Story of Jamaican Music
Bravo Channel Original - Reggae: Story of Jamaican Music
Thu, February 5 8:00 PM
Thu, February 5 12:00 AM
Tue, February 10 2:30 PM
Sun, February 15 11:00 AM
Mon, February 16 2:00 AM
This new Bravo original documentary is a testament to the influence and universal appeal of reggae music. Hip Hop has no comparable documentary, aside from the cursory BBC documentary from 1996 and the recent hodge-podge approach of VH1 programs like Hip Hop Babylon and "Beef: Rap's Biggest Battles".
Aside from this Bravo special on reggae, the next best documentary on the subject is Roots, Rock, Reggae: Inside the Jamaican Music Scene from way back in 1978. I have probably watched that video about 50 times. Like Roots, Rock, Reggae, the new Bravo documentary covers important social, political, economic, and spiritual issues. Yet the Bravo team doesn't neglect to get up close and personal on each and every chapter. They let the artists themselves do much of the narration.
One of the reasons why reggae lends itself to a sweeping, historical documentary, is that the reggae audience demands innovation, yet still values mass appeal. Reggae has moved through a series of clear and distinct phases, with only a minor fragmentation between deejays and singers, conscious and rude. Hip Hop is far too fragmented and disparate to be neatly summed up in a similar fashion.
Aside from the well-researched structuring and narrative, the Bravo documentary is also notable for its comprehensive selection of artists and candid interviews with a wide range of figures, from deejays and producers, to politicians, record execs, and writers.
Here are most of the artists covered, along with comments...
Alpha Boys Home (Skatalites, Yellowman, etc)
Coxsone Dodd (OG producer)
The Skatalites ("greatest JA group")
Ernest Ranglin
Prince Buster
Alton Ellis
Derek Harriot
Judy Mowatt
U-Roy (great footage, but still not enough!!)
The Wailers (18 months writing/recording with Lee Perry)
Lee Perry (shot footage on top of moving bus deck... wild!!)
Dave Barker
Jimmy Cliff (talks about differences with Chris Blackwell)
Chris Blackwell (says he had great marketing plan for Jimmy)
Bob Marley (just the right amount of footage)
Mutabaruka (lots of interview footage throughout)
Big Youth (still lookin good!!)
Max Romeo
The Clash ("Police & Thieves" live)
The Police ("Roxanne")
Johnny Rotten (talent scouting for EMI?)
Rolling Stones (jamming with Tosh)
Dennis Brown ("crown prince of reggae" after Bob the King)
Black Uhuru
Sly & Robbie (talk about numerous U.S. collaborations)
Byron Lee
Gussie Clark (shows some dub techniques)
Cocoa Tea
Beenie Man
Eek-A-Mouse (people flipping out over his "sing jay" style
Yellowman (great footage and interview!!)
Bounty Killer (insightful comments throughout documentary)
King Jammy
Tiger (great footage)
General Trees (Yellowman battle footage)
Shinehead (comments on crossover)
Shabba Ranks (homophobic comments from UK TV appearance!!)
Maxi Priest (duet with Shabba crosses over in U.S.)
Mad Cobra
Elephant Man (great footage and commentary)
Lady T
Buju Banton (highlights transition from crime to consciousness)
Lady Saw (talks about being first slack female deejay)
Capleton
Luciano (spiritual and universal aspects of reggae)
Shaggy (says he doesn't make "authentic" reggae)
One of the nicest things about this documentary is the fact that they cover almost all of the necessary artists, without making it seem breezy or over-edited. As well, the writers and or producers never lose sight of the many background issues that influenced the music. The show is also unafraid to confront some of the more difficult topics like homophobia and discrimination against social outcasts like Yellowman.
Missing from the show are King Stitt, Larry Marshall (Bob Marley's favorite singer), King Tubby, Gregory Isaacs, and Brigadier Jerry. But that's about all, which is really impressive for a 90 minute documentary that chronicles 40 years. Hopefully this documentary will be made available to the public through libraries or retail distribution.
The only thing I would have added would be more talk about the development of rapping, and also connections with Kool Herc and the numerous DJs who have crossed over on jungle beats.
Posted by Eric on February 5, 2004 10:39 PM
Thanks fort the heads up. Going to set the TiVo now...
Wow! Gonna check the Tuesday airing for sure. BTW through the grapevine I've heard that a couple of cable channels are considering a big hip-hop doc shortly...maybe the next 2-3 years.
Good lookin out, Jeff.
I'm curious to see how they organize this new hip hop documentary, how long it is, and what the scope is.
