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What is Soca?
Posted : Apr 11, 2005 : 1:14:00 PM |
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During the 1970s the popularity of calypso waned, and what took its place was a more lively, up-tempo kind of music with a mixture of calypso, Indian music, American soul, funk and disco. Soca was influenced by gospel music, Indian instruments, funk, African spirituals and reggae. Soca, unlike calypso, is more concerned with people having a good time. The musical lyrics of great artists, such as Ras Shorty I’s Endless Vibrations and Soul of Calypso, helped to make soca music international by 1974. He experimented with Indian instruments such as the dhantal, tabla and dholak to belt out the first stream of soca music.
In the beginning, like calypso, soca was used to provoke social commentary and humour, but soon the more risqué business of wining and jamming took over the new sound. Many argue that the lyrics of soca are less appealing than its contemporary, calypso, but needless to say it took over the streets and is more widely played now than calypso, except in the calypso tents.
Like all other music, people have experimented with soca over the years to produce hybrids such as ragga soca, chutney soca and even soca parang. Some of the great soca artistes are Machel Montano, Shadow and Super Blue, whose music is now internationally known and who have allowed Trinidadian artistes to become recognised as international entertainers.
Soca is the staple of the Road March, which is the song played the most times on the road on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. It is also the song played most often by DJs on the radio and in fetes (parties) leading up to carnival.
• Ras Shorty I - Endless Vibrations
• Machel Montano - Toro Toro
• Denise Belfon - Buss dem up
• Iwer George - Carnival come back again
• Faye Ann Lyons - Display |
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