PRINCE

Prince is without a doubt, one of my absolute favorite musicians ever. I say this, because his music will always be relevant to me. So I'm not going to talk about how sad I am that he's gone, not at all. I want to talk about how good he was at his craft, how eccentric his brand was and will remain. I want to talk about those moments that Prince made the world say...

The enigmatic Prince was an eccentric performer, with his music and his image he made people question society, their religion, their love life, their spirituality and even their sexuality. He was more beautiful than Beyonce,

could play twenty-seven instruments, got all the ladies, had swag for centuries, was the ultimate shade thrower, could dance for hours without tiring and had a voice specially crafted by the hands of God herself!


After releasing five albums, Prince finally made it big with his 1985 hit single, "Purple Rain," for the movie of the same name. The movie was heavily based on his real life and the album is still ranked as one of the greatest of all time.

He was one of the few black artistes to have his videos played on MTV. He blended rock, funk, and early hip-hop to get his distinct sound. He crossed cultures, making his name known around the world. Being the creative being that he was, Prince had a very unique sense of imagery. His style was androgynous and some of his songs were boldly charged with sexually explicit lyrics.

In 1993, Prince famously did his first name change to an unpronounceable symbol.

Not knowing how to address him, people referred to him as "the artist formerly known as Prince." He did this after a dispute with Warner Bros. who wanted him to make less albums. Changing his name allowed him to make music on his own terms. After his contract expired, he changed his name back to Prince. Recently Prince won his recording rights from Warner Bros, they must have been really upset. Funny how the same thing happened to MJ...he died after gaining most of Sony's rights...what a coincidence. Anyways...

Prince was known to deliver high energy and out of this world performances. He was all about the element of surprise and believe me, Prince could surprise the hell out of you. From his cut out pants to actually turning down a duet with Michael Jackson.

Yeah you read correct, he turned down, MJ. Originally the hit song, "Bad" was supposed to be a duet with Prince singing the first verse. Unfortunately Prince said that he would never say the words, "Your butt is mine," which are the first lines, to another man. Because MJ believed that only Prince would have sung it perfectly, he decided to squash the idea of a duet and sing it himself. This is a career ending move right there, but for Prince, no way man, no way.

Oh there's more, Prince was a straight up ladies man with charm and swag, don't let the very very very, (I cannot stress on very enough) questionable clothing fool you. Prince fell for his first wife when she was only sixteen, but didn't want to pursue her until she was old enough. So you know what he did, he hired her as his dancer and she celebrated her eighteenth birthday on tour with Prince. Needless to say, she became his wife not too long after. Well played Prince, well played.

On top of that, he was a professional level basketball player, beat that! He was just too short to play professionally, so he instead turned to music...thank you genetics!
This was of course made famous through Charlie Murphy's story telling segment on The Dave Chappelle Show.

Prince was an icon in every sense of the word. His switch was never off, he would perform everyday, whether for an audience or just himself. He never compromised his integrity and he always did whatever the hell he wanted. Musicians respected him, Artists looked up to him and almost everybody loved him.

I know I love and appreciate everything about this man. Anyone that knows me knows how much I love me some Prince. His music, his style, his energy, his attitude, his presence and his mind. Prince will continue to inspire music for generations to come, there will never be another crazy, wild, free and entertaining man to make music! Prince really pushed the boundaries of weird, I mean, common...

But we still love it!

The influence that is Prince is too strong even for time to diminish. He will continue to live in the music of artistes such as Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Ceelo Green and so, so much more. Never has the world seen a more electrifying entertainer, someone who was fierce and composed, free willed and conservative, extreme and unapologetic, not to mention beautiful and handsome. He was charming, sexy, mysterious and daring, his entire existence was intriguing. Prince made the world smile, whether intentional or not and he will continue to be honored every time we say his name, play his music or simply think of him. 

If you suddenly feel in the mood for some of Prince's music, just click on any of the songs below...

