How to Get the Sound of Bob Marley One Love
Mining music history has earned Hollywood big business in the past decade. Hits like Bohemian Rhapsody, Straight Outta Compton, and Elvis have proven the box office reliability of 20th century pop nostalgia. Jamaican legend Bob Marley is the latest icon to get the cinematic treatment, in Bob Marley: One Love.
The biopic’s soundtrack includes 17 of the reggae legend’s most popular songs. The Marley family majorly contributed to the creative process, tapping six contemporary artists to contribute Marley covers to the album. Reggae is poised for a revival, and if it's the vibe of your next media project, find the sound you need with Universal Production Music.
Reggae Revolution
During his prolific career, Bob Marley inspired many peaceful social movements. Emerging from Trench Town, Kingston, Bob Marley and the Wailers brought global acclaim to reggae, a music genre that advocates for liberation of the oppressed.
With lyrics that promote love and peace, reggae blends rhythm and blues, jazz, and Jamaican church musical traditions. It is linked to Rastafarianism; a new Afrocentric religious and social movement Marley became devoted to in the late 1960s.
Marley’s association with the democratic socialist People's National Party spurred an attempt on his life in 1976 ahead of a free concert promoting peace and the re-election of Prime Minister, Michael Manley. Marley survived the shooting and performed with a bullet still lodged in his arm in a show of resilience.
“Bob’s music is filled with consciousness and messages of unity and love,” Marley’s son, Ziggy, said ahead of the film. “His words and how he lived his life have always inspired people to be better.”
When you sign up to start your next project with Universal Production Music, access a deep library of reggae sounds that evoke the struggles and stories of oppressed people across the world. Discover the different sounds of reggaeton and fuel your creative fire.
‘Let’s Get Together and Feel Alright’
After the assassination attempt, Marley moved to London and went on to record Exodus. Five of the seven songs that have been reimagined for One Love’s soundtrack originated on the landmark 1977 album. The attempt on his life did not deter Marley from writing on political and religious themes; it only intensified his art.
Among a thriving Jamaican community who had fled to London for similar reasons, Marley continued to sing about his homeland. To create a similar feeling of culture and connection in your project, check out upbeat Caribbean music in our library.
The universality of Marley’s themes comes through when non-reggae artists like Kacey Musgraves and Jessie Reyez cover his songs for the One Love soundtrack. The genre’s inherent sunshine connects with audiences, past and present. Discover music to get you in a summer mood when you register to find your next sound with Universal Production Music.