Letetia Leonora McLean best known as Nora Dean (January 8, 1944 – 29 Septem… Read Full Bio ↴Letetia Leonora McLean best known as Nora Dean (January 8, 1944 – 29 September 2016) was a Jamaican reggae and later gospel recording artist, best known for her 1970 hit "Barbwire".
Born in St. Catherine, Jamaica, Nora Dean recorded as a member of The Soulettes (with Rita Marley) and The Ebony Sisters before recording as a solo artist. She recorded for Lee "Scratch" Perry, including the 1969 single "The Same Thing That You Gave to Daddy". Dean had her first hit in 1970 for producer Byron Smith with "Barbwire", based on The Techniques' "You Don't Care". She enjoyed further success with "Night Food Reggae". She went on to record for Sonia Pottinger, Harry Mudie ("Let Me Tell You Boy"), and Bunny Lee, including a version of "Que Sera Sera", retitled "Kay Sarah". She contributed backing vocals to Jimmy Cliff's 1973 album Unlimited. Dean moved to New York City in the mid-1970s, where she married. After several years away from music she returned in the 1980s, singing in a lovers rock style. In the 1990s she began recording again, now concentrating on gospel music, releasing several albums in the years that followed.
Dean moved to Connecticut in 2010, and died there on 29 September 2016, aged 72.
Nora Dean is one of reggae’s greatest mysteries. She sang solo as well as being a member of The Ebony Sisters, The Soul Sisters and The Soulettes. She did backing vocals on some recordings by Jimmy Cliff. Although she was not a prolific artist (especially by reggae standards), a number of her songs are very fondly remembered by fans of Jamaican music as true reggae classics. This is because Nora Dean brought something extra to her best songs, making them unusual and endlessly enjoyable. And yet, there is little biographical information about her anywhere. No interviews with her have ever been published. Photos seemed to be non-existent. Go through every reggae book, documentary, and liner note of the dozens of compilations her classic tracks appear on; you’ll learn that Nora Dean was born in 1952, and nothing more. Google until the search results are exhausted and, all you’ll learn is how many people share her name.
Somehow, the mystery is fitting for such an unusual singer.
Nora Dean is one of reggae’s best female vocalists. Listening to her music, it is immediately apparent that she has a great Jamaican voice. What might be slightly less obvious are the rich depths of her singing. This is what makes many of her recordings so special. An unexpected turn of melody, a well placed use of sounds instead of words, an emotional intensity and complexity that is very expressive. These are the hallmarks of the Nora Dean sound. Her songs are made all the more memorable by recording with some of Jamaica’s best producers, musicians and riddims. Oh, and there's also the sex. In all of her most memorable songs, there is sexuality. Each song presents a very different, unusual situation and the sexuality is always surprising. There's not a conventional love song in the bunch.
In “Barbwire” she plays babyishly naïve about a man’s advances. In “Mojo Girl”, she is serenely in full control. She lays down the law to her man, threatening him with black magic reprisals. In “Wreck A Buddy”, she is in desperate carnal need, with explicit lyrics to the melody of “Little Drummer Boy”. In “The Same Thing You Gave To Daddy”, she is in a battle of wills with her little boy, who won't go to sleep until he gets what Nora gave his daddy the night before. “Oh, no, no, no”, indeed! And in “Ay Ay Ay”, the music is deconstructed from reggae to a drone. Narrative is abandoned in favor of free association, and words become invocations that are supplemented with kisses, bird cries and groans of pure ecstasy.
But to be fair to the artist, Nora Dean would argue the point. She is a religious, righteous woman, who was born again in the late 1981. Some of her songs, she explained in early 2006, thought to be sexual in nature are actually misunderstood. In some cases, as a young girl she was pressured by producers to act outside of her character. (She was only about 15 when she started recording.) And at least one scandalous song, a cover of the mento song Night Food, Nora insists she did not record. She is upset that her name was affixed to a song she finds so repugnant.
The lyrical content aside, what is universally accepted is superb vocals and the enormous contribution that Nora Dean made to reggae music.
