The Best Bob Marley Songs in Honor of his 75th Birthday
The Reggae icon, who would have been 75 today, made some of the greatest protest music ever made.
While it's nearly impossible to put a cap on the number of hits reggae legend Bob Marley attained in his career, there are a few songs that universally take the cake–and no, "Three Little Birds" is not one of them.
The Reggae icon, who would have been 75 today, made some of the greatest protest music ever made, and he inspired international social justice as a result. "His artistic fearlessness and social commitment remain an inspiration to activists, musical and otherwise. His songs of freedom have become universal hymns," wrote Rolling Stone. In honor of his birthday, here are some of Bob Marley's biggest hits.
No Woman, No Cry (Live)
While there are plenty of live recordings of Bob Marley's moving anthem, the Lyceum Theatre performance in London in 1975 was an iconic moment in the career of Bob Marley. The original Natty Dread version was much more upbeat, but on Live! Bob Marley slows the song down to give it a blues edge. That's not to mention the addition of organs, gorgeous harmonies from the I-Threes, and that goosebump-inducing audience chant. It elevated the song to new heights, and even now it's the preferred version to the original. The song itself is about England's colonization of Jamaica, giving the moment that extra umph when you realize he's in London.
▲Redemption Song
The iconic track off Uprising is still, to this day a powerful call to protest. Crafted over the course of a year towards the end of his life, the song was originally omitted from the album when he previewed it for Island Records in 1980. Chief Chris Blackwell pushed him for more music, so Marley played "Redemption Song" for the executive the following day. The song was the antithesis of a Marley song, slow and haunting; it wasn't remotely close to reggae music people had known it. Yet, when it hit the masses, it took on a life of its own, embodying the emotional exhaustion of living a life of protest while simultaneously serving as a call for unity. "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery," and other lyrics paint Marley not as an artist but a prophet, here on earth to serve a higher calling.
▲Could You Be Loved
I mean, who doesn't love this song? Everything about it is infectious ear candy. The bouncy keyboard and jubilant guitar riff, the anthemic chorus, the I-Threes making the ""song title sound like a radio jingle." It remains one of Marley's most popular songs, and it was the only single to breakthrough Billboard's Dance chart. It remains a reggae classic and has been covered by everyone, including all of Marley's sons, in at least one live performance since his death.
▲Exodus
In this 7-minute-epic, Marley speaks directly to his fellow Rastafarians, comparing the story of Moses to that of Rastafarian's journey to freedom. The song was recorded after a failed assassination attempt on Marley's life forced him to travel to London. "Are you satisfied with the life you're living?" he calls out to his fellow Rastas. It was Marley's only Top 20 R&B single, thanks in part to its amalgamation of disco, funk, and reggae. It remains an adored deep cut for Marley fans.
▲One Love
A moving message of devotion and unity, Marley's "One Love" remains a go-to slogan in times of heartache or crisis. Released three different times, the track evolved from an upbeat ska track in 1965 to its slowed-down counter-part in 1977 for Exodus. It took on a larger-than-life meaning after Marley's passing, and it was chosen by the BBC as its official anthem on Millennium Eve. The song was an international hit and remains a powerful call for peace and love.
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