Top 10 best Bob Marley songs
It’s no easy task to whittle 40-50 Bob Marley hits to just 10. But someone has to do it, and who better than me? So whether tanning at the beach, traveling in a car, or protesting a war, these are the 10 best Bob Marley songs of all time.
10. Sun Is Shinning. Pure reggae. Very raw. One of Marley’s best from his early years.
9. One Drop. I love this song because it’s bouncy, encouraging, and fun to listen to. It’s chill, but it’s also aggressive, like when Marley belts “One Drop!” “One Stop!” and “Hua!” during the verse.
8. Is This Love. Talk about a thumping reggae love song. The bass is driving. The drums are pounding. And it makes me want to dance — quite possibly the best Marley track to start a playlist with.
7. Stir it up. I don’t think there is another Marley song where the individual elements stand out as much as they do in this sulky, layered song. Bass lines have never been this walky. You’ve never heard “whaka, whakas” quite so fresh.
6. So Much Trouble in the World. This song creeps like a creeper. It’s sneaks up on you, and has some of the best synth organs ever recorded. As usual, Marley’s preachy lyrics perfectly combine with background vocals.
5. Africa Unite. I played this song for Sadie when she was just six months old. But that didn’t stop her from swaying to the music in sync with the beat. It’s both chill and dancy, as are most of Marley’s tracks.
4. Three Little Birds. If you’ve had a sucky day or feel that the world is coming down on you, do yourself a favor and listen to this song. It’s one of Marley’s happiest and sure to paint a smile on any jaded or worried face.
3. Shake Down Party. This is one of Marley’s most underrated songs. It’s like doo-whop meets Jamaica, and boasts one of my favorite melodies, not to mention it’s deft use of backing vocals. I can’t help but sing along to this one.
2. Jammin’. This is easily Marley’s best dance song. And it strangely reminds me of something the bar band from Toshi Station would play. In any case, this will have feet moving and heads bouncing in no time.
1. Roots, Rock, Reggae. For me, this encompasses all that is good in Bob Marley. Pleading vocals. Horns. Piano. Bass. Drums. Backing voices. The perfect tempo. Reggae at its best.
What are your favorite Bob Marley songs?
Further reading:
- Top 10 Spoon songs
- Top 10 Led Zeppelin songs (coming soon!)
August 13th, 2008 at 11:41 am
It’s not good to listen to this much Bob Marley on a Wednesday. I don’t know if I should book my next cruise or find some bong resin to scrape, but work is the furthest thing from my mind right now.
Your list is great but I would add 3 more to it:
Lively Up Yourself – This is what happens when funk, blues and reggae have children.
Forever Loving Jah – West Coast gansta bell is unreal. How long has Dr. Dre been producing anyway?
Waiting In Vain – My favorite of all time. Just a beautiful song.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Trenchtown Rock – Hit me with music – or mu-sack, as my boy says.
August 15th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Blake, It’s a good list, but I believe that it is an impossible task to take upon yourself. But it’s cool of you to try. If I made a list I would have at least 4 maybe 5 of your picks. I can’t think of all my favorites, but Time Will Tell, Kaya, Keep On Moving, Rasta Man Live Up, and maybe No Woman No Cry.
De’la
August 15th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Confirmed: I forgot one: Let the Cap Fit!
September 6th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Stir it uppppp !!!!
best Marley song in my opinion
also like could you be loved and is this love
but Stir it up is just relaxing and chill. You could listen to it while doing anything.
December 8th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Time Will Tell…my favorite along with Iron Lion Zion
December 21st, 2008 at 6:34 am
Tnx 4 ur blog but in my opinion his best song is no woman no cry
January 6th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Well i have to agree with you guys i love all of his songs. but my top 2 have to be 2. three little birds, 1. no woman no cry. other than that, you cant chose 10 songs of his best… his discography has to be the best(all songs) after all he is the musical prophet =D
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 pm
mellow mood
February 1st, 2009 at 9:21 am
how about this news about the 64th anniversary of the birth of the late Jamaican reggae star, Bob Marley will be held in Shashemane town.read it here
http://arefe.wordpress.com/2009/01/31/concert-to-honor-marley/#comments
March 15th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
midnight ravers, natural mystic, positive vibrations chill beats.
March 15th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
you forget waiting in vain.
&& pimpers paradise.
