Bob Marley vs Stiff Little Fingers - Johnny Was Comparison (Reaction) 

Stiff Little Fingers are criminally underappreciated .

Bob Marley is a legend but SLF turn a great reggae song into an absolute epic masterpiece. Amazing

The version of SLF is strong in meaning, put in the context of the time text speaks in Ireland, the musicality the changes of rhythm and the voice of Jack Burns are just brilliant..

When you hear SLF play this live with 3,000 voices singing along you’re blown away (no pun) - love Bob’s version but SLF smash this

SLF for me but that's because it was my youth. Fingers and The Clash were and still are my 2 fav bands.

Both are excellent, each one representative of the political turmoil and violence going on in Jamaica and Northern Ireland.

Uncle Bobs vocals are like a warm blanket wrapping around you on a Cold night COMFORTING AND JAKE BURNS JUST DELIVERS EVERY TIME EMOTION AND POWER

For once I'm edging towards the cover version. I bought 'Imflammable Material' as soon as it was available in HMV, which may even have been before the official release date. Some things you just have to have and I'd waited for it to be released. 'Johnny Was' is front and centre of a magnificent punk album, possibly the best along with 'Never Mind the Dooh Dahs' (as it said in Woolies). I went to see them in 1979, getting into Tiffany's at 15, when the age limit was 18 - deep voice and stubble helped. 'Johnny Was' was magnificent as was everything so it can't really compare with the Bob Marley version for me. Love Bob Marley but SLF on this occasion.

There was a great affinity between Reggae & Punk. Stiff Little Fingers , The Clash , Generation X & The Police 🚔 all encompassing Reggae musically & lyrically into their content. 🇯🇲

Still amazes me the maturity of a 20 yr old Jake Burns et al to fashion the perfect punk cover, pay homage and enhancing the original (and yes admittedly replacing the soul with anger).....and 40+ years later still showing Green Day how it's done

If you want to check out SLF live for " Johny Was" the Live Album called "Hanx " Is the one !

An interesting wee story about SLF and Johnny Was. The song is about a guy getting shot for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. SLF drummer Jim Reillys brother Thomas "Kidso" Reilly was shot dead by a soldier while visiting family in Belfast. The soldier was charged with murder. Thomas Reilly was road manager for Bananarama (who carried his coffin) and Spandau Ballet. The Spandau Ballet song Across the Barricades is about Thomas Kidso Reilly. A guy shot dead for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Thomas Was.

Yep, SLF. Just think - they recorded this in Northern Ireland during the height of The Troubles, when young men like Johnny were being shot dead every day. Growing up in Northern Ireland, I loved this song for years before it was a cover of Bob Marley.

it's definitely a win for the fingers for me on this one, they expanded the song and although i must admit i have never seen bob or the wailers do their version live i have seen the fingers do it live and with the crowd singing it back its a take the roof off kind of moment, also i suppose it depends what mood your in and what you want to listen to!

I prefer the SLF version but both are great.

Stiff Little Fingers will always be my top band! The GOATs!

I love your content Haniers. I'll take the guilt trip of relegating Bob and the Wailers to 2nd place on this occasion.

My first love affair with punk music was and is slf

One of the best punk albums of the 70s

The Bob Marley song is soulful, sympathetic and warm, I guess written with regard to the political violence in Jamaica of which he himself was a victim. The Stiff Little Fingers version is gut-rippingly visceral in its energy and anger, and portrays the human cost of the nightly news I was watching growing up. I think the band did a brilliant job with the arrangement, and the guitar solo is my favourite from any band of that era. To do an eight minute song with a guitar solo really went against the grain of what was thought to be the punk ethic, but for me the band, and Jake Burns in particular, make every second matter and more than forty years later it hits me as hard as it ever did. SLF for the win on this one.

Two greats bands, saw Bob Marley at Stafford Bingley Hall and SLF at Cavendish House Manchester. Punk and reggae was a thing especially dub, The Clash toured with Michael Campbell ( Mikey Dredd) Rastas and punks had some kind of affinity as both groups viewed themselves as outcasts of the wider communities.

I saw them at Digbeth Civic Hall and they should get more recognition, this version is incredible

Your best upload yet in my opinion. Like Mrs Hanier I think both are great but I would edge it to Stiff Little Fingers.... Now if you want something else in that style and quality try Police and Thieves by Junior Mervin and the cover version by The Clash or Pressure Drop by Toots and the Maytals also with the cover by the Clash.!!!