 Purple Rain

Breakfast Can Wait

Kiss 

The Beautiful Ones

Computer Blue

Darling Nikki

When Doves Cry

Cream

This Could Be Us

Prince - Live 2007 | Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show | FULL SHOW HD

Prince, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne and others Live-- "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Live with India Arie and Yolanda Adams 

Prince & Lenny Kravitz Live - American Woman

Exclusive Live Video: Prince's Welcome 2 America Tour

Prince & Cee Lo Green "Crazy" Live in NYC

Prince & Beyonce - Live Grammy Awards 2004

We have lost an icon, a legend, a god in his own right, but we have had decades of his great music and presence. Some moments made us laugh, some made us cringe and some just blew our minds, but at least we can say that we have had the privilege of experiencing...
The Man...
...The Mystic...
    ...The Legend...

Look back at life and think about the good old days. Time will fly, things will change, but those memories will always stay...

I've been thinking, everything is happening so fast these days, it feels like your life is just speeding past you and you're playing catch up. Everyday it's just...

It's exhausting, making you feel as if you could just run away, to somewhere quiet and peaceful, or maybe full of laughter and great experiences. Somewhere mysterious and exciting, where you can find a thrill, get an adrenaline rush, create a lasting, loved memory. Well for some of us that's going to continue to be a dream...Recession, just saying.

What we do have though, are our memories, our sweet, sweet memories of growing up. Sunday lunch with the family, cricket on the beach, climbing mango trees and catching fish with home made rods. Stealing milk and sugar and watching local music videos on both TV6 and TTT. Who remember those?

Well for those of you who can't seem to remember...

Sharlene Boodram, yunno the girl who sang "oh la la la, oh la la la, oh la la la mamasita, ah ketch yuh cooking paratha for Santa," yeah her. This song was constantly played on television at a time where local music was actually given a chance.

And who cannot remember hearing this song every Saturday morning. Melanie Hudson made everyone want that jersey dress and this song was like an anthem in the nineties, a feel good time with feel good music.

Didn't that just feel good...I bet you were humming along weren't you...you know you were. This next video, I swear is a classic in the caribbean and by extension, the world. Today this dance is incorporated into so many dance moves. You can even see Rihanna giving us some action in her video, "Work."

Whenever I heard the opening music of this next song, I would run as fast as I could to get in front of the television just so that I could be there when the first word is sung. After that, I became David Rudder.

This may just be one of the most famous songs in Trinidad and Tobago. It's relevant for any decade, it basically sums up what everyone thinks. I bet when you see this video you'll be like...

It's my ultimate favourite, the one song that just takes me back to the good old days...

As much as I would have loved to share even more with you, I really want you to look for them yourselves. You may get more than you expected. When I was looking, I found advertisements from the eighties and nineties. I went back in time to a place called Calabash Alley and spent some time with Beulah Darling. It was so much fun seeing all those great little elements that made my childhood a wonderful experience. It brought back that good old feelings of long ago.

If you didn't see your favourite, drop a comment below and share the memories!

DESTRA'S GAY PRIDE

Hey all!, This week I'm collaborating with my buddy, my pal, Early Pearly who runs all things LGBT over at The InQueery...#excitement.





Don't get excited because of the flag, let me squash that right now... Destra is not a lesbian, sorry guys...

...but she did perform at Canada's gay pride celebrations last year. I had no idea...

Apparently after winning Best International Act at the Black Canadian Awards (yes, that's a thing), she was asked to perform at their gay pride celebrations as the first ever representative of the Caribbean gay community.

At the end of every gay pride month, Canada hosts a Blockorama party to close of their celebrations. Destra performed as only she could, giving her absolute best. When she was asked about her experience, she said, "I have a lot of fans across the board. I don't see colour, creed or sexuality."

Buuuttt, get this...many locals didn't like it, nope, in fact, they were brutal on social media, attacking Destra from all sides...

So people were saying it's all about the money and in reality, they may be absolutely right, but what's wrong with that? Who are we to get angry at the way Destra chooses to make her money? Yes she is one of the bigger names in Trinidad and Tobago's music scene, but at the end of the day, it's her brand.

Please bare with me for a moment, but the reason I'm talking about this, even though it was last year is because artists are constantly being judged and ridiculed for the way in which they live their lives. It's their brand and how they choose to represent that is their business, you and myself have the option to pay attention to them or not. If the message they are sending is not pleasing to you, then by all means, move on to something else that may bring you peace. But if you are in support of it, then that too is your right.

