got a t shirt…poster.. > > I know this is not the forum to rant but it pisses me off that Bob Marley is held up to be the God of Reggae. I’m not knocking his talent. He was a very good musician but there were/are many others who came before and after him who go completely unrecognized because people who claim to know about music don’t know shit, and don’t take the initiative to research the music they claim to love. > > Now don’t get me started about The Blues. 😉 Yep. I love Marley and think he did wonderful things musically and culturally, but there is so much more. His music (well, the 4 songs they play over and over) has really been marginalized. Anecdote: I used to go to a lot of reggae shows in Detroit and always had a wonderful time. Good people, good vibes. The Wailers recently played a show in Knoxville and the crowd was so obnoxious we left (think drunken frat boys with tribal tattoos). Saw them again in Key West, same thing (think more drunken wanna be bikers). ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/13 "2013-02-11T15:30:48Z")
Stop being willfully provocative, you’re just trying to stir it up. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/14 "2013-02-11T16:06:23Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Now don’t get me started about The Blues. 😉 OMG the blues. I loooove Eric Clapton. Do ya wanna see my t-shirt? ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/15 "2013-02-11T16:09:37Z")
Sophomore year. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/16 "2013-02-11T16:31:28Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > Bob Marley is not a phase, to think ‘enough’ is to misunderstand. Don’t get me wrong, it’s ‘nice’ that he and reggae eventually found a market in the US but for most of the rest of the world this has been mainstream since the late 70s. > > In fact, in my inner city, mulit-cultural experience, Marley is the closest thing to a common musical denominator; whether African, Muslim, Sikh, Caribbean, European, south American, etc - Marley has a place in every culture everywhere. For sure more so than any other musician. Are you under the impression that the popularity of Bob Marley is only a recent phenomena in the US? ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/17 "2013-02-11T16:35:49Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > OMG the blues. I loooove Eric Clapton. Do ya wanna see my t-shirt? Who’s that? I didn’t know there was anybody other than The Blues Traveler. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/18 "2013-02-11T16:40:19Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Stop being willfully provocative, you’re just trying to stir it up. I thought I was waiting in vain for a good pun… ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/19 "2013-02-11T16:48:28Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > OMG the blues. I loooove Eric Clapton. Do ya wanna see my t-shirt? The difference is that Bob Marley really was a pioneer in reggae. He didn’t invent it, and he’s certainly not the only crucial exponent of the form–but he _was_ there at the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/20 "2013-02-11T17:19:28Z")
Bob Marley was in the right place at the right time. So was Ravi Shankar, but we rarely have to hear Indian music tributes. So were the early Beatles, but I don’t think anyone is clambering for any new “Liverpool” sound. I sort of feel bad for the kids in Jamaica. I saw a documentary awhile back that showed lots and lots of kids, all wanting to be the “new Bob Marley”. I guess no one has informed them that the rest of the world has a sort of “been there, done that” attitude and it is probably not something you should strive to achieve for world wide fame. How about we send some emails to Korea, just to ensure there are no kids working hard to perfect the next gangnam style world-wide hit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950.md?page=2)