Bob Marley-Tribute to Freedom: A Review

Creditable or Commercialism

5/9/00

Bob Marley-Tribute to Freedom is located in the newly developed theme park 
Universal Studios, Orlando Florida, and is part of a new idea called City Walk.  
Filling in the gap of theme world nightlife comes, City Walk dedicated to 
entertaining those after tiring of rides and exhibits.  City Walk is a club 
extravaganza hosting such popular chains as Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, and 
Hard Rock Caf‚'s latest edition. New clubs include an all you can take buffet of 
NBA paraphernalia or how bout the Motown club complete with wax models of the 
Supremes. Let us not forget of the latest and most popular music crazes, the 
Latin Quarter and the Groove featuring dance music.  Which brings us to the last 
and best club in the bunch, Tribute to Freedom.

Upon first glance one could easily be impressed with the very life like statue 
of Mr. Music himself emblazoned in bronze outside the entrance.  And the most 
spectacle feature of club.well the club itself, a model reproduction of Marley's 
home in Kingston Jamaican, complete with white side paneling, tile roof, and 
wooden green shutter windows.  Allow me to give you a more complete layout of 
this magnificent sight.  While walking down the mall of City Walk one would 
first encounter a white picket fence surrounding the house with statute there 
standing center front. Walk to the right side where the fence gives way to the 
front yard.  Approaching the main entrance is where one first observes the long 
line of regulars attending and paying anywhere from $6-$10, depending on the 
night, as cover charge. Take notice this cover charge is usually good for all 
other clubs in the City Walk area.  Continue past the smug and cooler than you 
attitude of the doorman. Now enter through the front door and notice first, the 
back wall of the house is missing, instead opening up to the back yard where 
there is a gazebo with a band tirelessly covering the songs of Marley.  Look 
left and see the merchandise table stuffed with tuff Gong materials from albums 
to nylon Rasta jackets. In the back corner left, where the original kitchen may 
have been, lies a full service bar.  To the right, stairs climbing the second 
level where you may find.you guess it, another full service bar.  With tables 
and chairs filling every space in between the back yard is left open to serve as 
a dance floor.

During my first attendance I was impressed with variety of traditional Jamaican 
dishes served, including some vegen choices.  Another mentionable of the Tribute 
to Freedom, is the obvious amount of decorating that must of went into creating 
such a well designed place.  Beautiful wall covering murals are everywhere, and 
light the place with some well known scenes that happened during Marley's life. 
Example: one love peace concert where hands from opposition parties were brought 
together.  Another attribute, gold records featuring some of the most popular 
Wailer's albums hang on walls, tempting enough to steal.  Featuring on the stage 
for the night was the 506 crew who played a solid roots set to start the night 
off.  They then came back with a popular music set featuring a couple dancehall 
cuts, two very long Soca jams with Latin hints, and even breaking into Lauryn 
Hill's Killing me Softly. Overall the attitude was very positive, the crowd 
racial diverse, and all where there to dance and listen to Caribbean music.


Now to discuss the theme of the article, is the Tribute to Freedom really just a 
tribute to cash $$?. The real proof is in the pudding. Just take a look at the 
schedule of artist to perform. It becomes quite apparent this is not a diverse 
issue. The same three bands are slated to perform until the end of July!!(Oil 
down, 506 Crew, Word Sound & Power)  I will not begin to speculate on these 
artist abilities because I have not seen them all.  But any house band that 
plays more than once a week on average, sets an atmosphere that underlies the 
motivation of the facility. Where are the original cutting edge Reggae acts that 
are forwarding the music today?  With this drawback the real power of Tribute to 
Freedom has been deflated. Never the less to get through the door one must first 
walk up the steps.  If the Tribute to Freedom places people on this stair way 
then it has accomplished something.  In addition, by the recognition of 
commercial enterprise proves that Reggae is here to stay even if it must share 
the limelight with more popular forms of music.  In the end this is a heck of an 
experience, and a good time, but I will have to rate it a little of both: 
creditable and commercial.

Check it out of the web:
www.uescape.com/citywalk/bobmarley.html


Patrick Buck RAW#1103
KGLT 91.9FM
SUB Room 330
Bozeman, Mt 59715
www.montana.edu/wwwkglt