New York posse!
Good Evening Soca Lovers,
Congratulations to Barack Obama! Congratulations to the United States of America!
The focus of this blog is West Indian music, especially soca and calypso. I'm here way too excited to sleep after watching the U.S. election results. I want to discuss how amazing this is for America, and for all people who need an extra dose of faith...but I realize that if you're here, you're here to read about music. So, this week's Eye Unit will consist of Audio/Visual tributes to U.S. President Elect, Barack Obama.
Check out a brief selection of songs that were penned across the Caribbean region and diaspora in support! Yes we can. Yes, we did.
Trinidad's COTT Music Awards are slated for November 6th, and I've got a selected list of nominees for you below. The Copyright Organization of Trinidad and Tobago is a membership organization that is set up to ensure that songwriters, composers, lyricists and publishers get their fair due from the music they have a hand in creating. It acknowledges all music pruduced for public consumption so to speak, so I've taken the liberty of highlighting the categories relating to Soca, Calypso and Pan. Enjoy!
COTT Musick Week kicks of on Thursday, October 30th. The nine days leading up to the awards gala will feature music performances across Trinidad and Tobago, public meet-and-greets for the nominees, and the Creative Minds Workshop.
Category
1. Songwriter of the Year
- Kernal Roberts
- Machel Montano
- Shurwayne Winchester
2. Female Songwriter of the Year
- Destra Garcia
- Fay Ann Lyons
- Nadia Batson
3. Song of the Year
- Breathless – Kerwin Du Bois – Performed by Blaxx
- Chippin – Darryl Henry « Farmer Nappy » & Margaret Alexis « Ginga »
Performed by Farmer Nappy
3. Get On – Fay Ann Lyons
5. New Male Songwriter of the Year
1. Dwain O’Brien Antrobus « Dwaingerous » - Wukking Up (Co-written with Kernal Roberts)
Performed by Patrice Roberts
2. Olatunji Yearwood – Having Ah Time
3. Stephenson « Shal » Marshall -
Gyal Farm (Co-written with Kerwin Du Bois)
Performed by Shal Marshall & Kerwin Du Bois
6. New Female Songwriter of the Year
Annmarie Marilyn Windsor "A.B. Windsor" – Happy Go Lucky Woman
AugustaSt. Louis "Augusta" – Nice Vibes
Latchmin Dass "Devi" – Good Health is Wealth
7. International Achievement Award
8. Soca of the Year
1. Blazin D Trail – Machel Montano & Kernal Roberts Performed by Machel Montano
2. Breathless - Kerwin Du Bois
(Performed by Blaxx)
3. Get On – Fay Ann Lyons
9. Groovy Soca of the Year
Chippin – Darryl Henry "Farmer Nappy" & Margaret Alexis "Ginga" Performed by Farmer Nappy
Gyal Farm – Stephenson Marshall "Shal" & Kerwin Du Bois
Performed by Shal Marshall & Kerwin Du Bois
3. Wukking Up - Kernal Roberts & Dwain O’Brien Antrobus "Dwaingerous"
Performed by Patrice Roberts
10. Chutney Soca of the Year
12. Reggae/ Dancehall of the Year
1. Life – David Nieves "King David" , Roberito Angelo Pantin, Kwasi Robinson & Sherron Charles Performed by King David
2. Shorty – Marlon Sobers "Marlon Asher" & Sherwin Jackie (co written with Anton Chase - non member)
3. Who Do You Want– Troydon Cruickshank "Blazer" & Ray Roopnarine
Performed by Ziggy Rankin & Blazer
13. Soca Parang of the Year
16. Johnny Walker Pioneer Award
Timothy Watkins "Baron"
Awards to be given at the COTT Foundation Gala Awards Benefit Dinner – (October 30, 2008)
Golden Achievement Award
Clifton Ryan "The Mighty Bomber"
Treasured Licensee
Francis Fashions/Shoe Locker
Calypso of the Year
2. Reflections – Michael Osouna "Sugar Aloes"
3. Voices from the Van – Dexter Parsons "The Stinger"
Chutney of the Year
1. Aye Sajanee Peeya Moray – Rooplal Girdharie "Rooplal G"
2. Old Man – Shakti Rampartap
Performed by Heerala Rampartap
3. Poowa Lagaweh Kajar – Samraj Jaimungal "Rikki Jai"
Classic of the Year
1. Dingolay – Winston Bailey "Shadow"
2. Feeling to Party – Leroy Calliste "Black Stalin"
3. The Paint Brush – Kenwrick Joseph "Kenny J"
Pan Song of the Year
1. Heat – Amrit Samaroo
Performed by Crazy
2. The Ten Commandments of Pan – Jason George Isaac "Peanut" &
Ingrid Bernadette De Peiza
Performed by Tony Prescott
3. Thunder Coming - Alvin Daniell (co written with Edwin Pouchet - non-member)
Performed by Chucky
Parang of the Year
1. Abreme La Puerta – Francisca Allard &
Philip Allard
Performed by Los Dinamicos Trintarios
Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds . I hope you are listening well, cause there’s a lot of info to catch this week.
