All uh dis Talk bout Culture!

The Barbados Youth Development Council recently hosted The National Youth Festival at the grounds of Illaro Court (The Prime Minister's Official Residence).  This group of young people pulled off an event which to my mind was beautifully coordinated. A professional MC and better advertising could have made this the youth event of the year and I also thought that a little more imagination could have been used to determine the winner for the final give away at the end....a wuk-up competition?? They say wukking up is we culture but....come on now, how novel an idea is that?!

I love Calypso. The music. I love calypso, the art form. As a musician  and "a want to be writer", I have a problem equating some of what I hear on the airwaves today with calypso (the music or the art form).  Generally, my opinion is that a few guys sit in the studio, come up with a wicked rhythm and then just drop any old lyrics on top of it. I'm all for evolving art forms but there must be substance in the evolution.  I wonder how many calypsos can be remembered the year after their release. Let me say that I'm not a party person, maybe that's why so many of the party songs don't appeal to me however, I can still appreciate songs like Red Plastic Bag's something's happening and TC's Hot Sun & Riddim These songs speak to the artistic abilities of the writers. I question the abilities of those who can come up with something like "You tink I K"  but I guess the drivel is working for them so, as some would say, I need to hold a corner  and know my place.

Now that we're on the topic of calypso, I recently went to a panel discussion on calypso hosted by the University of the West Indies. The panelists included Red Plastic Bag and Gabby, who have won 

the calypso crown 9 and 7 times respectively. It was really great to sit and listen to these two calypso giants who, through their music, are educators and sociologists and whose songs, after today's news has been forgotten, will live on.  You know the saying education isn't common sense, well, some would say too much education is not always a good thing. After the discussion one 'academic' (all dressed in African garb, Bajan accent and all, obviously having just left the cradle) noted that hearing Gabby speak reminded her of being back in the village, sitting around the rock fire,listening to the orator (sticks finger in throat). I wondered when last she sat around a rock fire and as my friend said, does she know who the orators are? Calypsonians like Gabby, the guy at the rum shop who knows it all, granny, these are all our orators.  I think i need to take a step back in time to experience that rock fire for my self.

On that note, my final  5 for Friday's Pic-o-de-Crop finals, in any order are Gabby; Red Plastice Bag; Blood; TC; John King...all of the signs are there.