By Monique Williams -September 13, 2019
Photograph: MARK JAMES
The music is attracting renewed interest. “There has been a great transformation,” Nanan says. “Many more teenagers and young adults are playing than ever. More girls.” Public relations manager for Miami Carnival, Yvette Harris, agrees: “We have seen an evolution. Fortunately, more young people are participating and interested in delving into the culture.” With the reemerging popularity of pan music and Panorama, Harris says the Miami Carnival committee tweaked the 2019 lineup to accommodate more of it. “Normally, Kings and Queens are first, then Panorama. But this year, [Panorama] starts at 5 p.m. and goes on. It will bring in a diverse audience of people, non-Caribbean and Caribbean. A good showing of people who just enjoy music and have an appreciation for pan music.”
A GLOBAL PHENOMENON
Taught in schools internationally, the steel pan also echoes in pop hits by stars like Prince, 50 Cent and Nick Jonas. And celebrities like Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Usain Bolt have brought Carnival music to the mainstream; their beautiful costumed dancing and appearances always accompanied by the steel pan’s unmistakable sounds.
Replies
From the article above:
“From the 1950s to 1980s, steelbands were the only bands on the road for Trinidad Carnival, then DJs took over. Now, only 10 percent of the music comes from steelbands.”
From the bestoftrinidad website ("Carnival 1950 to 1959"): "On the streets, each parading band had its own live music supplied by either brass (conventional music bands) or steel (steelbands). Although there was an almost equal number of brass bands and steelbands on the streets, brass bands such as John "Buddy" Williams set the tempo for the revelers."
Sometimes ah does think that 90% of the people who does be talking about PAN come to Trinidad on a BOAT and don't understand nothing about that country. So all they end up doing is distorting THE HISTORY.