To Bey or not to Bey?

Ok, ok, that isn't really the question because there is no way in hell that TSTT, Brian Lara and Dwight Yorke are going to give up the big money bound to come in from the Beyonce concert scheduled for two days after Trini Carnival.

Especially not with the US$200 VVIP tickets sold out on the first day.

But with all the bacchanal swirling around the concert in Trinidad, what with concert promoters bawling out that it is going to hurt their business and people querying how the state-owned TSTT could be funding the concert over Carnival, we want to know what islandistas think.

On the one hand, we can definitely see the perspective of the promoters, because the Beyonce concert is going to suck out money that would have been going their way. Lawd knows Carnival is expensive as it is so people are going to have to pick between a fete (or two) and the Beyonce show.

On the other hand, we can also see this being a plus for Trinidad Carnival on the whole by bumping up the number of islandistas (and islandistos) that may decide to fly in for the festivities, since they can take in the concert same time.

And with Machel and Destra being out of Carnival this year and Alternative Concept squashed, this might be the crowd-puller that Carnival needs in these recessionary times...

What says you, islandistas?

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To Bey or not to Bey?

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Kadooment band launches- Contact is here!

The music has been out for a while and now Crop-Over is finally getting into full swing with launches of some more bands, including some of Barbados' largest and most popular bands.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="206" caption="Amber - photo credit: contact.bb"][/caption]

Contact launched on Friday with a wicked, wicked launch party and the pics of their 2009 presentation 'Firestones' are already up. Check out some more of our faves from the band when you read on...



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="216" caption="Black Diamond- photo credit: contact.bb"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="206" caption="Pink Diamond- photo credit: contact.bb"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="218" caption="Pearl- photo credit: contact.bb"][/caption]

Can we say...  it is presssssuurrrre dey bringing for some of the established bougie folks' bands like Baje and Power X Four! Loving the black diamond section - you don't see too many black costumes in Barbados for some reason and they have done it beautifully. The Amber has a lavishly feathered headpiece and if you read islandista, you know our feather fetish already so that gone clear!


We are somewhat conflicted on the pearl section so we put it up to see what the islandista family think. My question is why brown to depict pearls? Especially when brown tends to look so blah on black people? I just never find that brown pops against our skin. If they were going for pearl, why not go for a full white costume? Not white and silver or white and gold as many do but white on white. It would be blinding on the road in the sun!

Anyhow, while in the past Contact had a reputation as more a middle-aged folks band, in the last 3 years they have been making a serious pitch for the young, bougie market that Px4 and Baje had on lock. They have had mixed results.

They drew a lot of young people last year with both their sexier designs and by pitching that they had not just the usual Krosfyah (who has been with Contact for ages) on the road but Machel Montano who was the real winner of last year's Crop-Over.

Unfortunately for some of those who were swayed by the promise of Machel on the road, it turned out to be just that - he was on the road and wining rather than on the truck singing. Worse, he  skipped out and ended up spending as much time liming and wining over in Baje as he did in Contact. Big rock fuh those who jumped Contact just for Machel.

Moreover, the vibe was still persistently middle-aged and tame, according to some  who jumped the Px4 and Baje ships to jump with them.

But it remains to be seen. A year is a long time in playing mas and Contact is floating rumours once again. The big one this year is that they are going to have Fay-Ann Lyons and Bunji Garlin as well as Krosfyah and Machel Montano on the road. The thought of that combination got a looot of people head just hurting them - is a real dilemma! Every other person we ask is wavering just because of that - all you hearing is "BUT... I hear they gine got Fay-Ann, Bunji, Krosfyah AND Machel on the road!"

But that is the question - will Fay-Ann and Bunji be on the road wining or will they be on the truck on the road singing?

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Kadooment band launches- Contact is here!

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Fashion Week T&T gets underway

So Fashion Week Trinidad and Tobago is underway and so far the few reports we are getting in are mixed.

Basically in a nutshell - love the clothes, hate the congestion.

That has been the consensus from both Caribbean Fashion Style Journal and Judette Coward-Puglisi's 5 a.m. at Mango Media blogs.

The folks at CFStyle were not happy about some of the organisational glitches on the opening night - they had issues with getting accreditation, ticket-holders could not get into the event because it was full and the traffic scene outside of the Hyatt was federation, apparently.

For her part, Judette noted that the pre-event cocktail ceremony was in a too-small room, leading guests to feel 'claustrophobic' and designers were forced to stand because there was not enough seating.

However, both were agreed that the show itself - which is of course what it is all about - was sizzling.

CFStyle described it as a "tight and hitchless showing" while Judette declared that:


"[The] debut night of FWTT  was  so hot, it practically caused a  fire  with all the  Caribbean style,  fresh faces and  nubile bodies."


We have gotten a glimpse of some of the pics from CFStyle, including Heather Jones fantastic wedding collection and thus far we would have to agree. But what do you think?





























