{"id":100116,"date":"2022-02-25T13:11:17","date_gmt":"2022-02-25T11:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/?p=100116"},"modified":"2022-04-01T15:50:53","modified_gmt":"2022-04-01T13:50:53","slug":"a-brief-history-of-soca-music-in-ten-tracks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/a-brief-history-of-soca-music-in-ten-tracks\/","title":{"rendered":"A brief history of soca music in ten\u00a0tracks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">PAM tells the story of soca in ten tunes.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>\u201cI know no other bacchanal<\/em><br><em>Could be as sweet as carnival<\/em>\u201d<\/p><cite>(The Mighty Sparrow \u201cSparrow Come Back\u201d 1962)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>After a two year absence, carnival returns to the roads of Port of Spain this Monday 28th February. Home to many of the arts that define the fete including calypso, steelpan and mas (costume) the two island nation of Trinidad and Tobago is the birthplace of carnival in the Caribbean and no music personifies Port of Spain quite like soca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whilst soca scores carnival from Antigua to Barbados, St Vincent to the UK, the story begins in 1970s Trinidad with Lord Shorty.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Lord Shorty   Cloak And Dagger\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qU5BxwFVaN4?feature=oembed&#038;autoplay=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>Lord Shorty Cloak And Dagger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Shorty (real name Garfield Blackman) was a noted calypsonian and achieved notoriety (of the good kind) with his 1963 hit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qU5BxwFVaN4&amp;ab_channel=shawnrandoo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cCloak and dagger&#8221;<\/a>. Inspired by the soul and funk spilling over from The States, in the seventies Shorty sought to fuse calypso and soul and named this \u201cSokah\u201d the sanskrit <em>kah<\/em> a nod to the Indo-Caribbean rhythms and melodic content that were further added to the pot. Collecting a number of compositions for his album <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FPnsxU3vNRk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Endless Vibrations<\/em><\/a>, Shorty caused a sensation with this new psychedelic sound which a journalist misspelt as <em>soca.<\/em> The spelling stuck, and soca was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From this portmanteau soca has split into many genres often distinct to the various islands but retains certain common elements, <em>all<\/em> of which are present on <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xI-qIXhMpvs\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;Hot Hot Hot&#8221;<\/a> by Montserratian musician The Mighty Arrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/xI-qIXhMpvs\n<\/div><figcaption>Arrow &#8211; Hot Hot Hot (1982)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Released in 1982 it\u2019s ubiquity and association with a cartoonish version of the Caribbean should not disqualify this tune from our top ten. With it\u2019s choppy guitar riff, crisp brass and vocal refrain, it\u2019s pure joy, as Arrow explained in an Associated Press Interview commenting on the song&nbsp; &#8220;&#8216;It makes you forget that there&#8217;s a volcano and remember there&#8217;s fun to be had.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A global hit, \u201cHot Hot Hot\u201d is propelled forward by the distinctive soca bell. A percussion instrument borrowed from the steel pan tradition where a car brake drum is traditionally used to play a continuous bell pattern, the use of an iron bell or triangle in soca connects the music to a transatlantic and ultimately West African identity &#8211; Indeed some suggest that calypsonians are the griots of the Caribbean thanks to their wordsmithery and social commentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Chatnee Soca 1987(Hindi) Drupatee Ramgoonai\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ERv-CPhK1y8?feature=oembed&#038;autoplay=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>Chatnee Soca 1987(Hindi) Drupatee Ramgoonai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The cosmopolitanism of the Caribbean is reflected in soca with its African and Indian roots and&nbsp;Drupatee Ramgoonai\u2019s &nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ERv-CPhK1y8\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cChatnee Soca\u201d<\/a> from 1987 is a perfect example of what is sometimes called \u201cChutney Soca.