Timeless Question; Is it time for Rihanna to Soca?
It is “time” for Rihanna to do a Soca song and put the genre on the international map”, that’s the “Timeless” position being put out by Ronnie Morris from the Barbados Music Awards.
Ronnie has been getting quite a bit of heat for this on my Facebook page and my FB friends Joyann and Marva insist I must make a comment so I am Boycing it.
I admire what Ronnie has done with the BMA’s and recognizing the contribution of Bajan artistes both old & new, Obviously he has a passion for our Soca music and would wish to see it grow and that is why he would have made his comment.
However I do not agree that Rihanna an obligation to do Soca music or any other Bajan genre.
The point was well made by Mark on FB, why should Rihanna target 3 million people in the Caribbean when you can target 300 million internationally.
She will release a Soca song and do what, try to win “Tune of the Crop”? When instead she could be on the top of the Billboard charts.
I think we should all be extremely proud of Rihanna and how she promotes Barbados.
She was on Rick Dee’s the other day and guess what? She shouted out Barbados and let Rick know that we listen to him here.
That is the kind of publicity you can’t buy.
When she wins awards and international attention is on her, she shouts “Barbados!!” Christ, what more do you want!?
It is noteworthy that many of the international potentials who perform at B.M.A’s do not do Soca.
The reason they choose ballads is because that’s what the international scouts are looking for.
So it’s therefore unfair for us to expect Rihanna to sing a “come and wine pun my bumpa“ song.
What Rihanna needs to do is keep on being successful and hailing Barbados and as Bajans we need to appreciate it more.
Kudos again to Ronnie and the great job he has been doing with the B.M.A’s helping to also put Barbados entertainment on the international map.
Boyce Note; if Rihanna ever does decide to do a Soca collaboration, there’s a popular artiste known as “Ali Singh” that might try a thing with her…
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 !!!...
January 20th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Rihanna with the help of her marketing team has carved out a unique niche for herself over the last three years, and soca really does not fit into what she is doing now. Were she to venture into that genre now it could kill her career overnight.