For all you Peter Ram fans out there. Today is YOUR day! Barbados' original rudeboy is celebrating a birthday, so I am too. (celebrating his, that is) I've only met the man once backstage at a KOS fete in Toronto. He was about to get his photo taken and he asked me to pose with him. All now, I've still never seen that picture! He didn't know who I was, and back then, that's how I liked it.
Next time we meet, I go shake his hand, though. This artist has definitely grown into his unique signature style. He makes soca that moves Bajans as much as it does Trini's or Ja'cans. As for this Vincy-Canadian, he's OK by me. Peter darling, in case you're curious, I was the publicist who distributed the Lava Slide Riddim. I think that mighta been my first soca-related gig...haven't got my life back since!
He'll be in Toronto this weekend to perform at the always sold-out "Doh Cry Ah Leaving" fete. Then off to T&T to see if he can wiggle his way into the people dem Groovy Soca Monarch Competition.
Happy Birthday & Good Luck!
Fans, here's your boy Peter Ram with his 2007/2008 smash! Pumpin!
Can't get enough of Peter Ram? Check out his latest video "Tight" righthere.
Read all previous (Nurse) Karen (Etc) mentions of Peter Ramhere.
Good Evening Dr. Jay, and Good Evening Soca Lovers. I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Today is Super Sunday. And while millions of eyes are glued to the TV set, I want to thank you for giving us your EARS at the very least! To tell you the truth, I couldn’t care less about American football…so I’m fine with watching Dr. Jay and Marxman sneak a peak at the game between songs. You know what I DO CARE about, right? That’s right dahlin…Ah love meh soca. Last night was the 12th Annual Doh Cry Ah Leaving party. The big fete was Toronto’s last chance to party alongside de Soca Prince for nearly a month….Then it’s off to Trinidad for Carnival. Lucky HIM. On top of all the hot new music and great company last night, soca fans were treated to a Big announcement from de Doctor himself. In case you haven’t heard…Toronto’s own Soca Sweetness is the newest addition to the illustrious Kingdom of Soca family. So if you don’t about this man’s musical sugar, get ready to take a taste of this all-star DJ working his magic at a fete near you. Down in Trinidad a brand to soca star has emerged from the Idol-style competition on Synergy TV. Umi Marcano sealed the deal on Thursday with a performance of Machel’s “One more wine”. As the winner of…(check the tongue twister) Synergy Soca Star Season 2, Umi is in great Company. Last year’s winner, Fireball is blazing up the charts with his release “What I Want”….A tune that had ME BLAZING up de dance floor last night. While I’m on the topic of dancing, I’m looking for someone to teach me the bicycle wine. I heard that Miss Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon is doing her stretches to prepare for the Soca Monarch finals. Belfon is hoping her Bicycle Wine routine will convince the judges to let her ride RIGHT into the top four. She might just be right…and If I could borrow she bicycle to help me get ahead, I might just be riding in time for Spring. Because I’ve SEEN what happens when Saucy Wow gives a show, those of you travelling to Trinidad for Carnival will be happy to know that the promoters of the International Soca Monarch and Groovy Soca Monarch shows sat down last week to address security issues for the big night. There will be no tickets sold at the gate on Fantastic Friday, so get them things arranged quick. It’s going to be a great night! The building excitement around TnT’s carnival is rubbing off on its Caribbean neighbours in Jamaica. Adventure is the theme for Bacchanal Jamaica Carnival 2007. The season kicks off on Friday, with the opening of Mas Camp Village. Jamaica carnival has a couple months to go until it’s as hot as can be, but with the ICC Cricket World Cup coming to town at the same time…it really will be a great adventure. I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds for Super Sunday 2007. Please send your comments to SOCA at FLOW 935 DOT COM. Now back to de docta…
Good Evening Soca Lovers! I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s rounds.
It’s been a fun week in the world of soca music, let ME tell YOU. With several islands throughout the Caribbean preparing for carnival, there’s no shortage of great new music…and a healthy dose of competition to keep the quality at its best.
Down in Martinique it’s all about mizik veeday. That’s quite literally the music of mas. For those of us more familiar with the music of the English Caribbean, the best way to describe it…,is Super fast zouk - filled with sexually charged lyrics, kinda like soca, but all sung in Creole.
Dominica’s carnival is now in full swing too. Mas Domnik is touted as the most orginial carnival in the Caribbean celebrating Soca, Zouk and Bouyon. It also gives special attention to the islands indigenous carib people.
Guyana’s soca monarch contenders are vying for the chance to steal the crown right off Adrian Dutchin’s head…but not if I have anything to say about Dat!
