There was a time, not so long ago, when Ragga Soca was in vogue in Trinidad and Tobago. There were Ragga Soca singers and a short-lived Ragga Soca competition. The competition had a three-year shelf life from 1999 to 2001. Neil "Iwer George" won in 1999, while the King of Ragga Soca, Bunji Garlin, real name Antonio Alvarez, copped the top spots in 2000 and 2001.
I want to clarify one final point to prevent any misunderstandings. Trinidad and Tobago's Ragga Soca music is not the same as Ragga Soca from Saint Vincent. Trinidad's Ragga Soca uses Soca rhythms and vocals stylized like Jamaican dancehall vocals. People often confuse or use Ragga Soca and Groovy Soca interchangeably, despite their distinct characteristics.
Here is an abstract from an article written by Glenda Alicia E. Leung. Glenda Alicia E. Leung first published the article on 11/06/2009.
"In the late 1990s, a new musical genre emerged in Trinidad called Ragga Soca. People describe Ragga Soca as a fusion of Trinidad's indigenous Soca music and Jamaican Dancehall music. One peculiarity of Ragga Soca is the borrowing of Jamaican Creole English phonological features in the performance genre.
Initially, there was much opposition to this genre as it challenged notions of Trinidadian identity and self. This paper considers the linguistic innovativeness of Ragga Soca artists, in particular, their use of Jamaican Creole English phonological borrowings, demonstrating that they have not only created a new performance genre but have also used Jamaican Creole English to mediate their Trinidadian identity.
This competition was canceled/lost appeal because of the Soca Monarch Competition and lack of financial support for what was considered a Jamaican style of music that was loved and followed by the young at heart. The business community was not interested in this youthful exuberance exhibited by these young followers of a misunderstood style of music. People saw the sub-genre as a continuation of dancehall music that once crippled the calypso industry and had people like Lord Shorty seeking alternative ways to stem the tide of the Jamaican music tsunami that rocked Trinidad and Tobago.
We obtained the following information from the website tntisland.com:
Here is a Ragga Soca song that I like, and I chose to post it simply because it identifies with the name of the music genre, "Ragga Soca!" This song was performed by the man who is undoubtedly the best Ragga Soca singer in the whole damn world—Bunji Garlin!
We are also including a late addition to the mix. Along with the track "Ragga Soca," we are also posting another track titled "iRagga," also by Bunji Garlin. These two tracks perfectly showcase his unique style and energetic vibe, making them essential for any Ragga Soca playlist.
Whether you're dancing at a party or just enjoying the rhythms at home, Bunji Garlin's music is guaranteed to elevate your mood and get you moving!
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). We intend no copyright infringement! We encourage you to promote the artists and their music; please don't share the music and rob the artists of needed income!
Please press the play button below to listen (a small triangle in a circle).
