‘No surprise’ at Marley ‘One Love’ Reggae Grammy win

Music scholars Dr Sonjah Stanley Niaah and Clyde McKenzie said they are "not surprised" that ' Bob Marley: One Love- Music Inspired By The Film (Deluxe)' won Best Reggae Album at the 67th Grammy Awards held on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

Stanley Niaah, senior cultural studies lecturer at The University of the West Indies, said she "saw this win coming".

"There was no way Paramount and the Marley Family would have left lobbying for the One Love soundtrack off their agenda following the hit film, with a massive global promotion and the chance it gave new generations to get in touch with reggae music from a golden era," she told THE STAR.

"The Grammy Awards require voting by industry members of the Recording Academy and they have hardly ever turned their backs on a Marley. Congrats to the nominees in the category [who] now have a chance to use the title 'Grammy nominated artiste,'" she added, noting that, "it takes [both] influence and lobbying to sway voters".

McKenzie said though all the other nominees are talented acts, the Bob Marley: One Love album would have been hard to beat.

"It is coming from a successful picture and quite honestly, the music is just so beautiful and fresh. I don't think anyone should have been too surprised or disappointed by the outcome," he told THE STAR. The album gained the win over dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel's Party With Me, Collie Buddz' Take It Easy, Shenseea's Never Gets Late Here and The Wailers' Evolution.

The winning soundtrack album was produced by Tuff Gong and Island Records and released last February. The 10-track album featured cover versions and interpretations of Marley's iconic songs, performed by various artistes. Though the Marley win was anticipated by many, several fans were optimistic about the possibility of Vybz Kartel taking home the win for dancehall.

"I believe the last few months have been surreal for Vybz Kartel. Imagine being released from incarceration when many thought he would never see freedom until he was an old man ... to securing a visa and heading to the Grammy's as a nominee; [and] of course one cannot forget his massive concert, Freedom Street at the National Stadium," shared McKenzie. However, though he did not win, he opined that "the [Marley] album satisfied all the eligibility requirements and was outstanding".

"No favours needed. Bob Marley is the standard by which reggae is judged internationally. That is the way it is," he opined. However, according to Stanley Niaah's 2018 study on the 'Marley factor', the general belief is that "if a Marley is nominated, other artistes are immediately at a disadvantage".

"When Junior Gong's appealing S tony H ill and Chronixx's celebrated Chronology were both nominated in the same category, Junior Gong won the award but there was much disappointment. Ultimately, I considered some objective factors on the Marleys' rates of production, questions of quality, musical taste and of course the politics of the Recording Academy. There is a huge gap in perception, understanding, influence, and engagement in the awards process around Jamaican music. Over the years we have observed that up-and-comers get pushed to the side for nominations if they lack major label support, corresponding influence, and lack of understanding of the selection process," she reasoned. The scholars also believe that the global impact of the Marley-inspired film also propelled the win.

"The soundtrack was outstanding. The fact that it came from a popular film would certainly not have hurt," shared McKenzie. Stanley Niaah expressed happiness at seeing the follow-through from a great film with a great soundtrack winning the Grammy Award.

"Most of all I am happy that the winning album in the category was actually a reggae album. There is need for some lobbying to put dancehall in its own category," she said.

However, as other artistes look towards a Grammy win, McKenzie advised them to "keep churning out music which will be able to secure a Grammy nomination and international recognition". Stanley Niaah also encouraged artistes to "pay attention to the quality of their music".

"The music has to stand the test of time. Quality has never been excluded as a factor in what defines 'good music,'" she said.