There’s this commercial where a woman comes into her house and experiences the unparalleled relief of taking off her bra after a long day at work. I think it’s a beer commercial. There’s a Toots and the Maytals song in it called Pressure Drop. It’s a great song, and if you know it, you’re probably grooving to it a little bit right now.
Or, at least, now you are. You’re welcome.
I love this song. Always have. Can’t remember a time when I didn’t know the words. After I’d heard it a few dozen times during a single baseball game awhile ago, I fired up the old Spotify and asked it to make me a playlist based on that song.
“This is quite a departure from your usual 80s punk playlists,” it said to me, hopefully more in interest than judgment. You never can tell with Spotify.
It made the playlist, and a couple taps later, I was in full groove to Toots and the Maytals’ cover of Louie Louie.
My whole life, I’ve been deeply into reggae music. Even at the peak of teenage angst, when my record collection was almost exclusively punk and new wave, I always made room and time for reggae.
And not just Bob Marley’s greatest hits CD that we all had and loved. I’m talking about artists that the average white boy in my suburban neighborhood in the 80s had never heard of, or had much reason to stumble across: Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Bunny Wailer, Steel Pulse, Toots and the Maytals. The stories they told in their music, the stories they told WITH their music, just always seemed to really land on me. There was something incredibly soothing, safe, and warm about reggae music that I didn’t get from any other music. I never really talked about it. Uncharacteristically for me, I kept it to myself. Guarded it. I only shared it with one other person, ever, and that was my friend, Dave, who loved the same music as I did, the same way I did. It’s a big part of a friendship that spans nearly three decades.
So I’m grooving a little, and then I’m grooving a lot, and then all of the sudden, with no warning or gentle ramp up, I suddenly realize why I love this music, and why I love it the way I do. The memory doesn’t wash over me in a wave as much as it picks me up along its face, tosses me into the curl, tumbles over and through me until it and I are indistinguishable from one another.
I am in the living room of my great grand parents’ farmhouse. I am sitting on the floor, atop an exotic rug that protects dark wood floors. It’s dimly lit, and the air is cool. My great grandparents are in front of me. My great grandfather, Papa, is in a pale blue guayabera and dark slacks. My great grandmother, Mum Mum, is wearing a flowing white dress, with a high neckline, and some colorful thread sewn into sleeves that stop just above her elbow. She is barefoot, holding the skirt out with one hand. Her other hand reaches to the ceiling and she twirls around it. She is pure joy and love. He watches her with tremendous affection.
Against the wall, a few feet away to my right, Toots and the Maytals’ cover of Louie, Louie, plays on their record player.
I am so safe. I am so loved. I am so special to them.
Just as quickly as it crashes over me, the memory is gone. I tumble out of the foam and cough some water out of my mouth. I claw at the memory as it recedes, but the ocean flows easily away from my grasp.
My great grandfather was Panamanian. He was born in Colon. My great grandmother was Jamaican. She was born in Kingston. I have always loved and cherished that I am descended, at least partly, from immigrants. I have such a privileged life. I know it’s the sort of life they dreamed of giving their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren — me! — when they came to America. I am doing the very best I can to make them proud and never waste it.
They brought so much with them to America: my grandmother and great aunt Val, who will become the most important person in my life, Central American and Caribbean culture, food, and fashion … and reggae music.
I never knew where it came from, but now I do. This suburban white boy got his deep, spiritual, love of reggae music from his Jamaican great grandmother, by way of Panama … because she made me feel safe, loved, and special. So of course her music makes me feel those things.
I am so grateful for that memory, and everything that came with it.
That is a great write up and a cool connection to remember. This suburban white boy thinks of the Clash whenever he hears “Pressure Drop” though…they were my entry to reggae.
I love the Clash so much! It always amused me to know that a lot of their mega-hits in the day were covers of reggae songs. I love that they embraced and spread the pro-worker, pro-human message in their music.
YEP! That is ALOT of WHY I LOVE “The Clash”!
I’m 56… Been a fan of yours EVER SINCE TNG Came on! And I too have a VERY Extensive library of Vinyl albums, MOSTLY 80’s Punk, Funk and New Wave, but ALSO ALOT of Oldies and Reggae!
ONE MORE to add to your growing List Wil is THIS Classic…”Desmond Dekker & The Aces – Israelites”
Hearing “Pressure Drop” very much reminded me of this song. So I looked it up, Once you hear it I KNOW you will “Grove” to it like the others!
Reggae IS “Working Man’s/People’s Music as is ALOT of Traditional, Irish and Scottish Music!
We JUST Had out 40th. Anniversary of our “Milwaukee Irish Fest” two weekends ago and it was SO NICE to get back to that after COVID!
But NOW we are facing an even GREATER CHALLENGES Because of Mutations to the Virus. So we will see how things go for future “Events” all across out country AND the Entire Planet!
Be Safe and Well with You and Your Family Wil.
And Thanks for the “UP LIFT”!
