TIL that Bob Marley is basically the poster boy for people who never actually listen to his deeper cuts

Last week I was hanging out with my buddy Dave at his place in Portland, and he put on a Bob Marley playlist. I mentioned how everyone treats him like a saint, but Dave pointed out that 90% of people only know 'Three Little Birds' and 'Buffalo Soldier' and call it a day. He put on 'Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)' and that song hit me different... it's angry, political, not that chill vibe at all. Made me wonder why people ignore his rougher stuff. Anyone else feel like he gets boiled down to a t-shirt slogan more than a real artist?

3 comments

3 Comments

charles8364d ago

...and what's funny is even the songs people think are chill have way darker meanings if you actually listen. "Three Little Birds" isn't just about vibes, it's about surviving through violence and fear in Trenchtown. But nobody wants to think about that when they're buying the coffee mug.

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kimw574d ago

Man that's such a good point, I never really sat with what that song was actually saying before.

jenny1984d ago

Charley's point about "Three Little Birds" is really sticking with me. Are we all just really good at hearing what we want to hear in songs and ignoring the rest? Like, do you think most people genuinely miss the darkness or do they just choose to ignore it because the tune is so good? I wonder if certain genres (reggae, pop, country) get a pass on their heavy lyrics just because the melody is so damn catchy.