The 1970s - musically, culturally and politically - were a transitional phase and an emotional connection between two very infamous periods. This decade was also a time of break from reality, where people used music to escape from the real world and leave all their worries behind. People were consumed by appetites, addicted to their own forbidden pleasures, and soon there would be a price to pay. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, reggae music was created by combining characteristics of North American rock and Jamaican African music. This new style had a lot of influence from rhythm, blues and some jazz. In the textbook "America's Musical Landscape" author Jean Ferris states that "the polyrhythms are more complex, the bass lines are stronger and the tempos more relaxed" (Ferris p.207). Reggae music gives its listeners a very soulful and religious feel because of the close relationship it has with the religious movement known as Rastafarianism and because much of this genre has religious connotations which explain the singer's beliefs and opinions on situations from a Rastafarian perspective. The Rastafarian religion, the heart of reggae music, was based on the belief in "Jah", which was a metaphor for a god of goodness and love. Jah was the force that fought against the oppression of "Babylon", which meant the destructive force. Metaphors of oppression and freedom, explain social problems and ways of liberation. Many of BobMarley's lyrics conveyed this type of message and as a result his music was accepted by many people who shared or at least agreed with his point of view. It is said that when Marley spoke about things that were accepted by h...... middle of paper ...... f "TimeMagazine Album of the Century". Almost every one of his songs is a classic, from the message of love to the anthem of the revolution. But even more than that, his music is an apolitical and cultural combination, which was inspired by a third world country and now reaches people all over the world. Ferris, Jean. The American Music Landscape, Third Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997. White, Timothy. Catch Fire: The Life of Bob Marley. New York: Henry Holt, 2000. Gilmore, Mikal "The Life and Times of Bob Marley" Rolling Stone Magazine. March 10, 2005. White, Timothy. "The Origin of Reggae" September 1996URL: http://www.bobmarley.com/life/musicalinfluences/reggae/index.htmlLegend: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers. DVD producer Jeff Fura. 3rd Sector Entertainment Inc. and Island Def Jam Music Group, 2003.