I’ve said it before and I will say it again until my lungs give out. I love music! Music makes me happy, hopeful, and excited about life and humanity. Music is such a powerful force that can link people together despite race, gender, belief, everything. Music can unite people, save people. Something can grab you in a song without explanation or meaning, your heart can interpret it in a different way even the artist meant. Music can help you through work, suffering, heartbreak, loss, and be the soundtrack of your greatest achievements, happiest moments, love, excitement, relaxation, work out, sleep…your life. The right song can get you through anything, and remind you how beautiful it is to be alive.
I think music is one of the most powerful forces in the universe that should always only be used and interpreted for good. I’ve been reading a lot of books lately, mainly memoirs of my favorite artists and musicians that link history, their life story, and the story of their music. When a friend and I wanted to make plans I decided that for the first time in a year I really wanted to make it to the movies. I always love watching movies, going to the theater, watching my favorites at home with friends and family; but for some reason I haven’t been able to get to a theater in a while. In fact, without a television/cable I never really had a clue as to what movies were even out right now (or for the past year!). Since my favorite theaters in Philly are the Ritz, smaller independent movie theaters, I immediately looked into those first. After reading several movie descriptions to get an idea of what was playing I came across “Marley”, a documentary of the legendary musician Bob Marley. I always loved him and his music, but to be honest I had no idea of his story and the story behind his music.
On Wednesday night, two days prior to the anniversary of his passing, today, May 11th in 1981, I went to see this beautiful, inspiring film. I was so honored to learn about his life and how much music affected him and shaped who he was as a person. He came through so much adversity throughout his life with such an overwhelming positive energy, attitude and smile. He never gave up on his music, on his people, on his country, or on his fans. Even after getting shot, and with the absolute chance he might get assassinated for playing a free show for peace in Jamaica, he played the show anyway, and later even through teargas. He promoted peace, love and happiness through his music and radiated it through his life. In his eventual fortune, he never stopped giving, to his friends, family and even strangers. He was rich in mind, body and soul and the riches that the rest of the world thought essential he didn’t need.
Listening to his music throughout the film gave his songs so much more meaning to me. I saw where the lyrics came from and what he was really portraying throughout the gorgeous poetry of his songs. Not only did the movie want to make me go back and re-listen to Bob Marley’s whole catalog from The Wailers to his last album; it makes me want to live the positivity, energy, and love in his music. To promote peace in everything I do as he did. He used his eventual fame and voice through his music to spread words of peace, to unite the world, and even after his passing his music still does for generations. What can be more powerful than that?
I urge you all to see this movie while it is still in theaters, and if you are moved even a fraction of how much I am right now, it will be the best money on a movie you’ve spent.
“The winds that sometimes take something we love, are the same that bring us something we learn to love. Therefore we should not cry about something that was taken from us, but, yes, love what we have been given. Because what is really ours is never gone forever.”-Bob Marley
“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” – Bob Marley
Rest In Power.
xx
