Eye Unit: Gyptian - Hold You (Soca Refix)

VP records is on their "A" game with this big tune from Gyptian.  Here is a re-release of the video with the official soca riddim in the background.  I love a good reggae ballad just as much as the next gal, but honestly, there's something un-romantic about a man singing about "the tightest hold". Ah well, I don't make the music, I just write about it.

Enjoy!




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The Rounds: Red Hot Flames album about to drop...SCYATTAH!!!!

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. The calendar says it's summer now, and all attention focuses on the Caribbean. If you're looking for me this time next week I will be in sweet St. Vincent and the Grenadines preparing the place for Dr. Jay's arrival.


Belated birthday greetings to Sheldon "Shel Shok" Benjamin. of the big band Atlantik. I missed you last rounds, but we'll catch up next weekend at Insomnia in SVG.

Some of Atlantik liming at GLOW SVG last year.

(Shel Shok is the long one in the back!)

Last week's ragga soca monarch competition proved to be a big upset at Victoria Park. Zoelah fans: if you haven't heard by now, your girl's performance of Wine Up On Me simply did not cut it for the judges, leaving her out of the top 3. From all accounts Zoelah, who had performed at Wet Fete (in the rain) the night before was sounding PRETTY hoarse. So top marks went to Dani-O instead, who shocked onlookers with a stellar performance of Gimme Mo. Next up was Skarypon with Forever, and Galanaire in third place with "Do YOU"


Summer time means summer music, so if you haven't already picked up your copy of Soca Gold 2008, now would be the time to make that happen. It's currently ranked #1 on the Billboard Reggae charts (Dah don't really make sense to ME, but whatever!) VP records chose big tracks from Big Artistes like Mr. Dale's Soka Junkie, Faye-Ann Lyons – Get On, and Ricky T "Pressure Boom!"

2008 TT Road March Queen Faye-Ann in Toronto last month

Right around Caribana time, our friends in Antigua will jumping up in the hot sun as well. So, naturally, that means a new batch of jam band music is cooking up as we speak. Look out from a new album from Red Hot Flames. Oungku is real excited about the CD. The title will either be called SHAOLIN TEMPO (you know how West Indians love dey Kung Fu) OR it may be called "SCYATTAH"! He says this album is going to be a musical bomb – A weapon of Mas' disruption, so that's what people will do when it drops! Look for it the first week of July!

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Take a moment to check out (Nurse) Karen (Etc) at Mustard Seeds dot net over the next three weeks, as I keep you up to date with my Vincy Mas diary. I'll also be taking in St. Lucia's soca monarch finals, to stay tuned for pictures and video from that! Now, back to de docta...

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The Rounds - August 19, 2007

Good evening Soca Lovers, I’m nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s rounds. Grenada carnival wrapped up on Tuesday. And Congratulations are in order for Berbice. Traffic was THE chune heard most often on the road, beating out Ah Cyah Hear by Lava Man, and Tall Pree’s Trees.
Sadly, There won’t be any carnivals in the West Indies for a little while now, but THEY can’t expect the rest of us to stop de jumping. Yuh gah be real athletic to keep up with all the carnival action, so ah feel we ought to light a torch and send it rrround the world just like they do for the Olympics. So from Grenada, we passing we soca torch to Ottawa, then it’s going to Boston and Notting Hill, England. We blazing right back to Barrie, Ontario on September 1st. They will be hosting their first ever CaribFest just north of Toronto. Then dat torch lighting up the sky in Brooklyn a few days later.
I’ll be completing MY personal carnival marathon for the Summer in London and New York. Next Monday, you’ll find dis Vincy Vixen on the road with Poison UK before crossing the ocean for the 5th Annual International Soca Awards.
I f you haven’t cast a vote yet, now is the time to show your support for our very own reigning BEST INTERNATIONAL Soca DJ…Dr. Jay de Soca Prince. He’s looking to take the title again this year, but that can only happen if you take the time to VOTE. Head over to triple W dot Soca Awards dot com and show dem boys exactly why Toronto IS Soca City.
Well, if back to back wins isn’t reason enough to believe dat Dr. Jay is a soca Olympian, how about this? VP Records is bringing the 7th edition of D’Soca Zone to a record store near you. The two disc collection of soca favourites from the year gone by, features a bonus CD mixed and hosted by de docta he-self. So if you’ve been wondering where to LEGALLY buy songs like We Ready to Go, Hott Spot or Flames. Here’s your chance.
Speaking of great BAJAN chunes…A date has been set for the 2008 edition of the Barbados music awards. If you love the creativity and sweetness of Bajan music of EVERY genre, January 27th is THE night. The Sir Garfield Sobers Complex will come alive to celebrate the very best.
I’m Nurse Karen and those were Doctor Jay’s rounds. Please text your comments to 9-3-5-9-35. Now back to de Docta!

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The Rounds - February 25, 2007

Good evening Soca Lovers,
I’m nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. The best part (as you already know) is Dr. Jay is back in de building!
The ICC Cricket World Cup gets underway in two weeks. Naturally, the price of plane tickets has risen to the occasion. So, if you’re upset that you won’t be there to watch our boys bat that ball to victory, you might want to check your favourite record store for the Official Soundtrack. Out on VP records, the CD entitled “Caribbean Party” features songs by TOK, Morgan Heritage, Tanya Stephens, Beres, Buju, Elephant Man…and “The Game of Love and Unity” by Rupee, Faye-Ann Lyons-Alvarez and Shaggy.
On January 21st, 2007. Doctor Jay de Soca Prince made a prediction. It had a little something to do with a man named Machel Montano and a tune called Jumbie. Well Soca people, whether you owe de man a beer or a plate of pelau – it is now time to pay up! Machel Montano was able to secure his third ever Roadmarch win on Tuesday, beating out all other competitors by a landslide. According to the official count, “Jumbie” was played 388 times, whereas Shurwayne’s “Open De Gate” came second with only 34 plays. Imagine dat! Sugar Boy by Patrice Roberts managed to sneak in for third with 33 spins.
This Carnival, revelers had to display their costumes on the road in front of Queen’s Park Savannah rather than on stage. Remember, I’ve been telling you about the new cultural centre they’re building for that. Well my friends, it wasn’t ready for Carnival 2007, and it looks like it may not be ready for next year either. Trinidad’s Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams let the cat out of the bag on Friday. There’s a possibility that part of the centre may be ready for next February, but definitely not all.
So I done tell you that Biggie Irie is the new groovy soca monarch in Trinidad, right? His winning composition “Nah Going Home” has been a hit since Crop Over 2006, but it may be hitting in more ways than one. Hitting him with a copyright infringement lawsuit that is. I know I can’t be the ONLY soca fan who also loves the classic Irish rock band “U2”. Ever since I first heard Biggie’s song, I’ve been looking through my cassettes from elementary school. “But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for!” As it turns out, when Biggie Irie borrowed that melody to create the chorus for Nah going home, he didn’t bother to clear samples. The monarch crown will not be affected by this infringement, but Irie’s pocket book COULD be cleared out if the mega band decides to take up the breach of their copyright in court.
I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s rounds. Send me your comments at soca at FLOW 935 dot com…and don’t forget to buy your Return Fete tickets starting this Tuesday. Now, back to de docta!

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