In the Caribbean, people are of the opinion that if you associate yourself with anyone that may be gay, then automatically you are gay as well, guilty by association I guess. 

But let's face it...Our musicians really get work around Carnival and for the rest of the year they are forced to seek other means of survival. So Machel selling rum and Iwer selling boat ride, Bunji Garlin selling clothes and Iwer selling what?...Boat Ride!

So why are we mad again when one of our artists decide to perform at a gay pride concert in Canada? Our treatment of local music has limited our artists, and I'm not saying that they are not to blame as well, they can produce music for all year round, but we as the people find it hard to accept anything other than Soca from our artists and only around Carnival time. When Carnival is over we go back to regularly scheduled music which include everything from Rap, Hip Hop, Reggae, Pop and Alternative Rock...hmmm, shame.

Let's face it. Trinidad and Tobago and by extension, the Caribbean, may always have difficulties in accepting the gay community. Our culture has taught us against it, but music is universal and can and will affect any and everyone. Music is the purest thing in the world, capable of creating great feelings of hope, love, empowerment and pride. No one has the right to deny anyone of music and an artist has the right to share their music to anyone they wish. Music heals the world!

So what do you guys think about Destra performing at Blockorama 2015? Drop a comment below and check out The InQueery for a different spin on this and so much more!

THE NAME'S MARLEY...BOB MARLEY!

So I wake up this morning and it feels great to be at the beach, there's nothing better than waking up to the smell of the ocean, the cool clean air, fried bake and shark for breakfast, a cold cup of coconut water and Bob Marley playing in the background...oh the feels.

Marley's voice could fit in anywhere, the repetitive rhythm of the sweet reggae coupled with Marley's vocals can mellow out any day, any situation, anything! If the steel pan actually had a voice, I bet that it would sound just like Bob Marley.

But as much as we love us some Bob...how much do we actually know about the legend that is Bob Marley? Walk with me will you...

Did you know...

• Bob's father was a 50-year-old navy captain named Norval Sinclair Marley. With his mother being a 19-year-old village girl named Cedella, Bob was born from an interracial union and needless to say, Norval's colonialist family was not thrilled to hear the news. Norval left Cedella to raise Bob on her own, after he made it clear that Bob was her child and hers alone.

• As a child, Bob would constantly make people uneasy by telling them details of their past and future through palm reading. After living in the ghettos of Kingston for one year, 7-year-old Bob returned to his village and refused to palm read for anyone ever again.

• Bob's recording label, Tuff Gong is named after him. It was a nick name he earned as he was considered the wrong guy to mess with in the Kingston ghetto of Trenchtown.
  

• Bob would work for hours and hours and not get exhausted. As a child he would walk five miles just to fetch firewood and never complained. He showed his resilience working three jobs when he moved to Delaware as an adult and famous for rehearsing hours on end with his band, never getting tired.


• Bob was arrested for possession of marijuana and spent a month in prison. During that month, Bob became acquainted with the prisoners who encouraged him to do more songs with strong political messages. Thank you prisoners of Jamaica.

• Bob would constantly question why he was so poor even with all the constant performances and his undeniable fame. He eventually found out that his long time manager and friend, Don Taylor was stealing from him. Needless to say, Bob beat Don within an inch of his life, then he fired him. Don't mess with the Tuff Gong!

• In 1973, Bob and the Wailers joined a 17-city tour of Sly and the Family Stone, but was later fired by band leader, Sylvester Stone for being too good and getting all the attention.
  
  
  
  

• Bob was a professional level football player. If he wasn't making music, he could be seen outside playing a game of football.

• Marley has at least thirteen children that are known to the world, Imani, Sharon, Cedella (named after his mother) Stephen, Robbie, Rohan, Karen, Stephanie, David aka Ziggy, Julian, Ky-Mani, Madeka and Damian aka Junior Gong. It is rumored that there are more.

• When Bob became successful, he shared his wealth with his struggling friends and family, building them homes and helping the poor in his community.

