Booster Shot: Ras Iley ruffles some feathers with Don't Let Kaiso Die

Tell me if I'm wrong. Isn't Kaiso all about voicing the peoples' concerns and educating the masses about general vibrations of their society? Over the years, music trends in various genres have both aided and hindered those styles from reaching their highest heights. However, it's no surprise that throughout Caribbean communities the art of Calypso is falling out of fashion with the young, and in some cases losing some of its most potent elements.

Before reading any further, please listen to this poignant commentary by Ras Iley on the state of the Kaiso genre in Barbados and beyond.

Click HERE

Apologies for the external link, couldn't find it online anywhere else. I have a strict rule about not personally posting anyone's music online without their permission. (Biggie Irie, thanks for sending me the Mp3!)

So this post serves two purposes. First, I wanna send my kudos straight to the eyes and ears of Barbados Calypso Giant Ras Iley for the release of "Don't Let Kaiso Die". Also, lemme big up the Red Boyz, who have been incredibly selective about who they work with this year. Thanks for crafting this one. The entire team is a veritable all-star cast of Bajan music professionals. See the credits:

"DON'T LET KAISO DIE"
PERFORMED BY RAS ILEY

WRITTEN BY THE MIGHTY GABBY

ARRANGED BY KENNY WALLACE

PRODUCED & RECORDED BY DE RED BOYZ (Inspired by Eddie Grant, Nicholas Brancker, Chris Allman, Arturo Tappin, Adrian 'Boo' Husbands, Ricky Brathwaite, John Roett, Glen Johansen, Ian Alleyne, Smokey Roett, Andy Williams, Mike Sealy, Keith Ellis, Roger Gittens, The Festival Band, the many more keepers of the flame in Barbados and throughout the Caribbean and those who went before.)

MIXED BY DEEPU PANJWANI

MASTERED BY ELISEUS JOSEPH

PERFORMED BY THE BIG SHOW BAND

Bass - Julian Griffith
Drums & Percussion - Mikey Hulsmeier (with inspiration from Frederick Griffith)
Guitar - Michael Hope
Keyboards - Leonard Griffith
Trombone - Bernard Yearwood (Leader of the Big Show Band)
Trumpet - Ryan Blackman
Sax - Nicholas Timothy
Sax - Randy Eastmond
Background Vocals - Alison Gittens, Lisa Howell & Wynelle Lovell

Guitar Intro - The Mighty Gabby
Additional Percussion - Frank 'Foreigner Frank' Coppin (De Red Boyz)
Guitar & Keyboards - Scott Galt ( De Red Boyz)
Additional Background Vocals - Indra Rudder (Island Moon Magic)
Steel Pan - Terry 'The Mexican' Arthur (Square One)

Second, I want to address some controversy regarding the song that is going on in Barbados.

The talk on the streets of Barbados today is that the song has been banned from the airwaves on the Starcom and CBC networks due to references to their programming. I sincerely hope this is not the case. Although, most Bajans have yet to hear it played on these stations, I have not seen or heard anything from a credible source that would confirm an actual ban.

Lemme post my lil two cents for you on this matter. Don't ban the song. This music exists to call the nation to a higher standard. I'm not talking about this song alone. I'm talking about Calypso as we have known and loved it over the years. Imagine if our governments banned every calypso that ever spoke out about class divisions, sexual and spousal abuse, violence, governmental corruption, money mismanagement, military campaigns, corrupt leadership, etc, etc ,etc? What would be have left? Are we reducing the purest gem of our story-telling traditions to a dim and lifeless stone? Are the powers that be actually suggesting that the public stands to gain more from songs about big bam-bams and other such body parts?

If you deserve licks, take them and don't cry! The only changes needed in the programming departments are those that will begin to consider the lasting power music can have over its consumer. If de man is talking to you. Don't silence him. Listen.


As Caribbean people, we must pride ourselves in a heritage which marries our passion to our intellect. We must encourage the artist to comment on and edify their audience. We must respect all aspects of our creativity and provide forums within which they can grow and further develop, even beyond our shores. Stand up Barbados, and the Caribbean worldwide.

