Booster Shot: More on Barbados' Sweet Soca and Party Monarch

Nurse Karen with Sweet-Soca and Party Monarch Champ TC in Barbados (July 2009)

Found an article worth sharing about the big competitions held for Crop Over this past Sunday. Congrats once again to TC and Nathalee. So far, Woman is Boss for Crop Over 2009

TC does the double to join winners’ row

7/27/2009
Barbados Advocate
By Khalil Goodman
TERENCIA “TC” Coward brought ‘the riddim’ and made history – winning the both inaugural 98.1 The One/Banks Sweet-Soca competition and the Mount Gay/Lime Party Monarch yesterday.

Singing the song “Hot Sun and Riddim” in both competitions, Coward captured the two trophies and $32 000 in combined cash prizes. Neil Bernard and Nicholas Brancker produced track helped edge out TC’s tent mate, Natalie “Natahlee” Burke. She came second in both competitions singing “This is What We Do.”

Natahlee lost to TC by 20 points in the Party Monarch competition and by only one point in the SweetSoca.
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Nurse Karen with Sweet Soca & Party Monarch Runner Up, Nathalee Burke in Barbados (July 2009)
Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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On De Scene: Celebrating the life of...

Last Friday 12th June. I went to Sheldon Benjamin's house, not for his wake yuh know. But I went to celebrate his birthday. You see, his family had promised him a big birthday bram & his death did not stop those plans. I love that. It was nice. Family & friends gathered to celebrate. We chatted, laughed, ate, & drank, some even shaking de lil leg to Sheldon's music in the background courtesy DJs Stone & Neil Bernard-LOL, Producer/drummer Neil turn DJ!

Today June 15th, we said goodbye to him in a more formal sedated event, his funeral. It was held at the Good Shepherd Anglican Church, Freeling Street, Tunapuna. 3pm. When I got there the church was full, though not overflowing as I had expected. Chairs, tents, & screens were set up to the sides & back of the church to accommodate the massive turn out however, there was no need for it. Could T&T have already forgotten their son? Hmmm.

The service was lovely. The eulogy was given by Sheldon's brother Garvin & he gave us an insight into a much younger Sheldon. He had the congregation laughing at some of Sheldon's lil boy antics. The Reverend gave a short but stirring sermon. He preached the way I like my funeral sermons. He spoke to US who are still alive. He spoke to us artistes especially & begged us not to let Sheldon's death be in vain. He encouraged us to pay tribute by producing songs with positive messages. He said Sheldon did his part & now we must do ours.

3 Canal sang one of their songs produced by Sheldon, "Giants". The lyrics were appropriate. Next was Russell Leonce. Me eh shame to tel alyuh daiz when ah put on meh shades. I felt a familiar tingle in my heart & eyes. Buh ah didn feel shame cause when ah glance around, ah realize Russell's song "Troubles won’t last" had the same effect on most people. I saw various degrees of “trying to wipe meh eyes witout anyone seeing”, smile. But we're too silly because that’s what a funeral is about, to say farewell till we meet again & this can entail a lil tear shedding.

Destra Garcia sang her version of "To God be the Glory". I held my breath for that one because I know Miss D can be very emotional. She held her own though & only did a lil stumble/fumble at the very end so not too dramatic.

Well the farewell is over, for some of us, but what now? How do we proceed? A few of us have started discussing a tribute song. I will keep you posted. But really, what next? Are we gonna just continue our lives as usual, as though Sheldon's death was just a bump in the road? Are we gonna take Reverend's word to heart & check within, try to be more responsible, better people?

So young, gone too soon, at least his music will live on are just a few of the phrases I've been hearing about Sheldon over the past few days. Maybe we should ask ourselves "what if it were me, have I done enough, I'm I doing enough with the role God has given me?" Do we even know what our role is? I suspect (HOPE) a lot of self searching will commence. I'm waiting to see the outcome...

Bye Socanites,

Oceans may divide us but music CAN bring us together,

Knyxx...

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The Rounds - October 8, 2006

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s rounds for Thanksgiving weekend 2006. All week long people have been asking me when is my flight for Miami. Well, I don’t know who tell anybody I was going down for carnival. It’s no secret that Nurse Karen loves Carnival. But it’s also no secret that I love meh family more. It’s Thanksgiving Sunday, here in Canada. That is a time when my family congregates to thank God for a glorious bounty of blessings throughout the year. And when my mommy throws down in the Kitchen…I does thank God fuh she as well.

So, no Miami for me this year…but if I was there, you’d find me on the road right about now, enjoying the setting sun as the picturesque backdrop to the soundtrack of my life…sweet soca music.

I’m not the only notable carnival absentee, ya know. Dr. Jay is still here making you wine from 6 to 9. and you know that man does usually be wherever de vibes and dem playing.

You didn’t hear it from me. But Vincy Roadmarch King Jamesy P called Toronto today from his home in Tortola where he was spending a leisurely Sunday morning. That might not sound strange to you, but I had to make sure I was hearing right. Because the last thing I heard from Jamesy P was the "Miami Remix" he just recorded with Jason Benn. Maybe you’ve heard it….In fact I know you’ve heard it, because Doctor Jay gave it a spin last week. “If yuh looking for we, we up in Miami…we head gone and we feel tipsy, we up in Miami”. Wooyyy…is a big tune…and when all those Toronto people get back from Miami, somebody needs to tell me if it wasn’t THE anthem down there. Only problem is Mr. Miami HE-SELF is playing hooky in the Virgin Islands. Small ting.

Allyuh remember “who let the dogs out? Nah nah, not dat one. De original one. The late nineties soca hit that mashed up Trinidad carnival, Caribana and everything in between. I remember that song. And I remember it being plenty better than the version that won international attention. The Baha Men, a group from the Bahamas re-released the tune that was originally written and performed by Toronto-based Trinidadian Soca man Anslem Douglas. Allyuh remember him? Well, I hope you didn’t forget…because although he’s been faint on the musical landscape, he hasn’t gone anywhere. Not too long ago he had a West Indian grocery store out in the East End. And really, the only reason he ain’t been putting out new songs is….he’s been recovering from the legal headache that resulted from fighting for some recognition after his song made it to the Billboard Charts with no mention of its creator.

This Thanksgiving, I’m thanking MY Creator for Anslem Douglas. I just heard that he’s been hanging out in Trinidad, recording new songs with some well recognized producers in the business. We’re talking Leston Paul, Neil Bernard, Junior Joseph…and Kerwin DuBois right here in Toronto. That is right… Mr. Douglas is coming back. And I HOPE…he’s coming strong. Allyuh get ready…Anslem go let de dogs and dem out on November 7th, when his brand new 11-track CD is released at the Trinidad and Tobago Consulate in Toronto.

I’m nurse Karen and those are Dr. Jay’s Rounds for Thanksgiving 2006. Remember to be grateful for all you have, especially dat big fowl in the middle of de table.

As always, send your comments to soca at flow 935 dot com. Now, back to de docta!

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