• Bob is at number five on Forbes list of Top Earning Dead Celebrities.

I encourage you, any artist that inspire you or create a feeling of peace within you. Research their lives, their stories and understand who they are and what their message is. If there music dont represent who they are, then it can't be real. Bob did music that represented who he was and what he stood for. He wasn't driven by commercial success or fame, but by the want and need to help his family and his people which made his music pure and powerful.

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain."

                                                                                                           - Bob Marley

STEEL PAN TO THE WORLD

I really believe in the power of music-and I mean literally the power of musical tones-to rearrange the way we can think.
                                                                      -Michael Azerrad


The Caribbean is a beautiful place don't you agree? We should appreciate it more, people pay thousands of dollars to live like us for just one week, I don't know about you, but I feel pretty good right now. Think about it, everyday we wake up to tropical breezes, the smell of rich, home cooked food, a little bacchanal now and then, when you're talking to the neighbor. We can visit the beach anytime we feel like it, plan river limes and monthly hikes, weekend excursions and backyard jams. We live in the lands of Carnival and Crop Over, of Calypso and Reggae of Soca and Steel Pan.

Oh yes, the sweet steel pan, the voice of the Caribbean. The sounds of the steel pan are unmistakable, but amazingly enough, many Trinidadians and Tobagonians don't really like it that much. That's unfortunate though, the steel pan has the ability to invoke some serious rhythmic power within you, you feel it in your bones...pan lovers, you know what I'm talking about. Well I'm not going to convince anyone to like steel pan music. No, not gonna do that at all...

What I am going to do is give you some cool facts about the steel pan you probably didn't even know. You know, things you don't know about steel pan, facts about it...that you didn't know. I'm talking to you, yeah you, Trinbagonian, I'm going to tell you things you probably don't know about your own N-a-t-i-o-n-a-l  I-n-s-t-r-u-m-e-n-t.

So let's go!

• The steel pan is the second youngest instrument in the world, second only to the hang drum; an instrument inspired by the steel pan.

• Though loved now, in the 1930's when steel pan was first created by the lower class, it was not well accepted and looked down upon by the upper class. 

• Rival Street Bands would often end in violent encounters, causing the steel pan to be referred to as the instrument of hooligans.

• In 1951, the first steel band, The Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra, played at the Festival of Britain with rusty steel pans. The people not knowing what to expect from the rusty instruments, loved the sound it produced and referred to it as black magic.
  

• Although still made by hand by very few using old oil drums, today, steel pan is made from steel and manufactured both locally and internationally.

• It's the only percussive instrument to be made of steel.

• Steel pans are made in family groups; tenor pans, bass pans and rhythm pans.

• The largest steel pan in the world is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records and measures 104 cm in width and 84 cm in height. It was created by Trinidadian Jomo Wahtuse.

• It is always associated with holidays and sunshine, giving it it's internationally appeal.

• While traditionally the pan is played with two pan sticks, many locals have perfected playing with four, such as Earl Rodney, Jason Baptiste and Kyle Noel, all from south Trinidad. 

Earl Rodney

Jason Baptiste

Kyle Noel

• Every year, countries such as Switzerland, Japan and Sweden host Steel Pan festivals in celebration of the steel pan, while in trinidad, the steel pan is only featured once per year at Carnival celebrations.

• Steel pan has been in the world of Pop music for a long time. It made appearances in the songs, "Just The Two Of Us," written by Trinidadian Ralph McDonald and sung by Grover Washington Jr. and," Side By Side," by Earth Wind and Fire featuring Robert Greenidge. 

• You can hear the steel pan being featured on "New Position," by Prince, "Jumanji," by Azalea Banks, "Jane Says," by Jane's Addiction, "Me And The Rhythm," by Selena Gomez, "Rum Is The Reason," by Toby Keith and most recently, "Close" by Nick Jonas.

Now why can't we do that?

• Although there are many great things surrounding the steel pan, there's also one, not so great thing, a complete pan shocker. Two Americans, George Whitmyre and Harvey J. Price, have successfully patented the production of the steel pan. Horrible news I know...if only the Trinidad and Tobago government had thought about it before those guys...hmm, maybe new found cultural heroes, Ansa Mcal can drop in like...

