But for a few exceptions, calypsonians and songwriters have largely succumbed to the government’s infusion of money and politics hence influence on the competition – by softening their rhetoric, when penning controversial songs pertaining to social and political issues. Instilment of the fear of litigation and or victimization have also seemingly been effective tools in curtailing writers’ skills, talents and pointed criticisms of our leaders and government officials. Such imposed interventions have also significantly impeded unrestrained creative satire, thus infringing on the entertainers’ Democratic Rights to freedom of expression. As a consequence, some writers have become overcautious to the extent of even unnecessarily over masking their lyrics, thus risking the possibility of early elimination due to message misinterpretation.
Manifestations of the government’s negative impact on the art are quite notable – especially as they relate to calypsonians who have compromised their independence, dignity and freedom of speech, for a mere handful of dollars. This is discernibly evident in the softening of the direction and tone of their message. Rather than embarking upon topics more meaningful to the plight of the people, in exchange for endowments, these opportunists have clearly digressed from criticism of our leaders, to instead, advancing their agendas. In effect, they have selfishly and ruthlessly thrown their fellow calypsonians under the bus – with little or no regard for their feelings or careers.
Some of the more astute and defiant songwriters, however, recognize the fact that there is nothing to fear but fear itself where defamation of character is concerned. And, as a consequence, they continue to call out the government on pressing issues affecting society. Others either capitulate to the mere thought of the word lawsuit, fear of victimization or to preserve their good standing in the eyes of their master. Government has therefore benefited handsomely from such vulnerabilities by remaining unexposed and clear of criticism or caricature. These less sophisticated calypsonians need to be educated by our legal minds as to what constitutes defamation, in order to alleviate the anxiety of how much latitude is allowed when writing. In fact, calypsonians should be urged to write unimpeded – provided that there is credence in what they are stating about an individual. The caliber of calypso competition we once knew will be realized only when writers are revered and allowed to write free of impediments such as political intervention and or constant threats of litigation.
The resulting effects of the negative impact our leaders have had on the calypso competition are such that entertainers who endeavor to speak out against injustices are forced to over mask their lyrics. Unfortunately, by doing so, masterfully penned songs find themselves facing elimination very early in the competition. When writers become over prudent and resort to profound themes, they risk the chances of message misinterpretation by judges who seem to only have the capacity to analyze superficially written calypsos. In the absence of judges adequately proficient in interpreting cleverly crafted lyrics, our talented and creative writers are in jeopardy of seeing their careers suppressed or eventually extinguished due to early ejection. If we therefore sit by idly and allow our government’s intrusion on calypsonians’ democratic rights to perpetuate, calypso will only continue on its downward trajectory. And, before we realize it, this tradition of rich cultural art and entertainment will only be a thing of the past.
That, fellow Dominicans, would be a tragedy indeed.
Opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Dominica News Online or its advertisers.
All the calypso critics out there that think they know what is best for Dominica calypso….. please put pen to paper and help out the art form….. stay true to calypso and write about the good and the bad….. any writer that cannot show diversity, really have an axe to grind….. like it or hate it…. I will say…. Labor party in power is the best thing for Pat.. the day Labor get out of power and one day they will… Pat will stop writing calypso…but all I have to say is … calypso was here before you guys and will be there way after we all are gone.
Poor slave take the pressure of your mind. So you really believe the nonsense written and orchestrated by Pat and Dice is making Calypso viable in Dominica? Then Nou fini bat – in the Calypso arena. When these guys learn the Rudiments of writing Calypso ( political) there and then we can continue. Joo- joo , its about the cart form; I could care less about what they sing.
You cannot be serious. The level of Pat Aaron’s writing is so far above the others! How many Dominican calypso a have made it into the outside world. When Shakey sang David Blow in Barbados, they laughed at him. And he was our King. ,dice has many songs that can make it overseas if he had the support. Someone Ned’s to give him a push.
What a classic commentary on self delusion. We must say thanks to DNO contributing to freedom of press in Dominica allowing people say whatever it is they want to believe.
Not what he deem to be correct, all what u are hearing on the talk show every day is nothing but the gospel truth, D/ca is not in the real world, go ask Vince Henderson, ask Lantern Emmanuel, go ask Skerrit and ask them for heaven sake speak the truth to Us and nothing but the truth then U will shut up ur awful mouth if they do but look out they will one day
Maybe calypsonians need to sing about real estate dealings and books. Maybe they should sing about fellas who are crooks. Son you really need to take a chill peel.
What is a peel? Are you referring to an orange peel or a mango peel?