Here's what I would make sure to include:
Good Life (essential)
Project Blowed (essential, part 2)
Skratch Piklz (plenty of footage to pick)
Beat Junkies (on L.A. radio)
Z-Trip (rocking crowds with rock records)
Wake Up Show (West Coast Stretch & Bobbito)
Stretch & Bobbito (East Coast Wake Up Show)
Scribble Jam (backpack nerd rap attack)
Rap Olympics (Em footage + radio appearance)
B-Boy Summit (cops busting heads)
Celestial Recordings (will surely be overlooked)
beatboxers (will surely be neglected)
Rocksteady
Zulu Nation
Temple Of Hiphop (the story behind it, KRS)
Yo! MTV Raps (countless guests)
Crews: Hiero, Living Legends
Labels: Fondle Em, Def Jux, Stones Throw, 7Heads
Actually, I've been thinking about a documentary for years. Especially, during the "golden years" as Jay Smooth calls it. I am curious to know what the beatmakers and mc's were thinking. Anyway, I think it should be set up like the Ken Burns documentary "Jazz". Maybe I can get Spike Lee to front me the dough. Or if Spike's reading....
yo, first off props for the heads up to those people that didn't see it coming...i happened to run into the program on accident and taped it during one of the follow-up airings. i agree that it was a well-done overview, but it was also focused from a bbc point of view and just about the entire soundtrack was taken from the mojo trojan explosion comp. so i say, it was good but they left A LOT out. i mean, they didn't touch on steel pulse what happened aside from pop-reggae in england. they didn't touch alpha blondy and african reggae and they didn't go near any augustus pablo-types for instrumental reggae. i know it was a two hour documentary, but just those few examples of oversights go to show that reggae CANNOT be easily summed up. just like any type of music it is NOT "clear and distinct." hip hop is not the exception, but part of the rule. i don't think anyone should get his/her education from a documentary: 2 hours and you're an expert on reggae or hip hop or whatever. try listening to the music. but if you must learn about music by visuals, then there are many documentaries on hip hop, not just the music but the four elements. check 'freshest kids' it's focused on b-boys but you don't have the music w/o the b-boys. also if you haven't already read up on some of sista soldier. but just remember you can know all the history you want about music, but it makes no difference. if someone enjoys bob marley b/c that's all the roots he's heard, he still enjoys bob marley for the experience it brings to him. peace bro.
Is there anyway to purchase a copy of this bravo reggae special?
I'm from Jamaica, and although I didn't get to see the whole thing, I liked the way it covered such a wide of Jamaica's artists, and not just the more popular ones like Bob Marley, etc. I was surprised to see a foreign documentary provide such a thorough view on the roots and present reality of Jamaican music. Bravo!
Jamaican culture and freedom of Speach
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I think the screening of this you have seen is not the original UK screening, there was a german screening which was only 2hrs long which was quiet alot different from the original UK one but the same title, the original UK one is 3hrs long in 3 parts and is 90% different content from what i can make out, i'm puzzled as too why there are 2 different versions of the same documentary by the same name using the same opening screen etc.! I have copies of both of them aswell as 100's of other reggae movies/documentaries, if u want my list or to purchase any of the above then please email me: irationsteppas@yahoo.co.uk
My website is down right now but will be back open begining of next month, u can discuus reggae documentaries here on the forum specifically on this subject, check back in March, www.reggaedvds.co.uk
Pete...
Nice man! Thanks for dropping a line. As you can see, I wrote down a detailed list of everyone on the video, in order of appearance, so it should be easy to check and see which version it matches. I am definitely interested in checking out some of these DVDs you got.
I have plans for a redesign and overhaul of this site. Maybe when I get that done, we can figure out a low-profile way to promote your "services".
Hi Eric,
Yeh it's really weird how theres 2 different versions of this documentary, i haven't spent alot of time checking the differences but it appears to be alot different but u can tell it's made by the same guys looking at it, i will have to look into it a bit more some time. Website should be back online 1st April, bandwidth problems again but now have a new shopping cart and i'm going to take off the music so i don't exceed bandwidth so quick! Drop me an email if u looking for any JA/Reggae/Rasta dvds......
how long is this documentary as far as u know? total running time?
Hi. I enyoed a lot the the documentary although I couldnt follow some parts of it .Does anyone have the transcripts of the documentaies? Cheers
Royalty Free Beats For One Dollar
At
upbeat.tk
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A-sev
Hi, Iam very much interested in finding out how to go about getting a copy of Story of Jamaican music.
Thanx,
Goff
email me at info@reggaefilms.co.uk the email i put up last time is an old one sorry.
