Calypso is almost dead in Trinidad

Some time ago, I had in my hands this CD – ‘Calypso Awakening’ from the Emery Cook Collection. I strongly suggest that everyone get a copy of this. If you want to hear real and authentic Calypso, then this is a must-have in your CD collection.

When you (my partner Trini) listen to the songs on this recording, you will hear for yourself what I am talking about.

The skill level, wit, talent, and banter of each of these songs delivered by The Mighty Sparrow, Lord Melody, Small Island Pride, Commander, Wrangler, King Fighter, and John Buddy Williams Band are out of the question.

It is absolutely brilliant.

The lyrical content makes you think, the melody and harmony lines make you sing, and the rhythm will make you jump and bounce in your seat. The song arrangements are timeless and accurate.

It’s a great record.

What is special about this recording? Well, for one thing, a lot of the performances are “live.” And studio recorded songs have a thick and thick feel. They sound alive and true. It shows that all the instruments are actually played. It is not a “sample”.

Contrast that so far, where all the songs from Trinidad, the dominant art form of Soca (Calypso’s son) and the dying form of Calypso, use an electronic drum pad to make ‘a beat’. Where a keyboard plays the ‘horn lines’ and in some cases the bass lines as well. There is no actual instrumentation except maybe a thin guitar line or two. There are no real horns. Any. Where ALL the ‘singers’ use damn Autotune software to create an effect for their voice, when the truth is that most of these ‘Soca singers’ can’t keep their keys live. And no matter how much each of these modern recordings is ‘mixed and mastered’, they still sound flat. They have neither depth nor dynamics.

The fact is that modern Trinidadian music has no soul.

Contrast the raw brilliance of this great period in time (from the early 1900s to roughly around 1970) for our music, for our ‘Kaiso’, with what we have now, a time when no one knows what the songs of Calypso for a carnival season. , only the ‘Soca Hits’.

Compare the healthy and competitive duel that used to take place between the Calipsonians with what happens now between ‘Soca Artistes’. In some Soca camps it is almost a war. There is so much hatred and backbiting within this great ‘Soca Fraternity’ when in reality, it is a Soca Mafia.

Meanwhile, Calypso bled to death.

Look at this year’s Calypso Monarch (2013) how low it was in attendance compared to the growing popularity of Soca Monarch competitions, which have everything from fireworks to flying Soca singers, it’s a cursed circus show.

After listening to the winner of this year’s Calypso Monarch, I came to the sad conclusion that Calypso is dead. There is no Calipsonian who can save our music. Older heads are getting old and dying, and younger heads are unable to sing without the help of Autotune. Younger Calipsonians have no idea of ​​lyrical content or melodic structure. Songwriting is terrible, if that’s a word to call this material: a song.

Well don’t even talk about Soca Artistes, they are not writing songs, they are selling loud hits marketing this year’s gimmick, whatever it is for the year.

If no one has realized the fact that Calypso is dead, then I ask you this.

– When was the last time you went to a Calypso show? A tent?

– What new Calipsonians do you like? Can they carry the torch to the next generation?

– Will Calypso hit the world stage? Will you ever do it?

– What did you think of the Calypsos this year? (Not Soca melodies)

– Are this year’s Calypso songs capable of standing up to all the timeless classics we all love?

– What Calypso records do you have?

I rest my case.

I cry for Calypso. But when I turn on my radio, all I hear is a bunch of Autotuned ‘Artistes’ singing about jumping, waving and doing some damn trick.

It’s like we’ve all become idiots and are amused and impressed by our own stupidity.

The really funny thing is that Calypso and Soca are going nowhere on the world stage.

But nevertheless, we keep fooling ourselves in this little bubble of ours.

I hope you cry for Calypso like I do.