When Reggae Went Digital
Noel Davey, then 26, was an aspiring musician who played the melodica, a wind instrument with a keyboard. He could perform, by ear, any popular song of the day. 'People saw a certain talent in me,' Davey recalled, 'and said, if this youth had a keyboard, he would do a lot better.'
George 'Buddy' Haye of the Wailing Souls told Davey he had one at his home in California and promised Davey that when he returned to the United States, he would send it. After a time, Davey received a Casio MT-40, an electronic keyboard programmed with 22 instrument sounds, a mini bass keyboard and six preset rhythms, one of which formed the basis for a revolution in Jamaican music. 'I got that instrument for a reason,' he said. 'It brought about a big difference in the music.'
Before the year ended, Davey had recorded 'Under Mi Sleng Teng,' with lyrics lauding marijuana (sleng teng) over cocaine ('no cocaine, I don't wanna go insane') written and performed by Davey's friend Wayne Smith. The song, reissued on seven-inch vinyl by an independent reggae label, VP Records/Greensleeves, this week to commemorate its 40th anniversary, is believed to be among Jamaican music's earliest digital productions. The new sound was initially referred to as digital reggae to differentiate it from traditional reggae music. Davey and Smith's creation is likely dancehall reggae's most 'versioned' riddim, used in over 500 songs according to Riddim-ID, a website that catalogs the reuse of these instrumental backing tracks.
'I never heard anything like the 'Sleng Teng' before — it wasn't played by a band, it was just a continuous repetition of a keyboard,' said Johnny Osbourne, who had a hit using the riddim with 'Buddy Bye.'
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Drake's Critically-Acclaimed Blockbuster Earns A New Spot In His Catalog
Drake is one of the most successful musicians in the history of streaming music. He's earned that title thanks to a massive discography and a seemingly countless number of hit singles. Several of his albums rank among the most streamed of all time, and he regularly appears on Billboard's Top Streaming Albums chart, which lists the most successful titles on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and others throughout the United States. While his latest full-length, Some Sexy Songs 4 U with PartyNextDoor, is still his biggest win at the moment, one of Drake's earliest sets — and one of his most highly-regarded — emerges as a true streaming classic this week. Drake Sets a New Streaming Record Take Care is one of two Drake full-lengths to appear on the Top Streaming Albums chart this frame, as the set lifts one space to No. 31. It hits 63 weeks on the tally, and that, as it turns out, is a special number. Drake's 2011 project now stands as his longest-charting title ever on the Top Streaming Albums ranking. Last frame, Take Care was tied with For All the Dogs, as both had managed 62 stays. Now Take Care has passed the 2023 favorite. Drake's Streaming Chart History Throughout the few years that Billboard has been publishing the Top Streaming Albums chart, Drake has sent seven projects to the ranking. Some Sexy Songs 4 U already sits in third place on the list of the longest-running with 24 weeks, while Certified Lover Boy managed 20. Her Loss, his collaborative project with 21 Savage, earned 18 stays. Scorpion held on for 13, and Views — one of Drake's most commercially successful efforts — only lived on the list for two frames and stalled in the lowest rung possible. Take Care Made Drake a Superstar Take Care helped certify Drake as a superstar and much more than a one-hit wonder. Released in the fall of 2011, the set produced smashes like 'Headlines,' 'Make Me Proud,' and 'The Motto.' The project earned the Canadian rapper his first Grammy, for Best Rap Album. Take Care Rises on Multiple Billboard Charts Take Care is on the rise on every Billboard chart on which it appears this frame. As it nears 650 weeks on the Billboard 200, it inches north to No. 32. The project can also be found inside the loftiest tiers on both the Top Rap Albums and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums tallies, where it appears at Nos. 7 and 10, respectively. Drake Maintains His Dominance on the Billboard 200 Eight different Drake albums appear on at least one Billboard list this week. All of them — including Some Sexy Songs 4 U and Take Care, as well as Views, Certified Lover Boy, For All the Dogs, Scorpion, Thank Me Later, and More Life — live on the Billboard 200, while some of his most popular also manage to take up space on the company's hip-hop- and rap-specific lists.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Selena Gomez Reveals the 1 Old Song She Wants to Rerecord and Perform Again
