Alpha Blondy - Wish You Were Here (reggae cover of Pink Floyd, live, Paris, 2009)

[highplainsdem]

Wikipedia on Alpha Blondy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Blondy
Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/music-popular-and-jazz-biographies/alpha-blondy

And one of Alpha Blondy's best-known songs, live in Italy, 2012. This was originally recorded in 1986 with The Wailers.

Audio of another song he recorded in 1984 with The Wailers:

Full concert, live on Germany's Rockpalast, in 2017 (setlist/times in the YouTube description):

[ProfessorGAC]

1. I Like It

Always been a reggae fan. This is a cool take on a song where the original is so drastically different.

[highplainsdem]

3. Glad you liked it! I was surprised and pleased when I ran across

it today.

I have to admit that if someone had told me in advance "It's a reggae cover of Wish You Were Here with a bagpiper" I'd've been skeptical...but I would still have listened, out of curiosity, and liked it.

I'd been listening to a video of Bob Marley and the Wailers when I noticed that video of Jerusalem, and then that led me to this cover of Wish You Were Here.

I like to wander around YouTube.

Alpha Blondy's story is really interesting, too. And he's still recording new music, at 70.

Found a good cover of Bob Marley's Soul Rebel - renamed African Rebel but of course credited to Marley - on his YouTube channel. Nice video. This is from Alpha Blondy's 2022 album, Eternity.

And there's a bagpiper.

[Prairie_Seagull]

2. My wife is no huge fan of my classic rock vibe in music and guitar playing.

She liked this rendition of one of my favorite PF songs. There are so many. For me PF's music in almost all cases so exactly lines up with the lyrics that it is hard for me to agree with her enthusiasm for this reggae version. I love straight up reggae but this genre bending take is something I would have to do mental contortions to like.

Music is so subjective and aint it great mon.

[highplainsdem]

4. I've always loved Pink Floyd, and Wish You Were Here is my favorite PF album, if I

had to pick just one. I still really enjoy this cover. But then, I like lots of different things. Preferences are subjective, as you said.

Have you heard Wyclef Jean's cover, which was a minor hit in Europe in 2001? I prefer Alpha Blondy's cover, but I've always liked reggae more than hip hop.

[Prairie_Seagull]

10. Rock and roll has always been about going out on limbs.

I liked this one much better and I need to get better about those limbs.

[malaise]

5. Thanks for these

Haven’t listened to him in a while

Another great African reggae singer was Lucky Dube from South Africa. Sadly he was killed in 2007 by robbers in Joburg.

[highplainsdem]

6. Thanks for the reply, and the recommendation! I like what I've heard of that Lucky Dube album

so far.

[malaise]

9. The thing is no one would call me a member of the reggae cognoscenti

I know a lot of music but I am no expert. I have two or three good friends who are recognized experts. I just love music from all over the planet.😀

[highplainsdem]

7. Just finished reading Wikipedia's page on Lucky Dube.

So tragic, that he died so young...

[malaise]

8. I remember that day - we were speechless

They killed him for his car. He left young children.
So sad. Both had/have beautiful voices.
I saw Lucky live at Sunsplash in 1991. Never saw Alpha live😀