Image via YouTube Music Video © XplicitMevon/Rome x Nailah Blackman.
If you are living abroad, then we have something special for you! While we all find ourselves immersed in the latest Soca music offerings, attending the launch of Panorama 2025, or researching upcoming carnival events, it's important not to overlook our vibrant Christmas music. The true essence of Trinidad's Christmas celebrations lies in Parang, Parang Soca, and, of course, Soca Parang (yes, there is a difference). Today, we are thrilled to present a song, "It's Christmas," which perfectly encapsulates the beauty of Trinidad's Christmas season. Produced by the talented XplicitMevon, the song features vocals by the hilarious Rome and his partner in Soca Parang, Nailah Blackman. You are going to love this song.
Growing up in Trinidad was special for me. The thought of receiving Christmas gifts, the aroma of sweetbread, cassava pone, and homemade bread, along with the addition of sorrel and ginger beer drinks, evoked a plethora of pleasant memories. This song captures the experience of local paranderos traveling from one home to another, indulging in ham and savoring the home's offerings. As mentioned previously, you are going to love this song. It goes without saying, if your memory serves you well, that Christmas back on the island was and can still be a magical experience, especially if you are lucky enough to experience the culture that brought so much joy "back in the day"!
Rome and Nailah and the special music produced by XplicitMevon bring back all those good memories of our delicious cuising, liming in the block, all those festive decorations, every bit of culture experienced going to parang competitions, and most of all the exceptional community spirit we experienced during our youth. Things have changed, and the experience may be different today, but then again, the music is even sweeter today.
Cassell George, Mevon Soodeen, Jerome Precilla, and Nailah Blackman expertly delivered the spirit of Christmas and the message of joy for this season in a song. However, Cassell George's guitar and cuatro work, along with Miguel Homer's expert delivery of the shaken maracas, transported me back to the Arima Velodrome, a time when the parang competition was a highly anticipated event. Yes, this song took me back home, and indeed, as I said before, you are going to love it.
So, to conclude, here are our final thoughts: "It's Christmas" is a captivating and enjoyable song that encapsulates the essence of Trinidad's Christmas celebration, creating an atmosphere that evokes the smell, taste, and experience of the celebration through song. Didn't I tell you that you are going to love this song?
Let us promote the culture of the Caribbean diaspora:
Our mission is to advance music producers, performers, and Caribbean culture. Take up the role of the cultural vulture and disseminate this article among your acquaintances and on all social media channels. We are on Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram, and SoundCloud. All our posts are available on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and via Email Subscription. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: It's Christmas
Artist/Performed by: Rome x Nailah Blackman
Produced by: XplicitMevon
Guitars & Cuatro: Cassell George
Marac: Miguel Homer
Written by: Cassell George, Mevon Soodeen, Jerome Precilla & Nailah Blackman
Mixed & mastered by: Andre Stewart (Mixed by Dre)
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Genre: Parang Soca
Please be advised that the music is presented here for your listening pleasure and for promotional purposes only ("Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976). No copyright infringement is intended! We don't own the rights to this music; it is presented here for promotional use only. We encourage you to promote the artists and their music; please don't download and share them and rob the artists of needed income! I, nor this blog, make any claims of ownership over any of the videos, songs, photos, or graphics used for this post because they all belong to their respective owners.
♫Please click the music player button below to listen now (a small triangle in the Music player/TV Frame).