Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Top 10 best Bob Marley songs

Bob Marley

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:

40 Comments

  • Tim says...

    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.

  • Chatelain says...

    Trenchtown Rock – Hit me with music – or mu-sack, as my boy says.

  • dylan says...

    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

  • Blake Snow says...

    Confirmed: I forgot one: Let the Cap Fit!

  • Alae Kamel says...

    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.

  • Mr. Raley says...

    Time Will Tell…my favorite along with Iron Lion Zion

  • kaveh says...

    Tnx 4 ur blog but in my opinion his best song is no woman no cry

  • Fruitybooter says...

    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

  • mike says...

    mellow mood

  • getch says...

    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

  • chris says...

    midnight ravers, natural mystic, positive vibrations chill beats.

  • christopher says...

    you forget waiting in vain.
    && pimpers paradise.

  • maryjane says...

    i love the marley brothers so being able to read about one of them is amazing!!

  • Juner671 says...

    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

  • Saliya says...

    Get up stand up
    One Love
    Natural Mystic
    could you be loved
    turn your light down low should be included

  • loose says...

    great list, but as many of you have stated, it is an impossible task to select the top ten. how about adding ” CONCRETE JUNGLE “

  • Trauma95 says...

    No Woman No Cry is my favorite

  • Jon says...

    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.

  • Mike says...

    Mr.Brown, don’t know why but this song always struck a cord with me.

  • Nick says...

    Babylon System cannot be forgotten

  • Guilherme says...

    “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!

  • Bob says...

    Three Little Birds is the best song by Bob Marley…. My Opinnion

  • QUENDI says...

    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!!!!!!

  • James says...

    No woman no cry live is one of the best songs ever written. Why the hell isn’t it on the list?

  • Geoffrey says...

    africa unite

  • J Domingos says...

    All good but have you ever listen to Stiff necked

  • Casey griffin says...

    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!

  • carlyann says...

    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

  • Gustavo says...

    Redemption Song !! for me :O

  • Lucas says...

    i dig all bob marley’s songs, but one in special that nobody mentioned is Exodus!

    i go to another dimension listening to it!

  • Dan says...

    Love them all. Surprised Redemption Song wasn’t mentioned though. One of my favorite songs of all time.

  • mattHOW says...

    GET UP, STAND UP??????????

  • Alphaaa says...

    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

  • urshurak says...

    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.

  • Chef John says...

    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

  • Arun says...

    In my opinion:

    1. Could you be loved
    2. Buffalo Soldier
    3. One love
    4. No woman no cry

  • rob says...

    redemption song is my fave

  • math says...

    Yesterday 6 februari i listen to lovely 3 great songs

    1.Zimbabwe
    2.Guiltiness
    3.Natural Mystic

    But all his songs are great!

  • dj guiles says...

    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……

  • LoI says...

    if its a marley list its gotta have no woman no cry, war, one love, red red wine,

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