About three years ago, a major development in Caribbean Entertainment began to reduce the distance between those beautiful islands. The MTV TEMPO TV channel was launched and last night St. Kitts played host to Tempo Forever – The Trilogy, the 3rd anniversary party and concert. As you all know, smack dab in the middle of hurricane season, this past week has been a wild one for rainfall in the region. So, Tempo Turns 3 was moved from Friday to Saturday night. It was a star studded show. Crowds were treated to performances from calypso greats the Mighty Sparrow and David Rudder AND from Soca circles; Destra Garcia, Denise Belfon, Claudette Peters and Machel Montano and company...
Grenada crowned its first ever road march Queen this past week. Miney ruled the road with her reveller's anthem 10,000 masqueraders. The song was produced by grenada's Shawn "Mr. Roots" Mitchell…who also plays bass for Machel Montano HD. The song was co-written by Wayne Green of Homebase Ent, who worked with Kasey Phillips from Trinidad's Precision Productions to create the roadmix that had the Carenage jumping on Tuesday.
Read more...
Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. Happy Easter. Today marks the beginning of the official carnival week in Jamaica. With Lent behind us, our friends in Jamaica have no excuse not to indulge in the fullness of the season. Next Saturday morning is a beachside j'ouvert like no other. Then it's time to don all the pretty costumes next Sunday.
Theatre-goers in Trinidad got a special treat from the Easter bunny at Queen's Hall this weekend. A trini-verson of the Grease musical opened on Thursday. Danny Zuko's gang has changed from the Burger Boys to the Roti Boys, and Sandy Digregorio becomes Sandy Beach. Most of the songs from the original production have stayed the same, but naturally, the rhythms have evolved from 1950's rock and roll to soca and chutney.
A date has been set for the 27th annual International Reggae and World Music awards. The show goes back to New York's Apollo Theatre in Harlem on May 4th. There's not much soca being recognized, however, Machel Montano makes the list with three nominations.
Speaking of Machel Montano, if you missed his twenty-fifth anniversary performance last year at New York's Madison Square Garden. You're in luck! He'll giving two more shows on March 28th in the same world-calss venue at 8pm and 12 am. This year, the amazing production goes beyond all things HD to include a host of guest performers, including international favourites who made a splash at Trinidad's Carnival. With 2008 hits like Congoman and Oil and Music, naturally The Mighty Sparrow and David Rudder had to come along for the ride. But that's not it! Jamaica's Macka Diamond will be there to perform Mo Wuk with Patrice Roberts. Peter Ram will bring the carnival bacchanal of Crop Over with "Pumpin'", while St. Lucia's Rikki T and St. Vincent's Problem Child are gonna represent the Windward Islands with their road march winning anthems.
It's perfect timing for a show of this magnitude. Machel's got a new album dropping in April!
I understand that might be confusing if you're in Trinidad and you've already been pumping the Flame On album since February. I'm not sure how much this new offering will differ from his catalogue of 2008 soca hits, but it WILL soon be released internationally on the Delicious Vinyl label. It's called Wining Season. Boasting the Shaggy remix of the title track, plus Defense - Machel's remake of Lil Jon and Pitbull's 2007 reggaeton song The Anthem, there's hope this latest release will have some crossover appeal.
I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Be sure to leave me your comments at the Nurse Karen Etc blog at triple W dot mustard seeds dot net! Now back to de doctor.
Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I’m nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.
After last week’s Big People Special Edition of Soca therapy, I have been digging deep in the dark vinyl crates of Calypso I grew up on. Jewels, ah tell you. We music sweet, and is not just Caribbean people who think so, you know.
