9-time monarch Dice has no regrets about his 2019 songs

Dice performing in the 1st round

Nine times calypso monarch of Dominica, Dennison “Dice” Joseph says he was “comfortable” with the topics given to him to compete in the 2019 calypso competition.

Some critics were of the view that at least one of his songs this year contains inciteful or inflammatory  material.

His first song “Granmama” calls for citizens to take a stand and fight in light of a threat to Dominica’s democracy. “There is a time for everything under the sun – a time for civil disobedience,” Dice declares in the song.

The second song “Jumbee Money” addressed what he portrays as the widespread distribution of money for political reasons.

”…I rather be brokes and free, than have plenty money and owing the jumbee,” the popular calypsonian sings.

But in response to his critics, Dice contends that calypso is the only genre of music that speaks about matters of governance and that of the nation, so calypso is a channel for the people’s voice.

“It must have politicians and the people who will say if I put this guy in my shop and he not running it properly, then you take him out and put someone else because the shop belongs to you, the people,” he argued.

“The topics was nice; my material was on me early. People say that Pat (Aaron) gives me what he wants; no, I have my own mind and chooses. If the topic is good, I will stick to you; if not I will decide,” he remarked.

He says his participation in the competition this year was not particularly driven by the ambition of winning a ninth title.

“I went in that competition on a mission…delivering and executing properly and achieving something from it. Now that I have made it nine times, it feels nice,” he said.

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32 Comments

  1. Lin Clown
    March 7, 2019

    % the entire UWP idiots are being paid with JUMBEE money by the Labour party.U lazy blue bugs.

  2. Joseph John
    March 7, 2019

    I understand that government made a serious and very generous financial contribution to the carnival celebrations. Just like many sponsors. Was that money accepted by those who did not work for it. Was that a gift or a bribe or just plain JUMBEE Money. How much did King Dice get. Did he take it. Has he been accepting Jumbee Money For 10 years. Will it be “Jumbee Money Again”

  3. Man bites dogs
    March 7, 2019

    ” Jumbee money song” Was pure rubbish and 9-time monarch Dice said he has no regrets what a man what a plunker workers supporter. Winner of 9 times calypso King and cannot get a recording contract on the world stage? Dice you should sack your rubbish writers and move on to the next level in life as a singer or what ever.

    • More mad
      March 7, 2019

      You should shut ur mouth dice is the best and he have 9 crowns to back that up what do u have to back up ur name ur scunt mouth

    • viewsexpressed
      March 7, 2019

      Man, go bite your dogs and cuddle your openly corrupt Labour Government. Dice is open and transparent and you perform like this Blind Loyalist where you have nothing good that is decent of your corrupt failed leader Skerrit and this Corrupt Labour government, under his failed so called leadership. Jumbie Money that comes from a failed Prime (Odd) Minister is fake, politically illiterate and keep pampering us for allegiance to him. Well, that will not happen. We owe failed inept Skerrit no loyalty, respect and he lacks decorum. He`s just a pappyshow and no nothing of decent government and socio-economic development. Go walk and dress about Dominica and have a good look of the poverty and unemployment that Skerrit has brought u=onto us. Skerrit is a pappyshow.
      No one takes this clown, Man and his Dog seriously, because he has only one tune he sings, oppps, sorry, he barks all day and all night and not gain anything substantial and meaningful that we take this Man seriously. Skerrit Go.

  4. mine
    March 7, 2019

    Just a tittle without a name enjoy the jumbee money.

  5. Ibo France
    March 6, 2019

    The current government does not see citizens, especially the poor, as human beings to be given the requisite tools to empower themselves. The current regime sees people as votes to be bribed with handouts from the RED CLINIC, giving alcohol to the boys On The Block or handing out direct cash/jumbee money. This lifestyle is not sustainable. Create the opportunities for those who are eager to be gainfully employed. Let them earn by the sweat of their brows. Government financial resources should not be used as a Slush Fund.

  6. Shock
    March 6, 2019

    His deliverance and views completely differentiate from those of his counterparts. Critics, may suggest that it’s highly concentrated on politics, but his lyrical content reveals otherwise. The ongoing issues with governance, the economical state of the country and the financial positioning, are all touched on, by dice. cudos on your 9th victory

  7. KIND ON THE BLOCK
    March 6, 2019

    I rather stay hungry and stave than I eat JUMBEE BREAD!
    To me anything JUMBEE money is involve in( use to buy or purchase ; e.g , flour to make bread etc) is part of the JUMBEE circle . Fire gonna burn them that use JUMBEE money to do such.

