Reggae has somewhat been oversimplified and mocked by music and television shows. Even if that was not the medium's intent, the movies and shows were likely created by people who did not understand the origin of the music or what the point of it all was.
Bob Marley and the Wailers were not just people who sat around and smoked marijuana without any forethought as to how to create music. Very few artists have conceived of their music and thought about how it might be met more than Marley. He was not only trying to sell himself; he was trying to get the entire world to understand his culture and how rich it was.
And make no mistake Bob Marley did give the world greatness. He did not have a down period. He consistently produced songs that should still be listened to millions of times today. He was an icon and worthy of the name.
Here are Bob Marley’s five greatest love songs
"Waiting in Vain" (1977)
Released as a single of the Exodus album, "Waiting in Vain" hit number 27 on the UK charts. While the song definitely is a reggae tune, even if Bob Marley's name was not attached to it, take away the elements of reggae (the guitar playing the upbeat) and you would have a perfect example of what an R&B song would song like in the 1970s. There is not anything wrong with that, of course, as Marley's melody is nearly perfect and the music is not overly saccharine.
There is an undeniable sweetness tied with melancholy to the track. The lyrics begin with the chorus seems awfully bold until one releases that Marley is simply speaking a statement to the person he is singing about. Plus, while he is waiting for the person to come around and realize Marley is the right person, he says he does not mind the wait as long as it is, of course, not in vain.
This song is so perfect musically that if any other lyrics were added instead of the words Marley wrote, the track would still be excellent. But what Marley says is poetic enough to stand on its own too. Plus, the bridge is nearly without peer in its quality.
"Is This Love" (1978)
Like "Waiting in Love" this song did not track in the United States. The UK was clearly ahead of the US in terms of understanding the quality of music in the 1970s. Not only did England embrace reggae much earlier than the US, post-punk and New Wave movements happened in London before New York. This is likely why Marley played live in London more than the general US; that's where his truly adoring fans were.
The music video for "Is This Love" features Naomi Campbell who was only seven years old at the time. Who knew that she and Marley would both become international superstars in the 1980s?
"Is This Love" is fairly straightforward lyrically. Marley knows the object of his affection and is making a plea for her to feel the same. With a voice like Marley's, though, who could say no?
"Stir It Up" (1973)
Goodness, this track is about as suave as any recorded track ever could be. It oozes with emotion, want, and desire. But Marley is a great enough songwriter, however, to know that the music and pace can do most of the work for him. He simply has to fill in with lyrics and undeniably fantastic vocal talent.
The key with lyrics such as "It's been a long, long time, yeah! (Stir it, stir it, stir it together)/Since I got you on my mind (Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Oh-oh!/Now you are here (Stir it, stir it, stir it together), I said/It's so clear/To see what we could do baby (Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)/Just me and you" is not to rush them. While his background ebbs and flows, Marley is directly telling his partner what he sees as happening, and with a song so brilliant, the swoon should be assumed.
"Could You Be Loved" (1980)
There was a 7-inch release of this song as the A-side while the next song on this list was the B-side. There was likely no greater 7" ever released than that one. "Could You Be Loved" started innocently, though, as Bob Marley and the Wailers were on a plane trip back to Jamaica and simply trying to get a guitar sound correct. The song is more complex than just a single guitar, however.
In fact, the rhythm part of the track sounds a lot like something Stevie Wonder would have done on his amazing album, Talking Book. The bass thumps and jumps but it all happens below the excellence of the melody and the vocal. That was always one of the keys to great reggae: While some see the music as simple, the fact is that it is far from the truth and, such as on "Could You Be Loved," the bit that makes the genre excel is knowing how to control all the influences of reggae and turning them into unique and great music.
"No Woman, No Cry" (1974)
Human beings have written few songs as perfect as "No Woman, No Cry," and as music, at its best, can be recorded and then augmented in greatness when played live, this track might be one of the best examples of what humans can do musically. The song winds and bends but never loses what is at the heart of its subject: A man loves a woman and wants to take care of her.
This song is so incredible that even if no lyrics were added the track would still be worthy of millions of listens. But the lyrics will remind a person of the best times of their life and while they may never revisit them, the person will know that is OK. The memories are worthy of happiness alone. To be sure, however, the version recorded live at the Lyceum in London in 1975 may be one of the top three live songs ever.