Introduction

Reggae developed in 1960's Jamaica out of  ska, rocksteady, American Jazz, R&B, and Jamaican folk genres, which can be traced back to African music introduced to Jamaica through the slave trade. Reggae has an extremely recognizable sound which is characterized by its use of the bass as part of the rhythm, its syncopated guitar and piano chords, and its offbeat percussion. Pop rock developed as a fusion genre between pop and rock, and has been described as an upbeat, more mellow sub-genre of rock. Like reggae, it also originates in the 1960's. These two musical cultures are distinct and drastically different, but there are similarities that link them together: the use of rhythm to create mood, and the overall tone. These two links will be explored through the reggae song "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley and the Wailers from 1980 and the pop rock chart "Drops of Jupiter" by Train from 2001.

Bob Marley and the Wailer's "Three Little Birds"

Train's "Drops of Jupiter