# 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:** 3
**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 12, 2013, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/41 "2013-02-12T11:30:07Z")
Perhaps he’s condescending enough to remind of of [non-Marley reggae classic.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ArtQku7QBI) Not unlike this [non-Rodgers and Hammerstein classic show tune.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGBw8jS3sMw) ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/42 "2013-02-12T14:18:37Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > No. It just takes a very Eurocentric way of thinking to say that Bob Marley does not compare to the Beatles. Especially if you wander into the more darker side of town you’d be hard pressed to find one person who can sing you a Beatles tune but will know Bob Marley minutia. > > This is not to say that The Beatles aren’t great. They are one of the greatest rock bands ever. Bob Marley is one of the greatest reggae artists ever. To say he doesn’t compare is to be very, very white. I didn’t know that melanin was so important in music appreciation. I imagine that people from Melanesia o Papua will also appreciate Bob Marley simply because of the light-reflecting characteristics of their skin. I tell you one thing, at least where I live, in the darker side of town you’ll find 100 people who recognise 20 Beatles song from every one that recognises 20 Marley ones. Heck, I’ll change Beatles for ABBA and it’s still 100 to 1. Marley is the only face of reggae for people not actively into it. Then UB40 and “Don’t worry be Happy”, unless you really like reggae anyone else is basically invisible (Ziggy Marley maybe because of the name) ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/43 "2013-02-12T15:34:07Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > The problem with Bob Marley is that there is no #2. Reaggae (for 95%) is Bob Marley (and a few songs: Sheriff, No Woman, Redemption, Buffalo, Jammin) and maybe a local band. For every 100 people who know marley maybe one knows that Tosh. That’s a pretty good point. To listen to reggae beyond Marley takes some effort for the average listener. Jimmy Cliff would probably be up there (did some movies, in a recent commercial). Peter Tosh gained some fame doing a duet with Jagger, but that was a while ago. Sly & Robbie were the rhythm section on a ton of stuff, but probably unknown to most. Toots should be better known. One thing that compounds this is reggae has a lot of one hit wonders, especially in the dancehall genre. Multiple people record their vocals over the same “riddims.” Sean Paul had a huge hit with Get Busy, but that was just his vocals over the Diwali Riddim. People like Beenie Man, TOK, Buju, Elephant Man, all had songs over the same backing track (can we agree that dancehall artists have the best names). ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/44 "2013-02-12T17:20:26Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Perhaps he’s condescending enough to remind of of [non-Marley reggae classic.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ArtQku7QBI) > > Not unlike this [non-Rodgers and Hammerstein classic show tune.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGBw8jS3sMw) The irony of using a clip of Garrett Morris as an example. Superb. [Garrett Morris on race on SNL and over the arc of his career.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHNzrOMnKbg). Seems relevant. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/45 "2013-02-12T19:01:14Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Anecdote: I used to go to a lot of reggae shows in Detroit and always had a wonderful time. Good people, good vibes. Yeah, as long as you’re not gay. The insane level of homophobia in the reggae/dancehall scene has kind of made me less excited about the music in general. Though I will say that any reggae-related thread that doesn’t mention Lee “Scratch” Perry is missing a huge chunk of the history. I always enjoyed the dub stuff the most, personally. Throw on some Dr. Alimantado or Scientist and I’m having a good time. ---
**Author:** ![EMCEE\_98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@EMCEE\_98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EMCEE_98)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/46 "2013-02-12T19:42:23Z")
Next door neighbor in the dorms my freshman year of college had Bob Marley’s Greatest Hits on CD. Him play dat bombaclat ting ERY. FREAKING. DAY, MON. After about a month’s worth of “Buffalo Soldier” and “Stir It Up” AD NAUSEUM, I finally waited until he wasn’t looking, snatched the disc out of his sound system, and shattered it. I guess that was when I’d had enough Bob Marley. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/47 "2013-02-12T20:23:24Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Yeah, as long as you’re not gay. The insane level of homophobia in the reggae/dancehall scene has kind of made me less excited about the music in general. Though I will say that any reggae-related thread that doesn’t mention Lee “Scratch” Perry is missing a huge chunk of the history. > > I always enjoyed the dub stuff the most, personally. Throw on some Dr. Alimantado or Scientist and I’m having a good time. Well, this is more about Marley’s popularity than a history of reggae, but Lee Scratch Perry is mentioned in post #21. While dancehall has a deserved reputation regarding homophobia (Boom Boom Bye, Chi Chi Man, etc.), I was not under the impression a gay person would have been bothered or even noticed at the shows I was talking about. I’m not sure if Detroit or Kingston is more dangerous, but Detroit is definitely safer for gays 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/48 "2013-02-12T20:45:14Z")
You’re right - I missed the L"S"P mention. I realize it’s not about the history of reggae, but as long as people are tossing out names, just thought he deserved to be on the list. I’m sure most performers don’t go out of their way to bring up homophobia at live shows, but my gay music geek friends are definitely aware of the culture and would feel uncomfortable supporting the bands. Also, from everything I’ve heard, Kingston is _way_ more dangerous than Detroit. ---
