But artists, music, and moments that shape culture aren’t always best-sellers, chart-toppers, or immediate successes. Sales and charts and firsts and rarities are important.
#Chaka demus and pliers bam bam remix series#
During a time when it dancehall wasn’t predicted to achieve the same victories as its older reggae sister, “Murder She Wrote” proved it was possible for Jamaica’s sounds to extend beyond a Caribbean scale.īlack Music Reframed is an ongoing editorial series on uDiscover Music that seeks to encourage a different lens, a wider lens, a new lens, when considering Black music one not defined by genre parameters or labels, but by the creators. Dancehall is now seen as part of the global pop music lexicon, but its inclusion is partly due to the strides made by artists like Chaka Demus & Pliers. While “Murder She Wrote” served as a catalyst for Chaka Demus & Pliers’ international recognition, the Tease Me album also enjoyed success, spending two weeks at No. When Murder, She Wrote actress Angela Lansbury first heard the song in 2019, she said, “Oh, reggae! Oh, I’m thrilled to be part of reggae. It even found its way back to its original source. Notable highlights include French Montana (2013’s “Freaks”), Omarion (2014’s “Post To Be”), Pitbull (2016’s “El Taxi”), Daddy Yankee (2019’s “Que Tire Pa Lante”), Jason Derulo (2019’s “Too Hot”), IDK (2019’s “December) and HoodCelebrityy (2020’s “Run Di Road”). “Murder She Wrote” and its accompanying Bam Bam riddim has either been sampled or interpolated over 50 times by other artists. It has even gained traction outside of its own genre, with millennial artists breathing new life into the song. “Murder She Wrote” continues to be a beloved tune that finds people rushing to the dancefloor at weddings, backyard BBQs and clubs. 27 on the UK Singles chart.Ĭhart placements, though, don’t do justice to this song’s ceaseless impact. The hit also fared well overseas, peaking at No. International audiences agreed with the new experiment: “Murder She Wrote” reached No. Vegas and Sean Paul’s “Hot Gal Today” are just a few examples. Shabba Ranks and Maxi Priest’s “Housecall,” Shaggy and Rik Rok’s “It Wasn’t Me,” and Mr. This sonic fusion, which was unprecedented at the time, sparked a dancehall trend that paired with streetwise verses with sweet sing-song hooks. Similar to rap/R&B collaborations, the juxtaposition of Demus’ rugged “toasting” (lyrical chanting in the vein of rapping) and Pliers’ melodic vocals on the hook helped the song take flight. Their new, buzzing “Bam Bam” riddim became one of the most popular dancehall riddims of the early ‘90s, with songs by dancehall greats like Cutty Ranks, Admiral Bailey, and Nardo Ranks.Īlong with its sound, “Murder She Wrote” also introduced a new song structure. Rather than relying on instruments like they did during the 70s roots reggae era, they embraced technology to create electronic drums-based riddims. The new production was inspired by the Toots and the Maytals’ 1966 song “Bam Bam.” Sly and Robbie, who were previously known for their more laid-back reggae and dub stylings, were introducing a new digitized sound to dancehall at the time. Originally recorded for Jamaican label Harry J Records in 1987, the duo spent five years perfecting the track’s sound: after recording the original song for various local producers (including Jack Scorpio and Specialist), they tried again with Sly and Robbie in 1992. “Murder She Wrote” – Chaka Demus & Pliers’ signature song – was a testament to perseverance. Listen to Chaka Demus & Pliers on Apple Music and Spotify.
Solely produced by iconic Jamaican duo Sly & Robbie, the album spawned six Top 40 UK hits: the flirty “Tease Me,” “She Don’t Let Nobody” (a soulful cover of Curtis Mayfield’s 1981 hit), “Gal Wine,” “Twist and Shout” (a cover of the Isley Brothers’ 1962 classic), the R&B-inspired “I Wanna Be Your Man,” and “Murder She Wrote.”
The following year, the pair released Tease Me (known as All She Wrote in the United States). After releasing a few albums on local Jamaican labels in 1992, Chaka Demus & Pliers signed to Mango Records (a subsidiary distributed by Island Records). The duo’s prior music business experiences, along with a pop-minded reggae-dancehall fusion sound, helped them gain overseas attention.