“[…] The main argument in defence of what’s in effect a Machel Monday redux on Carnival Friday was that ISM was dying anyway, so what’s the problem letting Monk have his way and have the day? “It’s a strikingly bad argument. If your beloved relative is dying, you don’t finish …
Read More »St Bernard: “Transformative, uplifting, enjoyable”—why Kees is my King of Soca
You don’t have to put anyone down, to elevate another. Kees Dieffenthaller, is my current ‘King of Soca’. I came to that conclusion after watching Kes The Band perform the full spectrum of soca music for one hour. Nothing but soca! Kes had the largest turnout, about 22,000, at the …
Read More »‘Band yuh belly!’ The soca legacy of Uncle Blaxx
‘Allyuh come een!’ If you like soca and calypso, Blaxx (Dexter Stewart) has made you happy, jump, wave, sing, laugh, knock a glass, hug a stranger, tap your feet or spread your hands and let go at least once. In an industry with an insane annual refresh rate, quick to …
Read More »Famalay for the Road! Machel nears record; here’s how he compares with Kitchener and Super Blue
Soca star Machel Montano is now just one hit away from the all-time record for Road March titles, as he was awarded his tenth crown today by TUCO for Famalay—a collaboration which includes Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez and Gamal “Skinny Fabulous” Doyle. Famalay was played 346 times at the respective …
Read More »Who feels it, knows it! St Bernard’s pick for calypso crown and how local music can raise foreign exchange
I’m backing Joanne “Tigress” Rowley for Calypso Monarch 2019. Her story is real. Her music is good. And, yes, I had a ring side seat to her deciding on the song, Who Feels It, Knows It. Her rendition deals with depression and a mental health issue she dealt with after …
Read More »From front to back and back to front; St Bernard on the legacy of the “Mighty Shadow”
“Come here Winston. Go there Winston. Dey always pushing me around,” sang the late iconic calypsonian, Winston “Shadow” Bailey. For that reason, I always called him Winston. I considered him my friend. He was complex and self assured about his music. I once begged him to allow me to compile a …
Read More »Uhmm, Kes… Hello?! Gilkes explains why he takes exception to soca star’s new video
I’ve been a big Kes fan for ages. I love “Wotless” and I’m not sure if I can get enough of the song “Hello”. Its recently released video, however, is a whole different bag of worms. Don’t get me wrong, I’m always happy when our ‘kaiso’—no matter the genre—is given …
Read More »Helon was Rudder-like! St Bernard sees positive calypso change coming from the new generation
The return of the Kings and Queens to Sunday’s Dimanche Gras made for a good show. Calypso won as, although there were too many props, there was no excess of lame melodies, thank God, and no overdose of prosaic lyrics. It was refreshing to hear music back in our calypso; …
Read More »A Massive Count?! Live Wire considers underlying issue as Gosein takes Rowley’s mudda for a ride
It is crude, simple and catchy and it references a part of the female anatomy that has caused more men to be laid off in recent times than low gas prices. Mr Live Wire is talking, of course, about Nermal “Massive” Gosein’s Carnival 2018 song “Rowlee Mother Count,” a song …
Read More »Chasing Greatness868 (Video): David Rudder on Bahia Girl, Uzi diplomacy and High Mas
What is the pathway to greatness in Trinidad and Tobago? Musical icon David Rudder shares the secret of Bahia Girl, the aftershocks of the 1990 attempted coup, High Mas and what music says about our lives today. More from Wired868 TV6ME: Michael Johnson and Anton Corneal on How to …
Read More »Chasing Greatness868 (Video): MX Prime on childhood challenges, weight loss and going full extreme
In the second of a two part interview with Wired868TV, MX Prime discusses his childhood challenges, weight loss, the Ultimate Rejects and going to the Full Extreme: Editor’s Note: Video footage by Kyle Walcott via LoopTT.com More from Wired868 YEP Rising Stars: Meet Revell Webster Teenaged Trinidad and Tobago sprinter …
Read More »Chasing Greatness868 (Video): MX Prime on his musical roots, passion and riding the Soca Train
What is the pathway to greatness in Trinidad and Tobago? In Part One of Two, MX Prime talks to Wired868TV about his internal fire, his musical beginnings in Carenage, Magadan, the Ragga Soca revolution with Bunji Garlin and getting aboard the Soca Train in the pilot for Chasing Greatness868: More …
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