Article Reprints And Article Excerpts About Jamaica's Dinki Mini Dance

JAFSProject, Apr 17, 2019

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a pancocojams post about Jamaica's Dinki Mini dances.

This post showcases a YouTube video of two couples dancing dinki mini and provides information from several online sources about Jamaica's Dinki Mini. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/04/jamaican-traditional-dance-dinki-mini.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II showcases two YouTube videos about Jamaica's traditional dance called "Dinki Mini". Selected comments from the discussion thread of one of these YouTube videos are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this video and thanks to the publisher of this videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/08/jamaican-dinki-mini-dancing.html for a 2012 pancocojams post entitled "Jamaican Dinki Mini Dancing". That post is Part I of a three part pancocojams series about traditional Jamaican dances. The links to the other posts in that series are given in that post. That 2012 post features other videos than the ones that are embedded in this 2021 pancocojams post. 

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ARTICLE REPRINTS AND ARTICLE EXCERPTS
These articles are given in no particular order. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

Article #1

FORMATION ABOUT DINKI MINI
From http://www.chat-bout.net/content/view/2758/1/ [The link to this article is no longer active. This article was quoted in the 2012 pancocojams post about Dinki Mini whose link is given above.
"What is Dinki Mini and Gerreh?

Both dances are of African origin of the wake tradition usually performed after the death of a person, and up until the ninth night after the death. These sessions are usually held to cheer the bereaved.

Dinki Mini originates from the Congolese word ‘ndingi’ which means lamentation or funeral song. Dinkies are celebratory occasions. Although associated with death, the music is lively, joyous, and exciting, intending to cheer the family and friends of the dear person. Dinki Mini was practised openly throughout slavery but is now done mainly during our annual Festival celebration.

However, it is still performed in the parishes of St. Mary, St Ann, St Andrew and Portland, while Gerreh is found in the parishes of Hanover, Westmoreland and St. James. Its popularity came about from the death of Tacky, a hero of the Maroons, as it was performed during his funeral celebrations.

Popular at set-ups or nine-nights, the first few nights consist of singing and dancing to Mento music. The sixth to the eighth night is dominated by ring games, role playing, riddles and Anancy stories. On the ninth night, a ritual to send off the ‘mature’ spirit to begin its journey ‘home’ is performed. The family of the deceased will ‘turn out’ the spirit by turning over mattresses and rearranging rooms.

The aim of the ritual is to properly send the spirit on its journey. Hymns such as “Rock of Ages” are sung.

Included in the activities, is the feeding of the dancers and singers who will not hesitate to remind the householders of this duty. This is done in song.

While refreshment is provided at the set-up, a mini feast is prepared for the Ninth Night. This consists of fried fish, coffee, or chocolate tea, crackers and bread. In some parishes curried goat and rice with mannish water (i.e. goat had soup) is served.

Instruments associated with Dinki Mini are shakas, katta sticks, condensed milk tins, grater, the tamboo (cylindrical shaped drum) and the benta. The benta is an accident stringed instrument – a fret board made of bamboo and a gourd resonator.

The Dinki Mini dance focuses in the pelvic region, as it is performed in defiance of the death that has occurred. The dancers, male and female together, make suggestive rotations with the pelvis in an attempt to prove that they are stronger than death, as they have the means to reproduce.

The lyrics of the songs associated with Gerreh are also suggestive. Gerreh however had another dimension – the bamboo dance – that is dancing on elevated bamboo poles and between four bamboo poles brought together and pulled back by four crouching players."

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Article #2
From https://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120721/news/news3.html " Islington Culture Group preserving Dinki Mini"
Paul H. Williams, Published July 21, 2012
"JEFFREY TOWN, St Mary: THEY ARE young, energetic and talented, and they created a stir at the St Mary Breadfruit Festival held on Sunday, July 15. And they were not making boiled breadfruit punch. They were tossing the Dinki Mini into the mix.

In what was easily the high point of the day-time segment of the festival of breadfruits, the members of the Islington Culture Group from St Mary used their bodies and voices to say loud and clear that the Dinki Mini is alive and kicking - pun intended.

The Dinki Mini has its roots in the Congo region of Africa, and it comes from the Congolese word, 'ndingi', which is a song of lamentation played at funerals or during the periods leading up to them. Though associated with death, Dinki Mini rituals were celebratory occasions of merriment and joy. The original purpose was to cheer up the family and relatives of the deceased.

This particular ritual of singing, music, and dancing was carried out in Jamaica by Congo people who were enslaved on plantations. The focus of the dance movements is on the pelvis. The hips are suggestively rotated by both male and female dancers. That erotic rotation is a story told by the hips about the ability to reproduce, a victory over death.

Bent knees and heel-and-toe foot movements are other important element of the Dinki Mini dance. The drums and other instruments are played in peculiar ways, and the music is characteristically lively and hypnotic, and can hurl performers and onlookers into a frenzy. And on Sunday, while the artistry of the young dancers was to be commended, the passion of the lead singers and musicians exploded at Ben's World, where the breadfruit festival was held.

cultural form

Nowadays, Dinki Mini rituals are practised mainly in St Mary, St Ann, and Portland, a region in which enslaved Congolese were concentrated. Groups such as the Islington Culture Group are making sure that the Dinki Mini is kept alive, not only at funerals, but also at festive and cultural events.

All under the age of 30, and graduates of Islington High School, where they had been involved in this cultural form, the members seem to be really interested in preserving the Dinki Mini. "Culture is nice and it's good for every young person, it don't matter where they are from. Get involved, know your culture, and keep it alive," Ricardo Forsythe, the leader of the group, declared, "We are the younger ones, but we have to teach the smaller ones who will replace us."

And although there is the allure of dancehall popular culture, which some people say is pulling younger Jamaicans away from our indigenous cultural forms, interest in the Dinki Mini is still very strong among young people in St Mary. Forsythe believes the group is an inspiration to other young people in their communities, and said he would never turn away anyone who showed an interest in his group, which used to perform for tourists at Tacky's Falls in St Mary. They will be performing at the grand gala on Independence Day."...

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Article #3
From https://jis.gov.jm/information/jamaicas-heritage-dance-music/jamaicas-heritage-dance/ 
Jamaica’s Heritage in Dance [no author or publishing date given]

" [...]

Dinki-mini
Dinki Mini is done on the Eastern end of the island in the parish of St. Mary. It is usually performed after the death of a person until the ninth night. These ‘Nine-Night’ sessions are lively and are held usually to cheer up the bereaved. During the performance the male dancer bends one leg at the knee and makes high leaps on the other foot. Both male and females dance together with very suggestive pelvic movements. An integral aspect of this dance is the use of the instrument called a benta.

[…]

Zella

This folk dance form is rarely heard of but is similar in form and structure to the Dinki Mini as it forms part of the death observances and rituals in Portland. The difference is in the main instruments which is a pair of Kumina drums.

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Article #4
From https://dance.lovetoknow.com/traditional-dance-jamaica
" [...]

Dinki Mini

Dinki Mini (from Congolese "ndingi," and called Gerreh in some parts of Jamaica) is performed over the course of a ritual wake, along with the Kumina. The dance has the same purpose - to cheer the mourners and remind them of life. Dancers sway with suggestive hip rotations, heel-toe stepping and bent knees in a performance which has become a cultural artifact. The Congo-derived moves can still be found where Congolese slaves first lived in Jamaica - in the parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary and Portland on Jamaica's northeast coast."

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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

(Jamaica Reggae singer) Bunny Wailer- "Cool Runnings"(information, lyrics, & comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of Bunny Waiker's 1976 song "Cool Runnings". 

This post presents information about Bunny Wailer as well as lyrics for the song "Cool Running". Information about the meaning of the Jamaica's phrase "cool running" is also included in this post.

This content is presented for cultural, inspirational, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owner.

Thanks to Bunny Wailer for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are associated with this video. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
Rest in Peace.
-snip-
Click https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/3/2/2018952/-Reggae-Legend-And-Rastafari-Bunny-Wailer-Has-Passed-The-Last-Wailer for an excellent article (with videos) about Bunny Wailer. That article by Tevye  entitled "Reggae Legend And Devoted Rastafari Bunny Wailer Has Passed. The Last Wailer."

