Bob Marley and the Wailers’ 1980 hit Could You Be Loved has reached one billion plays on Spotify, marking the Reggae legend’s second song to achieve this milestone and the eighth Jamaican-led song to do so on the platform overall.
The song was composed during the band’s final tour dates before Marley’s tragic passing in 1981. It features sampled lyrics from Marley’s very first single, Judge Not, which reads: “The road of life is rocky; And you may stumble too. So while you point your fingers, someone else is judging you.“
Could You Be Loved was featured on the band’s 12th album, Uprising, and later included in the greatest hits album Legend (1984) and the Songs of Freedom (1992) box set.
According to the liner notes of Songs of Freedom, Could You Be Loved was “consciously recorded with a sound that would appeal to Black American radio programmers.” The song’s contemporary disco groove, captivating keyboards, and Marley’s signature vocals helped it become a crossover hit.
Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, who sampled the song in his 2002 track, And Be Loved, once commented on its innovation, stating, “I don’t think he ever went further away from traditional reggae than with this song. My father was far ahead of his time.”
It marked Marley’s only entry on the Billboard Dance chart, peaking at No. 6.
The song also reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart and was a top ten hit in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland.
It was certified 2X Platinum in the UK earlier this year. It is currently certified 5X Platinum in New Zealand (150,000 units), Platinum in Italy (50,000 units), Gold in Germany (250,000 units), Denmark (45,000 units), and Brazil (30,000 units).
The enduring popularity of Could You Be Loved is further evidenced by its recent animated music video, inspired by Cedella Marley’s advocacy for women’s soccer. Released in 2022, the video has already garnered over 84 million views on YouTube.
In July this year, Marley’s Three Little Birds surpassed the one billion plays milestone on Spotify.
The other Jamaican-led songs that have surpassed one billion plays on Spotify are Sean Paul’s No Lie with Dua Lipa (1.2 billion), OMI’s Cheerleader (Remix) (1.7 billion), and Shaggy and RikRok’s It Wasn’t Me (1.06 billion). Producer Walshy Fire, part of Major Lazer, is also in the club with Lean On (with DJ Snake & MØ), Light It Up (Remix) (with Nyla and Fuse ODG), and Cold Water (with Justin Bieber & MØ), each achieving over one billion plays.
