IslandMix - Soca, Reggae, Zouk and Caribbean Entertainment - View Single Post

Shandy 2.0 · 03-02-2004, 10:32 AM

Originally posted by VINCY4LlFE
There is nothing wrong with reggae being part of CARNIVAL. You can still have the CARNIVAL feel inspite the presence of reggae. I am sure there were those who were in OPPOSITION to reggae being part of the Labor Day festivities on Eastern Parkway. We can now APPRECIATE the HUGE crowds that these reggae trucks bring to Parkway. The same thing goes for the Haitians. I am sure that it is good for business.

Since Trinidad is going to MARKET itself as a TOURISM destination, I am sure adding these elements to its carnival can only help. We're living in a GLOBAL economy, so we have to OPEN up our countries to other ELEMENTS that are not EXCLUSIVELY ours.

Just like how America was not receptive to INTERRACIAL marriage, surely we can move PAST this thinking that SOCA should only be EXCLUSIVE to carnival. I am in favor of adding other Caribbean cultures to carnival.

For West Indian celebrations in the States playing Reggae, Compas, Zouk in addition to Soca is a good thing I guess.

But this is TRINIDAD CARNIVAL, why should we have to compromise our indigenous (sp?) aspects of carnival to cater to foreigners? We had 49,000 visitors (not including Trini expats) the largest so far without having to compromise anything. Why should we start now. Trinidad is the home of Calypso, Soca and Steelpan. I'm sure Brazil don't play anything other than Samba and New Orleans have their Zydeco, do you see them adding Soca or Reggae to thier festivals? Don't get me wrong, I like all kinds of music but Carnival time is the only time you get to hear Soca in all it's glory after Ash Wednesday that's all but gone until Boxing Day.