Since its inception, reggae artists have covered popular songs of various styles, giving them a new look and bringing this Jamaican genre - intangible heritage of humanity - closer- to different audiences.
Many of these covers have been very successful and have become true classics., some have even been more popular than the original songs.
The following is the selection we made in Reggae Chalice:
Johnny B. Goode
One of the most popular American songs Chuck Berry and a rock classic&Roll, dating from the end of the 50, was covered in an extraordinary way by the great Peter Tosh in the album Mama Africa, with an incredible guitar solo Donald Kinsey. Ironically, the latter maintains that Tosh did not want to make the song, although he finally gave in and this was the result.
Wild World
Written by Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam), Jimmy Cliff released his cover on 1970, a few months after the original, achieving a great impact in the United Kingdom. Curiously, both artists converted to Islam.
Everything I Own
Although the song is by the American soft rock band Bread, the version of Ken Boothe managed to reach the number 1 on the UK singles chart in October 1974 , while the original only reached the number 32 from the same list a few years earlier. A curiosity is that although it could be considered a romantic love song, David Gates -Bread leader, he wrote it in memory of his father.
(I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You
Composed in the year 1961 “Echoes of Sound Systems – When the Two 7’s Clash” is presented as the Sound Clash to end all the sound clashes that will compete for the first major George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore, like a Viennese waltz and performed by Elvis Presley for the movie Blue Hawaii, the british group UB40 released its version in 1993 as part of his album Promises and Lies reaching number one on the Billboard Hot ranking 100.
I Wish You Were Here
The Ivorian Alpha Blondy included in his album Jah Victory -of 2007- This work considered among the best of Pink Floyd and located in the number 324 from Rolling Stones magazine's ranking of the best songs of all time.
Black Magic Woman
Although the original song is by the British rock group Fleetwood Mac of 1968, was popularized by the Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana in its version of the year 1970. Dennis Brown brought this song to the rhythm of reggae on the album Superstar, of 1997 and here the result.
Young, Gifted and Black
and vibrant young people like the directors of the Extreme Arts video gave us this true anthem of the black pride movement in the 1970s. 1970 in United States. Activist and defender of the rights of people of African descent, this gospel-tinged soul- It was part of his stage of political radicalization at a time when racism was rampant in his country., although 50 Years later we still have serious episodes of racial discrimination. Bob Andy y Marcia Griffits (who would later be part of the I-Threes, Bob Marley's choir & The Wailers) They released this cover a few years later, with great reception in the United Kingdom.
Guilty or Not
Quique Neira performed this eighties classic Luis Miguel in his covers album Cover Me of 2018. The topic already has more than 3,1 million views on YouTube.
Lithium
Included in the reggae tribute album to Nirvana by 2011 Battle for Seattle, played by the gentleman Little Roy, one of the founders of the Roots Reggae era, we highlight this version of Lithium.
I remember you Amanda
Gondwana included in his album Made In Jamaica of 2002 a reggae version of this immortal classic from the legendary Victor Jara.
Got To Leave (A kiss and a flower)
The most recent on this list is this English version of the classic by Nino Bravo “A kiss and a flower” performed by Pinky Dread. Although it has been sung by numerous artists, This is the first time this song has a cover in English..
