Bob Marley: One Love

and my five favorite Marley songs

Alrighty, the day is finally here. As of today, the Historians At The Movies Sunday night watch party moves over to Blusky. Tonight is our first run on Blusky and it’ll be interesting to see how different things are over on that platform vs. Twitter. I don’t expect it to be perfect, but as I’ve told everyone I’ve ever dated, keep the bar low and you’ll never be upset.

Tonight’s film is the recent Bob Marley biopic, Bob Marley: One Love, which focuses on the late singer’s music and calls for peace in the late 1970s until his early death in 1981. You can find the trailer here:

If you’ve never joined in, here’s how to play along. First, follow me over on blusky: @ herberthistory.bsky.social. Second, find the film over on Amazon Prime and get that ready to go. Third, you can also search for the #HATM hashtag over on Blusky. I’ll typically kick the night off with an opening thread sometime around 7:45pm eastern. At exactly 8pm eastern, push play on Bob Marley: One Love. Now, here’s the kicker: tag your posts with #HATM so everyone can find you. But that’s it. You don’t have to be a “historian” or whatever that means to be part of Historians At The Movies. Everyone is welcome. And besides, as I’ve always said, everyone is a historian of their own lives. So there. Anyway, join in tonight. Let’s see how this goes. I think it’ll be fun.

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Bob’s songs

I didn’t come into Marley’s music until much later in life. I wasn’t cool enough to wear his shirts or have his posters in my room, so I really didn’t discover him until my 20s. But it’s Sunday morning and maybe you could use some music while you clean the house. Here are some of my favorites:

Jamming

This was my first introduction to Marley. Back when my grandparents had a satellite dish in front of their house in the early 90s there was a station that sold CDs by playing videos of stuff nonstop. The song I remember on there most was Paul Simon’s “Call Me Al,” but there was also stuff by Enya, the Eagles, and some Irish band whose song got featured in the movie Patriot Games. And there was also Jamming It’s not my favorite, but I thought it would be cool to share it here:

Three Little Birds

Strangely as many times as I’ve heard this, I cannot dissociate this song from the film I Am Legend. I thought the use of this remarkably positive tune as a harbinger of doom was a brilliant move by director Francis Lawrence. By the way, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s a sequel on the way which follows the alternate ending in which Will Smith’s Robert Neville survives the film. I’ll probably check it out.

No Woman No Cry

Story of my life. Next.

Exodus

Back when I used to teach history as a grad student at the University of Minnesota or as a high school teacher in Florida, I always liked to play music as students entered the room, kind of as a way to set the mood for the day, get the students loose, and give students a different vibe from whatever else they were doing that day. Usually I’d try to match the day’s music to whatever I was lecturing on. Sometimes it was silly—I almost always used Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” when I lectured on the Seven Years’ War. Sometimes it was far more straightforward—cue “Fortunate Son” when talking about Vietnam. But one of the most powerful songs I used was Exodus when talking about the transatlantic slave trade. We could talk about the roots of reggae, the forced impressment of African peoples throughout the Caribbean, and how that memory still informs people today. It was a really good way to ease into one of the most difficult lectures I’d give each semester.

Waiting in Vain

I think this is one of the most beautiful and romantic songs I’ve ever heard. If I ever got married, I’d want this at my reception.

Could You Be Loved

Ok, this is six songs, but that’s because I decided to add Waiting In Vain at the last second. Besides, I’m a historian and I can’t count anyway. This song, in my mind, is the coolest song Marley ever produced. That opening bass line immediately hooks you in and within four seconds you’ve been converted to Marley fandom. I think we all have memories tied to songs. I certainly have one here. And when I hear it, I cannot help but smile. This is one of my favorite songs, ever.

Alright, there’s my picks. What do you like? And what would you like to see next on the watch party? Let me know in the comments below.

Jason