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well, I usually operate under my username (sunset_angel) but I can't get in for some reason, so I'm gonna try it this way.
anyways- I live in the US but I'm doing a project for one of my classes on caribbean music and how it influences music in the states. also, what music in the caribbean is like. so, I was wondering if I could get some insiders opinions, I know you all aren't isolated down there, and have music from the states...atleast, thats what I've heard, but I'm looking for the more traditional stuff. and I am having the hardest time finding artists up here who use caribbean influences in their music, so far kenny chesney is all I've got, and that's only because I'm a fan of his music. thank you to those who can help. 🙂
Actually Kenny Chesney's music has very little relationship to "caribbean music". He has a few songs that refer to places in the Caribbean and he apparently has a home in St John. I would never consider Chesney to be a caribbean performer.
However if you are interested in Caribbean music and influence you need to look towards Bob Marley and a host of little known performers.
I hope that some people with a real knowledge will respond to this post.
Try going to the putumayo music website for world music that you can select from. Personally I have several CD's including caribe caribe as well as many others. It gives you a wonderful overview of many styles of music ...you ought to be able to find exactly what you want here: If you go to each CD page, you can listen to sound clips from each one!
http://www.putumayo.com/catalog/itemlist.php?cat_id=00006
good luck!
Stephanie
I hope you went to the site suggested by Carolyn.
www.putumayo.com
I will give you a better idea od what Caribbean island sounds like.
It definitly isn't Chesney and as much as I like him it isn't Jimmy Buffet.
Take some time to learn.
There is a small essay on Calypso music and its "decline" into the Soca genre at http://caribplanet.homestead.com/101.html... and, there is also a capsule on Reggae at http://caribplanet.homestead.com/101_Reggae.html. Using these resources, you may be able to get started on your project.
To find out more about the various artists, Google "Caribbean Music" and follow your links. There is surprisingly little of this type of info at the library, but there may be some items, so don't be afraid to ask your librarian.
Here's the website for Inner Visions, a local reggae group from St John. They've been playing together for over 20 years.
http://digitaldudes.com/home.htm
Kenny Chesney is a country music star who has written some songs about the Caribbean.
here is a list of sites for roots reggae music with most of the artists being from the
VI
www.viroots.com
www.mtneborecords.com
www.igraderecords.com
www.vireggae.com
I think most of these are still active & some of them list additional links...there is quite a bit of information there.
Good Luck!
thank you to all who helped! I really appreciate it, I was a bit apprehensive to post this, last time I tried to post a topic, the people who responded weren't exactly sunny. and I know kenny chesney isn't a caribbean preformer, but those of you who have ever listened to his "be as you are, songs from an old blue chair album" would see that he uses caribbean instruments, and influences, that's what I'm looking for. my choir teacher told me to look up how it affects music up here. and not so much of the actual preformers where you all are. thank you again!
Yes, it is interesting to see how Caribbean music per se has influenced music up North. You do hear steel drums in the background of many songs to day as it has become an accepted instument. Andy Narell plays jazz on his steel drum and is very well accepted. It is strange however how a classic song like Hot Hot Hot by Arrow did not make it big in the US, but when Buster Poindexter did his version, it was a smash! Hopefully, Arrow got royalties. I say that because way back in the 40s there were calypso songs that got remade by popular groups. One that comes to mind was Rum and Coca Cola. The Andews Sisters sang it. Here is a small quote about it:
"Rum and Coca Cola" just has to be the best known Calypso of all times, made famous by the Andrews Sisters in the 1940's. It also became a court case against Leo Feist, Inc., the publisher of the song and the alleged composer of it, an American comedian , called Morey Amsterdam. The plaintiff was Maurice Baron, a music expert, who claimed that the song was plagiarized from a book published by him called " Calypso Songs of the West Indies", only the song was called "L'Année Passée " and was composed by Lionel Belasco in 1906 !"
I guess they figured you can go to the Caribbean, hear a song, go back home and call it yours! There are many more.
RL
'stephanie' leaned forward and scrambled the ether to state:
"last time I tried to post a topic, the people who responded weren't exactly sunny."
that's groups behavior. if you survive it, you win!
Ralph Macdonald's music is Island "flavored."
