Here is a very interesting documentary on Soca music that takes a look at the past and brings you to a time when the society was changing in the Caribbean region. The thoughts of artistes like David Rudder, Arrow, Lord Shorty, a very young Machel Montano, record producer Joe Brown and the great Terror shed light on the music and a period that most of us wish we could relive once again. Listen attentively as they express their views about the "ultimate dance music" known as Soca - the music we love so much today.
After watching the video and listening to David Rudder voice his opinions, one has to reflect and think about the music called Soca today and the period that the music was embedded into our hearts and minds. Indeed we love the beat but the soul and pride that were once the hallmark of the music have now been replaced by lyrics that generally encouraged wining and jamming and flag waving. Nothing is hidden today and one can easy see that the recording standards have come a long way but the lyrical content has suffered tremendously; we have regressed and our standards have taken a hit because everyone wants to get that one hit to feel that they have succeeded in this very competitive Soca music industry. We can only hope that the writers pay attention to lyrical content and not simply be drawn to getting a hook to lure the young people to 'get on bad' on Carnival day. In other words they need to look back and learn from the Calypsonians of the past who ensured that the lyrics were the driving force and not the music. If they can bring both together then you would revive the strength, love and spirit that David Michael Rudder so consciously embedded in his songs!
We need to move forward with songs that bring positive vibes and build on the standards set by David Rudder and later on Ras Shorty I. We can't allow the soul of the music to lost because of the drive to have a hit song! There is always hope and we cannot lose sight of this fact. Everyone needs to play their part and the people who support these artists should not settle for mediocrity but demand better lyrical content from the artistes they love and support today.
Credit "Socapineman" for bringing this video to our attention on islandmix.com. It is my hope that the posting of the video brings about 'healthy discussions' and not deteriorate into territorial disputes as have many prior discussions on that Caribbean forum.
There is one last thing that I want to state before closing this post... there have been so many discussions on islandmix regarding the role of Lord Shorty and the 'cultural influences that affected the outcome of the genre' and the doubters have continued their assault time and again. What am I talking about? Well Lord Shorty clearly stated that he incorporated Trinidad's Indian musical rhythms/instruments to shape the new music and many have continually denied this fact. This documentary and the statements of David Michael Rudder surely puts it in perspective... now let's see them debunk David Rudder!