The Sound of Reggae

I grew up with 2 brothers and 3 cousins. We all grew up around the same house, listened to the same songs, ate the same food and watched the same movies. But there was one thing different about me. One thing I felt as if I should keep to myself. I listened to old school reggae, or  “Lover’s Rock”. My mom always used to listen to it on weekends when I was a child, and it never bothered me like it bothered my siblings. They always like the new dancehall and hip-hop songs. I got so used to the old school reggae I started downloading them  on my ipod. I hated sharing my ipod! I was afraid that I would get teased. But I always had the latest dancehall songs. I remember one time Lisa ask me to play my ipod at her party until the dj came: “Tif, leme borrow your ipod…dam you gotta lotta nice dancehall songs but you got mad old ass reggae!” I felt some type of way of course but that never stopped me. Even at the bbqs they would play the lover’s rock and I’ll be the only young one jamming to it. And I hear “What you know about this Tif?” Well obviously a lot.

I still listen to it every day. My cousins and bothers barley listen to reggae anymore. I have the latest Dancehall, old dancehall, really really old dancehall and reggae, it’s ridiculous. But not only do I listen to reggae a lot, I fantasize about being in Jamaica. It’s something about that place that makes me feel as if “everythings irie” even though I know the situation over there. Sometimes I wish time hadn’t take over my family’s traditions (although we still we follow some), and I think that’s why I listen to old school reggae a lot; it brings back a lot of memories. I love everything about Jamaican culture. I love the food, the island,  the people, the flag, the accents, and of course I love the music. And people ask me why I listen to reggae so much and my parents don’t even listen to it like I do. I say: The music represents who I am, it represent my culture, my family and Jamaica.

If there was one song I could play that symbolizes my memories, it would be “Can you play some more” by Beres Hammond ft. Buju Banton:

This is the first verse (I tried to translate it)

Without di dancehall, a whe we woulda do (without dancehall, what we would have done)
Reggae muzik call, you must ansa to (reggae music call, you must answer to)
Wine up, jump up, when you hear sweet reggae
Buju Banton, Beres Hammond a fi tell dem go deh(buju banton and beres hammond have to tell them go there)

Everyone a do di dance weh dem love (every body’s doing the dance that they love)
In dis yah dancehall no form a grudge (in this dancehall don’t form no grudge)
Greet everyone dat enter wit a hug (greet everone that enter with a hug)
Come spread out and listen to some sweet rubba-dub