If what you write or present is the truth, what is there to fear. If you are faced with a Lawsuit for the truth how far is that case going to reach? Why would you want to mask anything that is the truth? In striving for a better society we should get rid of all manner of evil and that includes removing evil from calypso. I do not believe that Calypso has given a good impression of what kind of people we would like the rest of the world to believe we are. Our appetite for evil is much too great and unfortunately we cannot mask it.
So what you doing in the US, who is stopping you from being part of the competition and singing what you want to say on DNO?
Who Is Mr. Nuh? Pardner If You Know What Good For You… JUST SHUT UP!!! OLD FOOL!!!
So what you mean JJ, what you mean? For calypso to be on its upward trajectory the WRITERS and CALYPSOIANS focus should be on the Government?
Let’s take DICE and PAT for example. Their main focus have been on the Government for years; How far other than Dominica has Dice made it being 7 times Calypso King in Dominica? After carnival Pat and DICE is dead.
The Facts, Face The Facts, Kid On Block: All he is saying is that most of the topics should be songs exposing the government’s corruption. and the lack of government ability to influence progress in the country by creating jobs!
The beginning of any dictatorship is the muzzling of freedom of speech, and that includes freedom of speech via the expression of one’s self in a song, or poetry!
The next thing the government will do is curtail freedom of assembly, then comes the shutting down of all religious institutions; so freedom of worshiping God, in the open will be disallowed. The next thing will be a decree prohibiting a man and his wife from not having more than one or two children as in China.
The final decree will be if anybody, man woman or child speak the name of Skerrit for any reason in public or in their home the police will have the power to simply go even into their homes, and chop their heads off, and hang them in public for all to see as a warning, like in…
What utter rubbish! Padna get a life!
In a one-party dictatorship one must never criticise the leadear. That is considered blasphemous and tantamount to social and economic suicide. In the old soviet union they would have critics certified by two physicians and sent to a labour camp in Siberia. We are not there yet but making steady progress.
why is calypso the only art form on the forefront during carnival? its like if your take away calypso there is not much to do here during the carnival season. Not a calypso lover and as a visitor i feel lost with nowhere to go in the evenings. most of the bars are not inviting apart from 2, one which closes at 10 or 11. what else is there for me to do here during the season at night?
Padna don’t blame calypso for that.
Whether you had visited April, May or June it would be the same thing. Stop trying to pretend as if you don’t know our Business Sector died a quick and untimely death under this present administration.
Nobody is forcing you to love Calypso, but don’t drag it down for people like me who love Calypso.
If you came down to Dominica expecting to be entertained by your friends and family, why not put a few dollars back into Dominica’s economy and have a get-together at a hotel or a restaurant at night?? At your own cost??? I am sure the proprietors would welcome you and your crew with open arms.
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country” ~ John F. Kennedy.
Before you all say that WE NEED TO PAY FOR WHAT WE SAY listen to this. The government took away our jobs, they took away our businesses, they took away our livelihoods, and they worked overtime to murder all our profitable industries, and now we have this? Our freedom is now in jeopardy? Does this Labor regime think they are God? The one true eternal king? Blasphemers!!! It was the almighty who first established democracy and gave it to man right there in the Garden of Eden. (REMEMBER FREEDOM OF CHOICE). What has become of that? God was the one who created us but he doesn’t prevent us from talking against him. He doesn’t strike us with a bolt of lightning if we choose to be atheists. This government wants to take full advantage of the law and impose it on all who seek to undermine them. Freedom of speech is now an afterthought. In Dominica it’s either you be RED or be dead. Tragic!!!
Wow, religious beliefs and political beliefs, what a deadly cocktail. Why do you confuse your disenchantment and perception of The Government as being true, stop putting yourself in a cage with that deadly cocktail of beliefs.
As if killing all our local businesses wasn’t enough, these guys that have us sitting under their red umbrella want to put a dagger in one off one of the few forms of entertainment (calypso) we have left on the island too? This is nothing more than a desperate attempt to shup up those who seek to expose their dirty deeds and reveal their hidden truths through melody. Democracy is now just a name in our land and autocracy now reigns supreme. Dictatorship is slowly settling in. Soon you will get arrested for speaking your mind. Everything you and I say would have to be factual and not opinionated. So is that what we want 50 years of? Skeritt and his cabals do as they please and no one says anything? I’m sure you guys remember recently a certain Caribbean island proposed that a mandate be put in place for a P.M. to serve no more than two terms in office. But no, not the Labor regime. As far as they’re concerned their venom is what’s best for Dominica.
Stop writing rubbish. Are you saying that all calypsoes should be critical of government and that all songwriters should be of the same mindset? Would you be writing this same rubbish if the party you support was in power. You claim the right to express your opinion but at the same time you are saying that calypso songwriters should restrict their writings to what you deem to be correct.