Don't just stop here, look for more information about our beloved steel pan. The rest of the world is mesmerized by it because they've experienced it. Unfortunately we have to wait once a year to lose ourselves in the magic that is steel pan, and I must admit, the treatment of Panorama could improve in terms of creativity and image, but the sweetness of the steel pan is undeniable. If it wasn't, why would it attract the world?

My culture is my identity and personality. It gives me spiritual, intellectual and and emotional distinction from others and I am proud of it.

                                                        - M.F. Moonzajer

Sand, Sea and Jazz...Tobago Jazz Festival takes the spotlight!

Music is a language everyone can understand, that everyone can speak. It's a source of expression and escape, of learning and exploring emotions. It's a motivator, a comforter, a part of every soul...you know when you hear your favorite song it's like a refreshing drink of chilled coconut water on a hot, dry day.

So when I heard that Maxwell was a headline act for the 2016 Tobago Jazz Festival...I was like...

Then we have Ms. Lauryn Hill and J.Cole to spread positive messages about change, love, revolution and peace. You know, what we're used to hearing from them.

But as I look to the other featured acts, I find myself wondering...'is this Tobago Jazz or a Soca Monarch tribute concert?'

With the exception of Carijazz night (a mixture of jazz and caribbean sounds) the lineup for other nights are a bit puzzling. Destra Garcia and the Bacchanal Band on the same night as J.Cole? How did that conversation go? And no disrespect, but, Dil-E-Nadan? Really? This doesn't even make sense, it's like having Michael Bolton performing at a Lady Saw concert...

I know there are artists that perform Jazz in Trinidad and Tobago and by extension the Caribbean, and maybe they're not featured because they won't 'pull a crowd' or because they're just not popular enough. Well maybe it's because of things like this. Every time we have a concert that may garner international attention, we seek out our known Soca artists and turn our backs to the throngs of talented and very capable singers and musicians that will actually make sense in an event like this.

So I sulk as I continue reading the line-up, my heart breaks into a million pieces when I see supporting acts for Ms. Hill and Maxwell are IMIJ and Co. and Adana. How about that for variety, huh...we got Soca creeping it's way into every Jazz night. Also...I have no idea who Adana is and apparently no one does, but I blame that on poor advertising.

Please don't get me wrong, I love and respect Soca and if done tastefully, Soca can fit into any genre and add character to it, so having a legend like David Rudder on stage is a treat to see. But let's face it, as it stands...come Jazz night...it's going to be jump and wave, cock back so, looser than Lucy, feeling mehself and the only Caribbean locals we have that offer Jazz pieces would be The Arturo Tappin Band and Etienne Charles & Creole Soul. Don't know who they are? That's because locally, if it makes sense, it's not going to be played on our radios or talked about in our media. Our great big pool of talented musicians and singers are neglected for a much smaller pool of one tracked minds and regurgitated lyrics....damn that was harsh, but true...no? You think it, I say it!

So maybe, just maybe, we can put some attention and effort into our local music, of all genres not just Soca. Why is it, that in order to get recognized, our artists have to go out of Trinidad and Tobago, because it's not Soca or Dancehall, but when we have events such as Tobago Jazz, we go outside for acts to headline, because our local 'heros' just can't cut it. I don't know if it's just me, but that's just stupid. We limit ourselves and fight against our own creative beings and for what, to show the world, that we have nothing else to offer?

Oh well...I'm sure one day we'll get the opportunity to explore a successful combination of our culture and other genres of music. Until then...we will continue to enjoy international music superstars that send out positive messages through lyrics and tones that make us dance and just bring good vibes.

   

International Stars with Caribbean Roots

With everything that’s going on the world today, we sometimes just want things to be simple and a bit carefree. I know how it is, I get it, so I’ve decided to make things light and entertaining…but you’re still gonna learn something…I guarantee that!


The Caribbean seems to have done a lot more for music than we think. There are so many artists that you never knew had Caribbean roots and some of the bigger names in music of the '70's and '80's came from right here in T&T. The entire world knows that artists like Rihanna came from Barbados and Nikki Minaj was born in St. James, Trinidad, but there are so many more artists that came out of these tropical islands.

