Page 10
Marley sparks the
rebirth of
by Robb Frederick
Entertainment Editor
When Ziggy Marley bounced
onto the spectrum of commercial
american music with last year's
Conscious Party, the young
reggae figurehead faced several
colossal challenges.
As the eldest son of Bob
Marley, unquestionably the most
successful performer in the
history of Jamaica, Ziggy was
confronted with the pressure of
maintaining the family's tradition
of excellence. Although the
familiarity of the family name
helped him gain essential
exposure, Ziggy was also
enveloped by the cloud of
expectations which accompanied
the successor of the third-world's
most heard spokesman.
The sorrowful state of reggae
music also presented an obstacle
to Ziggy's success. After the elder
Marley's death, few musicians
contributed worthwhile material
to the reggae movement, and the
distinct style of Jamaican music
was drained of its life as well.
Conscious Party quickly
proved, however, that Ziggy
Marley was indeed deserving of
the long-vacant reggae throne.
Commercial success through
songs like "Tomorrow People"
and "Tomblin' Down" brought
the characteristic beat of reggae
back to the airwaves. A lengthy
tour with INXS, followed by
several acclaimed solo dates,
proved that although the spirit of
Bob Marley continued through
his son, Ziggy's m vc2ge was his
alone.
Ziggy and the Melody Makers
(brother Stephen, sister Cedella
and back-up vocalist Sharon
Prendergast) have contained to
preach the reggae sound on One
Bright Day, with only partial
success.
The light, bouncy feel of the
Melody Makers remains constant
throughout One Bright Day, as
do the band's political undertones.
But while the subject matter on
Conscious Party approached the
world's difficulties in a universal
manner, One Bright Day's
commentaries, when they appear,
revolve entirely around Jamaica
and South Africa.
The majority of One Bright
Day, however, presents carefree
praises of youth and the power of
dance. Marley occasionaly
preaches for world peace and the
spreading of love, but he offers
no suggestions to help in his
crusade.
While the meaning behind
Marley's music may lack
reggae
substance, the sound itself is a
softened but otherwise classic
reggae. An elaborate percussion
section provide the traditional ska
beat which characterizes the
sound of reggae.
The vocal arrangements on
One Bright Day are much more
elaborate than the past work of
the Melody Makers. The female
backing singers are utilized to
give a solid balance to Ziggy's
vocal tracks, and Stephen Marley
is permitted a few of his own
vocal opportunities, including the
driving groove section on the
first single "Look Who's
Dancing."
Although One Bright Day
lacks the youthful vitality which
brought success to its
predecessor, the release is still
respectable, particularly for a
performer as young as Marley.
The music presented by Ziggy
and the Melody Makers not only
proves that Marley is an
established individual with a
bright musical future, it also
continues the rejuvination on an
otherwise non-existent culture of
reggae music.
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Travolta
in Look
by Joe Williams
Collegian Staff Writer
Look who's talking is a cute
movie. Not so cute it makes you
nauseous, . just cute enough -to
make you like it and maybe not
care about it's flaws.
The performances are
enjoyable and make up for the
thin script.
Kirstie Alley plays Mollie, a
CPA who's in love with her
client Alfre4l, played by George
Segal.
Mollie gets pregnant by
Alfred who claims he can't leave
his wife cause she's bulernid.
Mollie gives birth to Mikey
(voice by Bruce Willis) and
decides to find him a father.
One of the best performances
in the movie comes from
(suprise, surprise) John Travolta.
Travolta plays James, a smart
ass New York cab driver who
meets up with Mollie while she's
in labor.
Travolta gets to show off his
comic talent throughout this
film, which may be a turnin:.
point in his career. He may now
~/
,~
,_,
The Collegian Wednesday, October 18, 1989
redeems himself
Who's Talking
be able to live dowfa his Saturday
Night Fever image and redeem
himself for the box office bombs
Perfect and Staying Alive.
Alley does well, as usual,. but
there is not much material here to
distinguish this character From
her "Cheers" character, Rebbeca
Howell.
The film may be a
turning point for
Travolta's career.
He may now be
able to live down
his
"Saturday
Night Fever" image
The film starts with hundreds
of talking sperm, including
Willis; swimming towards an
egg.
Willis is funny. At first you
suspect that he was chosen for
this film solely for box office
draw, but after listening to his
lines you'd think it was written
especially for him.
Olympia Dukakis, however
must have been picked-only for
box office appeal: She has very
little to do in this film, and, her
performance is very similar to
that in Moonstruck. She deserves
more than this part offers.
George Segal can be
humorous when given the
chance.
Anything good should always
leave you wanting more, but you
leave Look Who's Talking
knowing the script could and
should have offered a lot more.
Writer/director, - Amy
Heckerling should have worked
on the script longer to further
develop CV .:,11=acters.
The film Li interspersed with
many music video montages and
dream sequences. Some are
funny, but some just stretch out
the movie to its full 93 minutes.
Overall, the devices used by
Heckerling and the petforniances
help to make the film enjoyable.
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