  8. Dan Tanner
    March 6, 2019

    I’ve always liked “Steel Underwear”. Dice tells it as it is.

  9. Rat Race
    March 6, 2019

    Firm and Strong… you should never have regrets for speaking the truth. Nuff Respect!!!

  10. Ti Garcon
    March 6, 2019

    Is there a regional Calypso competition? I’m surprised if there isn’t, because its a regional pastime, how are we supposed to have regional integration and unity if the little things that we share in common we keep segregated. If there was I’m sure with Dice’s performance this year he would have that won hands down.

    That said Dice was miles ahead of the rest, which begs the question, in the past generation has the overall quality of our calypso declined? I’m not dissing Dice, just asking the question on the quality of his opponents.

  11. Dee
    March 6, 2019

    This is what calypso is all about….the satire, social commentary, humor and the message can be hidden in all of these forms of expression….Good job Dice and others. Keep our culture alive.

  12. ??
    March 6, 2019

    Ok, Dice has been singing for the past 10 years trying to topple the government. When is he going to elevate himself as an artist? What a shame…. When is his writer going to write him something to make waves outside of Dominica?

    • %
      March 6, 2019

      Are you accusing Dice of attempting treason? I did not see any stalled truck with speakers, so Skerrit won’t believe you anyway!!!!!???Select your words properly, and let the man enjoy his triumph! Do you want to change what calypso is all about? The man sang songs relevant to the existing situation in Dominica now ..Do you live in Dominica or on planet Pluto???? Stuppessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

    • Confused
      March 6, 2019

      I’m lost. Hasn’t he won 9 crowns in your 10 years?

    • Dominican2019
      March 6, 2019

      Have yo seen other pro-Government Calypsonians turn to international stars? Name one.

    • Too late
      March 6, 2019

      Calypso is not soca and these are the days was a song that could be sang anywhere. What about a song he has about west Indies . Whar is the ministry of culture doing to assist?

    • Sarah boy
      March 6, 2019

      Same Melody annually. Same kind of lyrics. Dice you are brilliant. Write your own songs. Your writer has an agenda and using you to bring it across.

      • Ibo France
        March 7, 2019

        Another one of Skerrit’s supporter crawling out of the woodwork forlorn and disgruntled. Not a thing wrong with collaboration between a writer and a performer. More power to Dice

    • Latifa
      March 7, 2019

      You must be a skerrit-ite

    • Rizebone
      March 7, 2019

      What nonesence is this. He’s already great elevated artist

    • viewsexpressed
      March 7, 2019

      ??, go ask your failed, incompetent, Silly, worthless Pm, when is he gonna get out of our state`s PM office and go repent for his failure after 18years failure in government. Shame on Skerrit , Shame on his blind, nonsense talking loyalists who support this failed PM irresponsible of the obvious failure as Odd Minister.

      Skerrit must Go….Get lost…….Get going……We want our Domininca back. Skerrit must Go, Get out, Get Lost, Go away.

  13. As I See It
    March 6, 2019

    Nine out of 10 Calypso finalists were saying the same thing and 90% of them cannot be wrong! Dice has always sang the Truth whether he found favor with the judges or not. But there was something special about his two hit songs this year. His two songs are about lessons we should have learnt in the past but were hardheaded. His songs were about not trading conscience and hard work for Jumbee money, that is being spread on every street in Dominica. My parents, who taught me to work and warned me against accepting what they referred to as Lagen Diab or “Jumbee Money”, would be proud to hear Dice sing about he prefers to be poor than to owe the Jumbee money. Unfortunately they are both deceased today. I know the Calypso association crowned Dice already for winning the Calypso final but as a people, I believe we should come together to honor Dice in a special way for these two songs. Our people need to know is by the sweat of our brow God says we should eat bread and not with Jumbee money

  14. Ibo France
    March 6, 2019

    Calypso always brings controversy with it. Calypso is social and political commentary. The political party that gets hit will take umbrage and their supporters will cry foul. Dice’s two songs have currency and were delivered expertly well. If Dice was not crowned, there would have had to be a National Enquiry. The dog that gets hit usually hollers. EXCEPTIONAL JOB, DICE!

