Gallo's Biography of Lucky Dube

By Gallo Music Group 

Lucky’s music is riddled with a desire to make the world a better place. He sees through the ridiculous, the injustices, the everyday problems we have to face as human beings, and slices through to the heart of it.

Lucky Dube has been hailed as ‘The shining star of African reggae’ (Afropop.com), and ‘South Africa’s biggest selling contemporary artist’ (Mail & Guardian).

However, he isn’t merely this, he’s a modern day hero with a message that has touched millions of people’s hearts around the world.

With an incredible 15 albums under his reggae belt, he has proved himself one of not only South Africa’s, but also the world’s greatest reggae superstars. A man not only of superb musical taste and genius, but an artist with a message, a reason and a rhyme behind everything he does.

Following in the incredible success of his last album ‘Soul Taker’ Lucky has once again outdone himself with his latest release ‘The Other Side’ - a thought provoking musical journey bound to once again make enormous waves in the music industry.

Lucky has a message with every album. His music and passion are based on 3 main things - political issues, social issues and personal issues, things that play an important part in everyone’s lives.

When asked what inspires him (Lucky) he humbly notes - People! Looking at people, watching people’s movements, the things they do. My songs are all based on real life situations and experiences".

‘The Other Side’ is a mature album, featuring 10 brand new tracks from the illustrious Lucky. The first single off his album ‘Ding Ding Licky Licky Licky Bong’ is above all, "a happy song", Lucky comments. "It’s a song about someone who has literally gone through hell in their past and has finally found happiness. It’s a celebration of happiness".

‘The Other Side’ is a rhythmic and uplifting album bursting with the spirit of reggae and personal empowerment.

Other tracks off ‘The Other Side’ include the haunting and honest album titled ’The Other Side’. The common fallacy that things are always better on the other side of the track is exactly that, a fallacy. Lucky explains -  "People always think that the grass is greener. People I’ve come across in my tours overseas always aspire to be African. They want a piece of Africa, and people in Africa always aspire to be overseas. It’s a song about discovering the truth for yourself and not being deceived by what you assume".  

Lucky’s message is a very personal one. As in the song ‘Number In The Book’, he explores the idea that people are dying everyday by incurable diseases and become mere statistics and not the human beings they are. As reflected in the lyrics -

"You are here today, tomorrow you are gone, you don’t wanna be another number in the book".

A mix of hardship, struggle, happiness and love, ‘The Other Side’ is a journey of reflection and discovery.

The track ‘Cool Down’ is above all a love song. As Lucky notes - It doesn’t matter if your lover is looking at another person, their love ultimately lies with you. It’s a song about jealousy, trust and the things that make a relationship what it is. This is all noted in the chorus lyrics, "Cool down baby everything is under control, It doesn’t matter where I get my appetite, I will always eat at home."

‘Soldier’ is a song about the power of authority and the atrocities we sometimes have to perform against our own will. "I met a soldier once who had been to war and killed people because he was instructed to. Every night his dreams are a reminder of what he has done. He can still see the dead and hear their screams and he’s desperately trying for forgiveness," Lucky explains.

Lucky’s music is riddled with a desire to make the world a better place. He sees through the ridiculous, the injustices, the everyday problems we have to face as human beings, and slices through to the heart of it.

His song ‘Hero’ speaks about unsung heroes, ordinary folk whom we don’t notice until we need them. Heroes like firemen, nurses and the man on the street who selflessly donates money to child welfare. Lucky sings "They’ve never seen you on TV, your little contribution makes their lives a little bit better everyday."

It’s this attention to detail that imbues Lucky’s music with an honourable conscience.

‘The Other Side’ is once again testament to Lucky Dube’s musical insight. A reggae cornucopia of mixed emotions, questioning attitudes and a simple love of a good melody and a good vibe.

Originally appeared on Gallo Music, South Africa. 

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