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INFORMATION ABOUT BUNNY WAILER
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunny_Wailer
"Neville O'Riley Livingston OM (10 April 1947 – 2 March 2021), known professionally as Bunny Wailer, was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and percussionist. He was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he is considered one of the longtime standard-bearers of reggae music. He was also known as Bunny Livingston and Jah B.[2]

Early life and family

Wailer was born Neville O'Riley Livingston on 10 April 1947 in Kingston.[3] He spent his earliest years in the village of Nine Mile in Saint Ann Parish. It was there that he first met Bob Marley, and the two toddlers befriended each other quickly. The boys both came from single-parent families; Livingston was brought up by his father, Marley by his mother.[4][5] Later, Wailer's father Thaddeus "Thaddy Shut" Livingston lived with Marley's mother Cedella Booker in Trench Town and had a daughter with her named Pearl Livingston.[5] Peter Tosh had a son, Andrew Tosh, with Wailer's sister Shirley, making Andrew his nephew.[6]

The Wailers

Wailer had originally gone to audition for Leslie Kong at Beverley's Records in 1962, around the same time his step-brother Bob Marley was cutting "Judge Not". Wailer had intended to sing his first composition, "Pass It On", which at the time was more ska-oriented. However, Wailer was late getting out of school and missed his audition.[7] A few months later, in 1963, he formed "The Wailing Wailers" with Marley and friend Peter Tosh, and the short-term members Junior Braithwaite and Beverley Kelso.[8][9] Wailer tended to sing lead vocals less often than Marley and Tosh in the early years, but when Marley left Jamaica in 1966 for Delaware in the US, and was briefly replaced by Constantine "Vision" Walker, Wailer began to record and sing lead vocals on some of his own compositions, such as "Who Feels It Knows It", "I Stand Predominant" and "Sunday Morning".[10] Wailer's style of music was influenced by gospel music and the soul singer Curtis Mayfield.[11][12] In 1967, he recorded "This Train", based on a gospel standard, for the first time, at Studio One.[13][14]

[...]

Bunny Wailer toured with the Wailers in England and the United States, but soon became reluctant to leave Jamaica. He and Tosh became more marginalised in the group as the Wailers attained international success, and attention was increasingly focused on Marley. Wailer subsequently left the Wailers in 1973[20] and adopted the name "Bunny"[21][22] to pursue a solo career after refusing to tour when Chris Blackwell wanted the Wailers to tour freak clubs in the United States, stating that it was against his Rastafari principles.[23] Before leaving the Wailers, Wailer had become more focused on his spiritual faith. He identified with the Rastafari movement, as did the other Wailers. He has also written much of his own material as well as re-recording a number of cuts from the Wailers' catalogue. Wailer has recorded primarily in the roots style, in keeping with his often political and spiritual messages; his album Blackheart Man was well received.[21]

[...]

Wailer won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1991 for the album Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley, 1995 for Crucial! Roots Classics, and 1997 for Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley's 50th Anniversary.[31] He was also featured on the album True Love by Toots and the Maytals, which won the Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Reggae Album,"...
-snip-
Here's a comment from the discussion thread for the video that is embedded in this pancocojams post:
Festus Muthomi, March 2, 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYy5u-vchGc&ab_channel=cazupa
"Rest in peace bunny,the reggae music industry has lost a significant figure ever to be remembered n recalled by generation,condolenses to the family,friends,and the entire reggae family round the world,jah gives n jah takes,byebye legend,hope your legacy will be imparted to generations,so sad."

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LYRICS - COOL RUNNING
(Bunny Wailer)

Rope in
Come on and tune in
I said you ride in
'Cause this here session is vital

Check scene
Come on and ride in
I said you bide in
'Cause this ya riddim is I-tal

And it's a cool runnings
I know dancehall a go nice
Tell you it's a cool runnings
De riddim a go drip like sugar and spice
Say now, cool runnings
Jus' rock with your deeta all night long
I say now, cool runnings
While the disk jockey play your fav'rite song

Hey now, rope in
Come on and tune in
I said you riding
'Cause this riddim is vital

Check scene
Come on and groom(?) in
I said you ride in
'Cause this ya session invital

And it's a cool runnings
We all a go rock 'til broad day light
Singin' cool runnings
Me I-dren we nuh need no fuss nor fight
I say now, cool runnings
Say long, long time we nuh have no nice time
Yeah, cool runnings
Says rock to the riddim and the drum and bassline
Yeah, yeah

Rope in
Come on and tune in
I said you Ride in
'Cause this session is vital

And it's a cool runnings
I know dancehall a go nice
Tell you it's a cool runnings
De riddim a go drip like sugar and spice
Say now, cool runnings
Jus' rock with your deeta all night long
I say now, cool runnings
While the disk jockey play your fav'rite song
Say now, cool runnings
People spreading joy all over de place
I say now, cool runnings
With a smile upon the promotor's face
I say now, cool runnings
It's dawnin' of day at the gates
I say now, cool runnings
The gate man is beckoning "don't be late"
I say now, cool runnings
I know dancehall a go nice.......

https://genius.com/Bunny-wailer-cool-runnings-lyrics

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WHAT "COOL RUNNINGS" MEANS IN JAMAICAN PATOIS
Numerous online sources such as https://findanyanswer.com/what-is-the-meaning-of-cool-runnings indicate that "cool runnings" means "peaceful journey" in Jamaican patois.

I've not been able to find any information about when this phrase was first used, but apparently it predates the 1993 Disney movie "Cool Runnings" which is loosely based on the 1988 Jamaican Olympic bobsled team.

Click https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2018/02/19/jamaicans-are-bobsledding-again-but-cool-runnings-is-still-racist/ "Jamaicans are bobsledding again. Stop quoting that offensive movie." '
Cool Runnings' traffics in racist tropes.

Article by Christienna Fryar, Feb. 19, 2018 

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Selected Comments From A YouTube Discussion Thread Of Red Rat's 1997 Dancehall Song "Dwayne" (also known as "Oh No!")

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series about Red Rat's Dancehall Song "Dwayne" (also known as "Oh No!").

Part II showcases a YouTube interview with Red Rat about how he got his stage name and showcases YouTube sound file of Red Rat's song "Dwayne".

Part II also presents some comments from that sound file's discussion thread.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/04/red-rats-1997-dancehall-song-dwayne.html Part I of this pancocojams series. Part I showcases a YouTube sound file of Red Rat's song "Dwayne". Part I also includes the lyrics for that song.

That post also showcases a YouTube video interview with Red Rat about his hit songs "Shelly Anne" and "Dwayne".

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, informational, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Red Rat (Wallace Wilson) for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
I was motivated to publish this post because I heard that song on Pandora music radio and I thought the repeated lyric "Oh No! This is serious" fits this coronavirus pandemic so well.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Red Rat - Story Of How I Got My Name (247HH Exclusive)



RedRatMusic, Jul 27, 2015

Music Bed Produced By: Tha Hydrox

Introduction produced By: Mike Jaxx and Tha Hydrox
-snip-
Here's a paraphrased synopsis of that video:
"Red Rat" said that someone he knew gave him that name because when he was younger he was thin and looked like a rat and the "red" is what his skin color is called in Jamaica. Red Rat also said that in Jamaica people aren't called by their "government names", but are given nicknames. If you don't like the nickname you are given, they might give you one that is worse. So Red Rat said he just "ran with it" (went along with that nickname.)

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SHOWCASE SOUND FILE: Red Rat - Oh No!!!!!



Spyro Tek, Sep 21, 2007

Dwayne by Red Rat
-snip-
Statistics as of April 28, 2020 at 7:51 PM EDT
Total # of views - 2,154,495
Total # of likes -11K
Total # of dislikes -334
Total # of comments -376

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR THIS SOUND FILE
These comments are given in relative chronological order except for replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

I'm particularly interested in documenting and sharing some examples of comments written in Jamaican Patois and some examples of comments with African American originated vernacular words. However, I haven't highlighted those words or included any definitions or explanations.


1. deeblaq+, 2008
"i luv Red Rat!!!"

