Caribbean Soca is a mess; our insular musical biases have put us in a position that created the mess that is Soca Chat on islandmix.com. I am serious about that statement. Just go to islandmix and watch how prevalent the insular biases infiltrate every discussion. I am not here to discuss islandmix and the numerous 'toddler' discussions that take place but to address something that took place today when I called a radio station in Trinidad and requested the Lucian produced song RAE. I thought about the comments made by the radio host all day and decided to address his remarks this evening.
Now let's put our cards on the table immediately. I sent the song RAE to the radio station because I liked it and wanted the station to feature the song. I am no hit maker but I liked the song and wanted it exposed to the Trinidad and Tobago listening audience. I was not prepared for the response and did not take it personally (that I can't pick a good song) initially. However, after giving thought to the comments of the radio host I gathered my thoughts and came to the conclusion that our island pride and to a greater extent our insular beliefs prompted the response of the radio host. I did not think that he gave the song a chance. I know that I have said that I listen to a song one time and if it does not impress me I drop it. Maybe that is the case with the radio host but I know this radio jock fairly well and thought his remarks were unfair.
So what is so special about the song RAE? Well I listened to the song and loved what I heard. I like the production, I love the live brass music (a lost art in Soca music produced today), enjoyed the lyrical attack on regurgitated lyrical content and just fell in love with the music and vocal performance. Now when the radio host remarked in summary that "that is what yuh calling a big song"! I really surprised by his comments and the laughing that followed. I was disappointed and furious that he brushed off the song the way he did.
The song is different and felt good and the producer did not short change us with a three minute production. This production is about five minutes long and I still can't get enough of it! I wondered if the song was sung by a Machel Montano or Bunji Garlin if the host would have been so cavalier with his comments - who knows? I simply thought that his comments were disrespectful taking into consideration that the show was simulcast to Saint Lucia and the song is a Lucian release for Carnival 2013.
Maybe he simply does not like the song, it did not hit him, he did not get a vibe from the music... I don't know but I do know he did not give the song a chance. I have listened to two songs over and over again today, RAE by R. Soul and Carnival Tabanca by Bunji Garlin back to back and I still can't get enough of both songs. Is it our insular character or am I wrong about the song RAE? You tell me! As a Caribbean people we can all agree on an American hit song but when it comes to Caribbean music and especially Soca music we can never agree. Our insular belief system simply crashes the fete and spoils the fun!
Please take a time out and listen to the song RAE by R. Soul. Listen to the song and get a feel for the production, for the vibe that the artist and producers bring to the table. Don't think about where the song came from just enjoy the music - then say if you like the song. This is Caribbean music and we should enjoy it as such... I love this song and maybe it won't hit you initially but as far as I am concerned it is a wicked track!
Production Notes:
Now let's put our cards on the table immediately. I sent the song RAE to the radio station because I liked it and wanted the station to feature the song. I am no hit maker but I liked the song and wanted it exposed to the Trinidad and Tobago listening audience. I was not prepared for the response and did not take it personally (that I can't pick a good song) initially. However, after giving thought to the comments of the radio host I gathered my thoughts and came to the conclusion that our island pride and to a greater extent our insular beliefs prompted the response of the radio host. I did not think that he gave the song a chance. I know that I have said that I listen to a song one time and if it does not impress me I drop it. Maybe that is the case with the radio host but I know this radio jock fairly well and thought his remarks were unfair.
So what is so special about the song RAE? Well I listened to the song and loved what I heard. I like the production, I love the live brass music (a lost art in Soca music produced today), enjoyed the lyrical attack on regurgitated lyrical content and just fell in love with the music and vocal performance. Now when the radio host remarked in summary that "that is what yuh calling a big song"! I really surprised by his comments and the laughing that followed. I was disappointed and furious that he brushed off the song the way he did.
The song is different and felt good and the producer did not short change us with a three minute production. This production is about five minutes long and I still can't get enough of it! I wondered if the song was sung by a Machel Montano or Bunji Garlin if the host would have been so cavalier with his comments - who knows? I simply thought that his comments were disrespectful taking into consideration that the show was simulcast to Saint Lucia and the song is a Lucian release for Carnival 2013.
Maybe he simply does not like the song, it did not hit him, he did not get a vibe from the music... I don't know but I do know he did not give the song a chance. I have listened to two songs over and over again today, RAE by R. Soul and Carnival Tabanca by Bunji Garlin back to back and I still can't get enough of both songs. Is it our insular character or am I wrong about the song RAE? You tell me! As a Caribbean people we can all agree on an American hit song but when it comes to Caribbean music and especially Soca music we can never agree. Our insular belief system simply crashes the fete and spoils the fun!
Please take a time out and listen to the song RAE by R. Soul. Listen to the song and get a feel for the production, for the vibe that the artist and producers bring to the table. Don't think about where the song came from just enjoy the music - then say if you like the song. This is Caribbean music and we should enjoy it as such... I love this song and maybe it won't hit you initially but as far as I am concerned it is a wicked track!
Production Notes:
Title: RAE
Written By: Christopher Hunter
Composer: Francis DeLima/Christopher Hunte
Performed By: R. Soul
Live Brass By: Dyson & Connie
Produced By: Francis 'Leebo' De Lima
Mixed & Mastered By: Francis 'Leebo' De Lima
Written By: Christopher Hunter
Composer: Francis DeLima/Christopher Hunte
Performed By: R. Soul
Live Brass By: Dyson & Connie
Produced By: Francis 'Leebo' De Lima
Mixed & Mastered By: Francis 'Leebo' De Lima
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RAE - R. Soul
