Cropover 96 summary - Barbados

[Daniel Bradley]

In 1993, Guns fired as we were Getting Busy Behind The Truck to a little
Ragga Ragga Beat while the revellers Bounced and Moved Their Mass. In
1994, we were Making Noise with Herbertina while Jumping and Waving to
the sounds of Ringa Ringa Ringbang in an attempt to escape the Sexual
Harassment of the Bobbit Dubbit. In 1995, a Voice In Our Heads told us
to follow Obadele in his Soca Army as it avoided the Snakes In The Grass
to an ultimate Nice Time, Swinging Engines without the Big Belly Men.
In 1996, we wanted the DJ to Play Something Nice, so we welcomed
Something Greater, encouraging you to Hard Wine and Rub De Belly on the
Landship while the Bumper Inspector's checked out the local Assets in
this Fool's Paradise. So what were the Issues Of This Day? Welcome to
Cropover '96.

When the Congaline had faded and the Yardies took Mabel home, it was
once again time for Cropover. A showdown of tents, bands, and
calypsonians
took the spotlight as things heated up through July and into early
August for Kadooment Day. As with all Cropover celebrations, the music
took center stage.

Long before the competitions began, there was a great concern for the
reigning triple crown champion of 1995, Edwin Yearwood. He was
complaining of
fatigue and threatened to pull out of the running this year to rest
himself.
Edwin, how old are yuh? The fans love yuh. What good would Cropover 96
be without Edwin defending his crowns? In a last moment decision (or
was
it?), Edwin entered the Pic-O-De-Crop and Party Monarch competitions.
The
stage was set.

The 1996 Cockspur Pic-O-De-Crop semifinals featured eighteen artists.
They included
Sammy Dello, Kathy Lewis, T.C., Sammy Dello, Jah Stone, Daddy Iroy, Red
Plastic Bag, Miss B, Classic, Big Davy, Bumba, Colin Spencer, Pompey,
Lynette, Adrian Clarke, Nikki V, Serenader, and Kid Site. Seven of
these eighteen
would go on to face Edwin in the finals.

After the semifinals on July 27th, Sammy Dello, Adrian Clarke, Bumba,
Jah Stone,
Red Plastic Bag, T.C., and John King were chosen to advance to the
finals which
were held at the National Stadium on Friday, August 2nd. Red Plastic
Bag almost
withdrew from the competition after receiving 'bad vibes' from the
people
concerning the political tones of his songs. Luckily, he did not. The
winner knew what
it was like to win three crowns, but it was not Edwin. Red Plastic Bag
came away
with the coveted crown. A past winner of the Pic-O-De-Crop crown in
1982, 1984,
and 1989, R.P.B. stuck to the traditional calypso style to triumph.
The fans showed equal enthuisasm for Edwin and R.P.B., and the judging
was
thought to be a toss up between the two. However, Edwin came in third,
bumped
back by John King. Songs performed in the finals (in order of final
standings)
were 'Issues Of The Day' and 'Give It To Me' By Red Plastic Bag, 'Fool's
Paradise' and 'How Many More' by John King, 'Something Greater' and
'Peace Sign'
by Edwin Yearwood, 'Ah Dead' and 'Calypso Is My Business' by Bumba, 'Who
To
Blame' and 'Come Win De Crown' by T.C., 'She Is A Killer' and 'They're
Your
Children' by Sammy Dello, 'Save Our Sons' and 'Landship' by Adrian
Clarke,
and 'Ten Years' and 'Dem Mosquitos' by Jah Stones.

The Malibu Party Monarch competition, in its second year of existence,
was won
for the second time by Edwin Yearwood who performed 'Down De Road'.
Edwin
walked away with the Great Carew Trophy, in honor of Carew who drowned
last
year prior to Kadooment in a flood. Second place went to Allison Hinds
of
Square One with 'Raggamuffin'. Coming in third was L'il Rick with 'Hard
Wine'.

The Grand Kadooment Road March Crown went to Allison Hinds for her hit
song
'Raggamuffin'.

