The Rounds: Nadia Batson opened a new boutique in Trinidad

Good Evening Soca Lovers,


I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. Before I get started, I want to offer you my sincerest apologies for leaving you hanging last week. As I was making my rounds last Sunday, there was a family emergency that I had to come first. I really appreciate your understanding, ant the prayers and support of everyone who rallied around us, and I'm happy to say everything is cool and copacetic.

As we think of family, especially at this festive time of year, there are a couple of important anniversaries that the world-wide soca family is marking this week. Tuesday coming will make two years of marriage for Bunji Garlin and Faye-Ann Lyons.

Faye-Ann and Bunji in St. Vincent in July

This past Friday will made four years since the tragic passing of Burning Flames frontline vocalist Onika Peaches Bostic. Had she survived the tragic car accident that led to her untimely death, Onika would be celebrating her 29th birthday on December 23rd. Peaches, we still remember your spirit, your smile and your songs. You will be dearly missed.

Awesome news out of Trinidad for Miss Nadia Batson! The Caribbean Queen launched a business in the Trincity Mall last Tuesday. Her new boutique is called Fashion over Style, and in spite of hard economic times, it seems like the opening was even more successful than she anticipated with stock flying right off the shelves. I say, congratulations on the new business venture. Wishing Nadia prosperity in abundance for 2009!

With Nadia at Soca or Die in Toronto last month

As I speak, our Crucian friends are gearing up to kick off the second annual St. Croix Party Monarch Competition. The 2007 winner was Toby Dee. He's back to defend his crown against 13 Monarch hopefuls including Omari Ferrari. Check back with me soon. I'll tell yuh what happens.

So much to say...precious little time. But if you're curious, it's stuff to do with....Patrice Roberts and Mavado. Mm hmm! Machel Montano and Universal Music. Mm hmm! A video that's pure "Fyah" from Kevin Lyttle and a "Tight" one from Peter Ram.

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. If you want to follow these and other interesting soca industry news and gossip, check me out online at the Nurse Karen Etc blog at triple w dot mustard seeds dot net. And never miss the rounds. Download the podcast to go at socatherapy dot com slash podcast. Now back to de docta!

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Booster Shot: Peter Ram's "Tight video in the can!

Peter Ram's  got a new video out for "Tight" - Better known as one of the catchiest tunes on Monstapiece's 2008 Coconut Tree Riddim".  It was directed by Jamaica's Jay Will and features a bevy of Caribbean beauty strutting their stuff in tight white short pants.  I'm sure the men reading this are in heaven already.  Yeah well...If you're a facebook user, you can consider it your Christmas gift from me. 

Dir: Jay Will (Game Over)
Producer: Carleene Samuels
DP: Richard Lannaman
Editor: Mykal Cushnie
Pyramid Music Group

Tight Video on Facebook  

 

Unfortunately, at this point there's no public link for the video.  Therefore, if you're not a Facebook user, you won't be able to see it just yet.  

No worries, I'm certain Jay will have it available to the regular folks just now. 

Until then....Enjoy!

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Eye Unit: Kevin Lyttle Fyah Video

I like to be sure that you get to see the finished product whenever I mention a video shoot in The Rounds.  So here it is, Kevin Lyttle "Fyah".  There's a cute little cameo of Problem Child playing dominoes.

To read the original post about this steamy new video, click the link below.

Kevin Lyttle to Shoot a New Music Video

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Nurse's Lounge: Jingle Jam 4 (video)

Living in Canada, it's nearly impossible to excape the harsh reality of the elements. Thankfully, promoters up here realize that party-goers require some extra inspiration to leave their humble abodes when the mercury drops below zero.


To the rescue was CVR Entertainment with its fourth edition of Jingle Jam. November 29, 2008 KoolHaus was the place to be if you were looking for live soca acts doing their thing. I decided to check it out.


Toronto's own Slammer Cutter opened the show with "Hang Over," a song that's now getting a lot of love. This artist has paid his dues and continues to. So it's nice to see the spotlght flashing his direction.


