Big Mountain’s ‘Know Your Culture’

Written by BonBon

So many songs, hit after hit. So many of them do it overnight and last for only a week or two. But do

these songs mostly appeal to us because it serves our purpose or just being bait by the “trend”? I have

been a fan to songs that tells people stories. May it be individual experiences, aspirations and struggles.

And more if represents or reflects collective culture and realities.

One song that I love the most is big mountain’s ‘know your culture’. (big mountain is the band that sang

‘baby i love your way’). It says:

“In a primitive times

The people had culture in their lives

Well respecting their ancestry

Having faith in their destiny, but

Soon the culture would be lost

And, the capitalist man would be the cause

Who give the people their material needs

Oh, Jah Jah children take heed”

Songs, as part of our culture and lives, are being sang by our mothers since we were born, when we

learn our letters, learn plants and animals, our folklore, our history, when we hit rock bottom, when we

are at our best, on challenges, when we fall in or out of love, our love for home, community, country,

our outrage, our social realities and for change.

Mainstream songs nowadays has become more and more a commodity. If you produce one, you have to

bet with a label and make it “marketable”, and maybe they will sell it. Songs have become products just

to fill our ears. It is not actually our material needs but what they want it to become our “material

needs”. And if that illussion takes in charge, then it becomes your need. Then you have to buy it

together with the products their selling. That how the capital cycles. (Nowadays you watch music videos

with so much product endorsements even it not a product endorsement and music by artists endorsing

products that literally focusing on selling without any social relevance).

This vicious cycle turns into a culture lost. An ignorance of history and innocence taking over. And this

losing of oneself (or I may call it a vacuum) is being exploitated by real money makers. They will fill your

accounts, social media platforms, radio and TV programs and what so ever with so much content.

Making a simulated life through their eyes without even reflectiing yours. “Marketable” is now what

they teach you what a beat, rhythm should sound like and how catchy a phrase is in the lyrics. Without

urging you to appreciate the meaning and context of their songs. Doing such beats and rhythms detatch

with the content of the song. They actually asking you to be eccentric and become avid product buyers

and ultimately indulge with their culture. Now we’re chained with the dreams they got us chasing for

what? Their businesses, their domination.

So what is the challenge for those who write and produce songs and even us song lovers,

“Live wise and don’t you wear no disguise

Live clean, you are a roots machine

Live right and keep Jah inside

‘Cause the future my children

Is a lookin’ bright”