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My dear friends , it's Steelband Panorama time in T$T and so of course judging becomes an issue , as was the case from day one.In this classic calypso , the great calypso bard Maestro addresses this perennial controversy..I've always felt that the steelband was created for calypso music , though of course the steelband today is far more than that.But we know that the pan is a percussion instrument created to provide rhythm and later music for the masses at Trinidad's carnival.Especially in earlier times , the calypsonians were closely associated with the steelbands since many were themselves pan players, and were just as involved as the panmen in the panorama competition.Indeed , I remember in the early seventies , calypsonian Maestro , himself a steelband captain , bringing down a side from Princes Town to beat pan with us ( WASA Silvertones of San Fernando) for the Panorama.( Yes youngsters , we did that even back then )This familiarity with the steelband made it easy for them to create songs for and about the pan, so when Maestro sings about the Panorama , he knows what he's talking ablot , as in this classic "Boom Bam"."Dey cheat , dey cheat , we want to see the score sheet" was a familiar refrain heard after the results of every competition was announced.It probably still is today.The late Cecil Hume , the calypsonian known as Maestro was one of our greatest calypsonians,who left us at far to young an age.Here is Maestro and "Boom Bam"
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Time for "Dey cheat , dey cheat,
Ah want to see de score sheet !"
Don't know about that , Cecil Francis. There is much respect in the pan world for his contributions to the art form.
He is considered by most people as one of the legendary figures in steelband history.
PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE WILL ALWAYS HAVE A DIFFERENT VEIW OF RUDOLPH CHARLES
So then , is Despers who say , "Dey cheat , dey cheat we want to see de score sheet" !
Pan History , Cecil Francis.
Despers always had their own way under Rudolph Charles.
Remember they were the only band to violate the steelband strike ?
Kitch sang about it in "No Pan"
Maybe that's the problem.
Maybe bands today don't have enough drama for calypsonians to sing about.
MANY OF YOU DON'T REMEMBER BUT THIS SONG HAS A TRUE STORY BEHIND IT.IN 1975 DESPERS CAME TO PLAY ON STAGE AT THE PRELIMINARIES 1975.RUDOLPH CHARLES AND IVAN WILLIAMS HAD A FALLING OUT 1974 WHEN DESPERS WERE THROWN OUT OFTHE SEMIS DESPERS TOOK CDC TO COURT AND WON, THE BAND WAS REINSTATED BACK INTO THE SEMI FINALS.THE NEXT YEAR 1975 AT THE PRELIMS WHEN THE BAND STARTED TO PERFORM IVAN WILLIAMS ORDERED THE SOUND MAN TO TURN THE MICS OFF ON THE FRONT LINE PANS SO YOU WERE ONLY HEARING BASS THIS IS HOW THIS SONG CAME ABOUT.SO YOU SEE DESPERS IS STILL BEING PENALISED TODAY/
Despers and Solo Harmonites were the really big bands back then and as a result of the number of players in both bands we now have a limitation of 120....Imagine despers used the entire stage to setup their pans.
That year Despers came down from the hill with almost 200 players
I remembered this so well.. even back then we had the chat about the results.
Thanks !
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