No Minor Matter

In the melee of fiery selections for Carnival 2011 two tunes have struck this listener in a really nice place. Me Alone by the Black Spaniard, Bunch ah Garlic, De Girls Dem Darling…Bunji Garlin and the other a duet Feel to Wine, featuring Destra Garcia and Super Jigga T.C.

Both songs capture I believe, using minor chords, a warm, almost plaintive groove that is not only evident in the music but the lyrics of the songs.

Bunji’s draws melodic inspiration from Coldplay’s Viva la Vida and shares title with a little known selection by Jah Vinci from last year.

The song evokes the singularity but not loneliness, of its protagonist, who finds content throughout the Carnival despite being by them self, much like the character in Benjai’s Wine to the Side, who makes the best of her experience having been put out and not let in.

The duet it is a ‘sweetish’ sentiment expressed in a season when some say “why bring sand to the beach?” and maxims like after you exchange presents at Xmas you break up by New Years as Carnival is no time to be in a relationship still are heard if not adhered to. This is of course assuming that the “man” and “gyul” referred to is a steady and hopefully not one met during the two days of druken…oops…I mean wanton revelry which would be fine too especially if you don’t want to be alone. I mean if the wine goes well and well past Ash Wednesday then fine but otherwise a wine is a wine!

I might group them as Groovy but last years Murdah while groovy plays on a social reality that does not evoke the plaintive or the groovy. Too 2007’s Heart of a Man is fast paced yet civil, for want of a better word.

When showing off your stuff, chord change is no minor matter.

If you know your party's extension...

I found myself oddly dressed at WASA fete last weekend, but so did a lot of others by my estimation. Such is the nature of doing what seems like something new. For me a hat as an accessory and not a thing of function is a new direction. It wasn’t just any hat though, its an almost Legionnaires shaped felt number in green that only fit on my crown, worn with a voile The Cloth shirt with green embroidery and dark jeans with red leather sneakers. I imagined myself quite a site for the sore eyes of those who don’t usually see men so fancily attired.

Well its Carnival and so in the context of the season the majority of attendees were as well appropriately dressed despite the fact that it was to me noteworthy.

Men seemed more interested in expressing themselves through color. Apart from the sneaker revolution being witnessed the also popular close fitting pants and shirts were not as obvious as they are on the streets.There was though a paring of turquoise and purple in a shirt and jeans respectively that stuck with me. Another standout was my man Eniola, in a khaki-green one piece coverall, green army hat and 3Canal I AM Re-evolution tee.

Given the nature of the party I was not surprised by the men’s attire as it called for a more practical than peacock approach. Most at WASA go to get on bad, not to pose.

Women are being quite creative with their hair. Those with weaves and extensions had shocks of color that stand out against jet black and sleek mostly short styles. Not much of what is being called the ‘the hump’ where the crown is elevated by the weave or another material underneath the hair giving it a height and curve that can withstand the hardest of jamming.

The dreadlocked set have been wearing a new tucked style called ‘petals’. It’s a soft folding of the strands of the locks to create the shape of flower petals.

In terms of the garb a lot of and I mean a lot of females were wearing fish nets under their shorts, some more eye-catching than others. Mostly thick body girls with them cut ¾. A lot too seemed to have come prepared for the rains that did come, bikini tops with short-shorts and yes…stockings beneath.

The color of the night was definitely turquoise, one of the official colors of the utility, followed closely by purple which seems to have saturated the world.

If you ever miss my voice you can call WASA to be welcomed by my “dulcet” tones!

A Phabulous Friend Circa '97

Of course the beauty of present circumstances and situations, the now, always seem to be the ultimate, the most intense or profound experience in comparison to the experience that may have taken place before. Whenever extreme emotion is expressed all else becomes inconsequential. What's my point? The feelings created by this relationship are not feelings that haven't been felt before (reality). This is the first time though that they are being experienced with these factors. In retrospect my life has been dotted with romantic equations, at their least challenging, at their most impossible. It can be easily said the challenge is a great part of the motivation that keeps it alive. I feel focused on. He is beautiful, absolutely. A sheltering stature and a calming energy. Beyond that I feel needed. His feigned naivete, boyish charm and innocence, humility and sense of humor make for a most wonderful man. What does he get out of this though? What keeps him around? Not being self-deprecating but it would be nice to know, to not guess or speculate as to what he sees. I'm not sure he levels with me. I know very little about him, about the past, the experiences that have helped shape this man I love so much.

