This week, the Daily has featured articles on ska music. These articles are misleading and a product of someone who claims to know everything about ska when in fact, he still has lots to learn. Ska music is complex because of the various generations of ska and the different types of ska music.

I was offended and outraged to read what Conor Bezane had to say about the Orange County band No Doubt, saying that No Doubt quite possibly ruined ska and that No Doubt lead vocalist Gwen Stefani has a “tragic” influence on ska music.

Let’s get something straight. No Doubt is not ska, and No Doubt does not claim to be a ska band. Be careful how you label your music. It is people who don’t know much about music who label No Doubt a ska band. No Doubt is a culture-rich band that has taken many styles, intertwined and fused them to pump out a unique sound of all styles, like many other bands, such as Sublime, 311, The Urge, etc.

These bands have all been influenced by ska music and have integrated ska into their own unique style, like No Doubt has.

No Doubt grew up listening to the ska beats of Madness, The Specials, English Beat and The Selector. They have been heavily influenced by these ska bands and others, but to say No Doubt is in the same category as these ska bands is wrong! No Doubt is in their own class, and to compare them to the traditional ska bands and then to put No Doubt down for its unique sound is not right.

Music has unlimited possibilities. Appreciate the sounds you hear and don’t put something down because you don’t like the style. Broaden your spectrum and adapt to the different styles of music. Until you can understand completely every aspect of music and become adapted to the different styles of music, don’t put down a band’s hard work and effort.

Jason Kohler

Freshman

Architecture