Calypsonian Muscles has made political fun in calypso from a sensitive statement made by former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Clarice Modeste-Curwen on the Chinese feeding Grenadians.
Muscles – don’t bite the hand that feed you
Muscles, a member of the King Man Calypso Tent, told THE NEW TODAY newspaper that the song can be put into the category of being humorous.
He said that calypsonians are the one to “document stuff” and if one were to look back at a song 10 or 15 years down the road it can be there in story and music.
Minister Modeste-Curwen created a storm in the country when she lambasted Grenadians who were raising objection to the erection of those Chinese-looking Pagodas at Grand Etang.
She said to then: “You cannot play mas and ‘fraid’ powder. If you want the Chinese to help you, then when they bring a gazebo nothing is wrong if it looks like Chinese. I want it to look like them because if it is them that give you they must not hide it and make it look African or American, or otherwise, it has to look Chinese.
“We must know who (is) feeding us too, and we must appreciate who is feeding us, and I want to extend thanks and commendation to the Chinese for what they are doing for our country,” remarked the former Foreign Affairs Minister.
Two other songs produced by Muscles for the season are “My Views On The News,” and “Opportunity.”
According to the calypsonian, despite some hurdles encountered earlier on, he is looking forward to the calypso competition this year.
He spoke of struggling from all angles including financial and studio time in getting his music out to his fans.
Muscles confirmed that he will be entering the calypso competition for which judging of the tents begins next week for selection into the semi-finals to be held July 24 at the Bus Terminal in Grenville.
Steve Theodore – back after 3 years
The artiste believes that the local artform has developed over the years and recalled the days when the road march song for Grenada used to be a song coming out of Trinidad and Tobago.
He noted that all of the songs now played on carnival days are locally produced.
THE NEW TODAY also spoke with another top soca artiste, Steve Theodore, a close friend of Muscles, and who is making a return to the carnival stage after a three-year break.
Steve who is now based on the Sister Isle of Carriacou said he was just taking a little rest to come again.
“My fans were behind me for years, so I just decided to come back and do something for 2016,” he remarked.
Although he did not gain a place in the semi-final of the groovy competition, one of Steve’s song is called “The Return” which has a groovy melody.
He said the song signals his return since being off the scene in 2013.
Another of the songs from the Calypsonian who is originally from Morne Jaloux in St. George’s, is called “The Posey” which is reflective of the jab-jab.
There is also one other soca piece called, “Party Animal.”
Steve Theodore who is known for his masterpiece song of “Unity And Peace” in 2003 said that the song came to him while on a fishing expedition at a river in Concord, St. John’s with “Muscles”.
He stated that the violence seen in the carnival in the previous years spurred him on to write the song.
The Calypsonian has made it into the soca final on five occasions.
He sees competition as only rivalry among the artistes in the form of a war of words among each other.
Like Muscles, Steve who first started singing in 2000 believes that the artform has come a long way in the Spice Isle.
He said the soca songs produced by various artistes have developed both in terms of music and lyrics.
However, the artiste insists that there is not enough appreciation shown to the local artistes for their creative work.