{"id":8630,"date":"2020-06-03T00:49:45","date_gmt":"2020-06-03T00:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/swedish\/?p=8630"},"modified":"2020-06-03T00:50:22","modified_gmt":"2020-06-03T00:50:22","slug":"reggae-artist-kapten-rod-on-the-music-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/swedish\/reggae-artist-kapten-rod-on-the-music-blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Reggae Artist Kapten R\u00f6d on the Music Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kapten R\u00f6d, “Stockholm.” Photo: Daniel Scha\u0308lander<\/p><\/div>\n

This week\u2019s music blog is coming to you from a difficult place, both mentally, and physically. If you\u2019ve read my blogger bio, you know I live in Minnesota. Events surrounding the killing of George Floyd a week ago have created ripples globally; shedding meaningful light on deep racial injustice, and sparking actions that have resulted in a lot of pain. Sometimes, there\u2019s no room for a silver lining: it’s just hard and will take a lot of healing. Because music is really important to my wellbeing, this week I\u2019m going to attempt to make a little sense of what I\u2019m feeling through song.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t have to think very hard about a genre of music that could speak to the imbalance that many of us are seeing today – reggae. I learned to appreciate it when I was little and Bob Marely\u2019s \u201cLegend\u201d was one of my most common requests for the family jukebox. I came to love reggae\u2019s uplifting melodies while the messages of injustices resonated in me too. Just as Bob Marley sang \u201cEvery little thing is gonna be alright,\u201d but he also coined \u201cGet up, stand up, Stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, Don\u2019t give up the fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reggae has become an international musical language for this juxtaposition. And because we know that Sweden is not all roses, so enters reggae here, too. One of Sweden\u2019s most highly regarded artists of the genre, who captures both criticism of Sweden and love for its people at the same time, is Kapten R\u00f6d. A beloved G\u00f6teborg native, Kapten R\u00f6d raps, writes, produces, and performs at stadium shows of 20,000.<\/p>\n

Just as George Floyd was, Kapten R\u00f6d is a tv\u00e5barnspappa \u201cdad of two kids,\u201d and family is a big part of his life. Improvised storytelling for his children at bedtime inspired a scary story \/ musical series for children that was produced by Sveriges radio for Halloween in 2019. It is called \u201dBobo och Gileus \u2013 Jakten p\u00e5 f\u00f6r\u00e4ldrarna<\/em><\/a>\u201d and trails the journey of two brothers who discover their parents have been kidnapped by evildoers.<\/p>\n

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“Om Bobo och Gileus i Barnradion.”
Photo: Meddi Kabirzadeh, Sveriges radio<\/p><\/div>\n

So as a Swede, a dad, a concerned community member, Kapten R\u00f6d is a good representation of an artist who is critical, but clear about his love for his neighbors is the root of his message. His debut album was released in 2007, called \u201cStj\u00e4rnorna finns h\u00e4r<\/em>.\u201d He directly addresses many injustic<\/p>\n

es happening in Sweden, criticizing the motivations of those in positions of power in Sweden by saying,
\n\u201cVi vill ut i rymden men stj\u00e4rnorna finns h\u00e4r.<\/em> We want to go to space but the stars are here.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Here are a few more quotes to learn before listening to this title track song:<\/p>\n

\u201cS\u00e5 vad \u00e4r p\u00e5 g\u00e5ng? Jag fr\u00e5gar, s\u00e5 vad \u00e4r p\u00e5 g\u00e5ng?<\/em>\u201d
\nSo what’s going on? I ask, so what’s going on?<\/p>\n

\u201cUtan k\u00e4rlek \u00e4r du alltid tomh\u00e4nt<\/em>.\u201d Without love, you\u2019re always empty-handed.<\/p>\n

\u201cJakten p\u00e5 framg\u00e5ng och succ\u00e9 g\u00f6r m\u00e4nniskan blind<\/em>.\u201d
\nThe hunt for prosperity and success makes a person blind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Enjoy. Reflect. Have those important conversations. Be kind to one another.<\/p>\n

Stj\u00e4rnorna finns h\u00e4r – Kapten R\u00f6d<\/strong><\/p>\n