In other interesting tidbits from FWTT, soca star Machel Montano and reigning Miss T&T Universe Anya Ayoung-Chee will make their designing debuts tonight and tomorrow night respectively. Machel's line is called Boi Boi and Anya's is called Pilar, in honour of her brother who died in a traffic accident two years ago.

Designer Claudia Pegus made changes to her ready to wear line CPFS which she was bringing back after a 6 year break. Initially, the line was to be called Illusions, in reference to the idea that Pegus' reputation as a couturier has obscured the fact that she also does ready to wear.


"It was supposed to be fun and beautiful and light," she told 5 a.m.


However, after her harrowing robbery last Friday, the tone of the line has become much darker and is titled Trapped instead.


"After the incident, I felt (and still feel) emotionally drained and as I resumed work the pieces in the collection began to take a different form. On hearing the news of what happened, many people called to commiserate. As we spoke I began to realise how many of my friends and even acquaintances had been direct victims of crime. Many are living in fear. It's like we all feel trapped. The well to do and the middle class are trapped, no matter how high the wall or strong the burglar proof. Perhaps even the bandits are trapped in their ignorance and their environment. But mostly I felt that my sense of safety and my well being had been ripped away."

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Bits & pieces - Machel's rant, Rihanna's statement and more...

So much has been going on these past few days - the Rihanna situation, Trinidad Carnival, New York Fashion Week, that it's hard to get it all in but we're trying!

First off, we have some behind the scenes pics (compliments E-Zone Entertainment - big ups to Lisa Wickham - that woman is everywhere) of Destra's upcoming Bacchanal music video.



 In other Destra-related news, islandistas would have noticed that she has teamed up this season with her former nemesis, Denise 'Saucy Wow' Belfon. Alison Hinds is also in the mix, as the three of them are on a song called Obsessive Winers. They are calling themselves the Three Ss - Saucy, Sassy (for Destra's song Sassiness) and Sexy.

However, in light of Destra and Denise's well-recorded cat fight a few years back, eyebrows might have been raised to see them performing together. However, both Destra and Denise have said that is all water under the bridge and that they are like sisters.

In an interview with Bajanfuhlife, Destra said:

 “The damage has been repaired....“Sometimes, as an artist, tensions run high and you tend to fall into a trap of competition. But that is history now…. You learn from your mistakes and move on.... We live like sisters.... We sleep at each other’s homes and sometimes eat from the same plate. That is how close we are."

Belfon concurred, adding:

"That is water under the bridge as far as I am concerned.... I think we had gone to the extreme. At that time, we were both hyper and were noted for not taking any nonsense. In any relationship, teeth and tongue must clash. That is all part of life. You live and you learn."

  And just as the ladies making up, the fellas getting into this beefing t'ing which is really so un-soca. Islandistas outside of Trinidad who were watching the Soca Monarch finals on Tempo last night may have heard Iwer George refer to a situation with Machel Montano and Shurwayne Winchester that went down at Alternative Concept 7  last weekend and ask the crowd if they feel Machel should apologise to Shurwayne. 

If, like us you were puzzled at first (seriously, where are the Trini gossip sites/blogs anyhow? We've been looking to little avail...), don't worry, here is what went down, courtesy of SourPuss at The Lime:





So ok! Saturday 14th February, 2009 at the Hasely Crawford National Stadium. The Alternative Concept 7, dubbed Heavenly Drums. However, immediately following a stellar performance by Shurwayne Winchester, Prestan, Mastamind, Maxi Priest & Y.O.U., I was witness to some not-so-heavenly behaviour by Mr. HD himself in the backstage area.  They were having a fantastic set in my opinion and I couldn't see anything that went wrong. During the performance Mr. HD was spotted having a time before his appearance on stage and all was well until one point in the set where the band started to play this popular dance/techno track. I can't remember the name now, but anyways. I stood observing as "de boy" stormed to the stage demanding that the performance be stopped.


At this point I was like, "Ok then! More bacchanal." So after the abrupt end to the Y.O.U. performance, I made my way to the backstage area to grab some refreshments and that's where the real show started. Mr. HD himself came storming demanding to see Mr. Winchester shouting, (and I quote) "Where Mr. Shurwayne Winchester? Where dat disrespectful p***y-hole?" He continued to hurl obscenities down the corridor until he finally caught up with the Y.O.U. head man. At that point he proceeded to verbally abuse his fellow bMobile endorser (and I quote again) "Dat is what yuh go do? Yuh go copy my f***in' ideas and do it before me? On my f***in' show? Yuh f***in' disrespectful! Yuh is ah disrespectful p***y-hole! Dat is what yuh go do? After I give yuh ah f***in' shot?!" He carried on with this for quite a couple minutes, yelling and cursing to Mr. Winchester's face, while the bigger man motioned to his band members to back off and leave Machel alone.Mr. Montano ended his rant saying "F***in' God will deal with allyuh!" One thing though, throughout his entire juvenile tantrum, he was smart enough to not lay a finger on his fellow artiste with his whole band standing there. Mr. Winchester showing true class, let him have his word until he was satisfied and simply gathered his troops and made his exit. 

