Bob Marley's childhood home in Kingston, Jamaica wasn't particularly busy on the rainy February day I chose to pay it a visit. Aside from a smattering of local musicians searching for inspiration and a sleepy receptionist who clearly hadn't needed to greet many visitors that day, the modest structure was almost completely empty. Despite the dreary weather and lack of visitors filling the space, the house was vibrant and alive with the rich history of its past inhabitants. Nine Miles is inherently inspirational, as it is the true embodiment of the power of determination and strong artistic vision. I was free to explore the grounds without the limitations of a guided tour, and was thus able to spend as much time as I wanted admiring the house's most intriguing features. I found myself particularly drawn to an old blue car displayed in the center of the home. As I examined the raggedy car and listened to the local musicians singing quietly to themselves, I began thinking about music's incredible mobility.
We bring music with us everywhere we go. It travels with us by foot, car, train, boat, and plane. As consumers of music, we have the power to bring it with us wherever we go, and share it with whomever we feel it will inspire. In the age of internet culture, it is easier than ever to transport music globally. An American consumer can listen to a new song from a Brazilian artist mere minutes after it hits the web, and a European artist can draw upon the music of every continent for inspiration for their newest project. A shy singer from Ghana can send her demo recordings to the whole world in a click of a button, and a British music executive can peruse various digital music outlets in search of new talent in Asia. Yet, despite the unlimited access listeners and creators have to a worldwide audience, music is still a largely regional artform.
It takes a special talent to make music that appeals to the entire world, and an even greater talent to maintain artistic integrity in doing so. No artist has approached globalization with as much grace and virtue as Bob Marley, one of the world's most universally adored musicians of all time. Marley found his success in his ability to make music that always came across as intimate and organic, despite the size of the audience it was reaching and the incredible budget provided to him. He possessed a rare, innate ability to connect with all kinds of listeners without ever reducing his message to the lowest common denominator; he was able to inspire the world without ever straying from his own sound or personality.
Marley's music resonated, and continues to resonate, with listeners outside of his own community because the ideas he expressed in his work apply to all people of every background. He used his lyricism as a vehicle for promoting peace, unity and happiness to the whole world. The overall feeling of his body of work is one characterized by optimism, creating an uplifting listening experience. His greatest triumph as an artist is his mastery of combining intimacy and inclusivity; his music is meant for the whole world to enjoy, but also feels humble and deeply personal at its core. His music captures the essence of his cozy, colorful childhood home perfectly. With his earnest, universally adored reggae tunes, Marley makes his house a safe-haven for the entire world.
