Versatility in Caribbean Music - English Speaking Countries.
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Versatility in The Bahamas presents itself in may different ways. According to the Tour de France, whether we like it or not, the cause of many of Caribbean cultural aspects is due to foreigners. Namely being colonized by the British. Some of the byproducts named by the book is the Goombay festival and Rake and Scrape.
Below is a picture depicting the basic members of a Rake and Scrape group.
By definition rake and scape is versatile. Tour de France describes traditional rake and scrape music by being played with an accordion, Bombay drum and a carpenters saw. The sound of metal scraping the metal saw is how the genre got its name. "Momma don't want no raking and scraping in here" is something you've probably heard at least once or twice if you don't live under a rock. Whether or not you're familiar with the genre you know the song. If you know the song you know exactly how good Rake and Scrape sounds. The versatility of Rake and Scrape exists in the instruments. Because you can use almost any combination of tools or metals the choices are endless.
I chose this video simply off of the vibe it gave me. Watching the video you can see the guy in the middle playing as if he doesn't care to be there but actually playing the accordion really well. The lady with the saw looks ecstatic to be there. The other lady seems as if she's beating that drum in order to save her life. I think this video encapsulates the energy of Rake and Scrape in its fullness.
Junkanoo
You're standing on Bay Street when you see the best Junkanoo group, The Valley Boys, marching down. You feel excitement then you feel joy and you can't help but dance. What is Junkanoo though? According to the Tour de France, it is the biggest event on the Bahamian calendar celebrated during the Christmas time. Junkanoo consists of dancers, Drummers, cowbell players, wind instruments and the list goes on. Junkanoo is perhaps the most versatile event you could experience.
Below is a picture of a group that has never lost but only cheated out of winning.
I chose this video because it was the last Boxing Day parade before the pandemic. It's also a very good pick in that it shows the landscape of what Junkanoo is all about. From the People in the stands dancing to the bass drummers slamming as hard as they can, there isn't anything missing out of this video.
Singing Bishop
For my own example of versatility, I chose the singing Bishop. The Singing Bishop does a myriad of things to entertain his congregation or those watching him. He dances, sings and goes on long comedic rants.
I chose this video because it shows both of what I explain about him in the introduction. He's dancing charismatically and singing. You can't help but watch in enjoyment.
References:
Cat Island Rake & Scrape Festival. The Bahamas. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://bahamasgeotourism.com/entries/cat-island-rake-scrape-festival/676b6a98-6735-45f9-8014-083e0d10c227
Islandboy1960. (2019, December 31). Valley boys boxing day junkanoo parade 2019 winners. YouTube. Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiRhqHVzWew
SaltyPaws. (2014, April 6). Bo Hog and the rooters - rake 'n' scrape now booking. YouTube. Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EvYKYqCoH4
TheFamtv. (2017, December 15). Famfest 2017 - bishop lawrence rolle & mother Rachel Mackey. YouTube. Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRTZyVMP0Pg
Updated: Valley boys take Junkanoo Crown. UPDATED: Valley Boys take Junkanoo crown. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2022, from http://www.tribune242.com/news/2019/dec/27/valley-boys-unofficial-boxing-day-winners/
This blog will discuss the creolization of music. Creolization is the intermixing of cultural aspects due to migration. More specifically I will focus on the creolization in The Bahamas. We experience it by way of our music in Junkanoo. Junkanoo is an originally African slave custom that has been adopted by The Bahamas. They creolization occurs in that the parade itself an African slave custom whereas the music and the way the parade operates is a Bahamian custom. http://flyairunlimited.com/2019/12/27/time-to-celebrate-the-junkanoo-festival/ https://youtu.be/D5ws7bNYMDY Religion in The Bahamas also has it variations of creolization. Methodism derives from London however, in The Bahamas its customs has be evolved to fit the Bahamian culture. https://youtu.be/BdbS_r0DbHM
Spanish culture is muy caliente. Every aspect of it is perfect. Spanish music is by far one of the most important forms of entertainment to be broadcast throughout the entire Caribbean. To narrow in, Cuban music is perhaps one of the most recognizable of all genres existing in the Caribbean and even the world. To narrow in even more, Cuban son which gives birth to salsa, is perhaps recognized by almost everyone in the world. In the Son category is Ibrahim Ferrer. He was one of the Son artists mentioned in the lecture video. Ibrahim was literally born to be a musician. He was born in a dance club, and after his mother died he sang on the streets. The music video or song I chose was Perfidia. The song is butter, smooth and cool. Even the musicians were smooth as they played. I even felt cool listening to the song. The song also translates to what I think of when I hear the word "son". Im not Spanish so I won't g...
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