**Author:** ![Condescending\_Robot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a183cd/32.png) [@Condescending\_Robot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Condescending_Robot)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/49 "2013-02-12T22:23:26Z")
Jamaica is a horrible, horrible place, though that’s a combined effort between the traditional Christians and the reggae culture/Rastas. They all do their part to make what’s already the shithole of the English-speaking world ten times worse for sexual minorities. Lots of blame to go around. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/50 "2013-02-12T23:11:48Z")
> [@Condescending\_Robot](#): > > Jamaica is a horrible, horrible place, though that’s a combined effort between the traditional Christians and the reggae culture/Rastas. They all do their part to make what’s already the shithole of the English-speaking world ten times worse for sexual minorities. Lots of blame to go around. The thread is about Bob Marley and reggae music, not your opinion of Jamaica. This is a formal warning: what you are doing here (and in many other discussions) is threadshitting. You need to stop this behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Condescending\_Robot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a183cd/32.png) [@Condescending\_Robot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Condescending_Robot)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/51 "2013-02-13T01:25:04Z")
Uh, I’m responding to the issue of homophobia in reggae music. Are you just going to (continue to) follow me around the boards finding nonsense to hound me about because I disagree with you about the President, or what? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/52 "2013-02-13T01:26:14Z")
Complaints about moderation go in ATMB, **Condescending Robot**. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/53 "2013-02-13T03:01:50Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > It just takes a very Eurocentric way of thinking to say that Bob Marley does not compare to the Beatles. Especially if you wander into the more darker side of town you’d be hard pressed to find one person who can sing you a Beatles tune but will know Bob Marley minutia. > [@PlainJain](#): > > That’s ridiculous. I suppose the point was lost on you that many of my favorite artists are black. My skin color has no bearing on my ability to appreciate music. Take your racist bullshit elsewhere please. If you haven’t already: drop this now, please. This is about musical taste, and you can discuss someone’s tastes or frame of reference without bringing Eurocentrism into it and suggesting a poster’s knowledge is limited for reasons related to race. And calling other posters racist is strongly discouraged. ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/54 "2013-02-13T17:26:29Z")
Apparently there is something to popular culture. Too much Bob Marley? I hardly hear any Bob Marley. Should I be listening to top-40? Where is there an over-abundance of marley or reggae in general for that matter? re Toots and the maytals Does anyone recall - I think they opened for the Who in their '74 US tour ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/55 "2013-02-13T18:34:27Z")
> [@Condescending\_Robot](#): > > Uh, I’m responding to the issue of homophobia in reggae music… Hey…no woman, no cry. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/56 "2013-02-13T20:02:40Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Not unlike this [non-Rodgers and Hammerstein classic show tune.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGBw8jS3sMw) Amusingly ironic. SNL had a retrospective a couple weeks ago talking about the first 5 years of the show. In it, they showed that clip and had Garrett Morris describe his motivations for that sketch. He described that he was watching some game show that had audience members show off their talents, and one episide had some 80 year old white lady on to play piano and sing. And she burst out in song with: “I’m gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the niggers I see”. At which point the show went to commercial. But he was influenced by the kind of hate she had. So that sketch was him subverting that exact experience. Notice the rhythm of the song is the exact same: “I’m gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the whiteys I see”. It was copied directly. Now the Eddie Murphy bit, that seems more relevant. ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/57 "2013-02-13T20:12:58Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Who’s that? I didn’t know there was anybody other than The Blues Traveler. Well, you’re forgetting about the band that invented the blues: Led Zeppelin. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/58 "2013-02-13T21:23:30Z")
> [@MrSquishy](#): > > Well, you’re forgetting about the band that invented the blues: Led Zeppelin. It always amazed me how 4 white guys from England could sound like they were Mississippi blues singers. Back to Marley, one of his problems is that he was Jimmy Buffet-ized by the masses. Never mind culture, message, whatever. He is now remedial pool/beach/outdoor drinking music. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/59 "2013-02-13T22:13:15Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Back to Marley, one of his problems is that he was Jimmy Buffet-ized by the masses. Never mind culture, message, whatever. He is now remedial pool/beach/outdoor drinking music. Yes, you can directly measure the degree to which a social message has been watered down by frequency of sing-a-longs at fraternity keg parties. I’m guilty of being one of the “Bob Marley and…um…Madness? No wait, that’s ska, …umm…” crowd. I’ve heard a lot of other reggae artists however, live shows, collections, etc, but it all sounds like it is only mimicking/celebrating Marley’s style and not bringing anything new to the table as far as a distinct identity is concerned. Once you deviate from the formulaic beat and accent (often just as contrived as the obligatory country music accent) it ceases to identify as ‘reggae’ with me. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are sub-genres like reggae-core, memphis-reggae, goth-reggae, reggadelica, and regstep that I’m otherwise unaware of. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950/60 "2013-02-13T22:43:46Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > It always amazed me how 4 white guys from England could sound like they were Mississippi blues singers. I’ve never heard a Mississippi blues singer that sounded much like Robert Plant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-enough-bob-marley-enough/649950.md?page=4)