So many artists and songs yet, there is something missing...something
large...
where is 1000 Pounds of Blubber? Surely their smash hit 'Rub De Belly'
would
have gotten them into the finals of one of the competitions? But alas,
as with
most Cropovers of the past, there is controversy. 1000 Pounds of
Blubber was
disqualified from performing in the Party Monarch Semifinals. The NCF
would
not recognize the group (Biggie Irie, Fat Man, and Mighty Whitey) as a
solo act.
MADD, however, performed their hit song featuring two lead vocalists,
Eric Lewis
and Carol-Ann Scantlebury. The matter is set to resolved in the courts
later
this year. Speaking of controversy, yet another song was banned from
the radio
this year for explicit lyrics. Black Pawn's 'Wyckalinda' was not aired
after
its ban, following in the tradition of past MADD and Mac Fingall songs.

Something else was noticably absent this year... where was Spice?
Cropover almost
isn't Cropover without a hit Spice song. Alan Sheppard, where did yuh
go???
Get back here! John Roett can only play in backup bands for so long...

On the bright side, the Troubadours followed up their hit 'Talk' with
another
instrumental success 'Ole Talk'. On to the tents.

Kaiso Tent Rundown: First off is ALIEN FORCES. Leading the pack in this
tent
is Bert "Panta" browne singing 'Children In The Garden Playing' and Rub
Up'.
Follwing is Lady Isha with 'Abortion' and 'Dingolay', Scorpio with
'Children Don't Look
back' and 'Don't Downsize Me', Imran with 'Herring Selling Songs Twice'
and Going
Get Lick Down', also Brothers Two with 'Jump and Prance'. Rounding out
the
Alein Forces is King Sailor, Majesty, Pointer, and Toni.

Next is BARCLAYS UNTOUCHABLES. Included in this tent is the thirteen
year
old sensation Tito with 'Hook Line', L'il Rick with the hits 'Bumper
Inspector'
and 'Hard Wine', Sammy Dello with 'She's A Killer' and 'Save The
Children',
Karen Clarke with 'Stop' and 'De Oppressor', Red Plastic Bag with
'Assets' and
'Issues Of The Day', followed by Bumba, marcee, Miss B, Blood, Jack
Benny,
Prince Yellow, Quimby, Rusty, Soca Surfer, and Stinging Ants.

CARTER'S HOUSE OF SOCA. Performing in this tent is Kathy Lewis with
'Long
Hard Road' and 'Bring Your Own Bumper', Tassa with 'Young And Restless'
and 'On
A Perfect Day', Colin Spencer with 'Bring back Sandi', Adonijah with
'Put Down De
Gun', followed by Akola, Instructor, Invader No. Three, Musikal,
Serenader,
Smokey Burke, Speedy, Stalker, and Termite.

CAVE SHEPHERD CONQUERORS. This tent features Adrian Clarke with 'Save
Our Sons'
and 'Landship Culture', T.C. with 'Who To Blame' and 'Girl's Time', John
King
with 'Fool's Paradise', followed by Blackmailer, Dale Rudder, De Hawk,
Destroyer,
Duke Check, Gyrnner, Informer, Lady Ann, Nikki V, PJ, and Pompey.

DA COSTA'S MALL/LITTLE SWITZERLAND BACCHANAL TIME. This tent is
dominated by
Edwin Yearwood singing 'Down De Road', Allison Hinds with 'Raggamuffin',
followed
by Black Pawn, Cockroach, and the joint Junior Calypso Crown winner
(with Soca
Surfer) Tiny.

GRANT'S LION'S DEN. Here can be found Daddy Iroy singing 'The Iron' and
'Wolf
In Sheep's Clothing', Kid Site with 'Fat Gal Wine' and 'Landship', Tarah
Holdipp with
'The Youth' and 'Maximum Security', Romancia Murray with 'West Indian
Man', Ras Iley
with 'Read Up Yuh Bible', followed by P-Oui, Daddy Mark, and Hurrican
Helen.

