Bob Marley’s Formulas
After a thorough
analysis of scholarly relevant articles pertaining to the popular culture
concepts of formulas, I came to the realization that the music of Bob Marley
is formulaic (formula) in conception. The
definition of formula is a method that establish and brand conventions
(contained an inductor verse and repeated chorus) and inventions
(unpredictable due variability). As
such both factors are integral to Marley’s music.
Rhetorically
speaking, Bob Marley and his music had the uncannily ability to “play with the
audience, draw them in, distance them and draw them in again, building
suspense, sometimes defying and sometimes satisfying their expectations”
(Hodges, 2005). He further went on to articulate that this
due to the fact that the Caribbean, like West Africa, the artistic entreaty of
an argument assurances its legitimacy. In
addition, he stated that conversely, a truth offered without handiness is
hardly the point at all. With all this
said, what are the formulas in Marley’s music?
The formulas in his
music vary (lyrically) from song to song “on one hand”. Conversely, lyrics are conventionally
structured. Of importance are the fact
this music is reggae music, a derivative of rhythm and blues, soul music, rock
and roll, and Jamaican-African polyrhythms (ska and mento) music. From musical dimension, the formulas consist
of instruments (drum and bass guitar), rhythm guitar, keyboard, and
percussions such tambourines and burra drums.
That said, Marley and his Wailers band mates are subject matter expert
on their respective instruments. So
without any lyrics they will put in a “dancing mood”. From lyrical viewpoint, the formula consists
of an abundance of metaphors. Because
of his preacher like charisma, the metaphors in Marley lyrics are very
powerful and will memorize listeners (King & Jensen, 1995). In my opinion, Marley’s personal formulas
consist of the following components: peace, love, energetic, levity,
revolutionary, and determination.
The insight gain
from applying these theories to Bob Marley is that he was well aware of his
talents, insightful in thoughts, and knew quite well what formulas worked for
him. He masterfully executed these
ingredients which enabled him to be the principal popularizer of reggae, his
music, beliefs and religion. Many try
to imitate his recipe for simple language, words and sounds but thus far, they
fail to meet his level of convention and invention. That said, there will never be another Bob
Marley, not in my lifetime.
References
Browne, R. (2005). Profiles of
popular culture. Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press.
Hodges, H. (2005).
Walk good: West indian oratorical traditions in bob marle'ys uprising. Journal
of Commonwealth Literature , 40(2), 43-65. doi: 10.1177/0021989405054305.
ISSN: 0021-9894.
King, S., &
Jensen, R. J. (1995). Bob Marley's "Redemption Song": The Rhetoric
of Reggae and Rastafari. Journal Of Popular Culture, 29(3), 17-36
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