**
2. Ol' Gunner, 2008
"I was like 8 when this song came out didn't understand it then but I loved it non the less"

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3. SuperSweetness1986, 2009
"Big Big Big Tunnnnneeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

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4. stylez7o, 2009
"Yo! I don't care what u was doin at tha club (bathroom, tha bar, talkin to a cute honey) This song right hurr made u get on tha dance floor!! LOL"

**
5. Diego Aristizábal, 2009
"what di name of this riddim?"

**
REPLY
6. MajestyProds, 2012
"@ReggaetonFREAK44 my bad, its the fig leaf riddim"

**
7. victoriayooo, 2009
"THIS IS MY SONG! BADDD RIDDEM DEM"

**
8. Musweki Musanga, 2010
"OOOHH NOOOOOO! HAHHHA
IAMMOVIN4WARD!"

**
9. eb
"this song still shamcks at partiesss !"

**
10. diegotutiven, 2010
"reggae is not the same this days, this is reggae, bleesss from Panama"

**
11. Jay, 2010
"Damn this song is hot. I remember listening to this on the beaches of Greece. Thanks Jazz!"

**
12. Shadow Da Unseen, 2011
"This was the joint back in like 97-98 Reggae Gold Mix....
Take me back to Black Culture dayz Bo bo bo bo bo.."

**
13. MajestyProds, 2011
"this song is still bad!"

**
14. deedaone01, 2011
"Yo who got this track MP3 if any one got it can pls send it to me thanks"

**
15. emiliano1978india, 2011
"OOHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

**
16. Javier DeSousa, 2011
"i thought this song was call "Dwayne"

**
REPLY
17. Santace Bagheera, 2011
"it is called dwayne ur right i dont nu why they've named it so O .o"

**
18. Rio 9 Striker, 2011
"Big Tune who is he dissing?"

**
19. kerron100, 2011
"Shuld feel sorry for his dwag dwayne"

**
20. Ricky Blake, 2011
"Big tune back in the day's of a great rave up not getting in till 7pm"

**
21. Patrick Lubin, 2011
"BROOKLYN TOOK THAT BIG UP"

**
22. yizzer2, 2012
"anyone who dislikes can't understand what he's saying"

**
23. acebpd, 2012
"music today OOOOOOOOOOHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOO"

**
24. JamaicanLoveJamaicanLove JamaicanLove, 2012
"loveee red Rat <33333333333333333333" ** 25. Mikki Duhh, 2012 "I love when he said OH NOOO LOL ♥" ** 26. SoundScientist Laboratories, 2012 "Id say it was pretty big here in like the late 90s early 2000s....but i'm from Canada." ** 27. Rakeem Christmas, 2012 "14 people thought it was DIS-I-LIKE" ** 28. TreVaughn Hogan-Taylor, 2013 "still bumpin in 2O13 , OH YEEEEESSS @TreVaughnnn" ** 29. Tallboss TV, 2013 "im so happy i was born when real dancehall was still being made" ** 30. carlos villegas carranzam 2014 "De mis tiempos de adolecensia; muchas noches de baile; esta canción era un boooom" -snip- Google translate from Spanish to English "Of my adolescent times; many nights of dancing; this song was a boooom" ** 31. Ninja Noodle Chop, 2014 "When it's a classic the tune will always hype any club no matter how long ago it came out.." ** 32. nyya roundtree, 2015 "oh no mi luv him wen he say dat" ** 33. Juanita Audrey, 2015 "toute mon adolescence que de bon souvenir !!!!! Oh non non pourquoi le temps passe si vite " -snip- Google translate from French to English "all my adolescence as good memories !!!!! Oh no no why time flies so fast" ** 34. Nana Bimpong, 2016 "mi love dis track." ** 35. Tashunda Phelps, 2016 "I'm Not Jamaican But I Love The Music!" ** REPLY 36. Spyro Tek, 2016 "Music is universal, it doesn't matter what nationality you are. Stay blessed." ** REPLY 37. Mike Debauched, 2016 "Yup. One minute I'm listening to crusty punk from London, the next reggae. It's all good." ** REPLY 38. Buckles, 2018 "respek" ** REPLY 39. Johannah Tandy, 2018 "I've grown up with red rat and all the classics ❤💛💚 doesn't matter where you are from it's all about one love ❤💛💚" ** 40. Live Life, 2016 "Bwoy sah, eh eh, what a chune 🇯🇲" ** 41. Rezy Best, 2016 "I remember my brother played this song all over again summer 97-98 i don't know. is cool track all way from Somalia east Africa," ** 42. brokeman music, 2017 "this was a classic dancehall joinets" ** 43. Wil Ts, 2017 "miss this music" ** 44. ImBoReD, 2018 "Where my Caribbean people !!!! ** REPLY 45. Sterling FB6, 2020 "Deya🇯🇲💪🏼" ** REPLY 46. craig Smith, 2020 "Big up from Costa Rica" ** REPLY 47. Face Facey, 2020 "🇬🇾🙋" ** REPLY 48. jamol ronaldinho Ross, 2020 "Vincy" ** REPLY 49. Tidjy Kimisu, 2020 "Big Up from Guadeloupe, French Antilles." ** REPLY 50. Steven Dalloesingh, 2020 "Does Suriname count? Red Rat, Goofy and Mr. Vegas came through here and buss up dancehall!! Good timez!" ** REPLY 51. big taco, 2020 "🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷" ** 52. Théo Lenoir, 2018 "Oohhh noooo old scool 💚💛❤️" ** 53. Rebelious SoulJah, 2018 "Yow a serious ting this lmao...2018 up" ** 54. ODTMedia, 2019 "Absolute banger" ** 55. Sammy Gunzz, 2019 "Love my generation glad I lived thru the 90s best times of my life..Bushwick Brooklyn HOLLA!!!!!" ** 56. Adonna Frometa, 2019 "Brooklyn in the house me yeah" ** REPLY 57. John Stamos "EAST! NEW! YORK!!!!!!!" ** 58. Carlos V, 2019 "How is it possible to not like a certain genre of music and bop to it at the same time ?" 1997 flow" ** 59. ダイアナDaiana, 2019 "Oh noooooo ! Greetings from Medellín Colombia" ** 60. Monal Phantom, 2019 "Why is his name Red Rat though?" ** REPLY 61. Azizi Powell, 2020 "@Monal Phantom, I also wondered how he got that stage name. I guessed it was partly because he is light skin since "red" is one term that is used to refer to Black people with light skin in Jamaica ("Yellow" is another term as in the stage name for dancehall dj Yellow Man, who has albinism.) I searched online & found this quote about Red Rat's stage name: https://welcometojamrockreggaecruise.com/red-rat/
"“Yo... You [skin] red and you look like a rat!” In 1996 Wallace Wilson was about to emerge on the International stage as one of Jamaica’s most versatile, innovative and exciting performers, when he heeded then label mate General Degree’s point-blank observation and the name Red Rat was born."...
-snip-
This is how that quote was given on that jamrock page.

**
62. jamol ronaldinho Ross, 2020
"Reggea fest Montreal he killed it"

**
63. MASTER MILITARY, 2020
"Turn all the way up 🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

**
64. hat Easy, 2020
"I thought this guy was black 😂 love his songs thank you Jamaica"

**
REPLY
65. Don Anderson, 2020
"He is black"

**
66. sam H, 2020
"Covid-19 OH NOOOOOOOOOOO"

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This concludes Part II of this two part pancocojams series about Red Rat's song "Dwayne".

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visiting comments are welcome.

Red Rat's 1997 Dancehall Song "Dwayne" (also known as "Oh No!")

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series about Red Rat's Dancehall Song "Dwayne" (also known as "Oh No!").

Part I showcases a YouTube sound file of Red Rat's song "Dwayne". Part I also includes the lyrics for that song.

This post also showcases a YouTube video interview with Red Rat about his hit songs "Shelly Anne" and "Dwayne".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/04/selected-comments-from-youtube.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II showcases a YouTube interview with Red Rat about how he got his stage name and showcases YouTube sound file of Red Rat's song "Dwayne".

Part II also presents some comments from that sound file's discussion thread.

A YouTube interview with Red Rat about how he got his stage name is also included in that post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Red Rat (Wallace Wilson) for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
I was motivated to publish this post because I heard that song on Pandora music radio and I thought the repeated lyric "Oh No! This is serious" fits this coronavirus pandemic so well.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT RED RAT
Excerpt #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Rat
"Wallace Wilson (born 17 January 1978), better known by the stage name Red Rat, is a Jamaican dancehall reggae recording and performing artist.[1] He is known for his up-beat music, comical style, and signature catch phrase "Oh, no!"

