JOHN BOULAY – CHARLOTVILLE OR MARTIN’S BAY?

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This folk song, John Boulay, is one of the more popular folk songs in Barbados.

I learnt it not from my parents or grandparents, but at primary school from my music teacher, Mr Messiah, and the Bible of folk songs from Barbados, The Folk Songs of Barbados by Marshall, McGeary and Thompson.

However, when I searched for a version of the song I did with the female group, The Tenantry. I came across this. John Boulay, sung by Errol James with the Marionette Chorale. Here it is below:

In the description, it is called a Tobago folk song.

I am really not surprised by this, as songs, even in those days without modern mass media, travelled easily. The journey was made even easier, no doubt by the closeness of Barbados and Tobago. What is interesting, though, is that John Boulay, who is from Martin’s Bay in Barbados, is now from Charlotteville. However, his poor character remains the same.

Shame on you, John!

In short, this song shows me how terribly under-researched English-speaking Caribbean folk songs are, and that the Caribbean as an idea extends beyond small national borders, even if it takes the scoundrel John Boulay to show us.

Bajan musical stories in November – Ragga Ragga

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“Ragga Ragga” is a song written by Red Plastic Bag and released in 1993. Featuring Mac Fingall and produced by Nicholas Brancker, this parody of dancehall turned into a massive hit and changed Red Plastic Bag’s life. 💥 It also went on to have a whole life of its own in Colombia and Central America. 🌎🔥

Here is a performance from 1994, Congaline.

En Español

✨ Mes de noviembre – educación musical bajana 🎶🇧🇧

“Ragga Ragga” es una canción escrita por Red Plastic Bag y lanzada en 1993. Con la participación de Mac Fingall y producida por Nicholas Brancker, esta parodia del dancehall se convirtió en un gran éxito y cambió la vida de Red Plastic Bag. 💥 También tuvo una vida propia en Colombia y Centroamérica. 🌎🔥

Aquí hay un concierto de 1994 de Congaline.

Carifesta XV – The final days

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It is not often that Barbados gets to speak to the British Virgin Islands Islands on a cultural level.

Here are some photos from a Jazz workshop at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, where the two territories had that dialogue.

They were joined by other dancers from the region.

This is what Carifesta XV Is about.

Carifesta XV

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Carifesta is in Barbados, returning after 8 years.

As I continue to explore another aspect of art as part of the media team, here are some of my photos from this year’s parade.

If you are in Barbados, COME OUT!

There is a lot going on!

Happy New Year

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Today has been a busy year one where I promised more blogging but instead was between the Handel’s Caribbean Messiah and the BFA and BA programs.

Well for those that pass through here, I want to wish you a happy new year from my Cuban as well as Barbadian Handel’s Caribbean Messiah teams.

Happy New Year everyone.

Crop Over Steel Classics – Happy 50th Anniversary

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It is important to continually work with older content; that’s how you build wealth. In that regard, I want to announce my latest offering based on indigenous music, Crop Over Steel Classics, the first release from my new label, 1844 Productions.

https://1844prodcuctions.bandcamp.com/album/crop-over-steel-classics

This album has some of the biggest Crop Over songs of the last 50 years rearranged for steel pan. I have also included a .pdf with the score for all the arrangements.

I want to thank Erica and Gail from COSCAP for helping me with this venture, as they, too, realise the importance of always working with what you have.

Enjoy!

Crop Over – The Periods – Period II – The Blue Ice Years – 1983-1990

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Welcome back to my series of Crop Over musical periods. The last period, Ancient Crop Over Music, looked at the music that was part of the festival after its re-introduction in 1974. This next stage is one of the most important ones in the Barbadian music period, and for many, it is seen as the Golden Age.

The Blue Ice Years

The Blue Ice Years is the period where Eddy Grant, from his Blue Wave Studio in St. Philip and Ice Records, his label, dominated Crop Over. He was responsible for the songs that bossed the Tune of the Crop, which are the songs most frequently played at Kadooment, which is the final day of Crop Over.

Boots – The Mighty Gabby

This 1983 release from the Mighty Gabby was massive, not only in Barbados for Crop Over but throughout the region. In fact, it did the unthinkable for a Barbadian release then and became very popular in Trinidad. Boots is also typical of the Grant production approach of that time, with back-beat drums, minimal use of horns, and comparatively sparse bass lines. This song did not win the Tune of the Crop for that year, but it remains one of the classic Crop Over songs of all time. 

Sousy – Director


Produced by Eddy Grant and arranged by trumpeter Ricky Brathwaite, this song was one very popular in 1985. The rhythms were more typical of other soca offerings in the Caribbean at the time, and it didn’t have the Grant production stamp of the period, however, the durability (it was remade this year by Barry Chandler) and the impact of this work can not be denied.

Mr. T, Stinging Bees, More Grynner- Grynner

When it comes to popular works from the Blue-Ice Period, Grynner’s songs are definitely the ones to be noted. Grynner was the undisputed Tune of the Crop artist of the 80s, and these three songs won from 1983 to 1985. All of them bore the Eddy Grant style, with the back-beat rhythms from American music and/or the bass and harmonic minimalism.

Summary

For me, the Blue-Ice Period is the most nostalgic era of Crop Over for older Barbadians. It was not only defined by these iconic sounds and songs, but also marked a significant shift in the festival’s status. This was a time when the tent system was thriving, and Crop Over transitioned from the fringes to being a truly national festival.