April 3rd, 2009 at 5:22 am
i love the marley brothers so being able to read about one of them is amazing!!
April 30th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Impossible task because it always depends on what’s going on in your life at any given moment. Bob has a message for ANY situation you might be going through. Great list though. I’ll add:
Waiting In Vain
Who the Cap Fit
War
Time Will Tell
All Day All Night (gonna be my wedding song)
Natural Mystic
One Love
I’ll stop there because I don’t want to be typing all day
May 14th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Get up stand up
One Love
Natural Mystic
could you be loved
turn your light down low should be included
June 11th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
great list, but as many of you have stated, it is an impossible task to select the top ten. how about adding ” CONCRETE JUNGLE “
June 29th, 2009 at 8:42 am
No Woman No Cry is my favorite
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
all time favorite is no woman no cry of course… although it is debatable, bob marley has become one of the most influential characters of all time. the single “Time Will Tell” was featured in Pineapple Express. The song really brings out the mood in the characters as a kind of a growing up attitude, a truly beautiful song.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Mr.Brown, don’t know why but this song always struck a cord with me.
August 19th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Babylon System cannot be forgotten
August 28th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
“One good thing about music! When it hits you feel no pain
So hit me with music,hit me with music yeah, brutalize me with music!!!.
Trenchtown Rock
Don’t watch that
Trenchtown Rock
Big Fish or sprat
Trenchtown Rock
You reap what you sow
Threnchtown Rock
And everyone know now
Trenchtown Rock
Don’t turn your back
Trenchtown Rock
Give the slum a try
Trenchtown Rock
Never let the Children Cry!
Trenchtown Rock
Got to tell JAH!! while you’re grooving”
That’s Like, the most beautiful phrases ever to be put in a song!
September 21st, 2009 at 6:15 am
Three Little Birds is the best song by Bob Marley…. My Opinnion
September 26th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I JUST LOVE HIS MUSIC….ITS SO RELAXING YOU KNOE…I LOVE TO READ THINGS ABOUT HIM AND HIS SONS TOO.HIS MUSIC IS THE S#!T!!!!!!
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:01 am
No woman no cry live is one of the best songs ever written. Why the hell isn’t it on the list?
October 3rd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
africa unite
October 5th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
All good but have you ever listen to Stiff necked
October 9th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
nice list! i would have one drop at the number one position though. and im afraid never will all the bob marley people int he world be able to agree on a list!
October 19th, 2009 at 11:01 am
omg i love the song sun is shinning and it is really good i lison to it all the time but i still need the lyrics but it is no big deal so if no lison to it u should
October 26th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Redemption Song !! for me :O
November 6th, 2009 at 9:15 am
i dig all bob marley’s songs, but one in special that nobody mentioned is Exodus!
i go to another dimension listening to it!
November 26th, 2009 at 6:59 am
Love them all. Surprised Redemption Song wasn’t mentioned though. One of my favorite songs of all time.
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:54 pm
GET UP, STAND UP??????????
December 28th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Good list, Three Little Birds is by far my favorite Bob Marley song, but I’ve gotta say, Redemption Song and Exodus are both totally wonderful as well. Def in my top ten of his
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:45 pm
I still miss Jah live, Burnin’ and Lootin’, Natty Dread and Punky Reggae Party in this topic, so here they are. But I guess it’s the same as trying to get consensus about which beer is the best. At some point(late in the evening) every beer is alright, like with Marley.
January 4th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
I have to say that Kaya is my favorite, Its truly hard to come up with 10…
Sun in Shining
Misty morning
Burnin n Lootin
Exodus
Lively up yourself
January 22nd, 2010 at 10:52 am
In my opinion:
1. Could you be loved
2. Buffalo Soldier
3. One love
4. No woman no cry
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:11 pm
redemption song is my fave
February 7th, 2010 at 12:19 am
Yesterday 6 februari i listen to lovely 3 great songs
1.Zimbabwe
2.Guiltiness
3.Natural Mystic
But all his songs are great!
February 11th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
small axe? anyone, a personal fave. my favorites go in this order
1.small axe
2.real situation
3.could you be loved
4.kaya
5.duppy conquerer
6.redemption song
7.coming in from the cold
8. i could go on forever……
March 14th, 2010 at 3:21 am
if its a marley list its gotta have no woman no cry, war, one love, red red wine,