Early life
Wilson was born in Saint Ann's Bay, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica.[1]

Wilson's father was the guitarist of Byron Lee & the Dragonaires, and two of his older brothers were also professional musicians.[1]

Red Rat's debut album, Oh, No.. It's Red Rat (1997), featured songs such as "Shelly Ann", "Dwayne", "Tight-up Skirt", "Cruise" (featured in the movie The Big Hit), and "Big Man, Little Yute". It became one of the best selling records from Greensleeves Records.”...

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Excerpt #2
From https://welcometojamrockreggaecruise.com/red-rat/
"Red Rat
“Yo... You [skin] red and you look like a rat!” In 1996 Wallace Wilson was about to emerge on the International stage as one of Jamaica’s most versatile, innovative and exciting performers, when he heeded then label mate General Degree’s point-blank observation and the name Red Rat was born.

[...]

Sadly, in 2007, Red Rat’s father passed unexpectedly and Red Rat took a short break from the music scene. During this time it allowed him to reflect on life itself, and the new direction in which his life was headed. He decided to reflect on a new direction for him as the artiste and a producer, who had to once again redefine himself. He began to educate himself more about the business of music and began to understand what his “Brand” is.

In 2009, Red Rat became the President and Musical Director at his independent record label which he co-owes which has partner Pascalli called Infinity Moguls Music Group. Red Rat, now all grown up, with a new image, new management, a new message and a new sound, along with a whole armada of new songs and productions, Red Rat took on this venture with poise and grace, which has now put him in an Iconic status.

[...]

In 2012, he made history with his artist and business partner Pascalli, when they wrote a song for Zimbabwe “Rise Up Zimbabwe” and then again in 2017 with “Never Give Up Zimbabwe”, which was embraced by the people and is used as a non-official anthem for the people. Also in 2017, Red Rat became the highest streamed Dancehall artist hitting 17 million streams on Spotify.

Red Rat’s focus is on his artist Pascalli, and is preparing to release his highly anticipated fourth (4th) studio Album in late 2019. Red Rat is an International Iconic Reggae & Dancehall Artist, possessing greatness that ensures that his individuality is very different from all the rest."...

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SHOWCASE SOUND FILE: Red Rat - Oh No!!!!!



Spyro Tek, Sep 21, 2007

Dwayne by Red Rat
-snip-
Statistics as of April 28, 2020 at 7:51 PM EDT
Total # of views - 2,154,080
Total # of likes -11K
Total # of dislikes -334
Total # of comments -376

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Red Rat - Story Behind Shelly Anne And Dwayne (247HH Exclusive)



RedRatMusic, Jul 16, 2015

Music Bed Produced By: Tha Hydrox

Introduction produced By: Mike Jaxx and Tha Hydrox

Red Rat talks to @247HH about the story behind Shelly Anne & Dwayne. #247HHEXCL
-snip-
Statistics as of April 29, 2020 at 2:36 AM EDT
Total # of views - 15,300
Total # of likes -146
Total # of dislikes -3
Total # of comments -12
-snip-
Red Rat tells how a girl named Shelly Anne and a boy named Dwayne were school mates of his. He said that both of them aren't happy with him for using their names in his records.

****
LYRICS: DWAYNE
(Wallace Wilson, a.k.a Red Rat)
Intro:
Lord mi say, if unno think say Shelley Ann a did scandal
Yuh nuh hear nutten yet
Dis yah a bout Dwayne
An him an Shelley Ann is not the same

Cho

Mi woulda shame
Mi an yuh a fren but trust mi Dwayne
Yuh caan have a girl an every night she complain

Mi vex inno, caw yuh a gi man bad name (oh no)
RPT

1. Yuh girl tell mi say, yuh caan even spen 5 minutes
She tell mi say, she fed up caw yuh wutliss
An she tell mi say a hol heap a time yuh flop
An yuh find excuse bout muscle contract
She tell mi say yuh weak an related to sleep
An when she waan dweet yuh a fight off di sheet
Marathon fi run, she get hot like the sun
An ready fi have fun, but yuh pop off an dun
Oh no !

2. She tell mi one night when di rain did a fall
Di wickedest time when nature start call
She waan yuh fi come tear dung har wall
Yuh say yuh couldn't come caw yuh a watch football
She all tell mi bout Valentines weekend
When yuh tek har to Drive-In wid yuh three fren
She embarass till she couldn't tell Gwen
How she spen Valentines wid you an 3 wise men
Ohh no !
Unno listen now nuh
Now she tell mi dat tings a get worst
She say yuh dead like body inna hearse
All yuh good fa a fi dress up like nurse
An she caan tek it nuh more, it hurt

3. Mi hear say man say dat, Guiness put it back
Mek yuh caan stop, tougher than rock
Irish Moss linseed sour sop
Den yuh wouldn't flop, yuh girl wouldn't chat
An yuh wouldn't haffi hear dis from Red Rat
Ohh no ! Dis is serious

From Top
-snip-

Album - Oh No... It’s Red Rat (1997)"...

Online Source: https://genius.com/Red-rat-dwayne-lyrics
-snip-
Here's information from that same genuis.com page about what this song is about
From freshousfresh 210, 2019:
"This song is about his friend name Dwayne who is unable to please his woman sexually. The girl now complains to Red Rat and he is very disappointed in his friend, Dwayne.

****
This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series on Red Rat's Dancehall Song "Dwayne" (also known as "Oh No!").

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

The Melodians - "Rivers Of Babylon" by The Melodians (with a video of Boney M's cover of this song)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases the song "Rivers Of Babylon" that was composed in 1970 by two members of the Jamaican Rastafarian Reggae trio The Melodians.

Information about and lyrics for that song are included in this post along with a sound file of The Melodians performing "Rivers Of Babylon" and a video of the German based group "Boney M" performing a cover of that song.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to The Melodians for their musical legacy. Thanks also to Boney M for their musical legacy and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
-snip-

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/02/jamaican-songs-about-river-jordan-part-i.html for this closely related 2013 pancocojams post entitled "Jamaican Songs About The River Jordan (Part I)". The link to Part II of that pancocojams series is found near the beginning of that post.

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/01/why-zion-and-mt-zion-are-frequently.html for a 2020 pancocojams post entitled "Why "Zion" And "Mt. Zion" Are Frequently Used In Names Of Black (African American) Churches".

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "RIVERS OF BABYLON"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_of_Babylon
"Rivers of Babylon" is a Rastafari song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of the Jamaican reggae group The Melodians in 1970. The lyrics are adapted from the texts of Psalms 19 and 137 in the Hebrew Bible. The Melodians' original version of the song appeared on the soundtrack album for the 1972 movie The Harder They Come, which made it internationally known.

The song was popularized in Europe by the 1978 Boney M. cover version, which was awarded a platinum disc and is one of the top-ten all-time best-selling singles in the UK. The B-side of the single, "Brown Girl in the Ring", also became a hit.

Background
Biblical psalms
The song is based on the Biblical Psalm 137:1-4, a hymn expressing the lamentations of the Jewish people in exile following the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC:[1] Previously the Kingdom of Judah, after being united under Kings David and Solomon, had been split in two, with the Kingdom of Israel in the north, conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC which caused the dispersion of 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel. The southern Kingdom of Judah (hence the name Jews), home of the tribe of Judah and part of the tribe of Levi, was free from foreign domination until the Babylonian conquest to which Rivers of Babylon refers.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion ... They carried us away in captivity requiring of us a song ... Now how shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?

The namesake rivers of Babylon (in present-day Iraq) are the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The song also has words from Psalm 19:14:[2]

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight...

[...]