From www.noradean.com
Born in St. Catherine, Jamaica, Nora Dean recorded as a member of The Soulettes (with Rita Marley) and The Ebony Sisters before recording as a solo artist. She recorded for Lee "Scratch" Perry, including the 1969 single "The Same Thing That You Gave to Daddy". Dean had her first hit in 1970 for producer Byron Smith with "Barbwire", based on The Techniques' "You Don't Care". She enjoyed further success with "Night Food Reggae". She went on to record for Sonia Pottinger, Harry Mudie ("Let Me Tell You Boy"), and Bunny Lee, including a version of "Que Sera Sera", retitled "Kay Sarah". She contributed backing vocals to Jimmy Cliff's 1973 album Unlimited. Dean moved to New York City in the mid-1970s, where she married. After several years away from music she returned in the 1980s, singing in a lovers rock style. In the 1990s she began recording again, now concentrating on gospel music, releasing several albums in the years that followed.
Dean moved to Connecticut in 2010, and died there on 29 September 2016, aged 72.
Nora Dean is one of reggae’s greatest mysteries. She sang solo as well as being a member of The Ebony Sisters, The Soul Sisters and The Soulettes. She did backing vocals on some recordings by Jimmy Cliff. Although she was not a prolific artist (especially by reggae standards), a number of her songs are very fondly remembered by fans of Jamaican music as true reggae classics. This is because Nora Dean brought something extra to her best songs, making them unusual and endlessly enjoyable. And yet, there is little biographical information about her anywhere. No interviews with her have ever been published. Photos seemed to be non-existent. Go through every reggae book, documentary, and liner note of the dozens of compilations her classic tracks appear on; you’ll learn that Nora Dean was born in 1952, and nothing more. Google until the search results are exhausted and, all you’ll learn is how many people share her name.
Somehow, the mystery is fitting for such an unusual singer.
Nora Dean is one of reggae’s best female vocalists. Listening to her music, it is immediately apparent that she has a great Jamaican voice. What might be slightly less obvious are the rich depths of her singing. This is what makes many of her recordings so special. An unexpected turn of melody, a well placed use of sounds instead of words, an emotional intensity and complexity that is very expressive. These are the hallmarks of the Nora Dean sound. Her songs are made all the more memorable by recording with some of Jamaica’s best producers, musicians and riddims. Oh, and there's also the sex. In all of her most memorable songs, there is sexuality. Each song presents a very different, unusual situation and the sexuality is always surprising. There's not a conventional love song in the bunch.
In “Barbwire” she plays babyishly naïve about a man’s advances. In “Mojo Girl”, she is serenely in full control. She lays down the law to her man, threatening him with black magic reprisals. In “Wreck A Buddy”, she is in desperate carnal need, with explicit lyrics to the melody of “Little Drummer Boy”. In “The Same Thing You Gave To Daddy”, she is in a battle of wills with her little boy, who won't go to sleep until he gets what Nora gave his daddy the night before. “Oh, no, no, no”, indeed! And in “Ay Ay Ay”, the music is deconstructed from reggae to a drone. Narrative is abandoned in favor of free association, and words become invocations that are supplemented with kisses, bird cries and groans of pure ecstasy.
But to be fair to the artist, Nora Dean would argue the point. She is a religious, righteous woman, who was born again in the late 1981. Some of her songs, she explained in early 2006, thought to be sexual in nature are actually misunderstood. In some cases, as a young girl she was pressured by producers to act outside of her character. (She was only about 15 when she started recording.) And at least one scandalous song, a cover of the mento song Night Food, Nora insists she did not record. She is upset that her name was affixed to a song she finds so repugnant.
The lyrical content aside, what is universally accepted is superb vocals and the enormous contribution that Nora Dean made to reggae music.
