Lady Spice is at the top again. So, can she repeat her winning ways as she did in 2000 or can Spice be the nurse the wounds of calypso needs at a time when the art-form is in dire need of a booster shot?
Spice is back from the alter call of religion, to become one of the saving graces of the dismal season. Although those directly involved might tell you otherwise. And the fact that the cultural centre has not seen a packed night, as it once did, well, some might blame it on the economy. But truth be told, there are many fans that we have spoken to, who tell us that they are simply not happy with the crop of songs being produced this year.
Upon close examination we had to agree that there are very few songs which jump out at you, grab your attention and make you want to press repeat on your CD player or call the radio stations and request them. And the lyrical content of many of the songs too, shows a lack in creativity, particularly where there are attempts at political commentary.
In most cases, the so-called political songs are direct unimaginative attacks, which lack satire, wit, innuendo and double entendre’, some elements of a great calypso.
The Mighty Pelay, during an interview with me on RSL’s All Tings Carnival says that this year the writers, including him, were suffering from a “writer’s cramp.” Still, we must admit that the songs the fans are raving over and calling for encore after encore are those same political songs including Lady Spice’s “Don’t Blame Me,” Pep “Not Bending,” and Morgie’s “Tchou” song, although save for Spice, the fervor over any of those songs have remained in the tent or maybe right outside the national cultural centre after each event. But the writer’s and performers should ask, are these songs a true reflection of the strength of the season or the strength of the political tide against the ruling party, which many of the songs speak out against?

It used to be that carnival seasons gone by, Calypso was the talk of the town and every radio station had a talk-show to discuss the music, every fan became an expert critic and some “media experts” even invented themselves, as they raised their heads to comment on the art-form, if only to glean some self attention, from its popularity at this time of year. But so far this year, Calypso, the controversies, the media interests, has been dreary and uneventful. Save of course for the Spice hullabaloo. I even jokingly suggested to one tent leader, that instead of damning Mary Polius for banning Lady Spice’s “Don’t Blame Me” on RSL, they should be giving her a commendation for breathing some life into what has been a near death experience for Calypso this year. But seriously, if this art-form is to survive, it is time for the interested parties to remove their heads from the sand and take a critical look at Calypso, where it is going, its marketability, promotion and even its purpose. One area that several media persons would tell you, which needs to be revisited is the whole question of the tent recordings, which lately the tents have been doing themselves and is not always made available to the media in a timely fashion. So to the contemplation by some in the calypso fraternity to have state owned RSL banned from Calypso events, is ludicrous to say the least. After all, calypso is in need of the media right now and until Tricky and company can fund their own calypso finals, this state-sponsored event I daresay will remain open to every single media house in Saint Lucia.
That having been said, on Saturday June 27, the last quarter final round of calypso competition was held by the Ambassadors Calypso tent. Ahead of them, the South Calypso tent held their quarter finals on Friday June 19, and was followed by Spectrum on Wednesday June 24 and TOT on Friday June 26. Most of the tents had modest followings to these shows, although TOT and Ambassadors attracted the lion’s share. But where there may have been shortfalls in content, all of the tents made up with professionally organized shows.
Yesterday the names of the semi finalists were released and heading the class is Lady Spice followed by Walleigh and Pep. Incidentally when Spice won the crown in 2000, Walleigh came in second. It must also be noted as well, that the top three all have political songs; Spice with “Doh Blame Me,” Pep with “Get Off” and Walleigh with “Land of Absurdity” one of the more creative songs of the season.

The Ambassadors Calypso tent leads the way with seven semi finalists; Mighty Pep, Bingo, Morgie, Robbie, Ginger, Mr Brown and Educator. From Spectrum; Blaze and Mighty Taker, from TOT;  Lady Spice, Walleigh, Ashanti and De Achiever and from South Calypso Tent Menelle, Nintus, Animator, Duval and Dycer Fontelio.
The semi finals, normally held in Castries as an afternoon event will be held on Friday July 10th at the Phoenix in Vieux Fort a change which has raised some concerns. A number of die-hard calypso fans speaking to this reporter after one of the tents, say that to have the event on a Friday is not the best solution.
“To have to drive all the way to Vieux Fort on a Friday night to hear eighteen calypsonians sing two songs each, that’s thirty six songs, that will be a long show, so I really do not think I will be going although I love Calypso,” one fan says. Another had no problem with the decentralization of the semi finals, but felt the event would have been better suited on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
It is sort of ironic that the South Calypso Tent which was formed to represent artistes in the south of the island, had to move their shows from the south to Castries, because of lack of support from the south. So it would be viewed as a risk which the CDF is taking in hosting this show in Vieux Fort at a time when the Calypsos are not the best and the Friday may not have been the most suitable day.
With just over a week before the calypso semi finals and with not much of a calypso fever in the air, one could simply borrow a line from the 2008 Calypso monarch Herb Black and ask the calypsonians “wha you bringing,” as we wait for the Calypso hurrah of 2009!