Next was Shurwayne. No one doubts that Mr. Winchester knows how to warm up a crowd in a c-c-cold city. However, between you and me, Shurwayne had something to prove. The die-hard fans aren't sure what to make of him without Traffik, and Saturday night was all about holding his own. But check the clip...he did more than fine!! (Now just to get Y.O.U. up here so I can give allyuh my official stamp of approval.



Skinny Fabulous is no stranger to (Nurse) Karen (Etc), mostly because he's no stranger to Toronto. Ever since Head Bad (On the Spot) clinched the SVG Soca Monarch crown in July, he has been a staple at the city's major fetes. Skinny didn't disappoint. Taking the holiday theme one step further, Skinny Fabulous helped Santa Claus cross a few names off the Toronto list. Running through his cache of older hits, he emptied out two great big bags of ridiculous gifts for his fans. Never know what to expect. Toronto has seen him grace the stage in a Star Wars mask, empty a whole bottle of Hennessy in the mouths of the crowd. We even saw him jump into the audience for a midnight surf. Click below for the gift exchange....



Ever since I started blogging, one of my favourite habits is checking to see what search terms (Nurse) Karen (Etc) readers are using to find content on the site. For the last month everyone is searching FAYE-ANN LYONS and PREGNANT as if there's nothing else that happens under the sun. (in case you're into stats like me, about 200 people have googled that to end up right here in the last 30 days)

Well...under the moon, Bunji Garlin and Faye-Ann Lyons gave an energetic stage show backed by TC, the King of Swag. Somebody tell me, that boy really always wears white pants? I have seen these two give a different show maybe ten times for the year. Maybe more if I really count. Faye-Ann was peforming pregnant in Miami at 3 months. Now at nearly six months, my girl is really turning heads. It's impossible to hide the bump protruding from her infamous rock hard torso. No doubt you'll enjoy seeing her mash up the stage, like it's just another day at the office!







I enjoyed the Jingle Jam lime. The crowd was about 1100, 400 shy of what the promoter hoped for. However, I think we can blame the weather for that. That was some kinda gaseous ice sumting in the air. Shivering just thinking about it! Would have loved to see KMC perform. "I'm not drunk" would have complimented Slammer Cutters "Hangover" very nicely. Guess I'll have to wait for T&T

Merry Christmas!

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The Rounds: Kevin Lyttle's New Song with Flo Rida

Good Evening Soca Lovers,



Season's Greetings. It may be cold outside, but wherever soca music is pumping…it's hot, hot, hot! St. Kitt's and Nevis is especially steamy this time of year as they celebrate their annual Carnival. This year's festival is aptly themed "Nuff Riddim, Plenty Lime."Local favourites like d'Vybz Band International, are now starting to release their music for the carnival season that official reaches it's climax on New Year's day. Vybz will dropping it's '08/'09 carnival album next week. So be sure and check for it.

Speaking of albums… Kes the Band will have a new offering for 2009. The first release is a song called "The Feeling". It's a tribute to Trinidad's musical heritage of Calypso. It has a bit of an 80's retro feel in its construction, all mellowed out with the silky vocals of lead singer, Kees. The new album drops in January.

Nurse Karen and Kees in Toronto

The first lady of Kees the band is none other than the stunningly talented, Miss Nadia Batson. Today is her 32nd b-day and were sending out positive vibes to Nadie as she rings it in. Happy Birthday Girl!

With Nadia Batson in Toronto last month

You've heard me talking a little bit here and there about Kevin Lyttle's Japanese album. Well he's been working on projects for this side of the Pacific Ocean too. A track called Anywhere surfaced on the internet about two weeks ago. It features Flo Rida and Po Boyz…and it's definitely more R&B than soca or anything else. Kevin says the song was originally scheduled to hit airwaves come January, but there is some talk about pushing out sooner because of the leak.

Nurse Karen and Kevin Lyttle in St. Vincent last June.

