Bob Marley: Pesuasion Of The People With Music

Bob Marley:

Persuasion of the people with music

There are hundreds of thousands of people screaming for you on stage. The Prime Minister and leader of the opposition sit in the arena. Many thought this was a sight that would never be seen, but it was just the sight Bob Marley had in front of him at the One Love Peace Concert in Kingston Jamaica (April, 1978). This was his first appearance back in Jamaica in 14 years, an amazing show culminating with Bob joining the hands of opposing political figures onstage, and holding them firmly together. A hero and an icon while living, Bob Marley continues to influence people 25 years after his death (African Service News). His music and lyrics worked as the rhetoric of the Rastafarian movement against oppression, exploitation and racism in Jamaica. Using metaphors to describe the hardships of the political fights of Jamaicans and Africans Marley established himself as the spokesman of a race and culture.

The Rastafari religion, the heart of Bob's music, based itself in belief of Ð''Jah,' which was a metaphor for a god of goodness and love. Jah was the force fighting against the oppression from Ð''Babylon,' the destructive force. Metaphors of oppression and freedom, such as chains and birds, depict social problems and ways of liberation (Jensen). Many of Marley's lyrics included these references and therefore fell into the latitude of acceptance, explained in Muzafer Sherif's studies on Social Judgment Theory (Griffin), of his Rastafari listeners. When Marley spoke of things that were in the latitude of acceptance of his audience, his words impacted them listeners incredibly.

"If you get down and quarrel everyday/You're saying prayers to the devil, I say/ Why not help one another on the way/ Make it much easier/ Jah love, Jah love, protect us" Positive Vibrations.

Marley strived to increase awareness among the people of Jamaica, but his popularity didn't end there. His music spread through the hearts of Europeans, Africans, and Americans.

Lyrics and music work together to offer messages comprised of both theoretical and emotional content through the constructs of virtual experience (lyrics) and virtual time (music). Both virtual experience and virtual time must exist for music to function rhetorically (Sellnow). However it can sometimes work out otherwise. In fact, it was the bass heavy style of Bob Marley's new age reggae that allowed him the access to the people. He abandoned the classic style of Ð''Ska' and adopted a new style of Ð''Rock Steady.' Emotional content can be taken from just the rhythm of music. Much like classical music, rock steady gave people a vision. Smooth rhythm, thick bass lines and light percussion. Instrumentals may not have carried as blatant a message with it, but it was another way for Marley to reach his audience. He gained respect for innovating the use of his guitar and the production of his music, and became a messenger even when he was not singing in his songs. His music reached people emotionally throughout nations.

Music is an effective tool for adjusting to the emotional life of many people. People use music quite frequently to express or modify their emotions (Hakanen). Some find themselves in the words of others, and some will put themselves into their own words. Bob believed himself to be a philosopher, but humble as well. "People want to listen to a message, word from Jah. This could be passed through me or anybody. I am not a leader, a messenger. The words of the songs, not the person are what attract people." (African News Service) Bob Marley used techniques of assimilation to grab his audience. When he spoke of topics that were hot in the minds of his people, they were more likely to accept the message and believe they shared the same beliefs.

"If you know your history/ Then you would know where you coming from/ Then you wouldn't have to ask me/ Who the 'eck do I think I am/ I'm just a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America/ Stolen from Africa, brought to America/ Said he was fighting on arrival, fighting for survival" Buffalo Soldier

Marley speaks to those who feel oppression, and also those who sympathize with it. Many of Marley's song persuade people into a political movement or a social protest.

Some of the most attainable goals of persuasive songs are those focused toward a particular movement's members; such as reinforcing the ideas of the movement, promoting unity, and maintaining high confidence among members. In other words, songs of persuasion may prove to be effective in terms of reinforcing the beliefs already held by movement members and sympathizers. Rarely do such songs succeed in their attempt to reach those who are not already sympathetic to the cause (Sellnow). Although Marley never intended to recruit as many people into his particular beliefs, his standpoint on peace and unity was felt throughout the world.

"Let's get together and feel all right/ I'm pleadin' to mankind! One love/ Oh, Lord! One Heart/ Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right/ Let's get together and feel all right." One Love

Marley speaks of "One love and one heart." This was, and is, an issue that many people believe in. Peace is man's ultimate goal, a goal