I admit it... i was into some ska awhile back. Here's what I remember...
The SKA movement is considered to have 3 "waves" (eras):
1st wave - 60's Jamaica (the start)
2nd wave - 70's-80's UK (aka "Two Tone" with bands like Selector)
3rd wave - 90's US (fusion with pop & punk with bands like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones)
I was mainly into female-fronted 3rd wave bands like
Dance Hall Crashers and
No Doubt (they WERE a ska band back in the day). Here are some song samples:
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Dance Hall Crashers - State Of Mind.mp3
*
Gangbusters - Bad Attitude.mp3
Here's a random ska song from the Japanese band
Oi-Skallmates that's on the
MOSH PIT ON DISNEY CD. It's a cover of
A*Teens'
Can't Help Falling in Love (from the
Lilo and Stitch soundtrack) which is itself a cover of
Elvis Presley.
*
Oi-Skallmates - Cant Help Falling In Love.mp3
And here are some ska-influenced Jpop remixes that you've probably already heard before (but maybe didn't realize the ska-ness):
*
Ayumi Hamasaki - Boys & Girls 'lnskadisco mix'.mp3
*
Every Little Thing - Smile Again -JIN JIN MIX-.mp3
(Note: The above mp3's are on YouSendIt and should last 25 downloads or 5 days, whichever comes first.)
If you want to listen to good stuff... listen to some
DUB. DUB music
IS an offshoot of REGGAE... pioneered by
Lee "Scratch" Perry. It was somewhat popularized by the British group
Mad Professor... dig out your
Ayu-mi-x II disc for a remix by them. If you're feeling experimental, get some of
Bill Laswell's works.