Not fair to say Fingers version blows Bob & Co out of the water, but,I hadn't heard the Wailers original until today, whereas I've had the SLF version from 1979 in my head for more than 40 years having played it to death at the time from their brilliant intro album 'Inflammable Material'. So,it's still SLF for me.

I prefer Stiff Little Fingers version it’s one of my favourites, it took me a number of years to hear the original version back in the day it wasn’t easy to find.

Bob of the two versions you played. However SLF do a live version on Hanx which is bloody awesome

Both versions are Fantastic ... Brought up in the late 60's 70's i had the privilege of learning & enjoying both punk and reggae & (and obviously the offspring) SKA.... But i was just a bit more drawn towards punk SLF are way better than the music most people live through 40 yrs + still going say's it all .. Hanx to my fellow fingers family for these suggestions love you guys

SLF's version would be my go to listen, but I give this one to Bob as it conveys the message better.

I grew up with the SLF version, still is a fantastic version with so many different phases.

Both songs are so good. Fingers used the song to make the point of the wasted lives in the troubles Recently herd Johnny Was live So good as a live song Also good to listen to Bob when chilling in the sun

Yes have it SLF ❤ smashed it out the park

Has to be a tie ! not for dressing up ! Both brilliant ! Bob Marley is so calming ! SLF Is edgy but message is the same !!

I am a massive SLF fan as I grew up in Belfast at the same time as them. You should listen to their version of Johnny Was on the live album called Hanx - incidentally , an album I won on a local news programme in Northern Ireland!

I preferred SLF to the Specials last time, but how can I choose here? They're both amazing, and both are from authentic experiences of living in 'the system' imposed upon them that creates conflict and comes from conflict. Both the soulful mourning original and the angry cover are powerful and genuine ...

Your video made me realise how great SLF are! The original is more nuanced but SLF really transform their material!

SLF and The Clash got me into reggae

Perfect NPR type cretics. Both are great Love Bob Marley. SLF brought a reality of the struggle to a new level.

Greedings from,, Kiel,, north Germany.. In the ealy 80,s the live LP from SLF was a favorite here... Watch :"Stiff little Fingers, live at Rockpalast,, * I saw them 2x in Hamburg👍

There is actually a really good movie called "Johnny Was" as well with "Vinnie Jones, Lennox Lewis, Roger Daltry and Samantha Mumba to mention a few. It's about I.R.A. politics and set in London. The soundtrack is amazing.

A tie for me. One of my favourite cover versions though. Galaxie 500 were masters of the cover version and did a sublime take of JDs Ceremony and my favourite ever cover of Modern Lovers Don't Let Our Youth Go To Waste

got weekend ticket to see SLF at their spiritual home Glasgow Barrowlands on 16-17th (Paddys night) March - can't wait, music of my youth, now music of my senior years,,,,feel sorry for people only finding SLF now

There is no way to choice a better one, both are awesome in your own style. i love both.

Stiff Little Fingers. But their live version takes it to another level again.

If you are looking for a similar comparative song and cover, there is "Police & Thieves" by Junior Murvin (Produced by Lee Perry & Written by Murvin/Perry) and The Clash. There are a few of versions of this kicking around with Jah Lion and Glen DaCosta.

The SLF version is much angrier - that righteous indignation is perhaps the most important difference between the two versions. Marley's is perhaps a little too laid back considering the message...

Good choice people, SLF nailed the production and solidified the marriage of punk / reggae. Feel that they could have afforded to trim up to a minute at the end without losing any of the song's intensity though.

I love these comparisons. I have never heard this song before and the renditions were both great but I have to choose one so I'm going for Bob Marley and the Wailers. That was so soulful that you could easily get lost in it. I look forward to next week's comparison

The SLF version is a masterpiece. After all these years it is the first time I've heard the Marley version. Also liked it.

Both are superb, in their own way. I can't separate them! That guitar break - wow!

I'm so happy she immediately picked Stiff Little Fingers! I think Bob Marley would pick their version too.

