OK people! This is Lover's Rock!

This is to be considered part 2 of Reggae, 'Face it: It's Awesome!'When people tell you reggae all sounds the same they are totally mistaken. There exist so many variations in the evolution of reggae with differences both subtle and vast to make this statement is both a showing of folly and of ignorance. Although I can forgive this mistake because my heart is infinitely compassionate. I will not abandon you to this ignorant existence and like the thousand injuries of Fortunado this situation will not go on unredressed.
So firstly let's listen to some Sugar Minott and learn about lover's and the evolution of dancehall.


Lover's Rock or as it is more commonly referred to by it's fans lover's is a style of reggae dancehall mainly consisting of slower "rub a dub" style rhythms and lyrics about love. Love songs and crooner style songs have been an important part of Jamaican musical history since the beginning. In fact a large amount of early ska and rocksteady tracks are covers of American rhythm and blues love songs.These covers mixed with Jamaican musical innovation developed into the style we know generally as reggae today. Artist like John Holt, Gregory Isaacs, Johnny Nash and Ken Boothe made long careers for themselves singing sweetly over rocksteady and more traditional roots reggae sounds. However in the in late 60's and 70's a new style began to develop based on "toasting" a rap like singing style developed and made popular by artist such a U-roy.


U-roy

So the story goes first there was mento, then there was ska then rocksteady then dub then reggae then toasting came along and you have dancehall which splits into consciousness , slackness and lover's.


Sugar Minott

The appeal and popularity of lover's rock came about in the early 80's. The late 70's in the world of reggae saw a major curve in the spike of the influence of Rasta on the culture. It's uncompromising religious fundamentalism and political militancy did not play well to all audiences in England where reggae had most firmly taken root outside of Jamaica. At this time artist like Sugar Minott , Bobby Parker and Carroll Thompson began to appear on the scene. Providing a sweet and smooth new danceable style for lovers to rock to in partnered dance. Thus lover's rock or just lover's as you hear it shouted in dancehalls round the world.


Sugar Minott



Louisa Mark


Caroll Thompson

In more contemporary sound we have something like this.

Busy Signal


Buju Banton