Music the Outlet of Expression Essay Example

some students referred to calypso as being the music of the older generation of The Bahamas.

It is evident that many young Bahamians are not in touch with their Bahamian roots and culture. Calypso music covers a wide range of issues that relate to real life, as experienced by the artists, and these are issues such as love, greed, and oppression. Calypso is better known as Goombay and it dates back to the 1930’s in the time where Alphonso Higgs (Blind Blake) ruled this form of music (calypsoworld. org). It is said that Blind Blake’s music was enjoyed by the former King, Duke of Windsor, who served as Governor of the Bahamas during World War II.

As Ray Frank (Writer- calypsoworld. org) states, there are many great artist of that time such as Maureen DuValier (Calypso Mama) and she performed in many hotels throughout The Bahamas, on cruise ships, in Cuba and New York. Clearly calypso music in The Bahamas is still prevalent but it is enjoyed and appreciated mainly by the older generations of Bahamians and those who live family islands of The Bahamas, as I’m sure any Bahamian would agree.

Calypso is one style of music that is unique to The Bahamas and the Caribbean islands, but a more popular style of Caribbean music is rake n’ scrape. The music of dance, rake n’ scrape music is usually accompanied by Bahamian Quadrille and the Heel and Toe Polka dances (caribbean-guide. info). When asked about these dances almost all of C. O. B students admitted to hearing about them but known of them knew how to perform them or where they

originated from; clearly another indication that many Bahamian youth are not in touch with their roots and culture.

It is understood that all Bahamian music such as calypso and rake n’ scrape has that somewhat mystical power to raise the oldest of audiences to get up and shake loose the stresses of the world Bahamian style. There are many renown rake n’ scrape artist such as Chippie & The Boys and Edmund Moxey. Edmund Moxey is a Bahamian who was born on Ragged Island and his instrument of choice was the piano. His most famous and praised song is, “Burma Road Boys Declare War On The Conchy Joe” (Christian Justilien – bahamasentertainers. com).

Christian reviews this song making note of the racial overtones and of black Bahamians rioting against the white Bahamians referred to as "Conchy Joes" (bahamasentertainers. com). Through a small survey conducted I discovered that rake n’ scrape is not really known and most individuals were puzzled about the term rake n’ scrape, but when asked about rap artists like ‘Lil Wayne’ they immediately knew who I was referring to. It is all but disgraceful that some many Bahamians are not interested in Bahamians music and insight it brings of the Bahamian culture.

To prove the point that many Bahamians are not interested in Bahamian music listen to 100 jams Friday and Saturday when listeners can request the songs they want to hear, no one ever requests Ronnie butler, Funky D or most recent K. B. With music there are various instruments that are unique to that style of music and with rake and scrape there is no difference Rake

n’ scrap music is produced with basically what would be found in a tool shed, except for the guitar other than that all you need is steel saw, a file, a few goat skin drums and little skill. Calypso music and rake n’ scrape are more unique to The Caribbean Islands but reggae music in general is universal. A style of music blending blues, calypso, and rock-n-roll with strong syncopated rhythm and lyrics of social protest, reggae is one of the biggest forms of music in The Bahamas. Angelo Anthony Carter (Boy Blue) was born in Freeport Grand Bahama and he is just one of many famous Bahamian reggae artists (Mr. Carter).

One of the biggest known reggae groups in The Bahamas is ‘Baha Men’ who not only dazzled The Bahamas but the world with their music and the hit single, “Who let the Dogs out? ” As outlined on ‘bahamen. com’, The Baha Men group consists of an array of Bahamian men from different backgrounds who joined forces to take Bahamian music and The Bahamas across the world (history). This style of music is really understood and appreciated by the youth of The Bahamas but the truth is the know more about foreign artists they do about Bahamian artist.

Is this because foreign artist are better than Bahamian artist? Twenty-five students were asked if they would prefer to listen to Bahamian reggae artist of a foreign reggae artist. There were quite a number of responses to this question, some individuals said that they don’t have a favorite reggae artist and they don’t know any Bahamian reggae artist, while others say that would

always prefer foreign artist such as I-Sasha, Sizzla, and Barris Hamound over Bahamian artist such as Baha Men. The reason they gave was because they can relate to foreign artist.

Obviously these individuals can’t relate to Bahamian artist because they are not in tune with their cultural roots. Reggae is a musical style that is more robust in countries such as, Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago and especially Jamaica, but Bahamians have developed their own style of reggae music that is to all Bahamians apart of the Bahamian culture, which some can’t seen appreciate. There are also many concerts and festivals in The Bahamas that foreign and Bahamian reggae artists perform at, but the foreign artist always get the most appreciation form the crowd.

This was seen at a the most recent concert in November “A night of Love” when Bahamian artist ‘Jah Cure’ came one the stage he got a warm welcome but when ‘Bennie Man’ came on the stage the crowd went ballistic with loud cheering, drinks being thrown in the air, and lighters being waved high in the air to welcome ‘Bennie man’. Music in The Bahamas is constantly growing and changing, and as new trends of music arise and new styles of music emerge Bahamians will be right there to add a little piece onto our culture.

Many of today’s Bahamian artists do not share the same the views as those artists who have come before them, as expressed by Ian. Many artists who are engaged in the music business in The Bahamas are portraying music as they perceive and understand it to be (Ian Claire- personal interview). The

sense of music is derived from their morals, up bringing and what music means to the artists. Ian reveals that he assists any artists that cross his path, helping them to develop their voice, their vision and their music.

He also states that Bahamians don’t want to hear calypso, or rake n’ scrape, so artist are producing what sells, which is rap hip hop and reggae. In some aspect it can be said that Bahamian artist are not producing cultural music because many Bahamians don’t want to hear it. Which is another indicator that young Bahamains are only Bahamian by birth right because so many don’t know anything about their culture and what it maens to be Bahamian. There are many different styles of music in The Bahamas but Bahamian music is and shall forever be rake n’ scrap, calypso and reggae.

A vibrant means of expression, a tool to convey deep emotions of love, oppression and hate, music is an ever changing device of expression and shall continue to remain imbedded in the hearts of Bahamians and Bahamian culture. The only thing left to do is to educate Bahamians about their our history and our culture, because when you know who are, then you can appreciate everything that the Bahamas really means to Bahamians. Music in my opinion is like fine wine the older it is the better it is, so only those who can appreciate it can truly enjoy it.