Both are good. Reggae and punk are rebel music

Here's one for you from two men from the same mold compassion righteousness and genius saint Joe Strummer ( with Johnny cash) and uncle Bob Marley . Uncle Bob's song REDEMPTION SONG Joes version is honest humble and spine tingling in my opinion

When you get a chance have a listen to The Undertones (My Perfect Cousin or Teenage Kicks would be a great reaction) good luck with the channel it’s a lot of fun

Reggae and punk have always had a strong connection since the late 70's due to similar social situations of that era. (has it gone?) Love both these versions - Johnny is a good song :)

Awesome cover of bob marley track but i prefer original but stiff live verSion from their live album Hanx is mega

S LF live version on Hanx is their best version.

Check out some more Marley: Concrete Jungle, Burning and Looting, Rastaman Chant are some great early tunes, deep tracks. Also look for some of their later tracks: Roots,Rock, Reggae, and Punky Reggae Party

Just listening to Bob's now - have to admit its my first time and its incredible, as is SLF's - draw!

A protest song about innocent people being gunned down on a small island, gets repurposed as a protest song about innocent people being gunned down on a different small island. Some things don't change. I've heard a lot of reggae and love it but I don't think I've actually heard Bob Marley's song before. I know 'Inflammable Material' very well, it's one of my favourite albums. I loved how Cynthia was totally getting into SLF's version.

Please folks, go and listen to the live version on the Stiff Little Fingers live album “Hanx” (thanks in Belfast vernacular). In fact listen to the entire album. These guys were critical of all the sides in the Ulster Troubles. People in Belfast had been shot for saying less than what SLF were singing about. That cannot be underestimated. ✌️

Excellent as usual guys. Perhaps try Fly the Flag by SLF. A great comment on the UK.

Kia ora hello again guys hay when BOb Marley was here in Aotearoa New Zealand he was asked why he wrote PUNKY REGGAE PARTY and his answer was PERFECT BECAUSE REGGAE MUSIC AND PUNKROCK MUSIC IS REBEL MUSIC. SO ON THAT NOTE CHECK OUT BOB MARLEY'S SONG PUNKY REGGAE PARTY

Been a slf fan forty odd years 🔥 the very song that got me listening to BOB l love both versions 👍SLF live version on HANX amazing 🔥🔥🔥

You need to put both songs in the context if where the singers grew up. Jamaica and Belfast during the troubles.

Stiff Little Fingers. Always Stiff Little Fingers. Unless The Clash is in the mix. In that case always The Clash.

Check out SLF's cover of "The Message" by Grand master flash. I prefer it to the original.

Heres another comparison you might be interested in doing, a triple one at that! larry williams doing the song slow down and the beatles doing a cover of it and also the jam doing a cover of it, all are great so will be interesting to see who is preferred out of the three!

I know you can't really do the same song twice but if you can try SLF's live version of Johnny Was from the album _Hanx!_

For me, it's a tie. Stiff Little Fingers would've won this if I liked their singer's voice better 🙂

Now how 'bout a comparison between Marley's and Eric Clapton's versions of "I shot the sheriff"...

SLF get the anger that this song needs

Another one, She's not there, by The Zombies and UK Subs

SLF!!

Peole like bob marley because they think they have to...he was really overated. Stiff little fingers were one of the most underated bands ever

Kia ora hello guys as i said before it's reggae Sunday here in the kiapara hills and BOOM 💥 YOU GOOD PEOPLE play The Protector's give back our land and I'm hanging around sniffing out more reggae on your play list hehehe 👍✌️🤘

Got to to Walk On By - The Stranglers

Try Black Sabbath paranoid v The Dickies version, The Dickies is better

✌️🔥 For life !

different countries but same oppression n hate S L F my favourite 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Fingers version better in my view was written by bobs wife rita marley

Bob was good but SLF did this one better.

Try Police and Thieves by Junior Murvin and by The Clash

I believe you have to enquire/ask for a certain song at least a couple of times. Having mentioned it once already, here's my second request for Soundgarden and 'Outshined'. Failing that, 'Rusty Cage' would more than suffice. Thanks! 😊

SLF

Its Irish punk in a troubled time

Slf no doubt

I beleive many other bands ripped off slf riffs

Slf all day long is better, I prefer the live version on hanx album

Slf easy

Bob .. always.. the second one is for you all who have no rhythm

SLF

SLF