Eye Unit: Bacchanal Wednesday performance clips

You know I try and carry my camera everywhere I go.  Too bad, this carnival I really was focused a little more on the lime than anything else.  Never mind that, if you missed the Bacchanal of Trinidad carnival, I think I brought home enough to give you a sample.

Here are some clips from the sets of Kes the Band, Destra and Machel Montano HD.  

You'll see a few of your faves including; Kees, Nadia Batson, Alison Hinds, Saucy Wow, Skinny Fabulous, Machel, and Busy Signal.

Enjoy!

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Need a little more?

Read our reviews of the event below

Nurse's Lounge:  Bacchanal Wednesday - Ah Reach - by Nurse Karen

On De Scene: My First Experience - Bacchanal Wednesday - by Rochelle

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On de Scene: Express yourself University Splash

Written by Rochelle!

So last night, carnival Thursday , Chaguaramas hosted one of the many events on the carnival calendar , the University Splash also known as UWI Splash . Now people, I  go give you a little view of what went down at the UWI Splash when I was there. The Nurse will give you the backstage information and the last performances, which were Fay-Ann and her beau, Bunji Garlin.

Now, I arrived at the Hanger at 10 p.m. because I was under the impression session starting on time. Imagine when I reach not even the doors were opened yet. As to what the hold up was, that is question remains unanswered.

After waiting just over twenty minutes by the entrance, security began to allow patrons to enter. On entry the different sponsors had their sample drinks or snacks giving away, which came in handy because the bar wasn't even ready to open for business at the time entry of patrons begun. 

All the students were meeting up , you could see people entering with their flags awaiting to represent their country and crews once party started. But hear that!!! Party eh start till about 1 a.m.! No joke ! Throughout the wait the diso jockey was keeping de crowd moving. Now to make the wait more interesting ah tell you a heavy rain burst, but that didn't stop the students from partying , so party start full swing in the rain as people chant to whatever soca track was playing.

When the MC summon the crowd , informing them that the event was just about to start ; One could well imagine the opening act would kick things off for Macheal Montano HD. Well if you thought like me, you thought wrong because the man himself open the show, and he had the crowd in the palm of his hands.

Overall I must say what give me an extra kick was when I heard the intro for Skinny Fabulous "Head Bad" track . I mean Kubiyashi, (the producer on this track) has one of the most infectious intros I have ever heard and from that I begun jumping up and down as he performed. Unfortunately, he left early to rest up for today's big International Soca Monarch. Machel bought many down memory lane while incorporating his recent tracks bringing on stage Busy Signal and Patrice to perform on whichever track they were featured.

However the highlight of the Machel Montano HD was seeing Chiney. Gosh that tune BAD! Now if you eh know about Chiney , He is the most recent winner of Soca Star (Local Trinidadian Competition) and something about the track had me  stun  because this was my first tme witnessing Chiney's performance and I was impressed!

By 3 a.m. Machel said his good-byes to the crowd as he exited with his Road March contending track "Wild Ants" , but it seem Machel burn the crowd or was it the over 2 hours wait for the show to start! Who knows but it was quite evident when Destra and her band took the stage. She self admitted whether Machel burn the crowd.

 

Of course she bought out the two soca queens to perform the "Obsessive Winners" track and that turned the crowd around. All the entertainment of each performer wine and just the chemistry had the crowd chanting the chorus as these exceptional women sang this track. So at this point Destra had the crowd exactly where she wanted them and just finished them off with her Road March Contending track "BACCHANAL" and the crowd seemed like they were ready to take the streets for jouvert!

Now Bunji and Fay-Ann were due to perform next, and it was already after four, but I am sorry I ran outta patience from waiting longer than normal for Destra and her Band to come on but particular waiting so long for the show to start in the first place. 

So I will make the Nurse give you the 411 on how that event ended ; but be assured I wasn't the only annoyed patron leaving then. Many of the students were heading back to campus and other non students were beginning to leave. 

By now you may have gathered I was not too impressed with the time delays and I have no facts as to why exactly UWI Splash began at the latest it has in the past 5 years. 

So looking towards exciting news, I hope you all ready for today Fantastic Friday and going out to support this splendid event!

 I go now hand it over to the Nurse so she can tell you what she was up to this Carnival Thursday 2009.

Peace, Rochelle.

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Booster Shot: upset Jamaicans call for a ban on soca!!!

[warning: the content of this post may not be suitable for all readers]

Earlier this week, Jamaica's broadcasting commission implemented a radio ban on reggae dancehall music containing lewd lyrics. I dunno about you, but lewd isn't a word I use every day. What were are talking about is unmasked sexual content, like all this daggerin' business....and 80% of the other songs out there.

So hear what, radio listeners who were upset to learn about the explicit dancehall ban, called in to several radio stations to suggest that soca music ought to be banned as well.

The argument is that the music heard during Jamaica Carnival is more scandalous than anything sung by dancehall artists. Well, let me be the first to say, that is  RIDICULOUS. I agree that modern soca doesn't pay much care and attention to perfecting the art of double entendre, but I have yet to hear F-words in a soca tune. Beyond the use of cuss words, I wanna provide you with some examples from dancehall that no soca artist has ever had the gumption book studio time to record:

• "Squeeze her breast dem like di trigger of my gun, turn her back way and f*ck her harder make she cum" - Mavado (Squeeze Her Breasts)

• "Gal you somin tight yes mi love how you hook it baby
  You grip mi right, use di muscle hold it baby" - Busy Signal (Wine Pon Di Edge)

• "Wine wid it, wine wid it, hot f*ck wid it" - Mr. Vegas (Hot Wuk)

• "Sorry neva mean fi wake you up
  But now me couldn't hide it
  Cause you sidong pon di buddy, balance and ride it
  And mi slip in side it and then when fi slide it
  When she say "F*ck it Out Tony! " - Tony Matterhorn (Sidong Pon It)
  

...to name a few.  To all who want to come bring bacchanal, listen.  I'm not condemning dancehall outright.  What I am saying is that those who are comparing ALL soca to the type of dancehall that is being restricted from airplay are ignorant and ill informed.  In the cases where soca is slack, irreverent and vulgar the same rules ought to apply.  I don't have problems with a society making efforts to restore the rule of decency.  But, let's be real.  The rudebwoy culture of dancehall has been allowed to run amuck in the music of its newest heroes. Soca, even on its worst day has not sunk to the same depths of vulgarity. 

As Caribbean people, we have to be careful about the messages we give to our children, and those we spread about our beloved homeland in the sun.  This isn't just about sexual content, but also violence.  Both music styles have been allowed to vere away from their more edifying roots.  Perhaps it really is time to put a foot down.  Let's just try not to step on each other in the process.

For more info (and other perspectives) on the call to ban soca visit the links below:

Trinidad Express

Jamaica Observer

Inter Press Service

Jamaica Gleaner

Jamaica Gleaner 2

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