Skip to main content

FlashBack Friday: Cheesy Reggae Party

Hey guys and gals, I'm back with the fifth episode of the popular series FlashBack Friday (click for previous episodes) for the year like 2011. I love doing these posts as I get to relive a time when life was all about not doing homework, watching cartoons, asking mum and dad for toys and what I would be when I grew up.

These are songs you'll probably be surprised I, a staunch reggae addict, listens to in my spare time. As mentioned many times previously, I don't care how many stripes you wanna take from me, I have enough stripes to donate to a Zebra in need. I love cheesy pop music. They used very soft electro sounds in the '80s and '90s which gave the instant impression of inoffensive cheesy pop, but when you listen behind the actual sounds they use, the chord progressions and arrangements are cool. Lyrics were light-hearted, but so what?

p.s. I'm going through a phase of listening to '80s and '90s pop. For more reasons than one

Let's begin the Cheesy Reggae Party (as opposed to the "Punky Reggae Party" Bob Marley sang of)

T-Spoon - Sex On The Beach

"T-Spoon (or T Spoon) is a Dutch pop/dance band, created in 1991 by rapper and former U.S. Airforce member Shalamon Baskin (aka Shamrock) and composer Remy de Groot (aka Prince Peration). In 1994, they were offered a recording contract by A La Bianca and had several hits, working alongside guest musicians.."

What happened to the deejay? Who'd have thought it's the white guy? lol. Charted at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart in 1997. Don't know this isn't classed as reggae on Wikipedia.



Vengaboys - Ibiza

Just clocked this is a product of the popular reggae fusion element Europe had going on in the mid-90s. Ih-bitza



Peter Andre - Mysterious Girl

I think I've posted this before. I don't care though. This is Peter Andre's best song ever. Please let him go back to reggae. What a groove. I would love to hear this played with authentic instruments. In fact, I'm convinced this would do well in Jamaica if they took Bubbla Ranx off.

This song has been released 3 times. Failed the first, charted #2 in 1996, then #1 in 2004 following his appearance on reality TV show I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.



Inner Circle - Sweat (A la la la long)

Miami-based reggae band Inner Circle produced a summer anthem in 1992. Peaked at #3 in UK. #1 in New Zealand, Switzerland (6 weeks), Germany (12 weeks) and Holland.



Classic example of a cheesy pop song that sounds really light but with sounds authentic with actual instruments. The riddim track is John Holt's "A Love I Can Feel". Youngsters that frequent London club's may (or most probably won't) recognise it as Sanchez "I Can't Wait"

RIP original Inner Circle singer Jacob Miller. Not the guy in the video, the original lead. Top Jamaican singer from dem day deh.

Ace of Base - The Sign

What a groove on this. Listen to chord progressions on this again. I know for a fact I've posted this before. Love this song.



Big Mountain - Baby I Love You Way

"Big Mountain is an American reggae band, most famous for their cover version of Peter Frampton's "Baby, I Love Your Way," which became a Top 10 hit single in the U.S. in early 1994 reaching #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #2 in the UK shortly afterwards."

Couldn't be bothered to type anything there.



And just for good measure I'm throwing in

Men At Work - Down Under

Not quite as explicit as the above but there's usage of reggae in this. New Wave.



I think

Madness - Must Be Love

Is another one they class as New Wave. Basically post-punk

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Marvin Sparks x Raekwon interview

Wu-Tang's in-house "Chef" better known as Raekwon proved he is still a force to be mentioned alongside the hottest rappers in the hip hop game with the release of Only Built For Cuban Linx... pt. II - sequel to his 1995 debut album. Marvin Sparks caught up with the hip hop legend to discuss rapping for drug dealers, people caring "more about stats than raps", his inclusion in MTV's Top 10 Hottest Rappers list, and converting to Islam. Marvin Sparks: It has been almost fifteen years since the first Only Built For Cuban Linx, an album that was a 5-mic classic when The Source magazine held weight. Why did you decide make a sequel?

Why Cheetah Woods, whhyyyy?!?!?!

We must all know about the predator nyamin woman (no bowcat reference intended - or am I lying? *shudders*). Anyone heard the voicemail he left for the girl he's been PARrin (there was a golf reference there) his wife with? Easy now my selekta as we rinse some tunes for di one name Tiger. Man like him doesn't know how to play. (By The Endz not Ruff Sqwad) How you gonna leave a voicemail for a girl with your real name at the beginning? Do you want to be held to ransom? Man from 'the ends' know (in the words of Kano) "That's slippin'!" And when isht hits the fan (like it has) he's buggered. Not something I deal in but surely the point of cheating is for an assortment of ladies. All his ones look the same; blonde, no breast nor batty. Rachel Uchitel bawlin at the scene of 9/11 where her man (fiancee/boyfriend/husband) died The chick whose sold his voicemail on and can be heard above The wifey (why cheat on her with the ones above I'll never kno

Remember When Riddims Were King

Before you read, thank you for your interest and hope you enjoy. I actually fleshed it out into a book. You can get your copy from www.nolongstories.com   Now for what you came here for... When Riddims Were King 23rd May 2020 will be remembered in history for one of the most epic events in one of our universe's darkest times. We will never forget the night dancehall kings and former extremely heated rivals, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer, battled on the Verzuz platform built by hall-of-fame producers, Timbaland and Swizz Beatz. An unfiltered, 360-degree view on Jamaican dancehall events was showcased; DJ’s and dancing (Beenie Man’s daughter Desha Ravers) to deejay’s clashing on the same riddims. The latter elements provided the jewels in the night’s highlight reel, and undoubtedly the best thing to happen on the Verzuz series. Word spread like guava jelly within the dancehall community and Jamaican diaspora upon announcement. Not only was it a clash between the longest and fier