Rastafari
In the Rastafarian faith, the term "Babylon" is used for any governmental system which is either oppressive or unjust. In Jamaica, Rastafarians also use "Babylon" to refer to the police, often seen as a source of oppression because they arrest members for the use of marijuana (which is sacramental for Rastafarians). Therefore, "By the rivers of Babylon" refers to living in a repressive society and the longing for freedom, just like the Israelites in captivity. Rastafarians also identify themselves as belonging to the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The original version specifically refers to Rastafarian belief in Haile Selassie, by changing references to "the Lord" in the Biblical text to "Far-I" and "King Alpha". Both terms refer to Selassie (Selassie's wife Menen Asfaw is known as Queen Omega).[3] In addition, the term "the wicked" replaces the neutral "they" of Psalm 137 in the line "they that carried us away captive required of us a song...".[4] According to David Stowe,

Brent Dowe, the lead singer of the Melodians, told Kenneth Bilby that he had adapted Psalm 137 to the new reggae style because he wanted to increase the public's consciousness of the growing Rastafarian movement and its calls for black liberation and social justice. Like the Afro-Protestant Revival services, traditional Rastafarian worship often included psalm singing and hymn singing, and Rastas typically modified the words to fit their own spiritual conceptions; Psalm 137 was among their sacred chants.[4]

Melodians version
After its release in 1970, the song quickly became well known in Jamaica"....

Boney M. version

"Rivers of Babylon" was covered in 1978 by Germany-based disco band Boney M., with a version that was released as a single. Boney M.'s release stayed at the no. 1 position in the UK for five weeks and was also the group's only significant US chart entry, peaking at no. 30 in the Pop charts. Boney M.'s version of the song remains one of the top ten all-time best-selling singles in the UK, where it is one of only seven songs to have sold over 2 million copies.[6] In Canada, the song was a top 25 hit on the RPM magazine's Top 100 singles chart and reached no. 9 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song also reached No. 1 on the South African Springbok chart, where it remained for a total of 11 weeks, making it the No. 1 song on that country's year end charts. The song was the first single from the band's equally successful 1978 album, Nightflight to Venus. Some controversy arose when the first single pressings only credited Frank Farian and Reyam (aka Hans-Jörg Mayer) of Boney M.; after an agreement with Dowe and McNaughton, these two were also credited on later pressings.

The Rastafarian language was excised from the lyrics for the Boney M. version. Although the group performed an early mix of the song on a German TV show and sang "How can we sing King Alpha's song" as in the Melodians version, it was changed to "the Lord's song", restoring the original, biblical words, in the versions that were to be released.[3] To fit the meter, "O Far-I" became "here tonight" rather than the original, biblical "O Lord"."....

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SHOWCASE SOUND FILE - The Melodians - "Rivers Of Babylon" (Official Audio)



Trojan Records Official, May 9, 2014

Original 1970 version by leading Jamaican vocal trio, the Melodians.


****
SHOWCASE VIDEO - [Boney M] Rivers of Babylon (1978)



E M.G.M, Jan 23, 2013

****
LYRICS - RIVER OF BABYLON
(The Melodians)

By the rivers of Babylon
Where he sat down
And there he wept
When he remembered Zion

Cause the wicked carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
How can we sing King Alpha's song
In a strange land?

Cause the wicked carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
How can we sing King Alpha's song
In a strange land?

Sing it out loud
Sing a song of freedom, sister
Sing a song of freedom, brother (sister)

We gotta sing and shout it!
We gotta jump and shout it!
Shout the song of freedom now, oh

So, let the words of our mouth
And the meditation of our heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight
Oh, Fari

So, let the words of our mouth
And the meditation of our heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight
Oh, Fari

Sing it again!
We've got to sing it together
Everyone (we've got to shout it together)
La la la la la, oh

By the rivers of Babylon
Where he sat down
And there he wept
When he remembered Zion

Cause the wicked carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
How can we sing King Alpha's song
In a strange land?

Cause the wicked carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
How can we sing King Alpha's song
In a strange land?

Sing it, sing it, sing it
See you got to sing it, brother
You got to sing it, sing sisters, yeah

Source: https://genius.com/The-melodians-rivers-of-babylon-lyrics

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

Bob Marley - "Blackman Redemption" (sound file, lyrics, comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a sound file of the Bob Marley song "Blackman Redemption. The lyrics for this song are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Bob Marley for his musical legacy. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Bob Marley - Blackman Redemption



Reggae Man Uploaded on Jul 11, 2009

Woy-a, Natty Congo:
A Dreadlock Congo I!
Woy-a, Natty Congo:
A Blackman Redemption! Woy-yo, yo-oo-wo-oo!
A Blackman Redemption! Woy-yo, wo-oo-wo-oo!

No need - no need to get jumpy;
No need and-a no need to get bumpy,
And-a no need - and-a no need to get bumpy;
No nee-nee-nee-nee-nee-nee-nee-need to get jumpy!

Youth and youth agree to:
Cool runnings; can you dig it?
Cool runnings; yeah, one more time! A-beg ya:
Cool runnings; can you stop it?
Cool runnings:
Spread out, spread out,
Spread out, spread out.

Tell you about the Blackman Redemption; can you dig it? (Oh, yeah!)
A Blackman Redemption; can you stop it?
Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!

Coming from the root of King David
Through to the line of Solomon,
His Imperial Majesty is the Power of Authority:
Spread out, spread out,
Spread out, spread out,
Spread out, spread out,
Spread, spread out.

No need - no need - no need to get jumpy,
And-a no need - and-a no need to walk away.

Let me tell bout ya:
Cool runnings, can you dig it?
Cool runnings: it's one more time we want it;
Cool runnings;
Cool runnings;
Spread out, spread out,
Spread out, spread out,
Spread out. Spread out, spread out.
Spread out, spread out.

It's just-a Blackman Redemption
Can you dig it (wo-yeah!) Good, Lord! Good, Lord! Good, Lord!
Blackman Redemption, can you stop it? Oh, no! Oh, no!
Blackman redemption
-snip-
Here's a reformatted comment from this sound file's discussion thread which quotes several lyrics from Bob Marley's songs:

TIm Bekkers, 2015
'wisdom is better than silver and gold'

'My music fights against the system that teaches to live and die'

'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery ,None but ourselves can free our minds'

'Me only have one ambition, y'know. I only have one thing I really like to see happen. I like to see mankind live together - black, white, Chinese, everyone - that's all'

'One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain'

all of them are true.
-snip-
Definition of "natty" - British English Dictionary http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/british/natty
"stylish and tidy in every detail"

****
EXPLANATIONS FOR SEVERAL WORDS OR PHRASES IN THIS SONG
A "natty" person is one who is quite fashionable. In the song "Blackman Redemption" Bob Marley is praising himself as being a stylish African man. (In the context of this song "Congo" means "African". "Dreadlock Congo I" means "I am a dreadlock African (an African man who wears his hair in locks -also known as dreads or dreadlocks.)

The words "Coming from the root of King David/Through to the line of Solomon,'His Imperial Majesty is the Power of Authority" refer to Haile Selassie I who was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930–1974). Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastafari for information about the Jamaican originated religion that reveres Haile Selassie I.

"Cool runnings" is a Jamaican term that means "[have a safe trip"; "peaceful journey".

"Can you dig it" is an African American vernacular English phrase that means "Do you understand?"

In the context of the song "Blackman redemption spread out" means something like "take this message further".

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

Song "Three Little Birds" (Bob Marley video & "Strange Magic" movie clip)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a video of Bob Marley singing his song "Three Little Birds" and a clip of that song from the 2015 American movie Strange Magic. Information about the song "Three Little Birds" and song lyrics are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for entertainment and aesthetic reasons.

Thanks to Bob Marley for composing and recording this song, and thanks for George Lucas' Strange Magic for including it in that 2015 film, and thanks for for doing the voice over for that song in that movie. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "THREE LITTLE BIRDS"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Little_Birds
Three Little Birds" is a song by Bob Marley and the Wailers. It is the fourth track on side two of their 1977 album Exodus and was released as a single in 1980. The song reached the Top 20 in the UK, peaking at number 17. It is one of Bob Marley's most popular songs. The song has been covered by numerous other artists"...
-snip-
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley for information about Reggae singer, song writer, and guitarist Robert Nesta Marley (Bob Marley).

****
LYRICS: THREE LITTLE BIRDS
(Robert Nesta Marley)

"Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right! "

Rise up this mornin',
Smile with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Each by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou: ")

Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."
Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right! "

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Each by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', "This is my message to you-ou-ou: "

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh!
Every little thing gonna be all right. Don't worry! "
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing" - I won't worry!
"'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right" - I won't worry!
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, oh no!
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!

Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/bobmarley/threelittlebirds.html

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MOVIE "STRANGE MAGIC" AND ITS COVER OF THE SONG "THREE LITTLE BIRDS"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Magic_(film)
"Strange Magic is a 2015 American computer-animated musical fantasy comedy film directed by Gary Rydstrom, produced by Lucasfilm, ... The film's screenplay was written by Rydstrom, David Berenbaum, and Irene Mecchi, from a story by George Lucas inspired by William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.[4] [The film's] score includes popular songs and standards, such as "Love Is Strange".[5]

Plot
Marianne, heir to the throne of the Fairy Kingdom, makes a flower to give to her fiancé, Roland, on their wedding day. She finds him in the middle of the woods and sees him embrace and kiss another fairy girl. Heartbroken, she calls off the wedding and vows to never fall in love again. Some years later, her younger sister Dawn is getting ready for the spring ball. She is nervous that none of the other male fairies will want to dance with her. Sunny, a short elf and her best friend, tries to cheer her up with a song."...
-snip-
African American actor, singer, and dancer Elijah Kelley does the voice over for the character "Sunny".

****
From http://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/film-review-strange-magic-1201410499/
..."In a twist that nods in the direction of “Midsummer” (apparently a key influence on the script by David Berenbaum, Irene Mecchi and first-time feature director Gary Rydstrom), Roland, still bent on winning Marianne’s hand and the crown that comes with it, decides to exploit the good-natured Sunny (Elijah Kelley), a diminutive, ebony-skinned elf who has unrequited feelings for Dawn. Injecting a self-conscious note of ethnic diversity into this cartoon universe, Sunny also happens to be the movie’s most likable character, not least when Kelley’s crooning his way through a cover of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.”"...

****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #1: Bob Marley Three little birds (Original)

.

CHauserable Published on Mar 19, 2013

Singin sweet song.

Music
"Three Little Birds (12" Mix (Dub Version))" by Bob Marley & The Wailers

****
Example #2: "Elf-Sized Serenade" Strangely Magical Musical Moment - Strange Magic



Touchstone Pictures, Published on Jan 11, 2015

Sunny (Elijah Kelley) and Dawn (Meredith Anne Bull) serenade each other in this Strangely Magical Musical Moment from Lucasfilm's Strange Magic. See the animated film, from the mind of George Lucas, in theatres January 23!

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Derrick Morgan - "John Crow Skank" (example, lyrics, comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a sound file of Derrick Morgan's 2001 Ska (or early Reggae?) tune "John Crow Skank". A bonus sound file of Lee "Scratch" Perry's instrumental record "John Crow Skank" is also included in this post.

This post also includes my speculations about the use of the name "John Crow" for these and other records.

Information about skanking and a video that documents an early form of skanking is presented in the Addendum to this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Derrick Morgan, and to Lee "Scratch" Perry for their musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all the publishers of videos that are included in this post.

RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/09/john-crow-part-i-what-john-crow-means.html "What "John Crow" Means In Jamaica"

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SHOWCASE SOUND FILE: Derrick Morgan - John Crow Skank - Pama Reggae



Mrrkdino, Published on Oct 8, 2012

Boss tune from Derrick Morgan.
-snip-
This is from the album "Straighten Up - Vol.2."

****
LYRICS: JOHN CROW SKANK
(Derrick Morgan)

Wacka wacka
Wacka wacka

Wacka wacka
Wacka wacka

Hey eh eh hey, little girl,
Little one girl
All dressed in blue.
You standin in the corner
Like you don’t know what to do.
Do you see that man
In his barefoot pants?
Just take him by his hand and say
Come let’s dance
The John Crow Skank.
Baby, will you do that?
Hun.
The John Crow Skank
Baby, will you do that?

Wacka wacka
Wacka wacka wacka

Lift the right foot out
And you jump to the back.
Shake your shoulders,
Get right on the beat.
That’s the John Crow Skank.
Baby, will you do that?
Hey!

Lift your arms,
And you rock your body line.
Jump to the back, baby, baby
Shake it in the line,
The John Crow Skank.
Baby, will you do that?
Hun.

Little one mama,
Dressed in your hot pants
You’re standing there
Why don’t you jump and prance?
You see that man
In his barefoot pants?
Just take him by his hands and say
Come let’s dance
The John Crow Skank.
Baby, you are doin it fine.
Hun!
The John Crow Skank
Baby you are doin it fine
Hey!

Wacka wacka
wacka wacka wacka
Wacka wacka
Hey!
-snip-
"Wacka wacka")
-snip-
This transcription is by Azizi Powell. Additions and corrections are welcome.

I think that "Wacka wacka" (or similarly spelled words) is meant to be imitative of the sound a vulture (John Crow) makes.

****
BONUS SOUND FILE: Lee Perry - Kotch Up Dub & John Crow Skank



RootsReggaeDubAmsterdam, Uploaded on Mar 13, 2010

From The Album: Skanking With The Upsetter
-snip-
"John Crow Skank" begins at 4:40 of this video.

****
ADDENDUM: INFORMATION ABOUT SKANKING [DANCE]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skank_(dance)
"Skanking is a form of dancing practiced in the ska, ska punk, hardcore punk, reggae, jump-up (a drum and bass sub-genre) and other music scenes.

The dance style originated in the 1950s or 1960s at Jamaican dance halls, where ska music was played.[1] British mods and skinheads of the 1960s adopted these types of dances and altered them. The dancing style was revived during the 1970s and 1980s 2 Tone era, and has been adopted by some individuals in the hardcore punk subculture.

Originally, skanking consisted of a “running man” motion of the legs to the beat while alternating bent-elbow fist-punches, left and right.[1] Over time, however, variations have emerged across the musical world. The punk version features a sharp striking out look with the arms, and is sometimes used in moshing to knock around others doing the same."...

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Skanking, Lesson By Tony Verity



Jyo Ska Uploaded on Jul 7, 2008

Ska Documental in 'Sombrero Club' With Byron Lee & The Dragonaires. Jamaica 1964
-snip-
Here's a comment about skanking from that video's viewer comment thread:
hultonclint, Feb 17, 2009
"This kind of dancing was sort of manufactured. Prince Buster himself said there was no distinct "ska dance" like this. Basically, this was to fit it "ska" as one of the "dance crazes" (think Cha cha cha, rhumba, the Twist, etc) that consumer (upper class) audience would do at the time. One way the music industry sold records was by popularizing dances that went w/ certain music. In 1964, there was an attempt to popularize ska in the US as the latest craze which is why they made up these moves."

****
SPECULATIONS ABOUT WHY THE NAME "JOHN CROW" WAS USED FOR THIS DANCE
I'm assuming that "John Crow Skank" was (is) just one of a number of different ways of "skanking".

Derrick Morgan's "John Crow Skank" fits the description of an of instructional dance song in that part of its lyrics give instructions as to how to do that dance. But I'm curious as to why the name "John Crow" would be used for a type of dance.

This article http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090517/arts/arts1.html Extracts from the 'Jamaica Journal' - "Plants, Spirits and the meaning of 'John' in Jamaica" by John Rashford (May 17, 2009) suggests that [the plant that Jamaicans call] "John Crow Bead, and it links - by virtue of John as a generic term - to the Christmas dancing in Jamaica called John Canoe (also spelled Jonkonnu) and to the vulture called John Crow (Cathartes aura)... all have the name John because of their relationship to the world of spirits and spirit possession."

That article also indicates that "John Canoe, who is the chief dancer of a troupe of dancers, is the spirit person or obeahman (variously described as a witch doctor, magician, jumbie-man or sorcerer) and both the John Crow and the John Crow Bead are associated with death and with materials used in the practice of obeah."
-snip-
I don't think that the John Crow Skank was meant to be religious or refer to death or the spirit world. Yet, if the concept of John Crow was connected to the Jonkanoo dancers, did that connection inluence the choice of the name "John Crow" for this skank dance. Or could the choice of that dance name be as uncomplicated as the possibility that the John Crow (Jamaican vulture) might be known for its dance like movements? Having never seen a John Crow, I don't know if its movements could be equated to a dance or not.