  15. Looking
    March 6, 2019

    Definition of Jumbie Money: Those who have Jobs because of sexual favors (there are honest men and women who have attained with the expectation of being rewarded). Those who have gotten duty free concessions because of who knew them or who they spoke to (Is either All or none, no in between). Those who have received small business grants without even a sign of a business (cheating honest hardworking business owners). Those retirees who should be home taking care of their wives and husbands but are back on contract having received a gratuity and pension (depriving honest hardworking people of a promotion). Those who have received building materials, received agriculture assistance, their children having received monies for housing damage when they never owned a house (while their neighbours are under tapaulin). Those being paid to take care of their parents (a duty that each and everyone should do). Those given jobs because their “parl rep sent them”. The list is way too long…..

  16. The TRUTH Offends
    March 6, 2019

    I believe Dice was inspired to come up with these two great hits. His first song about “Granmama” literally caused tears to flow from my eyes because I was there when Charles Savarin shut down the country for 48 days, to get rid of Patrick John. I participated in the strike. I was there when the blood of Timothy was shed on the streets of Roseau, for our Freedom. I was there when Patrick was sentenced to life in prison. It was a sad moment in our history that every parent must have told their children to avoid so that we don’t have to repeat that their grandchildren wouldn’t have to deal with that again. Forty years later, at a time when Charles Savarin is now President, Da is faced with a far worse dictator than PJ, who by the way incited violence in Wesley. His 2nd song about Jumbee Money” is very real and sadly, it’s Dice and not the church, telling us is best we die poor than take Jumbee money. Jumbee money running DA today and that’s why so much pain & sorrow Pro. 10:22…

  17. I Still Red
    March 6, 2019

    I have never been a fan of Dice but I must admit that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the lyrics of any of his songs. In fact on the contrary, I have always been a fan of The Hunter but this year he was very disappointing. Hunter is a law officer and we all know there is a court case against Mr. Linton and Dr. Fontaine, concerning an attempted coup on the PM and, for setting the city on fire. Tax payers have paid attorneys from Trinidad lots of money to come and represent Skerrit and the police in this matter. I find it was very damn malicious of Hunter, to use his law officer title to come up with his song, where he made it clear that is UWP did that and Jack, sometimes Zach, whom I understand to mean Isaac or JI, told him so. The association should in my view ban Hunter for at least 5 yrs and should charge him. Dice sang what at least 90% of Dominicans are saying about “Jumbee Money” and another dictator far worse than PJ, that Charles Savarin asked us to putout.

  18. LaPlaine Observer
    March 6, 2019

    Political commentary has always been a part of calypso all around the Caribbean and Dominica should be no exception. People are complaining because simply because of partisan politics.

    • Joseph John
      March 6, 2019

      I do not see the big deal. Its just calypso. The political slant could be used to stigmatize all politicians and all political parties. Some people may be thinking “change the opposition”. Well its all about mass.
      My complain is that we had 60 calypsonians about 100 calypsos this year and a brilliant commentary carried on Q, But and a big BUT…… how many were played on the media …..how many were played on the road. Furthermore I hear very little of our local songs on the radio, calypso or otherwise. I hear more foreign , even oldy goldy country and western. I guess we will replace Texas in wearing cowboy outfits and riding horses as part of our way of life . Maybe country will be our road march.
      Are we being conditioned by our media to favour foreign over local ?

  19. viewsexpressed
    March 6, 2019

    Dice well spoken, well sung, well tough off.. I admire you responses to the many who think otherwise that does not abide with you . It is what is referred to as “Thought denied”. Meaning to label someone where it does not fit.
    Dice, you sang well. The lyrics of your song was inspirational, thoughtful, delivery exceptional. We recognise our talents in you, other calypsonians and really to highly recognise Pat Aaron as this exceptional song writer. This is really social commentary in action, meaning that Pat Aaron observes fully and meaningfully what the status quo is in Dominica and the dirty, poor, failed performance of a government who has reduced we the people to that as paupers and beggars. Dice Again, will be back next year to update us on Skerrit’s failure and Bin Bobol etc in government and how blind his incompetent 18 ministers are. Guess maybe out for the money. These are blind loyalists of a failed Skerrit who has killed the economy of our island and reduce to us to…

  20. jamie
    March 6, 2019

    Dice,keep on singing,you sing the truth and the critics are just afraid,our people are not violent,but they will try to brainwash the less fortunate,Dominicans need to stand up to this regime and think about the future of our kids,the critics are a bunch of cowards that are willing to do anything to remain in power,but jah is on our side and will free his people in due time,i heard the 2 from dbs radio,i guess you have shut them down with your 9th crown.WHO JAH BLESS NO ONE CURSE.

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