We ALL Need that alot more these days! 😀
Joe
Jefferson, Wisconsin
This is SO lovely! So glad you had some good moments.
calming
What a beautiful memory – and the tip for Spotify. I didn’t know you could ask it for a playlist based on one song you like. I’m so happy you remember your great grandparents in that moment.
What a beautiful memory of real special people….it’s wonderful that you can remember them
I miss the old Wil Wheaton whose motto was don’t be a dick.
I mean Jesus gate keep much?
…what?
There are a shit ton of us white folks who love bob marley and grew up listening to him. We didn’t all know about your special super secret reggae bands and most of us are not frat boy douches.
The whole hipster I know the special bands and I’m a cool white person unlike you is dickish and getting old.
Okay, then this isn’t, and never was, about you.
But your point is taken, and I’ve edited my post to make it more accessible.
One more edit, long after you’ve moved on. I appreciate you calling me out. As I said, I never meant this to be about you or your experience, but I fucked up, and I apologize.
The note I added to Facebook:
Yesterday, when I wrote this otherwise great post that I’m proud of, I regrettably chose to let 18 year-old me express himself in a really stupid way. I was thinking about one specific white guy with dreads who was Captain Appropriation in 1989. That doesn’t excuse this, and maybe makes it worse. But I fucked up and I feel bad about it. So.
In a post that’s about joy and feeling loved + accepted, I was a gatekeeper. That’s not okay, and I’m not going to defend it. It’s not what I meant to do, but it’s what I did.
When I wrote about white frat boys who listen to Bob Marley, I used an obnoxiously large and broad brush that was hurtful to some people, insulting to others, and never should have been part of my post.
I’ve edited the post in my blog and my Facebook, and I’m sincerely sorry to anyone who felt attacked. (Yes, even — especially — recovering frat guys.)
Oh, man, this is so wonderful — the fact that you would seriously contemplate what that guy said, understand where he was coming from, figure out where you had been coming from, see he was right, accept it, apologize, make it right, and then CALL ATTENTION TO the error/problem/apology/etc. is just so representative of the kind of person you are! Such people may not be rare, but they are not common enough and it is not often EXPOSED about you, because you mostly “aren’t a dick” in the first place.
P.S. The post in question was otherwise truly excellent and wonderful to read.
No Wil don’t apologise to anyone on here. I am not an American by the way but Trump stages a
coup d’etat like something out of a 1950’s South American banana republic and many don’t say a fucking thing. And Wil has to apologise for some totally insignificant comment. Fuck off !
That this bothered you even in the slightest says everything about you and nothing about Wil. He’s just a big enough person to apologize
to make you feel better when he really didn’t have to.
Found it on YouTube (I needed the visual). Pretty funny at the end. Just search Pressure Drop beer commercial.
I can see a smile on her face dancing and a glint in his eye of “that’s the woman I love with all my heart” thank you for writing that and a little glimpse into you. What a gift of a memory
And BAM! A great memory and good feelings both for free. Hold onto that.
nice… nice to see a fellow Central American and Caribbean… cool… what year did you GG Parents migrated to the US?
That is a beautiful memory. I am so glad that you recovered it. ☺️
I am glad for you, Wil. It is great to be taken back in time to the places that made us feel whole. Mine is a pair of Sears 10 x 50 binoculars, which I used to use on trips to airports with my Dad to look at planes, and some VERY funny experiences therein. When i lift them to my face, he is right there next to me and 56 again, driving our 71 Buick Skylark “Compadre.” Beautiful shade of medium blue. We drove across the country in it in ’72. There is a good funny (clean) story in it, if you all are interested in it…..
That’s such a wonderful memory to have. They handed down more then a culture to you.
Incredible memory, incredible writing, man. I was right there in the room with you, on that rug, listening to this.
As a (Israeli-born) Jewish white kid in the suburbs, I really connected with the deep Hebrew scriptural and Exodus-ical elements of a lot of reggae (and other Black spiritual music).
Ah, reggae & ska! I’ve also always loved them. As a fellow white, suburban kid, you’d appreciate a key moment for me. When I as in the Navy, I got the chance to wander in Pearl City, HI. I stumbled upon a record store that was dedicated to reggae! As a kid who thought Camelot Music at the mall was the end-all of music, my mind was blown.
Here in Seattle one of our community radio stations, KEXP, has a Saturday morning show dedicated to Reggae, et al: Positive Vibrations. You might enjoy it. You can stream it, or check out the archives: https://www.kexp.org/shows/PositiveVibrations/.
Wil, you found a good memory and have moved on. I’m proud of you keep it up your in a good state of mind. Your a good person.
What a sweet memory to have! And thank you for turning me on to Toots and the Maytals; listening via Amazon Music now and they’re wonderful! I’ve never been big into Reggae but I like how HAPPY it feels! Thanks again; and man I’m so glad you found that happy memory!