People from all over the world have fallen in love with sweet calypso music and desire to share it just as soon as they do. That was happening at the ReelWorld film festival this weekend when “Calypso at Dirty Jim’s” was finally screened in Toronto. If you remember, I first told you about this when it was screened in Trinidad and then again when it played at Montreal’s Vues D’Afrique Festival. Dirty Jim’s Swizzle club was a legendary Calypso venue, and Cameroonian filmmaker Pascale Obolo found a way to make its memories last forever.
Last week Thursday was all about Calypso on film too. The Caribbean Studies program at U of T brought “Calypso Dreams” to Canada. It’s a 90-minute documentary directed by American filmmakers Geoffrey Dunn and Michael Horne. It stars The Mighty Sparrow, David Rudder, Calypso Rose, and Crazy and Scrunter and so many more…and if you missed it – it’s gone. No to fear, in August the film will be screened again at the Harbourfront Centre in a show that will feature Lord Superior, Brother Valentino and Singing Sandra.
Thankfully, filmmakers in the Caribbean are making movies too. I’m told, the Bridgetown Film Festival will kick off in Barbados from April 28th, to May 6th. 2007 will be the second year ever, and it’s grown so much already. Last year, all of the feature-length movies just happened to be produced by members of the organizing film group. This year, they steppin’ up. Entries came in from Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, Guyana, Trinidad and Jamaica.
On Friday, the Mighty Sparrow he-self was fighting for HIS music on the political plain. He paid a visit to Mayor Kenneth Ferguson and the San Fernando City Council. He’s wants to reform the way that calypso competitions are judged.
Another Trini living legend just got news he’ll be co-hosting the 26th annual Reggae and World Music Awards. On May 5th, Machel Montano and Doug E Fresh will be sharing the stage at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre. If anyone has tickets to THIS show, gih de nurse a call. Oprah and Bono will be receiving humanitarian awards that night…and just like our music, the list of nominees is legendary.
I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Please send your comments to SOCA @ FLOW 935 dot com. Now, back to de docta.
Machel Montano
T&T’s Soca sensation Machel Montano and hip hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh will host the 26th International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA) at the world famous Apollo Theater on Saturday, May 5th.
Also hosts and performing nominees for the night are Doug E. Fresh, Machel Montano, Luciano, Macka Diamond, Ce’Cile, Lady G, Gregory Isaacs, Tarrus Riley, Leon & The Peoples, Half Pint, B.B. Seaton & the Gaylads, Tony Matterhorn, Alaine, Dean Fraser, Gyptian, Da’Ville, Ruff Stuff, Katalys Crew, Mutabaruka, Ed Robinson, Winsome Benjamin, among others.
The official announcement of the nominees was released during recent press conference held at the world-famous Apollo Theater in New York by Martin’s International and Associates.
More than 150 entertainers and music industry professionals are nominated for the coveted IRAWMA, while others have been selected for special awards by music industry experts across the globe. Among the leading nominees are: Sean Paul and Buju Banton with nine (9) nominations each; Baby Cham six (6); Gyptian, Tanya Stephens and sound selector turned performer Tony Matterhorn with five (5) each; and Luciano four nods.
Oprah Winfrey and International Pop/Rock Star Bono will be given the Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award. Inductees to the IRAWMA Hall of Fame will be Boris Gardner and B.B. Seaton & the Gaylads.
Special Martin’s International and Associates Award of Honor will be given to:
Edmond “Bunny” Lee (King Jammy’s), Ed Robinson (E2 Recordings) and Don One Records. Special Producer’s Respect Award will be given to: Doug E. Fresh, Gregory Isaacs and Half Pint. Special Award of Appreciation will be awarded to: Winston “Niney” Holiness, Jerome Hamilton, WBLS 107.5 FM with Dahved Levy, Lorna Wainwright (Tuff Gong), Bobby (Culture Jam WVIP 93.5FM), and Dave Clark (Friends of Reggae).
Bacchanal season turns into home stretch
Friday, April 13, 2007
With four days until the climactic road march on Sunday, Bacchanal Jamaica is coming to an end for 2007, but this will be preceded, as customary, by the Bacchanal J'ouvert.
With the success of last weekend's Beach J'ouvert still fresh in the minds of many, attention is now being focussed on the final round of fetes leading into tonight's Bacchanal J'ouvert at the Mas Camp on Oxford. Bacchanal J'ouvert, with the theme Jonkanoo Jams, is presented in partnership with Coca -Cola DJ Switch from Trinidad and DJ Omar from 'resident' disco Sparkles will be providing the musical selections while Destra and her band Atlantik return to hold down the live end of the night and put revellers in a soca march mode.