Well... damn. All uh dat Machel? Fuh one little techno tune? It can't be that serious - you are Machel Montano after all, boss performer - Shurwayne's performance can't detract from yours. Moreover, he lucky Shurwayne tek it so calm because... umm... well Shurwayne coulda burst he tail, easy.

Anyhow, what is Carnival without a little commess? Onward!

Rihanna has been spotted in Los Angeles - she apparently left Bim late last week but is expected back soon. She has also released a statement thanking her fans for their support. It was short and to the point, saying only:

“At the request of the authorities, Rihanna is not commenting about the incident involving Chris Brown. She wants to assure her fans that she remains strong, is doing well, and deeply appreciates the outpouring of support she has received during this difficult time.”

Keep your head up, hon.

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Got to switch it up!

It's been a while but like a true fabulous islandista I was indulging in the delights of Barbados' Crop-Over festival for the last fortnight or so - it's only THE summer carnival to attend - sorry Antigua, St. Lucia, SVG, Grenada et al! :)

But some of the things I have seen and heard over the course of the festival have definitely got me to thinking - about entertainment and longevity and originality. There was a whole lot of fussing during Crop-Over from local artists and their managers at the fact that the National Cultural Foundation was willing to shell out $30 000 for Machel Montano and a similarly hefty sum for David Rudder and Patrice Roberts to perform at Cohobblopot which is the last major show before Kadooment Day - it is basically part of the climax of the Crop-Over festival.

By contrast, Alison Hinds was rumoured to have been offered $3500.

Ouch.

But!

During this Crop-Over season I got the opportunity to view Machel's show - or should I say Machel Montano HD.

I also saw performances by two of Barbados' most successful soca artistes - Alison Hinds and Rupee.

As little as 7,8 years ago all three of these performers were on the same level fame-wise and no doubt, fees-wise. But over the years, the gap between them has been growing, in Rupee's case despite (or maybe in part because of) his international label contract.

Truth be told, Alison and Rupee's performances, image, the whole works are little different to what they were doing years ago. Both have their 'own' bands now - Rupee has the Dot Com band and Alison has moved on to the Alison Hinds Show. But little has changed beyond the name changes.

Alison still does the 'wining test' routine where she calls up a man to 'test her wine'. Musically she has not expanded the range of music she performs, sticking to groovy soca or power soca. Yet we know that Alison is versatile - anyone who has ever heard the seminal Square One 'Four Sides' album they put out for their tenth anniversary or seen one of the Four Sides concerts they put on that year would know she is capable of dancehall chanting, ballads, RnB and so much more.

Rupee  is even worse - the last major change in his image was in 2000 when he cut off the long hair that had been his signature with Coalishun. I saw him perform this season and it pained me that it was basically a snooze-fest. He is sporting the same cap and shades and track jacket or blazer, singing the same tunes in the same groove and has not added anything. The thing is, I love Rupee's music but he is not doing himself any favours by staying in the same comfy niche for so long.

Machel on the other hand, gives you value-added. In the last five years or so, he has been making a greater and greater effort to add interest and spice to his shows. In that time he has brought us the Xtatik Circus (remember the Power Puff girls wukking up on stilts?), Xtatik the Marching Band and now Machel Montano HD.

It is not by accident then that his star has risen even after a quarter century in the industry and his fees have risen as well. He said as much back in June in an article published in the Nation:

"People like Alison Hinds came to Trinidad and commanded some great fees in times when our artistes wasn't commanding those fees. People like krosfyah, people like Rupee . . . something like fees is determined by the artistes themselves," he said, adding that critics had to come up to speed with what was happening.

He spoke specifically of the Bajan Invasion, which exploded in 1996, and the massive response from Trinidadians to the slower-paced music that they were unaccustomed to.

The 26-year veteran said artistes had to see beyond the fees, but management and professionalism had to come into play as well.

"I remember sitting down with my management and devising plans, not just to raise our fees, but to raise our production and when we raised our production level, we received more. Because it obviously cost more. So everything is a growth basis . . . you work your way up through integrity, through consistency, through product."

Moreover, this is not just the case in soca (though it may well be amplified because soca is still so seasonal that your window of opportunity for making an impact each year that will carry you through to the next one is limited).

Look at Madonna. The woman is 50 and yet she keeps changing up her image - from 'Like a Virgin' Madonna to the 'Blond Ambition' S&M Madonna to the Far East inspired 'Ray of Light' Madonna to the 70's roller disco queen 'Confessions on a Dance Floor' Madonna and several in between. She doesn't sit back and presume that being Madonna is enough.

Look at our own islandista Rihanna. It was when she dramatically changed up her image with her most recent album 'Good Girl Gone Bad' that she achieved her greatest levels of success to date.

So now it is up to Barbadian and other regional artistes to decide if they are going to follow the trail Machel has been blazing.

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