Five Guys
Italian reggae band Mellow Mood was born in Pordenone in 2005 but officially debuted in 2009 with their first record, entitled “Move!”. It was an unexpected success and the two singles “Only You” and “Dance Inna Babylon” got a total of more than ten million views on YouTube.
Their heartfelt live shows led Rototom Sunsplash to name Mellow Mood best Italian reggae band. After a slight line-up change, Mellow Mood went back into the studio to record “Well Well Well”. We chose this band because they are emerging. We met them at a their concert in Palazzolo, it was fantastic, we sang their songs for many hours. The thing we liked most was when the fog machine and strobe lights were turned on and the band performed the song "Dance inna Babylon". It is actually our favourite song: the lyrics are very nice, we find it unique and a very powerful experience but the best thing is the rhythm.
Lyrics - Dance inna Babylon
Dance inna Babylon, until its throne a fall
I'n'I who see teachings of the Rastaman,
Back inna the yard living gets so hard,
Never play the game of a politician
Dance inna Babylon, until its throne a fall,
I'n'I who see teachings of the Rastaman,
Back inna the yard living gets so hard,
Never play the game of a politician
With righteousness I will bring you to my heart,
reveal you all I have ever heard
and everything will be so far away,
cause you to me mean every word I say
Me just can't try to fight that all only with me hands
but with you here, with no fear, I know it could be better
and I always know where we a come from
and I'll fight till Jah keep me so strong!
Dance inna Babylon, until its throne a fall
I'n'I who see teachings of the Rastaman,
Back inna the yard living gets so hard,
Never play the game of a politician
Dance inna Babylon, until itsthrone a fall,
I'n'I who see teachings of the Rastaman,
Back inna the yard living gets so hard,
Never play the game of a politician
Inna this race, where people rise and fall
ain't got no money? Well you've got to bow!
But with your work, with the knowledge of your edge,
you won't believe to every single word dem say
Me not a soldier, it's not there where I'm supposed to be
and ain't no work, ain't no game, me nah work for your deals
Me see everyone suffering alone
but together dem can't never get we down
Dance inna Babylon, until its throne a fall
I'n'I who see teachings of the Rastaman,
Back inna the yard living gets so hard,
Never play the game of a politician
Dance inna Babylon, until its throne a fall
I'n'I who see teachings of the rastaman,
Bagk inna the yard living gets so hard,
Never play the game of a politician
Blaze, blaze up the fire, and look down the road
Blaze, blaze up the fire, for dem who neva bow
Blaze, blaze up the fire, and look down the road
Blaze, blaze up the fire, becaw dem neva tell you what:
Children suffering, struggling for politic strategy
Dem neva care 'bout woman, only what dem a conquering
Dem boundaries and barriers control all we humanity
But sufferah still shouting and you won't hear about it!
Glossary
Heartfelt: of a feeling or its expression
Growth: the process of increasing in size
Slight: small in degree
Righteousness: the quality of being morally right or justifiable
to Reveal: to make (previously unknown or secret information) known to others
Knowledge: facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject
Rototom Sunsplash: it is a European reggae festival
Boundary: a line which marks the limits of an area
Strobe lights: such a lamp used for creating special lighting effects, as in a theater or discotheque or at a rock concert
Fog machine: it is a device that emits a dense vapor that appears similar to fog or smoke which is most commonly used in professional entertainment applications
Reggae is an original musical genre of Jamaica, essentially descendant from Ska developed in the early sixties. Ska immediately got enormous popularity in Jamaica. The culmination of the Ska period was in 1962, when Jamaica gained independence being liberated from British colonialism, allowing this new music to become the mean to express optimism and the hope for a better life of the Jamaican people. Among the most important Ska artists who brought the genre to the success we can mention Derrick Morgan, Laurel Aitken, Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker, Toots and the Maytals, and also a young Bob Marley.