PIONEERS. Performing here are Black Beauty with 'A Tribute To The
Master' and
'Human Wrong', African with 'Bajan Wuk' and 'A Message To Society',
followed by
Gold Teet, Itchie, Sus, Abbot, Nicky, Slick, Pitch-Up, King Ikie, martin
L, and Provider.

SUPER GLADIATORS. Leading off here is Legend with 'Caribbean Woman' and
'Healing',
Jamming Baby Bubbler with 'Wine And Wiggle' and 'Dem Judges', followed
by
Cane Fire, Crystal, Cut Loose, De Gun, Jah Stone, Livewire, Longfellow,
Rocky,
and Tiler.

THE STRAY CATS. This young tent features Big Davy, Bontic, Cat Cat,
Dimples,
JR, Mermaid, and Rome.

The Calypso Award Winners were - BEST TENT: Cave Shepherd Conquerors.
MOST
ORGANIZED TENT: Cave Shepherd Conquerors. BEST BAND: Coalishun of
Bacchanal Time.
BEST MC: Mac Fingall. BEST NEW ACT: L'il Rick of Barclays
Untouchables. BEST NEWCOMER:
Allison Hinds of Bacchanal Time. BEST DRESSED CALYPSONIAN: Cockroach of
Bacchanal
Time and Termite of Carter's House of Soca. BEST LYRICS: Red Plastic
Bag of
Barclay's Untouchables for 'Issues Of The Day'. BEST OUTFITTED TENT:
101 Degrees with
Brass of Barclay's Untouchables. BEST PERFORMER: Allison Hinds of
Bacchanal
Time for 'Raggamuffin'. BEST TENT MANAGER: Vere Brown of Cave Chepherd
Conquerors.
MOST POPULAR CALYPSONIAN: Edwin Yearwood of Bacchanal Time. BEST
BACKING VOCALISTS:
Carol-Anne Scantlebury, SOphia Lovell, Heather Estwick, and Suzette
Goring of
Bacchanal Time. BEST DRESSED BACKING VOCALISTS: Eleanor Rice, June
Beckles,
Dionne Forte, and DeLisle McCollin of Cave Shepherd Conquerors.

Enough with the awards right! As with 1995, an Antiguan act came to
Cropover
and made quite a splash. First it was the Burning Flames in 1995 with
'Swing Engine'.
Now in 1996, its Burga with 'Sheila'. I have a feeling he might show up
in Trinidad's 1997 Carnival. The cycle repeats itself.

You can only take so much from reading about this years Cropover. The
only
way to fully experience it is to be there in the thick of things. If,
like me,
you can't always be there, then the next best thing is to own some of
the tunes
that helped to create the feel for the festival. CRS has released a
compilation
cd titled "Hotter Than July" which features such songs as 'Landship',
'Rub
De Belly', 'De Iron', and 'Handbrake'. Other offerings include "Jegna"
by
John King, "Square One 96" by Square One, "Slammin" by various artists,
"Movin"
by the Troubadours, "You Ain't Got Nothing" by Mac Fingall, "Riding De
Rhythm"
by Red Plastic Bag, and "Aim High" by Krosfyah & various artists plus
many
other titles including a compilation produced by Ragacha.

Till '97, I gone

-Dan Bradley

--
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George Mason University Bajan Calypso Barn
Geography http://athena.gmu.edu/~dbradle4
email: dbra...@gmu.edu 'Sweet Fuh Days'
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[Andre Griffith]

I was delighted to read through all that reams of test and see
no mention of "jump up and wave".

Then again you can always depend on the bajans to gi we something other
than the usual junk

dre

[Daniel Bradley]

This was the year of ringbang and 'BUMPERS'. There were several Bumper
songs. It only seemed fitting that Red Plastic Bag's song 'Assets'
would send a message about the overuse of Bumpers in songs.

[Francie J. Ammon]

I'll be covering Notting Hill to some extent from my site. Look for info
about it on my "Schedule of Events" page on http://www.iere.com

If I take my laptop to NYC, and only if, I'll be covering NYC!

Francie aka Trinigrl