"It's the most powerful moment when I get to perform it," she said of the 2011 track during a recent episode of the 'Therapuss' podcastNEED TO KNOW Selena Gomez revealed she wants to rerecord and perform one of her old songs During a Wednesday, Aug. 6 interview on the Therapuss podcast, the actress and singer told host Jake Shane that she sounded "young" when she initially recorded this 2011 track. 'I need to redo it. I should recut it," Gomez told the hostSelena Gomez opened up about how she wants to rerecord — and then perform — one of her old songs. During a Wednesday, Aug. 6 interview on the Therapuss podcast, the actress and singer told host Jake Shane that she sounded "young" when she initially recorded a certain 2011 track from her time leading the pop-rock band Selena Gomez & The Scene, which released three studio albums between 2009 and 2012. Gomez, 33, revealed that said track — "hands-down" her "favorite" song — is 'Who Says,' the lead single from the group's final LP, When the Sun Goes Down. 'It's the most powerful moment when I get to perform it. That's honestly the only reason I would ever do a tour again … is if I could perform 'Who Says,'" said the "Sunset Blvd" musician, who last toured in 2016. Gomez noted that if she were to perform the track now, she'd need to "take it down an octave from each year I've sang it." The Only Murders in the Building actress also noted that she would be open to rerecording the song since she claims she sounds "young" on the original. 'I need to redo it. I should recut it," said Gomez. The "Bluest Flame" singer also discussed the song's empowering meaning and recalled a time when she teared up when it came on the radio during an international trip. 'I was like, 'Why the f--- am I tearing up to my own song?''said Gomez. 'But it was because it was the little me who was there saying these really powerful messages that I still need to hear.' Elsewhere in the interview, the "Call Me When You Break Up" performer opened up about how she met Taylor Swift and how they subsequently 'bonded' over their respective breakups with Jonas Brothers stars Nick Jonas and Joe Jonas. 'Taylor [Swift] and I dated the Jonas Brothers,' she told Shane, 25, of how she and Swift initially met. 'I dated Nick and she dated Joe. And everything was, it was cute, we were young." Gomez continued: "We all know and love each other now and it's so cute. We don't know what we were doing — She and I like to say the best thing we got out of those relationships was each other because it was really sweet." She noted that the pair went on to become 'best friends' as they 'bonded over the breakup, as girls do.' 'And then we just stuck around for all the ups and downs that came after and here we are now 16 years later,' said Gomez. Read the original article on People
Gizmodo
3 hours ago
- Gizmodo
Forget JBL, This Onn 2nd Generation Party Speaker Goes for Peanuts, 4.6-Star Best-Seller at Walmart
The hottest days of the year are upon us, and what better way to beat the heat than with some poolside fun and great music? The Onn second-generation medium party speaker is built for exactly that, and right now, it's down to $78, after a sweet $11 discount on Walmart. See at Walmart This wireless party speaker brings the party with it. You're getting strong, vibrating bass that gives every song that extra punch, regardless of what you're listening to. Blasting Levitating by Dua Lipa or sticking to some good old Pitbull rap – this speaker adds the energy to all your playlists. Dance tracks will be even more enjoyable with the bass boost button that adds more depth to your music. No party lights? No problem. The music is paired with six multicolor LED lighting effects that change with the beat — basically, an at-home disco without any need for a fancy setup. The speaker is pretty loud on its own, but you can pair it with another Onn speaker for an even better, more immersive experience. Hosting a backyard BBQ? Ask a friend to bring theirs for double coverage and unlimited fun. You'll also get up to 20 hours of playtime on a single charge, which is more than enough for an entire day or night of fun. And since nothing spoils the mood faster than a low phone battery, the built-in USB port lets you plug in and charge your device while the music is playing. It's also IPX7 waterproof rated, so take it to the beach or even to the bathroom because music makes showers fun, too. The Bluetooth connection is strong, and the speaker supports FM radio, too, for when you want to browse the local stations. Even with all these features, the speaker stays portable. At just over 15 inches tall, it's easy to carry from the house to the backyard or toss in the car for a fun beach day. At $78, the Onn medium party speaker Gen. 2 packs a bunch of features that make it great for both indoor and outdoor fun. It's easy to carry, delivers exceptional sound, pairs with another Onn speaker, and even lets you charge your phone with it in emergency situations. That's more than what most Bluetooth speakers under $100 offer, and the $11 discount makes it an even better value. If you've been on the lookout for a reliable speaker, we recommend grabbing this deal before the price goes back up. See at Walmart
