Booster Shot: Has Dancehall Officially Invaded Carnival?

Tonight is the biggest night on the soca calendar hands down.  Around the world fans a hoping to catch a glimpse or read a little news about International Soca Monarch.  However, I can't help but notice that prior to today...dancehall has been taken centre stage at Trinidad Carnival.  Whether it be a radio add naming Serani, Jah Cure or whomever else as a headline act, or just the amount of remixes featuring the top names in the dancehall game, you can't deny that 2010 is a whole new playing field when it comes to the music.

Many are talking about it, but few really care.  The fetes are as packed as ever, and I'm sure the Arima Velodrome will still be teeming with big flags and rags to show love to the soca stars vying for the crowns.

But it is definitely food for thought....

Dancehall invasion for Carnival

By STEPHON NICHOLAS Saturday, February 6 2010

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Vybz Kartel ...

THE FURORE surrounding TSTT’s decision to bring mega superstar Beyonce to Trinidad for a concert right after Carnival seems to have died down but interestingly there has been no such controversy with Jamaican reggae singer Jah Cure’s participation in this year’s Carnival celebrations.

Jah Cure, born Siccature Alcock, was released from prison in 2007 on parole having served eight years from a 15-year sentence for rape, as well as gun and robbery charges.... 

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Booster Shot: Serani takes on the Ban of Dancehall music in Jamaica

I was just surfing and came across this very interesting interview conducted by Fader with Serani. Now ah have to warn you the contents of this interview may have explict language be guided accordingly.

Personally, I am disappointed in Serani's view of soca stating "ALL soca is about SEX", when he collaborated on the 2009 track "All I Need"with Shurwayne , which had no sexual content. And it is alarming coming from an artist who is representing the views of many average Jamacians. It is safe to say that Carnival is not part of Jamacians Culture and so the depth of its history may be irrelevant to them. However, making such a blank statement in an interview of that magnitude is an eye opener.

Well ah make you be the judge, but you may come to my conclusion: the dancehall community is making soca music into their scapegoat for the issue facing them. They are frustrated that their own government is censoring homegrown dancehall and not "foreign" soca!

FADER TV: Serani
Uploaded by thefader

Peace & SOCA

Rochelle.

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