Dancehall then and now

"Gimmi di gyal dem wid di wickedes slam", "big tings a A gwaaann fi you baby", "it was unda di sycamore tree" the music back then was a far more subtle than the "Back it up like a dumper truck" we're hearing now. The rhythms were light and playful and familiar, triggering an immediate spontanious response in your muscles resulting in the "bracing up pan a girl" or the occasional whining to the ground. Yea, we see the same thing happening now, but the rhythms and beats are different. Today, they are heavy and aggressive stimulating a rather vulgar response from both males and females, we've all seen and most of us have actually participated in what seems like hardcore sex on the dance floors, some like it, some dont, like me.

We cant really talk about dancehall and not touch a little bit on the vile aspect of it. "Violent" music has been around since dancehall's inception, I might even go further to say that this type of music is what started the Dancehall genre. It's an excuse oftentimes used by entertainers when we tell them that their music is too violent and causes violence - it's been around since forever so why the problem now.

True, but that's not what this is about. As mentioned before it has been around since the beginning but as the music progressed, it became too violent. Compare gun chunes like Ask Fi Way which was released by Bounty Killer back then to songs like Movado's - Buss Bwoy Head.
Maintaining the same point as earlier, the music back then was much more playful and less intimate, you could find people whining while listening to those type of song. Now? When they start to play you're greeted with a plethora of gunshots and a few dead bodies scattered here or there.

Let's mention a point that I'm always so silently vocal on (lol). The change in the music. Producers have been complaining that Dancehall music has been changing and is no longer true to dancehall. They say the rhythms and beats used now are not "dancehall", they're more so hip hop. They also say that most dancehall artiste are making songs that sound like hip hop.

I'm strongly of the belief that things evolve as we move into another era or period, so of course the change in dancehall music is inevitable, but it is still dancehall and no one can take that from us. The rhythms will change, it could be to keep up with the challenging industry and to remain relevant both locally and abroad or something else.

I do however feel that we should somehow try to balance it out: reserving the earlier style of music (like what ShabaRankings did with his latest single) while adapting to the change. But always remember that it's still dancehall. BTW, Hip Hop is Dancehall's brother, Hip Hop originated from Reggae, the same parents of dancehall, so it shouldn't be a problem if we borrow some stuff from it right?

Lady Saw in her element

Tifa

Let's have a round of applause for our female entertainers who have stepped up their game in the dancehall arena. In an industry that was once reserved for men with only one or two female musicians, it is heartwarming to see them all over the market now. They've become more lady-like, a major difference than in the men's section whose content have gotten worse. Comparing songs by Lady Saw back then to songs by Tifa and others now you'll see that the women have become more delicate, though still singing the same messages like independence and the taking of another woman's man.

So there you have it, my view on a few topics relating to Dancehall then, and now.

Categories: Dancehall , entertainment , Jamaica , music