From www.noradean.com
Oh Mama
Nora Dean Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Oh Mama' by these artists:
2.clock (Oh Mama Mia, Oh Mama Mia, Oh Mama Mia) Look, I…
8blevrai 8b, weh È la strada che pa-pa-parla Frate' a casa c'ho il…
Anders Osborne BABY DON'T TELL ME THAT I'M DOING WRONG I KNOW WHERE…
Andrews Sisters Mama dear, come over here And see who's looking in my…
Aoife O' Donovan When I was a barmaid, You were my mead When I was…
Aoife ODonovan When I was a barmaid, you were my mead When I…
Black M Le temps passe et je n'veux plus y penser Laisse tomber…
CHERRSEE Oh mama Oh mama Oh mama 涙出るわ Oh mama そんな目で 私を見つめないで 傷つきそうで怖…
Cheu-B Olufumi iyawo mi Oh baby Idunumi Olufumi iyawo mi Oh baby O…
D.Y.C.R. This is a Nass Production Toto Beats Cheffi J'sors la nuit,…
Daniel Baby don't tell me that I'm doing wrong I know where…
Dominic Donner Get me out I can´t take I must leave this town All…
Driks T'es ma reine, t'es l'élu d'mon cœur T'es avec moi mon…
Farruko & Myke Towers Ey Myke Towers, baby Young Kingz (uh-uh) Se puso el Victori…
Gallo Nero Oh, Mama, wieso geb' ich auf die Worte, die du…
Geosteady Another one, a Geosteady black man ah mi sing and…
honeyhoney All covered in mud the day is done We worked so…
INSTASAMKA Оу, мама, у меня доллары в глазах Оу, мама, серьги Gucci…
Jeanne Mas Route qui s'égare ne me portait nulle part …
Joe Cocker Oh mama I don't want to feel this way Oh, no not…
JoJo Kuo My mama told me Son you must be strong and help…
Khavel-X Oh Mama Alee-X Mãe, que falta que a Senhora me faz Mais e…
Kiff No Beat You know me everytime yé I fuck you yeah eh Oh mama…
L.C. Donatto This is a Nass Production Toto Beats Cheffi J'sors la nuit,…
Light Αγόρασα καινούργιο whip, έκανα καινούργιους φίλους Διακόσμησ…
Lili & Susie Oh mama can't you tell Oh mama can't you tell If he…
Marie José Oh ! Mama ne me gronde pas Je n’ai rien…
Mellow Mood Dem mortify so oh mama dem also strike so oh mama I…
Michael Brun One, two, three, four Oh mama oh mama burnin inside Im dream…
Milky Chance Slowly we are falling through the cracks It just feels like…
Moderatto Ella es mi amiga La niña fiel es una dulce…
Naika Racing, My hearth and my thoughts Fall apart from this momen…
Nuttea Celle-ci s'adresse à toute les nations A toutes les famille…
Peter Steinbach Ich steh auf mit dem linken Fuß fütter den Eierkocher mit…
R.Jathu This is a Nass Production Toto Beats Cheffi J'sors la nuit,…
Rachael Leahcar You whisper to me the truth of this life The face…
Ridsa Oh mama tu le sais On n'se le dit pas mais…
Rkomi Bello, Il denaro! Il denaro non aspetta E' porsi dentro il b…
Run the Jewels Gun in the holster be Right in the upholstery Somewhere righ…
Sir Sly One day, one day, one day One day In San Francisco and…
The Andrews Sisters Oh Ma-Ma! Oh, catcha dat man-a for me! Oh Ma-Ma! How happ…
Tom Ovans Well I thank God The stars above I found a girl That I…
Twin Peaks Woo See how we say it is How the moon hit the…
Yulia Yasmin Sejenak aku renungkan Betapa aku berdosa Sekian lamanya Aku …
Zamdane Hey L′diable m'appelle, je vais pas tomber dans ces filets …
ZUSE I told my mama i would never change never change I…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Nora Dean:
Barb Wire Oh, mama, ma ma ma! I met a boy the other…
Barbwire Oh, mama, ma ma ma! I met a boy the other…
O Mama Oh, mama, ma ma ma! I met a boy the other…
Peace Begins Within Oh me, oh my, cost of living get so high. My…
The Valet Is valet ah selling for meh living Is valet ah selling…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@aaronwalker5295
Real tunes
@florianbruggmann781
Awesome.
@javierangel861
Pense que venia del africa, pero realmente es un reggae de jamaica
@ismaelparra875
Beautiful
@michaellifetv5696
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@lucasbelfort8519
oh mama
@mcsmatanb1
RIP
@Sir-G-69
rest in peace.
@daypeshmodd
Such a different version of the original Barbwire, not that bad really but imo it's nowhere near as good as the first 1969 recording. RIP Nora Dean