Cohobblopot Analysis
MACHEL MONTANO CONQUORS CROP OVER
Lil Jon, Pitbull, TOK in Tow
FOX FOTOS: Machel Montano with surprise guests Lil Jon and Pitbull
headline Cohobblopot in Bridgetown, Barbados on August 3, 2008.
“NEW YORK, NY (RHONA FOX, INC.)- Soca superstar Machel Montano brought the excitement and thus the masses to the annual Crop Over celebrations in Barbados, last week. First with the bMobile EnVy concert on July 26, followed by the Brian Lara All-Inclusive Fete on August 2, then performing to a sold-out crowd at Cohobblopot on August 3, and finally hitting the street parade for Grand Kadooment on August 4, Montano was the face of Crop Over this year.”
As entertainers and Barbadians, we should note with concern the above international media report.I have been hearing local cultural administrators patting them selves on the back on a successful Cohobblopot and I have been seeing your comments as to how “ram” the show was. Let’s examine its success more closely shall we?
The National Cultural Foundation has a mandate to develop the Barbadian entertainment industry, I believe that’s what “National” means. To re enforce concepts that are suppose to help us define our bajan identity and highlight things that are Bajan. Cohobblopot 2008 failed miserably in that regard. As evidenced by the above excerpt NCF produced a show where bajan acts were relegated to second bananas “begging for a blight”, while Machel was paid the biggest fee and given the most performance time (2 hours) and the highest production budget. Our own Lil Rick had his stage time reduced to “five stinking minutes” as he described it. Other bajan acts had their time reduced which would have diminished their impact. Rupee’s set was interrupted several times to facilitate drawing the car.
There was not enough room in the budget for Bajan Alison Hinds or Mr Dale but enough for an American rapper.
Cohobblopot 2008 deviated so far from highlighting Barbadiana it was not funny, Bajans were on it but merely as supporting acts. While NCF achieved the objective of cohobblopot being a financial success, it was a cultural failure. In the opening review of the event they are not saying that Krosfyah, Lil Rick Asiba or RPB dominated the show, they say it was conquered by the Trinis’s and Americans. Instead of 100% bajan music being featured on radio stations as with previous Crop Overs, our national festival airplay time was now diluted with Trini music.It is not unknown that a Cohobblopot featuring 100% local acts would work, in the 1990’s the event was given to a private promoter and with only local entertainment being featured attendence went to over 25,000 patrons.
Any commercial promoter could have put on a show featuring every foreign Tom Dick Machel and Jon and generated money, the National Cultural Foundation had a further cultural responsibility which they needed to adhere to.
If during the reading of this blog there is any thing I might have written which might have incensed or offended you, GET OVER IT! There are many things I read and hear in the media on a daily basis that I don't like either. SO DEAL WITH IT! You are welcome to leave your comments though. Make sure and come back yuh hear !!!...
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August 11th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Party Monarch 2008 had 7,000 patrons and was 100% Bajan - but perhaps you’re right, maybe we need to stop the jingoism for survival and have a Caribbean Cultural Foundation - much the same as where Caricom allows Alison Hinds to perform all over the West Indies with no nationalistic outcry made? Or the same Krosfyah and Rupee?? Get the picture? Don’t take my word for it - type the previous names in conjunction with Trinidad and see what results pop up… Hint, jouvay-dot-com, etc.
August 11th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
While I not totally against having Machel I think its ridiculous to treat the local artists as second class on the billing. I mean a man like Lil Rick should be a headliner at a big show like that in Bim not reduced to 5 minutes. Same with Rupee.
If you featuring Machel make him a guest who will get a lil time segment dont pull him up and downpress the local man.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
It is interesting to have Machel in Barbados
but we the local calypsonians built this FESTIVAL and like Musikal from Trimart Hit Parade and formerly from Houe of Soca Calypso Tent , said in one of his songs–we forking ground for monkey to wuk pon–
Local CALYPSONIANS are getting nothing out of this Festival except envy from those who feel that Calypsonains are making all the money and getting all the attention. One of my early recordings was a song called FATHER HARRY which because of its air play and popularity at the time caused a certain person to feel that he should have gotten more money from me as a result of pre-production work done for me with respect to this song. s/he was of the misconception that I was making millions because the song was on the radio, in fetes and being played by other bands. ENVY stepped in. Envy has been a problem in Barbados and it causes people to ignore the contributions of others. However we the Calypsonians provided the market for calypso/soca/ragga soca and ragtag(what Pong and Contone does) -Yes RAGTAG.
If the market was not here people such as Machel would not come. I am saying that we the local CALYPSONIANS built up this market by fighting hard -yes fighting to keep the art form alive in Barbados.
We did so by spending a lot of money to pay arrangers, musicians , back-up vocalists, sound men and others to put on shows in the Tents and other places. CALYPSONAINS such as Lord Wilson who took his own money and gave others the opportunity to get exposure in a calypso tent by launching and managing Tents.
Pioneers and adventurers such as Mighty Herring, Viper, Liar, Gabby, Destroyer-(Keisha Christian’s Father), Romeo, Mighty Dragon, Addy -Addinton Forde, PJ Lovelle, Grynner, Jack Iron , Teller, Playboy, Devil (HERO), Sir Don, Pitchup, Adonijah, Serenader, Pompey, Cayenne,Traveller, Classic, Rubber Man, Fowl Foot, Lord Gander, Georgie, GEORGIE PORGIE, Hawk, Capricorn Star, Culture Man, Phantom, Elponsie,Ranking I -Kick, Ellashoe, Speedy, Lord Randy, Lord Mark, Invader#3, Buffalo Soldier(Asiba-The ), Bumba, Hitler, Ras Iley, Kennedy, Jeweller, Madd, Mystic,Termite, BlackPawn. Mighty Liar, Malick, Poonka, Reporter, Director, On Target, (Keann Walter’s Father), Duke Checked ED Shirt, Informer, Jadu, Commoner Blackie, Young Blood, Elbee, De Ripper, Pemmy,Plecky,President Wilson-(Lord Wilson’s brother), Prophet, Reclaimer, Ringo, Rocky, Sach Moore, Lord Sivers, Stalker, Structure, Caesar, Lady Anne, Lady Willpower, Froggie, Madame Syncho Tempo, Cherrie, Striver, Owly, Sweet-timer, Observer, Fono, Evey, Stevie, Richard X, Prince Yellow, De Devil- (grass skirt), AND OTHERS to be mentioned later.
NONE OF THESE PERSONS SHOULD BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED
August 12th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
While I have nothing against a T&T act doing a guest spot at Cohobblopot, I think it is utter nonsense that Machel was given 2 hours while some local acts were restricted to 5 minutes. And what the hell was Lil Jon - a hip hop artist - doing there. Absolute folly!!!! (I have nothing against Hip Hop).
The NCF needs to re-evaluate exactly what cohobblopot is supposed to be. Is it supposed to be the showpiece of our national festival or just a big show? If it is the former then I totally agree with you Boyce - they had a further cultural responsibility which they needed to adhere to - and they didn’t
August 12th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
By the way - We are all looking forward to the - MADD vs Peter Boyce and which one of wunna is lying about the ownership of Euphoria - analysis. ha ha ha LOL
August 13th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Sounds like “sour grapes” Boycevoice.
Great show by the way!