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> Reggae is so deeply & necessarily intertwined with the religion. > The forms simply don't make sense when you separate them from their religious context. As

> Reggae is so deeply & necessarily intertwined with the religion. > The forms simply don't make sense when you separate them from their religious context. As a big reggae fan I totally disagree. Although there's indeed a lot of roots reggae talking about Selassie and religion, there's also a huge lot of reggae that's not about that. There's even, to me, lots of actual roots reggae that is not about religion but about poor people's struggle. Lots of reggae is also purely about ganga / smoking (Peter Tosh "Legalize it"). Stuff I listen to... Max Romeo's "Chase the Devil" (and many other Max Romeo songs), Ranking Dread "Superstar" (where he sings about... famous reggae singers), many reggae love songs (Marcia Griffiths "Hold me tight"), John Holt "Police in Helicopter", Horace Andy "Skylarking". One of my all time favorite: Zap Pow "This is Reggae music". No religion. No poor people's struggle. Just pure reggae sound, with lyrics about... Reggae itself (it's an amazing one, check it out). There's also more recent anti-consumerist reggae, like Mike Love "Permanent Holidays" (link because this is sooo good): https://youtu.be/fU7hZ3smj0g https://youtu.be/fU7hZ3smj0g So yeah big disagree. Not all reggae is about religion, far from it.

giraffe_lady 3y ago
I didn't say all reggae is about religion. I'm pointing out that it's a form that is historically connected to a specific religious practice, and rooted in a particular religious worldview. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy it from outside that religion or worldview. But it means if you find fault in the point of view it takes, you should find another music to listen to not wish this one was different for you. For me, I practice an abrahamic religion though not rastafari and a lot of the religious sentiment and imagery resonates with me. Again it's not that all reggae songs are religious. But it's there you know. I find it pretty grim how quick & comfortable people are trying to ignore it, or downplay its significance.

giraffe_lady 3y ago

I didn't say all reggae is about religion. I'm pointing out that it's a form that is historically connected to a specific religious practice, and rooted in a particular religious worldview. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy it from outside that religion or worldview. But it means if you find fault in the point of view it takes, you should find another music to listen to not wish this one was different for you. For me, I practice an abrahamic religion though not rastafari and a lot of the religious sentiment and imagery resonates with me. Again it's not that all reggae songs are religious. But it's there you know. I find it pretty grim how quick & comfortable people are trying to ignore it, or downplay its significance.