“Claudette Swing”, a calypso single is blazing the internet and has seen several hundred shares on Facebook since its release on Thursday. Plaisance singer, Mark Ferdinand, who sent the song to the Ministry of Culture this week for a chance to be selected for the Calypso Monarch Final is certain it is a frontrunner.
The song reflects Guyana’s general elections last year. “With Calypso, it’s social commentary. The song does not represent my views. I want to be able to sing for both the APNU and PPP/C parties. At the end of it, when we battle and fight, we must be able to work together with whichever government that is in power,” he said.
Owing to the controversial nature of the song, Mark did not disclose the name of songwriter. This ghost writer also wrote the song Mark competed with at the Calypso Monarch Competition last year. That song, “23 Into 5 Can’t Go”, got him as far as the semi-final. That song spoke to the PPP/C being in power for 23 years while the APNU+AFC was only in power for five years. It mentioned that the APNU+AFC should therefore not have to measure up to what the PPP/C did.