The History of Ska
So, now. You want to know about ska. Let me try to inform you about the recent "big" style in music and why Christian music isn't two years behind on this one. First of all, let me say that the current ska music is a third wave or variation of music. The first wave was back in the 50's and was formead as a Jamaican bass player had a band that did pretty much what we call ska. They greeted each other with the phrase "love skavoovie" which was what people name it ...skavoovie, and later shortened to ska.
That died in the late 60's, but not before groups from Great Britain caught on to it. The second wave of ska grew in the 70's and 80's in with Brit pop groups like Madness and English beat. This style was defined by the more horn heaviness and the "two tone" style, which was faster and tighter. Both waves of ska were more of the working class guy, or the man on the street kind of people performing.
Third wave is what you would hear on the radio today, but not the same as origninal ska. This third wave that we hear can be put in two categories: ska-core and ska-punk. Ska-core is more of a hardcore sound, driving beat, as always and more rap in there where ska-punk would have more of a punk base for the music.
Whatever it is with ska, one thing is for sure, ska music can be easily defined in one word. Fun. And another thing you can bet on is that the old punk and grunge and basically depressing music is dead. Styles that were quickly labeled as alternative are now out-dated. And normally, cutting edge music, or new style music isn't picked up on in the Christian music world until a couple years later, usually when it's or on a spiral. Ska, however, was picked up on quickly by Christian musicians such as the Supertones, Five Iron Frenzy, the Insyderz and so many more groups. Those are 3 big groups, though. I'll never give up ska, just like out parents won't give up the oldies because it's their music. So is ska with me. So if you're a Christian, I just want to let you know there is good music out there performed by Christian artists.
Skanking
Okay now that i have told you what ska is, i would like to inform you on what skanking is. No, it is not a mean term. Skank, is a type of dance that most people do to ska. So next time you hear someone say "skank on" they are not calling you a skank!