It should also be noted that Jamaicans also refer to a type of rhythm as "John Crow Skank rhythm".
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090719/ent/ent8.html "STORY OF THE SONG - One line makes a 'Bangarang'"
Editor's Note: This article is about the 1968 record "Bangarang" by Lester Sterling & Stanger Cole]
..."John Crow Skank

Among the musicians with whom [music producer Bunny 'Striker'] Lee worked at the time were Lloyd Chalmers, Aston and Carlton Barrett and Robbie Shakespeare. Cole definitely remembers keyboard player Glen Adams playing on Bangarang, introducing what was called the 'John Crow Skank' style into Jamaican music in the process"...

Another example of this rhythm is http://www.allmusic.com/song/john-crow-skank-rhythm-preacher-man-uk395-mt0012977802 John Crow Skank Rhythm: Preacher Man (UK395)

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"Bangarang" Means Different Things In Jamaica & In The USA

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post highlights the differences between the meanings of the word "bangarang" in Jamaica and in the United States.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/three-reggae-records-with-title.html for a companion post that showcases three Reggae songs entitled "Bangarang". That post includes selected comments about the word "bangarang" from the discussion thread of one of those featured YouTube sound files.

The content of this post is presented for etymology and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks all those who are quoted in this post.

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WEST INDIAN (JAMAICAN) DEFINITIONS FOR "BANGARANG"
From http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/english/bangarang
"Bangarang
Line breaks: banga|rang
Part of speech -noun

Meaning -An uproar or disturbance.

Origin - West Indian

probably imitative, but perhaps influenced by Portuguese banguelê 'riot, disorder'.
-snip-
By "probably imitative", my guess is that that editor means "imitating the sound of gun fire' ("bang bang").

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From http://jamaicanpatwah.com/
"Jamaican Patois [Patwah] and Slang Dictionary"
Bangarang
English Translation - Commotion

Definition - slang term used to describe a loud uproar or commotion

Example Sentences
Patois: A wah cause di bangarang over deh suh?
English: What caused the commotion over there?

[posted by anonymous on July 5, 2013]
-snip-
Note: An anonymous blogger also posted the meaning "old clothes" for bangarang. I've not seen that meaning anywhere else. I therefore discount this "old clothes" definition for "bangarang".
[UPDATE 10/20/2014: According to the OED online (Oxford (University) English Dictionary) "rubbish" and then "old clothes" are old meanings for the words that became "bangarang". Read more in the comment by slam2011 below. Thanks, slam2011!,

Given those early meanings of "bangarang", the theory that it comes from the Portuguese banguelê 'riot, disorder' might be more doubtful.]

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From http://niceup.com/patois.html#b "Rasta/Patois Dictionary and Phrases/Proverbs"
"bangarang - hubbub, uproar, disorder, disturbance."

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WHEN WAS BANGARANG FIRST DOCUMENTED IN THE CARIBBEAN?
UPDATE 10/20/2014 [Hat tip to blogger slam 2014 who found information about this word in the Oxford English Dictionary online.

The first documented use of the word that became "bangarang" was in 1935.

In 1967 (some sources give this date as 1968) Lester Sterling & [Wilbur[ "Stranger" Cole recorded a tune with the title "Bangarang". Some say that this is the first Reggae record.
[Update ends]

Here's an excerpt pf an article from the Jamaican newspaper about that song:
From http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090719/ent/ent8.html "STORY OF THE SONG - One line makes a 'Bangarang'", July 19, 2009 by Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer
"For a song that has just one line of lyrics, Strange Jah Cole's Bangarang packs a wallop of a musical punch.

Not only did it hit number one when it was released in 1967, as Cole told The Sunday Gleaner, but Bangarang, on which saxophonist Lester Sterling does most of the lead duties, was covered relatively recently by Freddie McGregor. And the term's use in Parliament when the political battle got hot, after it has long ceased to be hip street terminology, seems to confirm that Bangarang has served the purpose of language preservation as a side effect to simply being a danceable tune."...

[Stranger Cole happened to visit a music studio in Jamaican when music producer Bunny 'Striker' Lee was working on a song]

"Lee was happy to see Cole, saying, "Pro, you are the right man I am looking for. I have a song called Bongo Chant. I want to do it Jamaican style with Lester Sterling."

"He played it for me with his mouth," Cole said, humming the melody for The Sunday Gleaner, much slower than the hit Jamaican version. As Lee finished humming, Cole picked up on the melody and sang the line "Moma no want no bangarang".

And they went into the studio to record.

When The Sunday Gleaner asks Cole what he was thinking when he did the line, he replies, "It is not what I was thinking, it is what the word means. 'Bangarang' means problems, so to break it down it is 'mother no want no problems'."...

He points out that many people sing "woman no want no bangarang", but he actually said Moma.
-snip-
Examples of comments from various YouTube discussion threads for that Lester Sterling & Stranger Cole record as well as examples of comments from discussion threads of Freddy McGregor's song with the title "Bangarang" are included in that pancocojams companion post about this word. Those self-identified commenters define ""bangarang" in similar terms as have already been given by West Indian sources or by sources quoting West Indian people.

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AMERICAN [USA] DEFINITIONS FOR "BANGARANG"
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bangarang
"bangarang
1. Battle cry of the Lost Boys in the movie Hook.
2. Jamaican slang defined as a hubbub, uproar, disorder, or disturbance.
3. General exclamation meant to signify approval or amazement."
by Drewcifer511June 14, 2006

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"bangarang
The ultimate in excellence. Better than cool, rad or awesome. Saved for very special occasions. Word first used in the movie "Hook".
Dude 1: Man, I just found a cheap cure for HIV/AIDS.

Dude 2: Bangarang"
by James Tao KlauenburchAugust 08, 2004
-snip-
The 1991 American movie "Hook" was definitely not the first time that the word "bangarang" was ever used. However, that movie may have been the first time that "bangarang" was used as an exclamation of approval.

Here's a quote that credits the word "bangarang" in the "Hook" movie to the Jamaican word "bangarang":
From http://www.ibtimes.com/bangarang-peter-pan-obama-pays-tribute-robin-williams-famous-hook-quote-after-actors-death-1655602 "Bangarang Peter Pan': Obama Pays Tribute To Robin Williams, Famous 'Hook' Quote After Actor's Death"
By Cristina Silva @cristymsilvac.silva@ibtimes.com on August 11 2014 9:06 PM
" "Bangarang!" It was the Lost Boys' battle cry in "Hook" and now it's how fans worldwide will remember comedian Robin Williams. President Barack Obama paid tribute to the actor after his death Monday with a statement referencing one of Williams' most famous scenes. "Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between," Obama's statement read.

So what does "bangarang" mean? Williams slipped into Peter Pan's iconic green tights in Disney's 1991 "Hook." In the movie, Williams plays an overweight, adult Peter Pan who must be reminded of his youthful ways by the Lost Boys, who yell out "bangarang" in one of the film's funniest scenes when Peter Pan takes on the Lost Boys' replacement leader, Rufio. The Lost Boys signal their approval [of Peter Pan shouting insults back at Rufio] with cries of "bangarang," according to IMDB.com.

Electronic music producer Skillrex paid tribute to the scene with his hit song "Bangarang" in 2012. Skillrex calls out in the song: “Shout to all my lost boys. We rowdy. Shout to all my lost boys. Bangarang!”

OK, but what does it mean? Apparently, it's a Jamaican word that means disturbance."...
-snip-
The word "disturbance" was hyperlinked to this page http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/eight-things-you-never-knew-about-steven-spielbergs-1991-film-hook/story-e6frfmvr-1226845734260 "Eight things you never knew about Steven Spielberg’s 1991 film ‘Hook’".
Here's the relevant quote from that page:
"Real word: Bangarang is actually a Jamaican word which means disturbance."
-snip-
Here's another source that indicates that "Electronic music producer Skillrex paid tribute to the scene [in the movie "Hook"] with his hit song "Bangarang":
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangarang_(song)
"The title is a reference to the 1991 film Hook, in which the Lost Boys' catch cry is "bangarang!" "

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EDITOR'S COMMENT
My guess is that the word "bangarang" was appealing to the writers of the American movie "Hook" in part because of American's familiarity with both of that word's syllables - "bang[a]" and "rang", and in part because of the American vernacular meanings of the word "bang". Not only is the word "bang" associated with gun fire, in American vernacular English it can be used as a descriptor for something that is very good, awesome, and/or someone who is very attractive http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/bang. In addition, in American vernacular English "to bang [someeone] means to have sex with that person. [citation: online slang dictionary] Each of these meanings add to the cache and the memorability of the word "bangarang" for the "Hook" movie's viewers and for others.