\u201d With lyrics in both English and Hindi, Chutney Soca is party music and remains popular on radio across Trinidad and Tobago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Soca remains very much about the road though, and The Soca Boys <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=atvnv-YCFOk\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cFollow The Leader\u201d<\/a> released in 1998 moves our story on by increasing the BPM (beats per minute.) Here the acoustic instruments of Arrow and Shorty are replaced with programmed percusion and whistles, with the emphasis on a call and response vocal encouraging participation. This style of soca is sometimes known as \u201cJump and wave\u201d or \u201cRag and flag\u201d and speaks of the stamina needed for carnival which begins on \u201cCarnival Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"The Soca Boys - Follow The Leader\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/atvnv-YCFOk?feature=oembed&#038;autoplay=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>The Soca Boys &#8211; Follow The Leader(1998)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Held over the weekend that precedes Ash Wednesday and the eve of the main parade, Carnival Friday and Dimanche Gras are reserved for the crowning of the \u201cmonarchs\u201d of the various soca genres. Indeed the winner of the first Power Soca Monarch, Super Blue has claimed the title seven times beginning with \u201c<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=L7rm6H5fUic\" target=\"_blank\">Bachannal time<\/a>\u201d in 1993.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In these fiercely contested competitions \u201cPower Soca\u201d is defined as music over 135bpm whereas \u201cGroovy Soca\u201d is for slower songs of 134bpm or lower such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GviskluKeNY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cSomebody sleeping in your bed\u201d<\/a> by Michelle Sylvester which won the prize upon its introduction in 2005.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"BYRON LEE AND THE DRAGONAIRES - SOCA BUTTERFLY (MUSIC VIDEO).avi\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R8nZbu1wM3A?feature=oembed&#038;autoplay=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>BYRON LEE AND THE DRAGONAIRES &#8211; SOCA BUTTERFLY (MUSIC VIDEO)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If Groovy Soca is gospel influenced, then \u201cRagga Soca\u201d can be understood as borrowing from Jamaican dancehall and bashment as we hear here on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=R8nZbu1wM3A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cButterfly\u201d<\/a> by the late great Byron Lee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet another sub-genre is \u201cSweet Soca\u201d&nbsp;which originates from Barbados and is epitomised by Alison Hinds\u2019 band Square One on <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/9ftg2syP7LU\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/9ftg2syP7LU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cController\u201d<\/a> from 2004.&nbsp;Like groovy soca, it is slower with a sweeter sound that nonetheless gets the mas started.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Square One - Controller\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9ftg2syP7LU?feature=oembed&#038;autoplay=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>Square One &#8211; Controller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also worth noting how prolific soca artists are. To have a chance of penning the song that defines the season or being crowned Soca Monarch it\u2019s worth dropping a song just before carnival as Patrice Roberts has this year with&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JqKWQ7FsuQY&amp;list=LL&amp;index=18\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cMind my business\u201d<\/a> released on January 1st.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Soca like many genres is in conversation with itself and we already have an answer from Trinidad Mad Man whose <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wzESwlYAdsI&amp;list=LL&amp;index=12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cDrink puncheon and talk your business<\/a>\u201d refers to drinking a particularly strong white rum distilled in Trinidad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Soca then shows no sign of slowing down (in any sense) and has spread far beyond the shores of the Caribbean. In Angola <em>Kuduro <\/em>was created by producers recycling soca loops, whilst at Uganda\u2019s Nyege Nyege festival soca features heavily in many DJ\u2019s sets. Soca is thus today a pan-African music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Patrice Roberts - Mind My Business (Happy Papi Riddim)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JqKWQ7FsuQY?feature=oembed&#038;autoplay=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>Patrice Roberts &#8211; Mind My Business (Happy Papi Riddim)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From Lord Shorty to The Soca Boys, Arrow and Square One, PAM tells the story of soca in ten tunes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76,"featured_media":100146,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7833,9400],"tags":[],"location":[8322],"yst_prominent_words":[8414,8402,8435,32959,8438,18005],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100116"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/76"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100116"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100116\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100146"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100116"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=100116"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=100116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}