The party starts at 10:00 pm and continues til morning. During that time, it will move to the streets, where revelers dance, sing and get painted til the wee hours of the morning.
Then the highly anticipated road parade,with performances by various local and international artistes. The road will be filled with beautiful colours, great music and happy people celebrating together. The Parade starts at 10:15am and ends around 6:30pm at the Mas Camp.
Of special note, the organisers say, is that there will be no after-fete at the Mas Camp this year. The Mas Camp will close at 8:00 pm after a brief cool-down period.
Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I’m nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. As I was preparing to come in today, it occurred to me that I’ve never taken the time to tell allyuh how much I care for you and your heatlh. Hear nah, is not just because it’s my job that I’m compassionate. I does really kay in truth. Dr. Jay prides himself on his uncanny ability to make you wine from 6 to 9…and I tell you, that is no simple task. Yuh need real waistline strength for the stamina soca therapy demands. So, you’ve been trained by the best and now it’s time to work on some other skills.
I believe the key to happy living is moderation. There is a time and a place for all things…but never EVER lose control.
Who doesn’t love fried chicken? Tastes nice, feels good in yuh belly…but it would never be healthy no matter how many HERBS and SPICES that Colonel wants to season it with.
Outta Season soca artists have been known to cook up some trouble too. Down in the Spice island, one of this year’s roadmarch contenders was caught in possession of HERBS. Lavaman sang a song called “behave yuhself”…but he forgot to practice what he preaches last week when he and his friends were pulled over after a gun shot was fired at party in Gouyave. Police found a pistol with a spent shell in the chamber…and in his vehicle they found plenty of that WACKY TOBACKY.
Tomorrow is the big road parade in Notting Hill, England. The 42nd annual carnival is the biggest outdoor festival in Europe. Eleven thousand police officers are getting paid join the party. Today the focus was on children. It’s a big party still, but plenty smaller than the mayhem expected for tomorrow. When I think children’s carnival…I picture families, little cuties in costume. Babies balling on stage cuz they fraid to wine fuh judges. Dem tings dey. What I don’t expect is to hear the twenty six people were arrested for drug offences, theft and drunkness. People…what allyuh tink dis is? For carnival it’s ok to get wild, but dat don’t mean you hadda go crazy.
We pushing music here, not schupidity.
I’m hoping the soca lovers in Charleston, South Carolina have a healthy appreciation of West Indian culture without making the same mistakes as some who have been celebrating a while longer. Earlier this month, Charleston celebrated its first Carifest, complete with Steelpan, Mas, soca, reggae and The Mighty Sparrow. Sounds like a good start to what may become and yearly tradition.
Dr. Jay’s Rounds are all about that…culture! I let you know what’s going on everywhere in the world where soca is playing. In this city, so many of us look forward to a weekend of fun and fetes each summer, but many of you know ANYting about what Toronto Caribbean Carnival is really all about.
I want you to think about it. Meditation is good for your health too. After Dr. Jay signs off for the night at 9 pm, turn on the tube for two hours (while you’re listening to SPEX of course!) There’s a special on Omni 1 tonight called “We Jumping Higher”. You’ve got to learn your culture so that no one can take it from you and sell you back a watered down version. When you educate yourself you can keep it organic...authentic and real.
While I’m on that subject I have to raise a noni-juice to Dr. Jay de Soca Prince. Once again, he has been nominated for an International Soca Award. Look for him in the category: Peoples Choic “Best International DJ”. This year’s event will take place at the legendary Apollo theatre in Harlem, NY. The awards show is a not-to-be-missed event. Could you imagine all these people on stage? Kevin Lyttle, Alison Hinds, Machel Montano, Bomani, Claudette Peters, Gail Ann, Keisha Stewart, Lisa Toney, Ragga, Natasha Wilson and Jason Benn! Well you don’t have to imagine. THEY WILL BE THERE. So will Dr. Jay. Here at Soca Therapy, we’re hoping he’ll win the title for the second consecutive year. He works hard to give you the best in soca music while educating you about the culture in pan moments and the rounds.
My last key to a well balanced life is social participation. When you have a chance to have your say…make sure you’re saying something! Voting ends this Thursday, so be sure to remind the world who is the real big man in the business. Cast a vote fuh de man!
I’m nurse Karen and those were Doctor Jay’s rounds. Sned your comments to soca at flow 935 dot com. Now back to de docta.
© Nurse Karen Etc Nurse Karen Etc by Mustard Seed Media 2005 - 2009
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