After releasing a series of albums for the Virgin record label, Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers aligned themselves with a brand new imprint, Elektra Records and brought out their follow-up to 1993’s “Joy & Blues,” called “Free Like We Want 2 B.” Note the Prince-like spelling. Personally, I never heard the album until some time in 2007, when I found all the MP3 files on somebody’s blog. I made the silly mistake of burning to a CDR disc, thinking that I’d never actually find a tangible copy being that the album was fairly old by that stage. Of course the following year I bought myself a used copy. Is that enough for ya? No? Oh well….I’m still gonna offer my critiques of each & every track.
Power To Move Ya: This was the fist single lifted from the album in late ‘95, and when I saw the video clip, I was instantly hooked. It’s definitely a different style of reggae that they’re performing here…..it’s much more uptempo and even has a few rock guitar riffs in it. Sounds very cool nonetheless. Lyrically he’s talking about trampling all over Babylon & telling folks to free their minds and what not. So in that respect it’s really not that much different to a reggae song anyway. I also recall Ziggy & his siblings performing this one on the sitcom “Family Matters” back in the day. Have I ever seen love mad? No I don’t think I have. However, I do think that is a very interesting question. This was one of my faves back in the day, despite the fact I never bought the single. Actually it’s probably my favourite Ziggy Marley song. “JAH got the power ta move ya!!! JAH got tha power ta move ya!!!”
Free Like We Want 2 B: So far we’re only 2 songs into the album, and already we’re hearing the title track. Musically it’s much more of a ‘conventional’ type of reggae song, compared to the last tune. Other than that its lyrics most definitely make you think. Ziggy tells us of how we feel like getting up and leaving our jobs, but we aren’t allowed to do that because our boss will deduct money from our pay. Just like his father, he’s telling us to stand up for our rights and not to become slaves. Mental or otherwise. I love that message, but unfortunately life is not like that. Most of the time you have to stick around & work longer hours. Overall, the song is damn good.
Today: Although Ziggy wrote this song himself, he takes more of a backseat on this next cut, along with his brother Stephen & lets his sisters Sharon & Cedella sing the lead vocals, along with the help of another one of his backup singers, Erica Newell. The lyrics are seemingly along the same lines as the music – very uplifting & danceable. Although, they are in fact dissing politicians, so I guess you could say it’s a bit negative too…..depends on how you perceive it though. Personally, I wouldn’t call it negative, cause they’re also talking about loving, living for today, putting down our evil “weapons of war” & generally reaching for a much higher power….or some other kind of positive high. Definitely can’t complain about any of that. Nope.
Water And Oil: As I said, there was a slight diss towards politicians in the previous track. This next one, however is a full on attack on all the politicians in the world. Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers sound pretty angry here, especially Stephen Marley who is dropping a ragga verse. He says, “Rastaman no mix up with no vagavagna,” which I’m guessing means, “Rastas don’t mix with politicians,” while Ziggy tells us how Rastas are always being accused of causing trouble, when in fact they’ve done nothing at all. Obviously they’ve compared the situation to water and oil not mixing.
Live It Up: No this is not a cover of a Mental As Anything song (thank God for that) rather it is a very upbeat reggae song, which is all about living life, being positive, and all that kinda stuff.
Tipsy Dazy: Another huge favourite from the “Free Like We Want 2 B” album features Mr Stephen Marley on lead vocals. Musically it’s nothing but reggae. Straight up. Just the way I love it. Lyrically it’s all about some woman who is rather moody. One minute everything is fine, “next minute we’re in a puss and dog fight, that aint right.” Guess not, but the song is brilliant.
Bygones: Stevie steps to the mic once again. This time we’re treated to a much different type of song, it’s more of a pop-based ballad, but that’s okay, because the song is decent enough for me. Lyrically he’s talking about how he now wishes to settle arguments with his lover right there on the spot, instead of letting all of the bad things pass them by.
Hand To Mouth: Track eight on the “Free Like We Want 2 B” album is a dancehall track. Yes, it even features a ragga verse from Stephen Marley. Not that that’s a bad thing. Overall it seems to be all about how there a lot of folks out there breaking their backs and really working hard, but receiving hardly anything in return…..as far as the money is concerned anyway.
In The Flow: Is this reggae? I don’t know…..probably not except for that syncopated guitar riff. That sampled trumpet that he occasionally brings into the song reminds me of Miles Davis quite a lot. Ziggy is once again a little unsatisfied with what’s going on in the world…..in particular all of those evil politicians and other nasty folks trying to stop all the Rastas in the world from blazing up fat ass spliffs and generally uniting with one another. That’s just how he sees it, so let him call it like that.
Don’t Go Nowhere: This is a great mix of reggae, rock, and….I guess desparation. He’s begging his woman to stay with him, even though they’ve just gone their own separate ways. He feels like he still needs her & he lets her know this. Another great one from Ziggy & the crew.
G7: I’d imagine he got the title of this track after coming up with the chords for it, cause G7 is a guitar chord if I’m not mistaken, which is probably the reason why an acoustic guitar is very heavily featured on the track. Lyrically it’s quite politically charged. He speaks of how seven countries in the world want to keep and oppress poor folks due to capatlist greed. When it comes to politics, I must admit, I turn a deaf ear, as the subject usually tends to bore me to tears. Not saying that this is a bad song though….I’m just not into the whole political side of things, that’s all. Although Ziggy’s daddy would’ve been all kinds of proud of him for making a song like this one. No doubt.
Keep On: Yep, that’s definitely Stevie on lead vocals – not Ziggy at all. The message is undoubtably positive and uplifting – he’s telling us not to let things bother us and to always keep moving forward with our lives. Or as he says, “Don’t you fear that whindy arrow,” “Never you let them get you down, you might never come around.” It’s a brilliant slice of reggae music.
Beautiful Mother Nature: He probably ended with this one in order to make us really stop & think of what we’re doing to the Earth. Yes, it’s somewhat of a cry for protection of the environment in which he personifies the world as woman….or a mother if you will, who has been very heartbroken. Ziggy tells us how he wants things to get back to the way they were before we all polluted the air with our chemicals & what not. It’s a conscious song from a conscious artist. Well done.
Verdict: I’ll be honest and say that I usually stop listening after “Bygones.” Maybe that’s just cos I have a short attention span….the album’s pretty good as a whole.
