Jamaica Observer
FANS and colleagues of calypso legend the Mighty Sparrow jammed Melanie's Sports Bar in Brooklyn, New York, last week for a concert in his honour.
The January 18 event was organised by Derek Parsons of WACK Radio and famed calypsonian singer Calypso Rose.
According to EVERYBODY'S Magazine, Sparrow, sitting on a tall chair, performed some of his classic songs including Jean and Dinah, Melda and Congo Man as well as a rendition of The Lord's Prayer.
He performed for 40 minutes.
Replies
here's the video! still mighty, still sounding GREAT, singin' like a bird! :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxiPvatXtMM
Anthony, you said it all GOD is great.
Cecil, you notice them young people only want Jump and wave type of music, I don't think we can stop that, our type of music is over. Even the pan Players, is young people playing them Pans we have to give them what they want or else they ain't going to play no Pan
That is because that is all they know, they don't have any thing to choose
from as amost of the top names are churning out the same beats and they
seem to control the industry. In any case the jump, wine and wave style
is not appropriate for pan anyway, consequently they are killing pan and
calypso on the altar of commercialism. Carnival is now simply a 'party' where
people pay a lot of money for the full 'all inclusive package'.
We can still rescue it ie calypso, pan & carnival.
I wish it can be rescued, Them jump and wave music with 2 &3 Chord is no music for Steel band, what can we do? The older players dying out. As soon as Carnival is over the young people aint want to hear No Steel band music they want reggae, or Rap
Bede, what I observed about Jamaicans, is that they cherish their culture. Young and old. I have many Yardie friends, and they are always inviting me to parties. When they party, even the young people enjoy their old ska and rock steady. Alton Ellis, Pluto Nash, and Cornell Campbell are huge hits among Jamaican youths. Even the young artistes, draw on old reggae, ska, and rock steady beats, when making new music. For example, "If Love So Nice", is actually Bob's "Stir It Up". No Jamaican music is "old" to them, and when they party, it seems like there is no generation gap.
To Jamaicans, their music is Jamaican music, period. Sure, the young kids love their dancehall, but when "old school" Jamaican music playing, they dancing and enjoying it all the same, as if the song came out yesterday. Finally, in Jamaican parties, the music is 75% to 100% Jamaican; the rest a mix of American music, and maybe some soca. When they play soca, they draw for their own first, Bryon Lee & The Dragonaires. I admire their patriotism, and their belief in what is theirs. They are not trying to copy anyone, but define their own culture. Maybe, that is why they dominate.
Notice, no one mistakes a Jamaican accent, but when they hear people from other islands, they cannot tell which island they come from. Time for Trinidad and Tobago to BRAND themselves, as Jamaicans have branded themselves...by selling what is UNIQUE about them. Recently, I saw a Valleywood clip; a Trinidad movie, but only Jamaican dancehall in the soundtrack. Do you think Jamaicans will make a movie about Jamaica, with music from Trinidad and Tobago? I think not. STRICKLY ROCKERS IAH!!! AH TRUE, DREDDIE!!! IRIE ITES! Ghost.
Trini has always wanted to be someone else, back in the day everyone wanted to sound American, men went Tobago and came back spitting yankee.
We doh know how to play we self, maybe we have to learn from our Indian bros. and sisters.
GREAT! The bird flies again. Thank the Lord. God is great!
We need this man to bring some 'music' back to calypso/soca,
there is a lot of rubbish around parading as TT culture.
Sparrow should re-mix & release some of his old songs.