Global Music Unit 2 Quiz Genres

Mento

Jamaica’s folk music before ska 40s-50s (banjo, guitar, hand drum, rumba box) (Bouncy, rustic, acoustic, and playful lyrics about everyday life). Ex. “Linstead Market” Louise Bennett and “Talking Parrot” Count Lasher

Ska

Fast, upbeat Jamaican dance music from the late 50s-60s that mixed mento with American R&B and jazz. Hope and optimism from Independence (Fast tempo, bouncy offbeat guitar or piano chop, a walking bass line, and prominent horns) Ex. “My Boy Lollipop” and “Forward March”

Rock steady

A slower, smoother successor to ska (66-68), (Slower tempo than ska, a bass that takes the lead with melodic lines, fewer horns, and a heavy emphasis on soulful vocal harmonies and love songs) “Baby I Love You” and “One Drop”

Reggae

Late 60s-70s Jamaican style that slowed things down even more and became the global sound of Jamaica. (One-drop pattern, a deep heavy bass, offbeat guitar or keyboard chops, and often Rastafari lyrics) Ex. “Chant Down Babylon”

Dub

A stripped-down remix style of reggae from the 1970s, made in the studio by producers like King Tubby and Lee “Scratch” Perry. (Mostly instrumental, bass and drums pushed forward, bits of vocals or instruments dropping in and out, heavy echo and reverb) Ex. “Baby I Love You So”

Two Tone

Late 1970s British ska revival from Coventry, named for the Two Tone label and black and white imagery (Ska’s offbeat rhythm sped up with punk energy, a rawer, edgier sound, and lyrics about racism, unemployment, and city life)

Third Wave

The ska revival of the 80s-90s mainly in the US (Loud, distorted electric guitars, fast punk and rock drumming, strong horn selections, and a party atmosphere)