The word "Bang" is also used in the United States [and by extention elsewhere] as an exclamation of approval and/or excitement. I'm not sure if that exclamation predates 1991 - the use of "bangarang" in the United States as it has been discussed in this post.

While West Indians might use "bangarang" as an exclamation, I don't think it means "something awesome", or at least it doesn't mean that in the same way that it is meant in the States. And if or when West Indians use the exclamatory form of "bangarang", I don't think that it usually "signify approval or amazement" except that it may mean approval of lyrics or statements that refer to Babylon [the establishment] falling. [Note: I recall reading some YouTube comments in which "bangarang" was used this way. However, I can't find them now.]

Any examples [with citations] and any corrections are very welcome.

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Eric Donaldson - "Cherry Oh Baby" (with lyrics & comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases the 1971 Reggae song "Cherry Oh Baby" by Eric Donaldson.

Selected comments about that song are included in this post along with my notes about some of those comments use of Caribbean Patois.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

Thanks to Eric Donaldson for his musical legacy. Thanks also to the publishers of this featured video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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INFORMATION ABOUT ERIC DONALDSON AND THE SONG "CHERRY oH BABY"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Donaldson
Eric Donaldson (born 11 June 1947, St. Catherine, Jamaica) is a Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter....

Donaldson ... submmitted "Cherry Oh Baby" to the 1971 Jamaican Festival Song Competition, going on to win the competition and giving him a big Jamaican hit single.[1] Donaldson has won the competition six times, in 1971, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1993 and 1997.[3] "Cherry Oh Baby" has been covered by both The Rolling Stones (on their 1976 album, Black and Blue) and UB40 (on their 1983 album, Labour of Love).[1] The riddim has remained extremely popular – over thirty cover versions have been recorded, including an update by Donaldson himself. Two of his festival winners ("Sweet Jamaica" (1977) and "Land of My Birth" (1978)) were written by Winston Wallace.[4] In an online poll held in 2103 by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, "Land of My Birth" was voted the most popular winner in the contest's history.[5]...

Donaldson currently lives in Kent Village, Jamaica where he runs the 'Cherry Oh Baby Go-Go' bar.[1]"

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From http://www.allmusic.com/song/cherry-oh-baby-mt0035138483
"Song Review by Jo-Ann Greene"
"For the pop masses, reggae music is defined by a handful of numbers -- songs like Desmond Dekker's "The Israelites," the Wailers' "Jamming" and "One Love," and Tony Tribe's "Red Red Wine," et al. Among these must be numbered Eric Donaldson's "Cherry Oh Baby," which swept away with the top prize at the Jamaican Independence Song Competition in 1971.

The single proved wildly popular, and boasted one of the most unforgettable rhythms in history. Overseen by Bunny Lee and expertly laid down by members of Inner Circle, the backing was built to appeal to the dancehalls, currently flocking around the latest dance craze -- the John Crow skank. Its swooping moves and intricate footwork were best displayed to a slower tempo and a stop-start rhythm. The band gives them precisely that; the hefty bass and guitar lines and the adamant organ riff are all sharply outlined by Lloyd "Tin Leg" Adams' staccato beats, and only Michael "Ibo" Cooper's piano adds some frills to the stomping power of the riddim. Overhead, Donaldson woos Cherry for all he's worth, and Lee's production and the arrangement showcase the former West Indian at his best. Emotive, warm and tender, soulful and impassioned, the singer makes his play, and one can't imagine that in response the girl didn't fall straight into his arms.

Certainly groups worldwide fell head over heels for this number, which -- beyond the usual spate of Jamaican versions -- was covered by an amazingly diverse range of bands, including the Rolling Stones, who covered it on their Black and Blue album; UB40, who put their's into the U.K. Top 15; and reggae-core heroes Sublime. Donaldson, who inspired them all, never saw his original chart outside Jamaica, but can take comfort in knowing he delivered up an international favorite."
-snip-
That review is reformatted for this post.

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE - Eric Donaldson - Cherry, Oh Baby



GioSkaRocksteady, Published on Mar 27, 2012

(1971)

[LYRICS - CHERRY OH BABY
(written by Eric Donaldson)

Oh Cherry oh, Cherry oh, baby,
Don`t you know I`m in need of thee?
If you don`t believe it`s true,
What have you left me to do?
Look how long I,ve been waiting,
For you to come right in.
And now that we are together,
Please make my joys come over*

Whoa -oh-oh-oh oh oh oh oy
Whoa -oh-oh-oh oh oh oh oy
Yea-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay
Yea-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay

Oh Cherry, oh, Cherry, oh, baby,
Don`t you see I`m in love with you?
If you don`t believe I do,
Then why don`t you try me?
I will never let you down,
I will never make you wear no frown.
If you say you love me madly,
Well babe I will accept you gladly.

Whoa -oh-oh-oh oh oh oh oy
Whoa -oh-oh-oh oh oh oh oy
Yea-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay
Yea-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay

Oh Cherry, oh, Cherry, oh, baby,
Don`t you see I`m in love with you?
If you don`t believe I do,
Then why don`t you try me?
I will never let you down,
I will never make you wear no frown.
If you say you love me madly,
Well babe I will accept you gladly.

Whoa -oh-oh-oh oh oh oh oy
Whoa -oh-oh-oh oh oh oh oy
Yea-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay
Yea-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay
-snip-
*"joy come over" = to feel joyful

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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT "CHERRY OH BABY"
From another uploaded example of this sound file https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTRLKqGDHao published on YouTube in 2008 by S4INT MYTHZz "Cherry Oh Baby original With Lyrics By Eric Donaldson"
[along with some notes that I've added]

blazey2, May 25, 2011
"boooooom! BIG TUNE!!!
i'm lookink for the version made by Charlie Chaplin! anyone?"
-snip0
"Boom" is an interjection that indicates enthusiasm for or about (excitement about) something.

In the Caribbean, the word "tune" means the entire song and not just the music.

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Kushprincess66, Mar 8, 2012
..."this tune still sounds fresh after all these years, a lot of years.
-snip-
Notice the tag name for this commenter. "The Kingdom of Kush or Kush was an ancient African kingdom situated on the confluences of the Blue Nile, White Nile and River Atbara in what is now the Republic of Sudan...After king Kashta ("the Kushite") invaded Egypt in the 8th century BC, the Kushite kings ruled as Pharaohs of the Twenty-fifth dynasty of Egypt for a century, until they were expelled by Psamtik I in 656 BC". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Kush
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15heartz, Aug 7, 2012
"i swear theres another reggae version?"

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Cam Yallits, Jan 31, 2013 in reply to 15heartz
"He has another version, with the upsetters, the tempos a bit faster, and is extended, its about 5:40 long."

*&
LionEntity, 2012
"My GOD what a heavenly voice this bredren have"
-snip-
"Bredren" = brother (man)

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ijah mano, May 9, 2012
j'adore!!!!! big up
-snip-
"j'adore" - "I love it"

"Big Up" means to "Give praises/compliments to or for something". Written alone it probably means that "I am complimenting this song (and/or singer).

I wonder if "Big up" meaning came from the statement "Give a big round of applause (a big hand clap to or for something.)

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ben gitonga, Jun 23, 2012
"a bigggggggg tchuuuuuuuune......."
-snip-
In Standard American English I think this comment would be "[This is] a very big [very popular/hit] tune (song).

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Avery Forrest Braun, Dec 3, 2013
"Boombastic"
-snip-
"Boombastic" probably come from the much older word "bombastic". However, while "bombastic" (high-sounding; high-flown; inflated; pretentious) is a negative descriptor, "boombastic" is an adjective that means "amazing" ,"awesome". "Boombastic's" meaning is the same as or very similar to the [no longer used] African American Vernacular English phrases "out of sight" and [something is] "the bomb".

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dontbothermewithchannelsAug 5, 2014
[title of this video] "With Lyrics By Eric Donaldson" There are different versions of the song with different lyrics
-snip-
The "Cherry Oh Baby" lyrics that are sung by UB40 and by the Rolling Stones are slightly different than the original lyrics written by Eric Donaldson.

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