More news from the Mastamind camp. Music man Shawn Noel just announced that he’s doing his part to bring soca to a broader audience. Now, fans of the various Mastamind projects will be able to purchase their favourite songs from itunes. And If you’ve ever searched itunes for soca - you’ll know it’s long overdue. Until now, the most you could get is…the SOCA THERAPY podcast. Not that I complaining….but I’m happy to see something that will put some money directly in the pockets of Caribbean artists.
Speaking of the soca audience…a popular Caribbean web community will soon be the subject of a song by Problem Child. This past week a discussion about the new song by Kevin Lyttle and Problem Child, turned ugly. One poster decided to get personal making comments about the artist and his sister. Sources say Problem Child is fighting fire with the fire he knows best. He’s already been in studio recording a tune making reference to certain commess loving forum posters using their screenames. So allyuh who love gossip...let that be a lesson to yuh.
Woy…like I said, this week is pure kicks. Allyuh know that I enjoy working with the doctor…but not just that, I respect the man as a person. Lots of people respect him, yes…and I mean everywhere. They damn well just wan’ be de man. The longer I bring you the rounds, the more I realize it. In 2005, it was a radio show in St. Kitts with a segment called Pan Moments. In 2006, it was a radio show in Antigua called Soca Therapy. In 2007, they’re taking it out the studio and into the dancehall...and its getting closer to home. A group of promoters in Brooklyn New York are in the midst of organizing a fete called “Doh Cry Ah Leaving”…and it’s not even the first time. I thought that was funny enough in itself…but what was even madder is that one of Dem Boys and Dem messaged me on MySpace asking me if Dr. Jay would mind if I post his bootleg flyer on MY PAGE!!!! Cheeez!
I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Please send your comments to soca at flow 935 dot com. Now back to de doctor.
Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m nurse Karen and these are Doctor Jay’s rounds. It’s great to be back here at Flow after a much needed vacation. The last two Sundays I was liming on de beach with toda mi gente latina en Santo Domingo, but trust me, allyuh were on my mind. Now…I am back AND black and ready to roll.
I hear that Doctor Jay can’t stop talking about de big Doh Cry fete that is nearly sold out once again. He could tell you “Doh Cry” all he wants, but I feel is cry you go cry when you realize exactly what the man is leavin you for. Trinidad carnival season is upon us, and in case you live under a rock it is one of the best shows on earth. A couple hot weeks of music and madness, beauty and pageantry that really can’t be beat.
Down in the twin island republic, fresh new soca music is blazing up the dancehalls and airwaves. Every DAY is news. Rita Jones break way from Roy Cape All-Stars. Rikki jai is competing for Chutney monarch after a three year absence. Artistes are scratching their heads for new ways to catapult themselves to popularity and mas camps are busy building costumes for thousands of revelers from home and abroad. Doh cry? You mad or wha? Doctor Jay has a first class ticket to paradise, while de rest ah we go get lef back in de snow.
This past week Trinidad’s national library system launched a program called Lyrics and Song that will bring soca stars into the library to speak to youth about social issues. Kees Dieffenthaller and Nadia Batson of Kes the Band were first up to bat and Alison Hinds, Destra and Maximus Dan will be taking their turns over the next four weeks. The first session dealt with HIV/AIDS education, warning youth not to be completely dotish during carnival. They spoke on the theme, if you dream it, you can achieve it. And I really believe that, which is why I hay dreaming about Port of Spain.
You every wonder who is the J’ouvert Fiddler? Do you remember that instrumental track from Carnival 2006? Better yet, over Christmas were you curious to know who were the parangderos who pumped out “Black Cake and Sorrel”? If you look on the back of those CDs, the songs are credited to “Da SPIRITS”, but who are the Spirits, really? People who talk soca with me know that I have a lot of respect for the producers….the sound men who pull all the elements together to make a song sound just right. I’m sure you could tell - I’m a huge fan of Shawn Mastamind Noel. Well, on Thursday Mr. Noel let the cat out the bag issuing a release identifying himself as THE sole instrumentalist on those masterpiece works. Shawn dahlin, If I WAS wearing a hat, I would take it off to you right now. Your music sweet, sweet and nice. One of the most anticipated events when it comes to carnival music is the 2007 International Soca Monarch and Groovy Soca Monarch competition. Last year, Shurwayne Winchester marched off with both the crowns and all de money…only time will tell if he can do it again. What I CAN say now is the organizers are making some changes to make the show even better this go round. More than $8 million dollars TT is committed to producing one unforgettable night. It also makes me feel nice that veteran music man Crazy intends to compete with the young bucks in the groovy section with his sexy hit “Cold Sweat”
MTV Europe has signed on to broadcast both competitions as well as other snippets from carnival. The groovy soca show will feature 10 finalists rather than six and the guest acts will be Machel, KMC, Destra and Beenie Man.
