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Published: Monday | December 8, 2008
The Editor, Sir:
This is what most persons unfamiliar with the genres of Jamaican music will think, not realising that reggae (which has a more laid back vibe, less beats per minute and more instruments) is different, much different from her egotistical mutant spawn, dancehall.
Internationally, it is incorrectly perceived that all music coming out of Jamaica is reggae, and this is where the problem lies. Even the Reggae Compassion Act should actually be the 'Dancehall Compassion Act' simply because reggae artistes do not dwell on controversial topics such as the gays, prejudice, misogyny, etc.
I was listening to an online radio www.reggaemusicfm.com and even though they played a lot of reggae, there was lots of dancehall. This site is owned by local entrepreneurs, but they carelessly contribute to the confusion. The blurring of the lines of dancehall and reggae does not affect us locally. However, international reggae acts are contending that it does affect their business, as 'unseasoned' promoters who only read their local news already perceive that reggae acts are prejudicial homophobes.
So the real question should be; is dancehall music murder music? Most dancehall artistes will tell you, 'no', their lyrics are a reflection of the society. They won't tell you that there is a lot of embellishing and glorification to the point where 'badmanship' is a stripe and not a scourge. They portray the ghetto as the land of milk and honey and not as a temporary launch pad for the disenfranchised youths.
I think that there is a place for dancehall music in the world, even with the most horrific lyrics and bad messages being sent out. I do not believe in artiste censorship. However, as my grandfather said in Guys Hill, St Mary, one summer day, "There is a time and place for everything."
Impressionable kids
Dancehall music should not be played where impressionable kids can listen and glean the wrong message. Instead, it should be slapped with a parental advisory label and be marketed at specific times of the day, in specific locations to a specific group of people. Broadcasting Commission, where are you?
And, in any case, don't blame the artistes that make the music. Blame the disc jockeys that play them!
I am, etc.,
'Dime arts'
stuff4 dimearts@gmail.com.
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/glean.../letters6.html
The Editor, Sir:
This is what most persons unfamiliar with the genres of Jamaican music will think, not realising that reggae (which has a more laid back vibe, less beats per minute and more instruments) is different, much different from her egotistical mutant spawn, dancehall.
Internationally, it is incorrectly perceived that all music coming out of Jamaica is reggae, and this is where the problem lies. Even the Reggae Compassion Act should actually be the 'Dancehall Compassion Act' simply because reggae artistes do not dwell on controversial topics such as the gays, prejudice, misogyny, etc.
I was listening to an online radio www.reggaemusicfm.com and even though they played a lot of reggae, there was lots of dancehall. This site is owned by local entrepreneurs, but they carelessly contribute to the confusion. The blurring of the lines of dancehall and reggae does not affect us locally. However, international reggae acts are contending that it does affect their business, as 'unseasoned' promoters who only read their local news already perceive that reggae acts are prejudicial homophobes.
So the real question should be; is dancehall music murder music? Most dancehall artistes will tell you, 'no', their lyrics are a reflection of the society. They won't tell you that there is a lot of embellishing and glorification to the point where 'badmanship' is a stripe and not a scourge. They portray the ghetto as the land of milk and honey and not as a temporary launch pad for the disenfranchised youths.
I think that there is a place for dancehall music in the world, even with the most horrific lyrics and bad messages being sent out. I do not believe in artiste censorship. However, as my grandfather said in Guys Hill, St Mary, one summer day, "There is a time and place for everything."
Impressionable kids
Dancehall music should not be played where impressionable kids can listen and glean the wrong message. Instead, it should be slapped with a parental advisory label and be marketed at specific times of the day, in specific locations to a specific group of people. Broadcasting Commission, where are you?
And, in any case, don't blame the artistes that make the music. Blame the disc jockeys that play them!
I am, etc.,
'Dime arts'
stuff4 dimearts@gmail.com.
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/glean.../letters6.html