The Police vs. Bob Marley

[georgygirl]

Oups, well, since 'Let´s your soul be your pilot, I buy no more Sting's records...

[gezellig]

I agree that you can't really compare the two as The Police were never a reggae band no more than say The Clash were. Bob Marley & The Wailers made some top rocksteady tunes and pretty much define roots reggae, but The Police were a punk band with the many influences as stated. I prefer my mate's take on this argument - he only allows The Police or BMW to be played in his car. That sums it up for me.

Wait and See. Why after owning all of BMW's albums do you no longer? That's the bit that worries me. Replace them tout suite!

Rgds
G~

[Ska Man]

Before I give my opinion I would like to say that I have the utmost respect for Jose & his comments regarding Adam 1516 remarks about Bob Marley. Thank You Jose thank you very much. I am Black British (born). From African & Jamaican Parentage and I now live in Canada so I have a very intimate relationship with Canadian, British, Jamaican and West African culture. To compare Bob Marley with The Police is an inevitable analysis, however to think for one moment that THE POLICE took Reggae to another level or that they are better than Bob is absurd in my culture & opinion. It’s so absurd that all I can say is thank you Jose. Reggae was developed by Bob Marley (1970-71). Bob began his singing career singing Ska (1960-67) (Man In A Suitcase) when that sound slowed down Rock Steady became the new sound (1967-1971 (Bring on the Night) and then Reggae was born 1971( The Beds To Big) or so with Catch a Fire. I think what Adam 1516 wants to really say is that The Police owe some of there success to Bob Marley & The Wailers & I also believe he wants to thank Jamaicans for this intoxicating rhythm we call Reggae. I also believe that The Police would probably thank the Barrett brothers Aston and Carlton. Bass and Drums respectively for showing the Police & the rest of the world how to play Reggae Music. Adam please remember that Bob is not the only International Reggae artist he is the most popular and there is a reason for that. I will say that Long before The Police Bob was dealing with Ska, Rock Steady and eventually Reggae. The Police are my all time favorite band & the reason why I play drums (Stewart Copeland) that’s why I am here. However like your comments suggest a lot of people will take offence to your remarks. I am one of them not so much because of your remarks but because you have not analyzed this argument... Please do some research analysis to understand the significance of what Bob meant to Reggae Music, The world, World Peace the unification of people in sufferation. & Africans home and abroad. Remember Bob is a voice for the oppressed & Reggae is a music for the oppressed (social political thought) that’s why THE POLICE would have such a song ONE WORLD (social political thought). But most importantly THE POLICE did not influence Bob The Police borrowed a sound and treated it with the utmost respect for the cultures they borrowed from & that’s another reason why they are successful. Adam1516 this is what creates divide. There are many other issues that your comments could be directed to which would bring a much more heated debate. Also Stewart had the aid of echoes and reverb to enhance his sound a practice that was very popular in DUB (a hybrid of Reggae music) music in the mid 70’s.
1 lUVE
RESPECT

[Rusty James]

I'm in the midst of reading Andy Summers book "One Train Later" and ironically I am on the page where Andy is explaining how The Police adapted the reggae sounds of Bob Marley into their own sound. Andy states that it was Stewart lending Sting his Marley albums that was the catalyst for this change from their earlier play it as bloody loud and fast as you can punk rock to the spawning of one of the most notorious Police songs ever "Roxanne" followed up by "Can't Stand Losing You". Their sound is a colourful mix of influences that I have heard called many things including the likes of "honkey reggae" and "ska". I just have to take this time to acknowledge one of my favourite reggae bands "Steel Pulse". If ever you need a dose of some great reggae, check these guys out. So, only a matter of WEEKS until the world tour launches from my home town of Vancouver friends........IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME!

[Divemistress of the Dark]

I dig Marley (and spent some time in Jamaica last summer buying reggae CDs from the locals), but I have to tell you that to my ears, there's a lot of African influence going on still. Steel Pulse is great in concert, I can tell you that...but so is Femi Kuti, a Nigerian whose father Fela was one of the great voices in the world music movement for many years.

Try some, you might like it, is my advice. There's also a lot of great Central and South American music that shares some converging influences with reggae...there's a record label called Stonetree in Belize putting out Andy Palacio, Paranda and other amazing stuff.

[Wait and See]

>>>Wait and See. Why after owning all of BMW's albums do you no longer? That's the bit that worries me. Replace them tout suite!<<<

I got a point where I had about 500 CDs, and I had to lighten the load. I've made the move over to iPod/iTunes for most of my everyday listening, so I can decide whether I need something in CD quality or not on a case by case basis. It's worked out pretty well.

>>> To compare Bob Marley with The Police is an inevitable analysis, however to think for one moment that THE POLICE took Reggae to another level or that they are better than Bob is absurd in my culture & opinion.<<<

Like I said, Marley was a gifted musician and singer, and he was key in the development of a unique sound. In that regard, you can't take anything from him. My problem is with Rastafarianism. I don't know how much of it Bob actually believed, but he certainly proclaimed it routinely.

[Ska Man]

My problem is with Rastafarianism. I don't know how much of it Bob actually believed, but he certainly proclaimed it routinely.


http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia. ... /rast.html

Its very clear that Bob was a devout follower of the Rastafarian faith. Some of your concerns I believe need to be addressed in a place where consise and deep analysis can be engaged, due to the political, religious and racial implications which can ensue from this sort of dialouge. This particular forum from my understanding is a place where we can share our opinions & memories in a very light hearted manner.

1LUV