Bob Marley: One Love (soundtrack)

Bob Marley: One Love is a 2024 biographical musical drama film directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green based on the life of reggae singer and songwriter Bob Marley. Two soundtracks were released for the film, through Marley's in-house record label Tuff Gong along with Island Records. The first album being the original motion picture soundtrack, was released on February 9, 2024 featuring songs performed by Bob Marley and the Wailers with an extended play featuring covers of the band's songs is set to be released on February 14.

Background

The music from Bob Marley: One Love consisted of songs curated from Marley's archival recordings used throughout the film. Kingsley Ben-Adir performed all the songs as a singer and guitarist for his role as Marley, where the final edit blends with the archival recordings of the film.

Kris Bowers composed the film's score collaborating with Green for the fourth time following Monsters and Men (2018), King Richard (2021) and the television miniseries We Own This City (2022). Bowers was involved from the very beginning, as Green engaged him during the pre-production so that he could sketch the compositions and orchestration. Marley's music was used as a foundation for the film's score with Green wanted it to be organic, but also allow certain moments to be emotional. Bowers recorded and mixed the album without the use of modern sound technologies so that each instrumentation could be heard and experienced accordingly.

Bob Marley: One Love (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Bob Marley: One Love (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2024 film released through Tuff Gong and Island Records on February 9, 2024. It featured 17 tracks from the film, which consisted of the songs performed by Bob Marley and the Wailers. Most of the songs were drawn from Catch a Fire (1973), Burnin' (1973), Rastaman Vibration (1976), Exodus (1977), Kaya (1978) and Uprising (1980). The album further featured stage performances of the band which were released in the multi-platinum certified compilation album Legend (1984).

Track listing

Charts

Bob Marley: One Love (Music Inspired by the Film)

Bob Marley: One Love (Music Inspired by the Film) is the soundtrack extended play to the 2024 film, consisting cover versions of Bob's songs performed by Kacey Musgraves, Wizkid, Jessie Reyez, Leon Bridges, Daniel Caesar, Bloody Civilian and Marley's grandson Skip Marley. Musgraves' version of "Three Little Birds" preceded as the lead single from the EP released on January 26, 2024, followed by Caesar's cover of "Waiting in Vain" and Bridges' cover of "Redemption Song" as the second and third singles on February 4 and 10. The seven-song EP is set to be released on February 14, 2024, the same day as the film.

Track listing

Reception

Julian Roman of MovieWeb described the music as "soul-stirring" and "enjoyable". Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter reported that the use of Marley's original tracks in the concert sequences "activates the nostalgic potential of the film". Negatively, Owen Gleiberman of Variety, felt the songs to be "generic", "baffling and weirdly unsatisfying". Patrick Gibbs of SLUG Magazine complimented Bowers' score as "a major highlight that deserves to be heard on a top-quality sound system", whereas The Independent-based critic Clarisse Loughrey in contrast, felt that the score is "filled with unnecessary orchestral flourishes".

References