So, what to say friends? …it’s official Doctor Jay is soon leaving for Carnival, but Doh Cry. You could get a taste of the carnival action at Doh Cry Ah Leaving 12 on Saturday, February 3rd. Doh Cry, but Doh stick…tickets nearly DONE sell off.
I’m nurse Karen and those are Doctor Jay’s Rounds. Send me your comments at SOCA at FLOW 935 dot COM. Now back to de doctor…
Dr. Jay’s Rounds Karen Richardson February 12, 2006 490
Good Evening Soca lovers. I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Trinidad carnival is in full swing. That can’t possibly be a surprise to you, unless you live under a rock. The action comes to its climax on February 27th and 28th. That’s when the streets of Port of Spain literally dance in a cavalcade of colour and music. Festival fever hit Trinidad months ago...and here in Toronto we’ve now officially caught on. Last night’s Doh Cry Ah Leaving party….was Doctor Jay’s eleventh annual warm up fete before he takes off to flatten Trinidad. This is a party that noooooooooo-body ever wants to miss. To prove it, soca lovers like you gobbled up eleven-hundred discounted tickets in less than four hours. Toronto must be ready fuh Carnival in truth…because these tickets sold like hot doubles a whole FOUR weeks before the party. Now today, the nurse is here to help you recover. All that sweetness…can be dangerous if you’re not used to it. So we gonna give it to you one dose at time. Thursday night, Fireball became the first winner of the Synergy Soca Star competition. That’s a little something like Canadian Idol for Soca. He took the title after wowing thousands of screaming fans to the tune of “Don’t Stop” by Shurwayne Winchester’ . Taking his name to heart, this little upstart moved through the crowd on the shoulders of his supporters who were led by flame bearers. Watch out Bunji….this one might be the next Fireman. If you’re packing your bags for T&T and you’re planning to attend the Soca Warriors fete on Carnival Saturday, I have some bad news for you. Miss Janet Jackson will no longer be hosting the event. HER people say that she’s skipping carnival due to health problems. However, other reports from New York make the bold claim that Janet is packing on the pounds and just might be preggers. Well, gyurl dat is not what we would call a health problem in my profession. But what do I know, really? I’m not a doctor!
I’ll tell you what I do know. The festivities are coming fast and furious in Trinidad. Last week saw the Chutney Soca Monarch finals, and two fetes dedicated to the best female performers: Ladies night Out and Soca Divas Live…and it’s only getting started.
Over in Guyana, the Carib Soca Monarch competition will wrap up next weekend. All three female semi finalists have advanced to the finals. I hear that the semis were rather lack luster this year, with one notable exception. Joann Goodluck, also known as DJ Madonna is said to have gripped the audience with her outfit as much as her performance. Journalists described her skirt as eye-popping, and x-rated…mind you….nobody seems to remember what song she sang.
I’m nurse Karen and those are Doctor Jay’s Rounds. Send your comments to Soca at FLOW 935 DOT COM. Now back to de docta!
Dr. Jay’s Rounds Karen Richardson January 8, 2006 429
Good Evening Soca lovers. I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. One week into the new year and it looks to me like everbody’s got a resolution. Some want to lose weight, some want to make big money and some just want to try out something new.
In Antigua, they tried their hand at their first annual Twilight Soca Awards Show just last night. Awards were presented in ten categories and the cast of performers included heavy hitters like Waskey Banton, Kenny Blessin, Blade and former Soca Monarch Wanski. Wish I could been there. Sounds like a ball. But wait….it was a ball. A New Year’s Celebrity Ball that is! If you think performances and awards make for a night of fun…you should learn how to celebrate Antiguan style. Once the last of the soca trophies was handed out, the focus shifted to class and celebrity style with recognition for everything from The Best Dressed Diva to the best matching couple to the Best Pimp Suit. Oh gosh!
In Guyana and Trinidad is money dem making for 2006. Preparations are underway for Guyana’s Carib Soca Monarch competition. This year’s winner will walk away with 550 000 guyanese dollars. (you could buy about twenty pine tarts wid dat!)
In T&T Chutney Soca Monarch is just beginning to warm up. The preliminary round hits the stage on January 21st. The final winner won’t be declared till February…but till then the top chutney artistes will perfect those indo-caribbean rhythms to the tune of $275 000 TT. Dat tune soungdin real nice dey dread.
As for who and who losing weight? I think all of us could stand to shed a few pounds after the kinda holidays I just went through. Don’t worry soca people. De good Doctor Jay promises to keep us wining our waists till they slim and fit before he heads off to Carnival in Trinidad. The annual Doh Cry Ah Leavin’ Fete in going down at the Kool Haus on February 11. Rumour has it the tickets go on sale just now. Make sure you buy one. Your waistline with thank you. Those are Dr. Jay’s Rounds, I’m Nurse Karen.
Send your comments to Soca at FLOW 935 DOT COM. Ah gone. Now back to de Docta
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