AP201059@BROWNVM.BITNET (Ergo) (02/13/90)
On the point that ska is "happier" than reggae, that's because it tends to be faster. Listening to Madness will give give anyone a good feel for how frenetic it can be, except, of course, for their cover of "Swan Lake". As compared to reggae, the biggest difference is in rhythm; bass lines in reg- gae are much more syncopated, while ska bass lines are somewhat more even, of- ten keeping up a walking or arpeggiating pattern. Usually, as in 4/4 ska, 2 & 4 are accented, and within each beat the second half is accented. (Keep subdiv- iding and taking the off beat and you've got ska.) Thanks to the other folks for the lyrical, historical, and instrumental points.