Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Too much politics in local calypso – Judge Semple
By Kiana Wilburg
Calypso music has undoubtedly earned its place in Guyana’s Cultural Heritage. And as such, it is now one of the most highly anticipated features of the Mashramani Festivities.
Reigning Champion of the Mashramani
Adult Calypso Competition, ‘De Professor’
‘The Mighty Sparrow’
This year’s competition was certainly a thrilling treat, especially at the Final leg of the Adult Calypso Competition. But the Competition though exceptional, can be taken to greater heights. This is according to Mr. Cecil Semple, who served as a judge for the Calypso Competition this year.
Semple was a member of the Guyana Police Force who developed a passion for the art form and maintained a constant presence at the Trinidadian Calypso Tents.
However, Semple who has served as a judge for several years and has been an avid collector and aficionado of Calypso music, urged the potential contestants for the Mashramani Calypso Competition next year to make a special effort to be crafty.
“What I found was that most of the submissions this year were focused on politics, but the Calypsonians need to understand that they don’t always have to be political. And judging from the songs, I can tell you that most of them listen to calypso music by some of the people who actually pushed it in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Further, “Our local Calypsonians need to understand that they don’t have to be so blatant with their lyrics. There are times when you are listening to calypso music and you wouldn’t have to guess who or what it is speaking to but at the same time it was not being plain about the issue. It is important to bait the audience, have the listener think. Don’t do it all for them. It is important to pay attention to techniques and the power of pun.”
He added, “The greatest of the calypsonians have been known for their uncanny way of being funny with certain topics that are non-political. There was a time when a local calypsonian sang a song about putting meters outside.
Calypso Judge, Cecil Semple
Long ago meters used to be inside of the house for some people. And the man’s song was about him coming home one day and finding the meter man in bed with his wife. And so the way in which it was done was most certainly hilarious but it was also an important issue and so it had an effect on that very system.
Meters started going outside. I’m not saying everybody should start singing about meters now; my point is that, Calypso is more than just political issues.”
“If you take a look at some of the calypsonias like Lord Kitchener, Sparrow, and Chalkdust, you would see that whilst they can focus on the political side of things, they can also be adaptable and speak on other issues.
This is what our local Calypsonians need to do as well. Be versatile,” Semple advised. In addition to this, the Calypso judge also stressed the need for Calypsonians to ease as much as they can, “the recycling of the lyrics of certain songs of yesteryear.”
“While I know that some of the calypsonians may deeply admire some of the forerunners of this type of music, it kills me when I hear a set of contestants just repeating lyrics of calypsonians of the past. We are an innovative set of people.
We aren’t supposed to be doing that. It is no doubt that our calypsonians are extremely talented but we want to see that talent. But you can’t develop that talent for Calypso if you continue to serve the public with recycled music. We can do better than that. We need to take the calypso competitions to another level.
And monopolizing the political topics will not always work in your favour. Some things just need to take a rest. Take it to a higher level and spread your talents. You can only refine your talents by going outside the box. You can’t expect to grow when you confine yourself to a comfort zone.”
Taking the aforementioned points into consideration, the Calypso judge said that if this advice is heeded, he can guarantee that come next year, Calypso lovers will be in for a show beyond their expectations.
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