“ The memory doesn’t wash over me in a wave as much as it picks me up along its face, tosses me into the curl, tumbles over and through me until it and I are indistinguishable from one another.”
Dude, your writing is exquisite and keeps me coming back for more decade after decade. I love this story!
Aw, thank you. I was pleased with the way that bit came together.
Came to the comments just to say this. I stopped and read this sentence five times. This sentence is a GEM.
I got chills reading this. The memory reveal was awesome.
Beautiful! Uplifting! Rhythmic! Joyful! memories to cherish, to hold close in your heart, to encourage a lifelong dance of love and hope in us all. Thank you, Wil!
You never fail to make the world a better place. Thank you, and Anne, for being who you are. 🙂
I’m glad you have such a sweet, loving memory to help you through tough times. Hang onto it Wil & thanks for sharing. God bless.
When I read the bit about your history being Jamaican and Panamanian, I think blood squirted out of my nose in shock!
Don’t get me wrong, sir, it was HAPPY shock, but it was like the feel of a splash of aftershave after a nice close razor shave!
For me this was pleasant because my mom was Jamaican, my father was Panamanian, and I also loved all the music you mentioned. I was actually digging for a specific old Jamaican rocksteady song when your post was brought to my attention.
Now we just need to drop you with some Jamaican Aunties™ and have them feed you up with curry chicken, stew beef and rice and peas.
So if I totally thought you were the shit before, you’re even more-so now! And just wait until the Jamaicans get hold of this information. They’re gonna LOVE you!
Just curious. If you were stuck on a desert island somewhere, what ten CDs/albums would you bring with you?
That is a very sweet memory! I think it’s incredible how God endowed our minds to be able to basically be transported to a specific time and/or place with a song, a scent, a taste…I’m glad that song happens to illicit a wonderful memory for you.
Off topic. You should get your agent working on getting you a Jeopardy guest hosting gig. Seriously.
So beautiful
It so nice
Such a cool memory! I came here to get in touch with you “officially”, but I’m glad I stopped by the read that. It is so important to feel save and loved. Thank you for sharing.
If this isn’t a cool place to do this, I apologize, but I’m writing to request an appearance at virtual MiniCon in Muskogee, Oklahoma (called Muskogee MiniCon…original, I know haha). We don’t have much of a budget, but we’d love to host you this year. It’s Saturday, September 18th. If you need more info, feel free to contact me at my email (which is required to leave this comment). Thanks for considering.
Also, keep on being you. You’ve inspired many a person (including myself) from a young age. Take care!
Thank you for sharing this lovely story!
Some people very critical of Will before. But Will was an 80’s kid. I was an 80’s kid too. I can kind of understand why Wil is the way he is now. In the 1980’s you think it was all going to be great. but in the end just shit and now 2021.
Reading your post, I realized I’ve never heard anyone say any criticisms of Wil. I think I’m just so firmly in his target demographic and I’m surrounded by people who at worst don’t know who he is (like my wife).
I am sorry for posting it here, but I don’t know a better place.
Just take a look at where James Tiberius Kirk works now. :/
Cheers from Russia,
Yours #1 commie
I mean, where does the “William Fucking Shatner” works now…
When a person is a shithead being young don’t expect they to be not in their elder age.
P.S.
I love you, Wil
For all who is concerned, an update from Bill Shatner:
https://twitter.com/WilliamShatner/status/1411070627713277955?s=19
As it usually happens, we might have been too fast on our conclusions. (I mean I might have been)
Sorry for inconvenience to everyone (if any)
Still your #1 commie
Wil, find a psychologist and tell all that stuff you have been repressing. Find one that is legit and not a goto referred by another celebrity. I would find an unbiased one in New York or some other back east. This obviously bothers you to the point of obsession. I’m not not one by trade but am a major study in aspects of psychology enough to know there are scam quacks in your State. Between Wilmington, NC and Canada you will find suitable help for your psychosis. Your living in a duck billed platypuses nest there.
Wil — yesterday was your birthday! Happy Birthday — I’ve been reading your blog faithfully since at least 2004. I wish you the best for the coming year!
Ha Ha! Classic! I told my boyfriend that when he dies I will get the church/crematorium to play ‘Monkey Man’ as the coffin is carried in. It will make everyone smile or tut and get a few bottoms wiggling. He said he would LOVE that.
I’m noticing social media is making me sad and I though: you know who I miss? Wil Wheaton. But you’re still here, where you’ve always been and it is so much more satisfying to read your blog than most other stuff I’ve scrolled past lately.
Thanks for reminding me of that.
Here’s to taking care of ourselves in our fiftieth time around the sun!
Hey Wil, any word on Titansgrave season 2? Seriously…
We’re doing everything we can to make it happen.
Man I hope so, you guys got me hooked on it from the first ep on. Does G & S still own the rights to produce the show? Any way to buy those rights?
Also, I loved this write up, not sure how the rest of my post somehow managed to get truncated. Marley / Cliff and the others you named we absolutely amazing artists.