SOCA
- What is Soca?
Although it is believed that soca was derived from a blend of American soul and local calypso, this is not so. This form of music is merely a form of calypso with an up-tempo beat.
Soca was as a fusion of calypso with Indian rhythms. In this way, the two major ethnic groups in the country experienced a combination of musical traditions.
Soca can be said to have its beginnings in Lengua. Its creator, Garfield Blackman, began singing calypso at an early age. Later, on one of his albums, he used Indian rhythm instruments with traditional calypso music, thus making what we know today as soca.
- The Evolution of Soca
Initially called solka, to represent, the soul of calypso, it was changed in time to soca by a music journalist.
Soca has continued to evolve due to increasing popularity. It eventually branched off into different categories of soca, such as, ragga soca and chutney soca.
CALYPSO
- Origin of Calypso
Calypso is possibly derived form a similar form of West African musical style called kaiso. (Kaiso is still used today as a synonym for calypso) Calypso was popularized after the abolition of slavery and the growth of Carnival in the 1830s. During the 1970s, calypso's popularity waned throughout the world, including the Caribbean. Derivatives include an uptempo version mixed with musical styles from the large Indian minority in Trinidad and Tobago and American soul, called soca, and a hip hop and dub-influenced style called rapso both became popular in Trinidad. Indo-Trinidadians began popularising chutney musicduring the same time period. In the mid-1970s, artists like Sundar Popo made the music mainstream. Soca is said to have been invented in 1963 by Lord Shorty's "Clock and Dagger". He added Indian instruments, including the dholak, tabla and dhantal and soon rivaled reggae as the most popular form of Caribbean music. Soca reached its modern form by the early 1970s under the influence of American soul, disco and funk music. Rapso has become the more influential of these two main descendants of calypso; it arose as Black Power and Pan-Africanist thought spread in Trinidad. Extempo, or extempo calypso, or calypso war, is a lyrically improvised form of calypso. At the same time, chutney became a massive force in Trinidadian music, arising from the island's Indian population. It has now become known across the islands and elsewhere in the Caribbean, and has spawned its own subgenres, including ragga chutney, chutney-hip hop, soca-bhangra, bhangra-wine and chutney-bhangra. Latin American-derived seasonal Christmas music called parang traditionally involves serenaders moving throughout homes or districts playing staple instruments, such as the cuatro (a four-stringed guitar), the maracas (indigenously known as chac-chacs), and the guitar. Chutney-soca and chut-kai-pang (chutney, parang and calypso, mixed with Venezuelan-derived rhythms) have also achieved some popularity.
taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Trinidad_and_Tobago
- The Golden Age of Calypso
1914- The first calypso recording to be made
1920’s- The first calypso tents. The tents were at first where the calypsonians would practice in preparation for carnival.
Calypsos usually involves social commentary, and a satire on current events. Although this type of music is considered the voice of social conscience, there are calypsos that lack the social consciousness.
- Calypsonians
Since calypso has had an effect on the island country, it is only natural to say that the country’s calypsonians did the same.
Some prominent calypsonians included The Growing Tiger, Lord Executor and Lord Pretender. Lord Kitchener was one of the more memorable calypsonians until late 1970’s. Even then he continued to make hits until his death in 2001. The title of calypsonian was not exclusive to the male population as Calypso Rose proved, with the title of Queen of Calypso in the 1960’s. Rose’s songs were themed from political commentaries to party songs. Because of her performance, Calypso Rose has managed to excel in a predominantly male genre.