Over in Trinidad, Kernal Roberts has taken a new step to revive the memory of his legendary father, the late, great Grandmaster Lord Kitchener. Angustura made the controversial decision to cast Roberts in a modern remake of a well-known local television commercial in which Kitch strums the first few bars of "Drink Ah Rum". The original commercial first aired in the early nineties, but in 2008, Kernal who is an accomplished song-writer and musician in his own right, plays his father. A task which comes pretty naturally considering the amazing resemblance. The new ad campaign was lauched last week Friday at a White Oak Staff Lime in Trinidad. Adesh Samaroo and Machel Montano were also present.

With Kernal Roberts in Miami

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Look for me online at the Nurse Karen Etc blog, at www.mustardseeds.net. And download the Rounds podcast to go at http://socatherapy.com/podcast. Now, back to de docta!

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The Rounds: Here's the proof - Faye-Ann's Belly!

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. Last night was a real busy one here in Toronto. The action was spread across the city for Dr. Jay's Big People Comedy and Parang Show featuring music by Leon Coldero.

The Nurse and Leon Coldero at Broward Carnival in October

Mr. Playhouse threw his "November to Remember" birthday Party with an ALL STAR line up of selectors...AND lastly, CVR Jingle Jam. Santa was there, Frosty was there and I was there too. The cast was Bunji, Shurwayne and Skinny Fabulous ...but I have to admit I was mainly studying Faye-Ann Lyons and her 5 months pregnant belly. If you didn't believe me the first time around Mrs. Lyons-Alvarez is most definitely pregnant. She was jumping up and down barefoot with a big checkered scarf covering the protruding bump. And because my approach to journalism is extremely thorough, I even gave it a little rub. Belly still hard like rock. Just a different shape now.

Nurse Karen giving Faye-Ann's belly a rub for good luck!

Other news from Trinidad's hottest couple...while Faye-Ann has been busy building a baby in her workshop, husband Bunji has been building beats in his lab. By now, no doubt you have already heard the Bus Stop Riddim, new for Trini Carnival 2009. That is the result of Bunji Garlin's first go at music production. Not a bad effort at all.


Now to another more experienced PRODUCER, who happens to be an artist as well. Tortola-native Kamau Georges a.k.a Mr Network added a new credit to his resume last week. He co-producer a track for Ludacris' brand new album Theatre of the Mind with Clinton Sparks. That should mean something to you if you're into hip hop! The song is called "Calling up the homies!"...but look out for another chune that you won't find on the album. It features Ludacris and magician Chris Angel. The song is aptly named "Mind Freak!"

Nurse Karen with Kamau on Carnival Monday in Trinidad

Which brings to MIND, an artist whose voice is a FREAK of nature. So you know Teddyson John?...former St. Lucia Groovy Soca Monarch? He got married to his girlfriend of 6 years about 2 weeks ago. They are so hot. Word is Teddy was emotional at the sight of his gorgeous bride. They said their vows, then the happy couple cruised the Caribbean for their honeymoon.

A shot with Teddyson before he tied the knot at St. Lucia Power Soca Monarch Finals in July

Before I go...lemme just send my official happy birthday greetings to Lil Rick, and the lovely island that brought us the Hypa Dog....Barbados! Today is the nation's 42nd anniversary of independence.

Here I am at my birthday party last month with Bajan B-day boy Lil Rick!

Celebrations took place throughout the Diaspora last night, but at home in BIM the official event was held at Garrison Savannah. The show featured a re-enactment of the first independence complete with rain showers. But the stars were out in abundance to keep the spirits high. There were performances from Peter Ram, Nathalee Burke, Red Plastic Bag, Arturo Tappin and Adrian Clarke. Then to end the night with a bang...the sky lit up with a stunning display of fireworks. I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. To leave a comment, see photos and videos or just read more about your favourite artists...and don't forget to subscribe to The Rounds Podcast on itunes or Soca Therapy dot com. Now, back to de docta!

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