TELL DEM I SAY RAISE DE CALYPSO STANDARD
RAISE IT HIGH
TO DE SKY

TELL DEM WHAT THEY DOIN' IS GOIN BACKWARD
RAISE IT HIGH

DON'T LET KAISO DIE

~ Ras Iley "Don't Let Kaiso Die"


Love and Kaiso,


Nurse Karen

P.S. After originally posting this commentary, I was given a link in order to share "Don't Let Kaiso Die" with the world. If you think this mesage is important, download it HERE

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Eye Unit: Make It Yours - Shurwayne Winchester ft Maxi Priest (Video)

So, it's Halloween and I thought I would usher in the festivities with a special gift! No better to way to celebrate the holiday of treat, thrills and crazy sights that to offer you a feast for your eyes!

I started a new section of the blog devoted to posting soca music videos. So, let me welcome you to the EYE UNIT! Those of us based up here in Canada aren't lucky enough to have access to MTV Tempo or Synergy TV. I used to work in television as a segment producer, and would love to do so again. So enjoy my little homage to the genre of video...

So, here goes nothing!!

Make It Yours
by Shurwayne Winchester featuring Maxi Priest

Originally mentioned in The Rounds on Sunday, September 14, 2008

Directed by: S'Felix and Lisa Wickham

I'll be trying my "bestest" to post you a soca video, new or old, every week. To make it most interesting for ya. That way you'll get to see some of the finished products of videos mentioned in the Rounds. So much stuff out there...so come back often, leave your comments on the videos, and click EYE UNIT in the tag blog at the bottom right of the page whemever you want to see what you've missed!

Happy Halloween!

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The Rounds: St. Kitts and Nevis Carnival to Launch at Soca Awards

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. News, news, news! Lemme start with the weekend and go back....


Lauded Guyanese cultural singer Lady Guymine was honored this past Friday in Brooklyn. The event was a fundraising benefit to assist the ailing perfomer with her medical needs as she advances in age.

On stage that nightwas a cast of all-star performers from the Caribbean Region including Trinidad's Calypso King Sugar Aloes and St. Vincent's Winston Soso.

Nurse Karen and Winston Soso

Here in Toronto, Tribal Knights Mas Camp was first out the gate with the release of its 2009 Caribana Theme. Mas is tight competition in these parts. These days the newer players in the game are taking no prisoners. You heard it here first: Birds of Paradise. Can't wait to see what Dexter Seusahai has up his sleeves.

The government of St. Kitts and Nevis is getting geared up for Tourism Awareness month in October. It will be a busy time for the twin island state as they host the International Soca Awards. One special highlight of this year's soca awards, will be that is coincides with the official launch of St. Kitts' 2008/2009 carnival season. Which reminds me, If you haven't voted as yet. No time is like the present to log on to triple w dot soca awards dot com to show your support by VOTING for your favourite soca personalities like Dr. Jay!

Nurse Karen and Dr. Jay

Voting is on everybody's mind these days. We have a Federal Election looming here in Canada next month, and the most high profile presidential race ofall time in the US. If you're a soca music lobbyist like me, don't forget tomorrow is your last chance to Vote for who you want to see at Soca Or Die Nine. Dr. Jay will be bringing all manner of artists to Toronto for the big Scorpio Birthday Bash on November 1st. So chose your favourites from Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St.Lucia, St. Vincent, Toronto AND Trinidad and send your top picks to soca at flow 935 dot com or socaprince at hotmail dot com. Speak now, orf orever hold your peace!

Nurse Karen and Shurwayne Winchester

Amidst the hectic onslaught of summer carnival releases some of you may not have paid enough much attention to a very sexy groovy collaboration featuring Shurwayne Winchester and Maxi Priest. Two of the caribbean's most consistent entertainers have teamed up to give us "Make it Yours."

It was released in July, but the video was shot thispast week in T and T. The song was produced by Red Boyz out of Barbados….a production team that is causing major waves throughout the Caribbean. Now you know!

Last but not least... We at Soca Therapy would like to extend belated birthday greetings to Mr. Rupert Clarke AKA Rupee. He started his NEW YEAR at the top of last week.

Rupee hun, I hope it' s not your age what has you singing feet don't fail me now

…and with that…I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Leave me your comments on the Nurse Karen Etc blog at triple W Dot Mustard Seeds Dot Net, and as always get the rounds podcast to go at Soca Therapy dot Com. Now, back to de Docta!

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