What’s on in the Caribbean – TnT 2014 Film Festival

Antigua’s best marks his 50th…

(ORIGINALLY POSTED July 2012)

ST.JOHN’S, Antigua – As part of the ongoing 50th Anniversary Celebrations for Sir McLean “King Short Shirt” Emanuel, the 50th Anniversary Committee on Saturday, June 16, 2012, under the theme, “WE ARE THE ONES…” will host a “Black-tie” gala at Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa, where Sir McLean’s peers will gather to pay tribute to him, for his tremendous contribution to Antigua and Barbuda’s development, particularly in the Tourism and Entertainment industries.

Read about the calypso heavyweights set to perform and more here.

Meanwhile, let’s begin the celebration here. Name your favourite Short Shirt songs and why you like ’em?

LAST UPDATED (December 2013):

I’ll start with some of mine. Click the link to hear the song. As for what I like: lyrics that speak to me, music that moves me.

Press on –

“Take your burden on your shoulders
Gird your loins and walk with pride
Yield not your soul to fill your bowl
Better death than live a lie
For they must dry the sea
And they must move the sky
Before the righteous spirit die…”

Power and Authority –

“When they have power and authority
they don’t give a damn about nobody
prostituting the island to all and sundry
they peddling my people’s rights
exploiting, oppressing, less freedom more suffering…”

Nobody go run me –

“Night and day ah ketching hell
People think ah doing well
Just because ah sing a few calypso
But that is my misery
Calypso don’t make money
But most of them don’t know…

…

Me mumma mus nyam
Me puppa mus nyam
Me woman mus nyam
Me picnee mus nyam”

Fire –

De Fyah
De fyah coming after
Don’t you see them smoking
Don’t worry
Let they go ahead and prosper
Because their smoke it will not last forever
Man it’s blowing in the wind
And when it blows away
Fire”

Summer Festival –

“Our white sandy beaches
Our smiling faces
So they won’t want to go home
Enjoy it the Caribbean
Most colourful
Summer festival

…

“They hear about jouvert
If you see them prowling for a band

…

Some are wearing tear up pajamas
Big boots and sneakers
with oversize trousers
Zip up panties
Half slip and nighties
Like if they don’t plan to go home”

Racan –

“Racan wid the red herring in he hand”

Tourist Leggo –

“What a glorious symphony’
the music seems to fill you with rage
and make you feel like you on a stage”

When –

“ah search and ahsearch but ah cant’ find either purity grace or truth in mankind

sometimes I feel like ah want to scream”

Pledge –

“the dreams of our fore fathers have finally come through
And the battle that they have fought
Are now benefiting me and you
If you really want to show your appreciation
Raise your voices with me
And this pledge let’s sing along”

The list could go on …Lamentation, Kong, Antigua Well Redeemed, Not by Might…other personal favourites…but how’s that for a start?

How will you be spending Valentine’s Day?

Coming Soon