Haddaway's, "What is Love," went on to be the number one club song of the eighties and is still considered so to this day.

It was also the soundtrack for Saturday Night Live's full length movie, "Night at the Roxbury." Remember these guys...

Billy Ocean was born in Fyzabad, Trinidad and was the most popular R&B singer in the 1970's and 80's. He won a Grammy in 1985 for "Caribbean Queen," was made a companion of the Liverpool Institute for performing Arts and is an active member of the Rastafari movement. He's the voice behind hits like "Suddenly and "The Long and Winding Road."

Harry Belfonte was born to a Jamaican mother and Martinican father. He was a singer and actor (starring alongside Dorothy Dandridge in the movie "Carmen"). This is the guy that sang "The Banana Boat Song," you know, "...Day-o, me say Day-o, daylight come and meh wah go home."If you think it's familiar, that's because you may have heard it in numerous movies. Another of his hits, "Jump In The Line," became an instant history maker and was also featured in many hollywood movies, most notably, BeetleJuice.

For all you R&B lovers, you may be happy to know that Alicia Keys has some Caribbean roots. The singers father is Jamaican.

And making the cut is... the lovely Melanie Fiona! She has collaborated with artist like Ceelo Green and Stephen Marley. She also wrote songs for artists like Rihanna, was in a band with Drake and toured with Alicia Keys. Melanie's parent are from Guyana.

Lianne La Havas is a folk and soul singer with a distinct, soothing voice. She became a household name through her song, " Is Your Love Big Enough," out of the album of the same name. Lianne's mother is from Jamaica.

Surprise, surprise, bet you didn't know Beyonce had some caribbean roots. That's right, Mrs. Carter has ties in the Bahamas through her father who was born there.
                                                        

That's it...there's nothing else I can tell you about Beyonce that you don't already know...oh! Except...did you know there's actually a religion formed around her? Man I tell you...move over Christianity! That was completely off topic, I know...moving along...

Another offspring of the Bahamas is rock star Lenny Kravitz. Known for hits such as, "Again," "American Woman," "Are You Gonna Go My Way," and "Chamber." Kravitz is also an accomplished actor and you may have seen him in The Hunger Games movies. He's also the father of Zoe Kravtiz, so that would make him 52-years-old and looking like that...#blackdontcrack.

Ladies, I gave you Lenny, now I give you Maxwell...*swoons* ...

Maxwell is a singer, songwriter, producer and actor. He's credited alongside De'Angelo and Erykah Badu for shaping the genre Neo Soul into what it is today. Maxwell is also one of the headline acts at the Tobago Jazz Festival this year (look out for more on that next week, same time, same place). Maxwell is half Spanish, half Haitian.










Will.i.am, Rapper, producer and judge on The Voice, has strong caribbean roots as both his parents are from Jamaica.

So it seems like we have a Jamaican takeover...Rapper Busta Rhymes parents are from Jamaica...

The late and ever so great rapper Biggie Smalls parents are from Jamaica...

Singer Mya's father is Jamaican...

Oh man, this list can go on and on and could take forever...the Caribbean has produced many artists that have made great contributions to music. Even in Trinidad and Tobago, right at this moment, there are talented individuals working under the radar as singers, musicians and writers for international artists. If we won't accept and appreciate them here, then the rest of the world will and we'll be left wondering what would be the state of our music at Carnival next year. So let's not limit ourselves...this just shows you that no matter where in the world you are from, if your music is good, no one can deny you.

Before I go, I'll leave you with a small list of actors that you didn't know had Caribbean roots.I know it's not music, but let's recognize our Caribbean brothers and sisters!

Lorraine Toussaint- "Orange is the New Black"

Born in Trinidad

Karyn Parsons- "Fresh Prince of Bel Air"
Born in Trinidad

Kerry Washington- Mother is Jamaican

Tia and Tamara Mowry- Mother is Bahamian

Corbin Bleu- Father is Jamaican

Romany Malco- Only American in his Trinidadian family