I can’t decide whether the fact that there will be no Carib Soca Monarch competition this year is a good thing or a bad thing.
It’s a puzzler and I say that with no sarcasm whatsoever. There is a reason why I rarely pay attention to local music and you don’t have to listen much to hear why.
Sometimes I am told that I don’t have a single patriotic bone in my body when it comes to some things local. But, in fact, my patriotic bone is, well, tone-sensitive. And many of the local artistes just damage it.
To be truthful, I am relieved that I don’t have to speak with the perennial ‘hopefuls’ who have managed to convince themselves that every year will be ‘the year’. I do feel a little sympathy as some emerge out of the woodwork again and again and proceed to jump and wave only to fall flat for the umpteenth time. As for the one-hit wonders; well, best to let sleeping singers lie.
Lest I be accused of being unsupportive of local artistes, let me say that for my discerning ear, it’s all about quality. And right now, in this particular genre, with few exceptions, quality comes from outside.
I don’t think it should be so hard people; there’s a whole world wide web out there waiting to serenade me with a thousand different sounds. So tell me why I need to give my ‘support and encouragement’ to some with little more to recommend them than raunchy dance moves?
I sincerely wish that someone would come along, and, like the politicians say, shake-up the local soca scene. Maybe, and I am being optimistic, that person is biding his/her time. Could it be that this could have been the year for our very own Rupee, Allison Hinds or Kevin Lyttle?
Unofficially, I have heard of the reason why there will be no Carib Soca Monarch competition this year — so Banks DIH has scored its coup. I have listened to some of the groovy soca songs and some are pretty good actually.
But in terms of the follow-up to the competition, despite the promises of Sean Bhola last year, there are as yet, no CDs available of the top songs. Maybe that’s why most of the songs disappear into obscurity after Mash every year. Many of us don’t listen to radio but buy CDs and download music and if it’s not available how can we listen to it and maybe show our support? As an aside, the songs get the most airplay before Mash Day and that particular clock is ticking.
So the festival where soca music is most in demand is coming closer and there will be no Carib Soca Monarch competition and the Banks Groovy Soca music is unavailable, apart from radio, to those who want to snag a listen and go out and support. Maybe, it’s not so bad. Maybe it’s the way it should be. Maybe my patriotic bone should shut up and let me listen to my Trini soca in peace. (thescene@stabroeknews.com)
