Today, you are in for a steelpan musical treat! It was an exceptional time in Trinidad and Tobago; it was 1997, and there was so much anticipation for the National Panorama Finals. Among the titans looking to grab the top prize for champion steelband were Phase II Pan Groove, Renegades, and Exodus. For this post, we focus on the performance of Phase II, Pan Groove, under the guidance of the master himself, Len "Boogsie" Sharpe. Their tune of choice was Denyse Plummer's (RIP) "Misbehave"; this performance is one to remember and for this reason, with the help of Mr. Kenny Phillips, we present that stellar performance.
"Misbehave," if you don't know the song, was co-written by Alvin Daniel and Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, with the musical arrangement for the song done by the genius, Leston Paul. Denyse Plummer, who recorded the song at the esteemed Sunset Studios and J&W Recording Studios, already made it a hit. However, Boogsie's interpretation for the steelpan orchestra took the infectious energy of the original and elevated it to a whole new dimension.
What a beautiful arrangement of this song by Boogsie! It soothes the soul with a very mellow feel. Boogsie's arrangement, undoubtedly infused with his signature flair, highlighted the rich textures and versatility of the steelpan. The sweet, resonant tones of the tenors danced with the deeper, grounding notes of the bass pans, all woven together by the intricate rhythms of the seconds, guitars, and cellos.
We, at Sokah2Soca, are thankful to Mr. Kenny Phillips for bringing this beautiful performance to our attention. Along with Kenny, our goal is to create another record of the music for those who love to listen to our national instrument. We owe a deep sense of gratitude to the individuals who diligently preserve these precious moments of Trinidad and Tobago's cultural heritage. In particular, a special thank you goes out to Mr. Kenny Phillips of WACK Visual Radio. His dedicated work in reproducing these historical performances from original VHS tapes, many of which were initially recorded by Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT), allows new generations to experience the magic of events like Phase II's 1997 Panorama performance. Without his efforts, many of these iconic moments might have been lost to time.
While we applauded this performance, to put it all in perspective, Phase II and Boogsie did not win the Panorama competition that year. The first place went to Renegades playing "Guitar Pan" by Lord Kitchener and arranged by Jit Samaroo. The third spot went to Exodus and they also played "Guitar Pan," arranged by Pelham Goddard.
This music is incredibly beautiful; it serves as a testament to the unifying spirit of Caribbean rhythm, capturing the heartbeat of Trinidad in every perfectly struck note of "Misbehave". To this day, discussions of iconic Panorama performances often include Phase II's 1997 showing, a vibrant reminder of the magic that happens when exceptional musicianship meets the infectious energy of Soca.
If you are interested in more posts like this one or have a memory that you believe we can look back on, we can, together with Kenny and his vast archive of local music, bring similar posts for your enjoyment. Leave a comment letting us know your interests.
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Production Notes/Music Credits:
Misbehave - Phase II Pan Groove Panorama 1997
Steelband Music Arranged by: Len Boogsie Sharpe
Song Title: Misbehave
Singer/Performed by: Denyse Plummer
Written by: Alvin Daniel and Len "Boogsie" Sharpe
Composed by: Len "Boogsie" Sharpe and Denyse Plummer
Arranged by: Leston Paul
Recorded at: Sunset Studios & J&W Recording Studios, Trinidad
Distributed by: Crosby Music Centre
Executive Producer: Alvin Daniel
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Genre: Soca/Steelband Music 🎶
Sokah2Soca—Where the Rhythm Lives and Soca Thrives!
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