On De Scene: Censoring Soca on Bajan Airwaves

The tune Staggerah by has been banned by the Starcom Network of stations. Apparently the powers that be believe that it offers free advertising for a beverage. (Monster Energy Drink)

Starcom Network includes the ever popular HOTT 95.3 FM and Voice of Barbados 92.9 FM - Two of the most popular stations during the Crop Over season. Hott 95.3 is the young people station and vob 92.9 has a more mature audience.

Yeah, what's more interesting is that this tune is out of Peter Coppin's camp - Monstapiece Inc. featuring Fadda Fox. Now besides being an accomplished producer, Peter Coppin works for one of the stations that banned it. Actually, he has been one of the leading personalities on Hott 95.3 FM for several years now!

Money makes the world go around?

Staggerah (2009 Barbados Crop Over)(Staggerah Riddim) - Fadda Fox

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The Rounds: Crop Over is coming, producer preview...

In this edition:

• Private 6 turns 20.
• Shurwayne Winchester releases a new album
• Bacchanal Jamaica Midnight in Paris
• Crop Over music preview
• Alison Hinds nominated for 2009 IRAWMAs

Good Evening Soca Lovers!

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds.  While April may be the rainiest month of the year in these parts, there's no reason to assume that means spirits are low.  There's lots to celebrate all over the soca world, as we take on Spring with a bang.

   Last week Thursday, up and coming St. Lucian soca artist, Private 6 turned 20. If you don't recall the name, he brought us a song called Kalina on the Soca Blutooth Riddim in 2007 with an artist called Orion, and last year he had a cheeky diddy called "For Cable", that made a bit of a splash at home and abroad.

      Shurwayne Winchester and YOU is celebrating the release of their first studio album together, simply called YOU.  The CDs were pressed last week, and lucky fans in Trinidad will be the first to be able to grab their copies starting Thursday - just in time for Easter.

      There's no doubt that Easter is one of the holiest days on the Christian calendar.  For me, its a quiet weekend spent in church, and with close family and friends.  In Jamaica, Easter weekend is all about Bacchanal Jamaica Beach J'ouvert, featuring Machel Montano and Patrice Roberts.  On Friday night, the Bacchanal Mas camp was already hot with action for Midnight in Paris with Destra Garcia and Denise "Saucy Wow" Belfon.  
Denise Belfon and Nurse Karen backstage at UWI Splash, Trinidad - February 2009.

 Jamaica has serious soca fans, making it Destra's favourite place to perform.   I heard great reports from the performers, but off stage, Tortola's soca songbird Jalena wasn't having such a great night after being robbed in Kingston.  That’s gotta suck!  Had a similar experience in Trinidad, but LET’s not talk about me...

          Over in Barbados, preparations for Crop Over are underway at all the studios.  Red Boyz are saying they won’t be doing soca this year. Peter Coppin is pumping out what he hope will be the 2009 version of the coconut tree riddim.  And Xtreme Platter/ Jammas…other wise known as Big Red, King Bubba and Foreigner Frank are working on an compilation album that will feature themselves plus Lil Rick, Jana, Peter Ram, Rashida AND  Don Trent.

Biggie Irie is spending this weekend recording two tracks with Dwaingerous…so there’s plenty of great new music just around the corner. 

Before I go, let me say congratulations to Alison Hinds on her International Reggae and World Music Awards nominations last week. Ally made the cut in two catergories, Best Female Vocalist and Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer.  I'm still waiting on the complete list of nominees, but I'll keep you up to date.  I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds.  Stay in the know by reading the Nurse Karen Etc blog at triple w dot mustard seeds dot net.  Or get up to the minute updates by following me on twitter:  That's twitter dot com slash nurse karen.

(Nurse) Karen
http:/www.twitter.com/nursekaren

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The Rounds: Byron Lee's funeral yesterday in Jamaica

Dr. Jay's Rounds - November 23, 2008

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr Jay’s Rounds. Yesterday, the friends and family of the late Byron Lee gathered at St. George’s College in Kingston Jamaica to commemorate the life of a soca icon. The nearly four hour service paid tribute to the musician’s 52 year career in the industry through renditions of Lee’s music performed by his band, The Dragonaires. Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding, and former Prime Minister Edward Seaga addressed the congregation. And there was even a recorded tribute message from American soul musician Ben E King. Those who attended described the mood as both celebratory and solemn. Lee died on November 4th after a long battle with cancer.

While hundreds in Jamaica paused to commemorate the end of an illustrious career in soca music, Trinidad’s Synergy TV was getting set to launch the careers of a number of future Soca performers. Synergy Soca Star (Season Four) kicked off earlier this month with a new crop of 15 finalists who are TAL-EN-TED!!! This batch gave their first live performance recently at St. James Amphitheatre, and somebody is getting eliminated on Monday night.
Trinidad’s most notable Soca Star Mr. Machel Montano will have his mind on something completely different tomorrow night as he rings in his 34th birthday. Happy Birthday Winer Boy! Yuh certainly not too young to soca now!

De Nurse and Machel Montano around this time last year, here in Toronto

Speaking of men with real loose waists....Barbados’ own HypaDog, Lil Rick will be celebrating a birthday this coming week too. It happens to coincide with his country’s independence celebrations on November 30th. This year sweet Lil Rick is throwing a great big birthday bash called “One More Time” at Brooklyn’s Base Nightclub next Saturday. The show will feature performances from HypaDog he-self and Edwin Yearwood, plus music by Barbados’ superstar producer and DJ, Peter Coppin. That sandy rock in the Eastern Caribbean will be celebrating 42 years of independence from British rule. So Bajan posse, bring on the Mount Gay from now. It’s party time!

With Hypa Dog a few weeks ago at Soca or Die

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Leave me a comment or two online at the Nurse Karen Etc blog at triple W dot mustardseeds dot net. And be sure to download the rounds podcast from Soca Therapy dot com. Now, back to de docta!

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