The name of Jimmy Cliff’s new album and the first single from it could lead one to expect a polemical, political record: “Refugees”. The song titles also include “Racism” and “We Want Justice”. However, these topics could hardly be dealt with much more gently than with Cliff.
The central, often repeated motif is love – not just in the sense of romantic love, but above all as an attitude to life. Jimmy Cliff, one of the last surviving Jamaican ska and reggae pioneers, may seem a bit decrepit at 78. He’s not past his musical peak, though, which he may have reached just ten years ago with his previous album, Rebirth.
The first song denounces another, negative love – that of money. “Money Love” is an argumentative song on a mostly calm, dreamy-euphoric reggae album about building bridges, emphasizing positivity and rising above petty arguments. “I conquer the winds of hate and cross the stones of jealousy,” Cliff sings on “Moving On.” “Soon they will all dissolve and leave me my dignity.”
Musically, the first piece with ska guitar and lively backing vocals ties in with the previous record from 2012, which was awarded the Grammy for best reggae album. The other twelve titles play with elements of different genres, quite bombastic numbers like “One More” or “Outsider” from “Rebirth” aren’t there.
The sound of arrangements recorded live from the previous album gives way to pieces that sound more through-produced. “My Love Song” is also an electronic-tinged, summer hit-like song with a “Nananananananana” refrain.
Jimmy Cliff – born as James Chambers – is back here in the context of several round dates. The last album so far is ten years old. 50 years ago the film “The Harder They Come” starring Cliff in the lead and his music also had a prominent role – including the song “You Can Get It If You Really Want”. The film is often credited with popularizing reggae outside of Jamaica.
Also, the Caribbean island nation recently celebrated 60 years of independence from Britain on August 6th. Back in 1962, when Cliff was 18, his career had already begun.
The title track, “Refugees” — similar to “Racism,” which Cliff’s daughter Lilty also sings on — is less an indictment of hate than a gentle appeal to humanity and compassion. In it, Cliff lists refugee movements from the past and present – from Jesus, the Israelites and the first Muslims to the Europeans who went to America to the people from West Asia and Africa who are coming to Europe today.
“Refugees need a helping hand – couldn’t they be someone like you and me?” asks Cliff. With an emphasis on the word “exodus” at one point, the song, which comes in rap and dance versions on the album, also includes a small tribute to reggae legend Bob Marley.
Wyclef Jean, another household name in the Caribbean music world, tells a rap verse of the song about how his family once migrated from their native country of Haiti to the United States by sea. The name of Jean’s former band Fugees (“Killing Me Softly”) is an abbreviation of the word Refugees.
He and Cliff would have wanted to talk to the co-production for the forgotten, says Jean, according to a press release from the record company Universal. His appreciation for the 78-year-old reggae icon is high: “At a time when love is needed, I don’t think anyone can convey that better than the King.”
(S E R V I C E – https://www.jimmycliff.com/)