Some of the past

Visiting photographer Carrie Stark asked to take some pics. I had no Idea what she had in mind but she asked that I shave my head. These are two of the shots from that day at CCA 7 In Laventille, once an international hub of artistes and personalities , now home to the likes of The Cropper Foundation, Embah, Che Lovelace and Above Ogilvy among others. No dis, just cant remember some of the other chic little operations in the building. Also good for a good home style lunch on weekdays!

Soca Woi!!!!

So Soca season is upon us, for many that’s a bad term as they believe it shouldn’t have a season and maybe one day it wont but not until other things change. If more artistes do albums there will be other releases to be played through out the year. The heavy production values in the music make it impactful and rhythmic and so most appropriate for Carnival. There has also become a rhythm associated with the industry in terms of releases being done just before Christmas depending on when the dates for Carnival Monday and Tuesday fall. In recent years some, namely HD Family, have been releasing music for Cropover and so there has been new music as early as August on these shores. Also the touring schedule and roll-ot of other festivals globally as the year progresses takes the focus on Soca away from its home.

Already its being said that this year’s music is this, that and the other. After last year I can say a good music year is not to me an anomaly, a bad one, though?

Benjai with his two selections, Trini and Wine to the Side was first declared as best in show. Lil Bits was too riding high on the early wave with Sweetness.

I might get jack-up for saying so but people not feeling Boy just yet. After a year off the scene, it was said to be for stoc-ktaking but I heard something else proffered recently that made me wonder if I was high.

The man of the moment is Dieffinitely Kes and it cant be said without noting the contribution of producer Kerwyn Du Bois. In a seemingly new found mainstream status, Wotless is inescapable. Some say he has broken away from his “ey ah red and from South singing soca” image and is now as “Trini” as either Promenade and the Espanade. It’s left to be seen if he will compete or just spread the gospel with Kess the Band. I last year said to a colleague that Kes doesn’t care to win competitions he wins hearts but if he decided to compete would many be broken as a less than genteel heartthrob emerges?

Consider it Done By Fay Ann (Lyons) Alvarez is one of my favorites. She is to me branding herself with a sound that marries arrogance and confidence under a coconut tree somewhere on the sister isle.

Her partner Bunji Garlin, still blazing, seems to have accepted that "two man-rat cyah live in one hole" and so while his offering, Hold a Burn represents him well, unless he comes with fresh fire I’m not sure he would get anything won.

Post-motherhood Destra Garcia is as prolific as always and doing a number of collaborations in her offerings which will keep her busy over the coming weeks. In terms of the Road March race Ms Garcia seems more like a proverbial bridesmaid and we know how that goes. Will she be a bride this year?

Nice that Saucy Wow has an early hit this season with Dingolay, for a dame as grand in the game as she is I look forward to hearing more, please Saucy please!

Also undeniably in the room is Blaxx. The infectious Tantie Woi lacks the usual strong narratives that I associate with his songs but hey! is either dance or sing come Fantastic Friday so we’ll see what happens.Its hard to deny once it plays, though.

Yes these are some of the big names and some of the big tunes with a lot more happening on the airwaves, with the pirates and even the older bards.

The guard has been changing and while me blogging about this may also be indicative of a change,life has proven there are no guarantees.

Giovanni

Because you dont know. Because you'll never know. Because you are to me all that you can be. Because you are all to me that I want you to be, always. Because you are all to me. Because you believe me. Because you believe in me. Because you never make me explain, because you always understand. Because you protect me. Because you make me feel safe. Because you make me believe in me, that there is a me. Because you show trust that trust and love are real, I will never say goodbye.

For the lion cub sleeping with the crab I wont even cry in moments of absolute tragedy. For the lion cub sleeping with the crab I wont even fear in moments of despair. For the lion cub sleeping with the crab I'll be one thought away. For the lion cub sleepng with the crab I'll always be here. For the lion cub sleeping with the crab, I'll always be me.