Calypso Classic | Below the Surface by Mystic Prowler

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The Golden Age of Calypso, the formative years (1934-1950) brought about change in Calypso and gave some fabulous calypsos that are unmatched today. Now we turn to our present-day crop of Calypsonians and it feels like they have lost focus, lost their way. They (today's Calypsonians) can't seem to find their way and choose to complain rather than resolve the issues that are hampering the art form and for that reason, we look to the past to find a way forward. 

We are in a place where Calypso seems to be looking for a way to be relevant once again and for that reason we can look back and reflect on a song that could add some guidance for the rocky road ahead. Now we can reflect and find meaning with a song that won the 1998 Calypso Monarch Title. There is a serious message in the music.. this is the Mystic Prowler with one of the songs he sang to win the 1998 Calypso Monarch title (aka Calypso King); the song is "Beneath The Surface" penned by Gregory "GB" Ballantyne.

Those who are stuck in quicksand and can't seem to say the way forward will continually moan and complain about the Calypsonian plight but they could find solace and a way forward if they heed the words of songwriter Gregory Ballantyne with memorable vocals from the late Mystic Prowler: "They had the stuff that great men are made of; It’s the stuff you can miss unless you look beneath the surface".

Too many Calypsonians are stuck singing political and social commentaries that may or may not be relevant today. Don't get me wrong, these Calypsos are needed but if Calypso is going to find a way forward in this world of Soca music then they need to be singing Calypsos that makes the listener want to dance. That was the case before the dawn of Soca and that can still happen today; let's have some more 'dance calypso music'. Yes, there is a time and place for everything, and today it calls for music and songs (Calypsos) that people can dance to once again. The challenge is on, who is going to do it?

Just to be clear, we feature "Beneath The Surface" written by Gregory Ballantyne and sung by the Mystic Prowler because of the message and not that of a 'dance calypso' example. 

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Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Beneath The Surface 
Calypsonian/Artist/Performed by: Mystic Prowler (Roy Lewis)
Written by: Gregory "GB" Ballantyne
Year Released: 1998

For Promotional Use Only

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