In the previous issue I mentioned that Soca lovers are expecting real time information about Trinidad Carnival every time they open the Montreal Community Contact newspaper, that’s why I make sure that the Island Scoop article becomes the one-stop shop for Soca news during Trinidad and every other Carnival around the world.
That being said, we are in the month of February, known as Black History Month, which provides an opportunity to share and learn about the experiences, contributions and achievements of people of African ancestry.
It was initiated in Canada by the Ontario Black History Society, which was founded in 1978. But whenever history is in the making, it provokes special feelings.
That’s the way I’m feeling as witnessing the accomplishments of Soca artists Showtime, Bunji Garlin and Machel Montano for this the 2017 Carnival season.
In my last issue I mentioned Michael S’obrien (Showtime) is entering the 2017 Chutney Soca Monarch competitions. The artist real name is Michael Ramroop (who also uses the moniker Michael S’obrien on Facebook) was born in Montreal, Quebec.
He was been in the music business for over 15 years, performing with his dad and brothers before forming his band, TnT Express, about 10 years ago. Following which he joined Dil E Nadan, a very popular party band in Trinidad and Tobago, which was formed by his cousins.
He released his first hit “Heavy Drinkah” in 2015.
This year Michael entered the Chutney Soca Monarch competition with his hit “Mr. Popular”, beating the odds and making history by becoming the first Canadian to be among the 10 finalists on February 11th at Skinner Park in south Trinidad.
Again, I would like to thank and congratulate Showtime for making Montreal proud and wish him good luck in the finals.
More historic moments for this carnival season happened when the biggest rivalry in soca music came to an end as the two biggest stars Machel Montano and Bunji Garlin came together to release a tune that could very well dominate the 2017 Carnival airwaves and rule the Soca scene for years. Bunji and Machel have their different styles and appeal to Soca lovers near and far in very different ways. They never collaborated musically.
For years, people always talked about and wanted them to get together, but the possibility of it coming to pass always seemed slim, maybe because of what’s long been perceived as an unspoken rivalry.
In a time when the country is faced with the highest murder rate in history, this form of unity was needed.
Machel and Bunji coming together to sing an anti-crime single titled “BUSS HEAD” more than meet the expectations of all.
Island Facts:
– Feb 7th, 1986, Haitian President-for-life Jean-Claude Duvalier flees to France; Henri Namphy becomes leader of Haiti.
– Feb. 10th, 1989, Tony Robinson of Jamaica becomes Nottingham’s first Black sheriff.
Productionsounds@gmail.com or Instagram:@Productionjr
Production Sounds Chart
1 Full Extreme – Ultimate Rejects
2 Single – Orlando Octave
3 I Don’t Mind Uncle Ellis
4 Calypso – GBM Nutron
5 Far From Finished – Voice
6 Fast Wine – Machel Montano
7 Watch Thing – Skinny Fabulous
8 Incredible – Kes
9 Mr. Popular – Showtime
10 Ray Tay Tay – Mya/Uncle Ellis
