About the middle of this week one of my favorite radio DJs, Claudia Marshall, of one of my favorite radio stations, WFUV, posed a question to her morning show listeners.

Has Bob Marley’s music become Muzak?

She argued that Marley was a revolutionary “in his time.” I don’t have training in classical music but I’m sure some of the great composers were revolutionary “in their time.” And, as a Literature major, I’ve read many authors who were revolutionary “in their time” who nobody reads anymore…

Claudia’s (we’re on a first name basis) question struck me because earlier that week I had noticed that some pretty charged songs from Crosby Stills & Nash, CCR, the Beatles and Dylan as well as other revolutionaries “in their time” were being played at my local supermarket.

I was so surprised, in fact that it was noted via text on my Tweet…where I wondered (in less than 140 characters) if Megadeth would be playing at the shopping center in a decade.

I think for music to become Muzak or ‘elavator music’ it has to have had mass appeal.  The ‘masses’ shop where elevator music is played so it has to be appealing to the majority of customers.  Of course, in reality, Megadeth won’t ever become Muzak – not enough people listened to it then or now to recognize the songs.

So, is the ‘alternative’ music played in stores like Hot Topic, PacSun or Zumiez (or the CDs sold @ Starbucks) actually ‘alternative’ or is it just piped in tunes for a different group of consumers?  Ant music?

So, like so many other revolutionaries, Marley’s music has become Muzak. So many people grew up listening to it that are now regular shoppers with good incomes.  Many are AARP magazine (one of the largest circ, highest cost magazines for advertising) readers and members. Many have heard Marley while visiting the Caribbean and that sound has become an integral part of any Caribbean vacation. Why, even Jamaica itself used “one love” as muzak to promote the island as a tourist destination….

With all that in mind, revisit Bob Marley’s music and his lyrics.

“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds…” -Redeption Song, Bob Marley