Here’s one of the burning issues you want me to deal with, Euphoria 2008.             

Regardless of the financial results of the event, its existence is essential to challenging the commercial government strong hold which continues to be maintained on Crop Over the night before kadooment.               
Let’s look at some of Euphoria’s achievements, because of this event there were many Bajan acts included on Cohobblopot that would have been left off.     
The last minute inclusion of 2008 Pic o de Crop monarch Adrian Clarke is an example of this. It was only after Euphoria added him to our line up and started promoting this, did cohobblopot follow suit. It had become the norm for several years that the Pic o De Crop monarch was no longer included in the cohobblopot event.          
The fact that Euphoria was able to overcome the obstacles speaks to the fact that entrepreneurial involvement is being allowed in the festival.                       
Stated government policy supports efforts like euphoria, but certain key individuals are deviating from the policy for their own ends. (If you have a key in your pocket maybe its you)                      
Euphoria offered an opportunity that artistes who were not included on Cohobblopot could still work, it also offered a competitive alternative in terms of ticket prices. If not for the technical challenges, we would have achieved our objective entertainment wise and not have lost out on the flow of patrons who had started to enter the venue.                                    
We want to thank the Prime Minister for endorsing Euphoria publicly and his assistance and Senator Irene Sandiford Garner for attending the event.                             
Euphoria’s misfortune was daring to challenge a government statutory entity which was willing spare no expense of tax payers money to crush a private sector effort.                     
Euphoria’s fortune is that there is still a government intent to truly assist, develop and involve the entrepreneur in Crop Over.

Euphoria Inc would also like to thank our sponsors Starcom Network, Eqity Insurance and major sponsor The Plantation Garden Theatre, with out them and others who assisted and gave advice behind the scenes, the event would not have been possible.

Coming up:Cohobblopot Analysis

Just to show there is no hard feelings, this morning I am going to give Cohobblopot some free promotion! Lets focus on the latest addition to the Crop Over National Festival Cohobblopot, American Rap artiste Lil Jon.
Lets take some time to peruse some lyrics of Mr lil Jon, here”s his song ‘Bitches aint Sh*t’.

Back in the days i use to like bitches
But i tell you now days bitches aint sh*t
And if you wonder why i say this
I’ve had a lot of women and bitches think they slick
Sneakin’ around f**kin’ around whenever were not around
Actin’ all sophisticated spending money that she didnt make
I get so mad that i could slap her actin like she cleopatra
Aint no need to ask shes a slave to tha money and im the master  
Thats why i smoke sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
Dont let no girl no bitch (hey) no man no nigga get in my way
I keep my gun with me (always) for peace i keep it right by my side
Big nate long beach we’ll keep Lil’ Jon tight beat

Whoa, that is what you call hard hitting lyrics, I now see why Soca Queen Alison Hinds and Mr Dale could not get on Cohobblopot. Decision makers at the National Cultural Foundation have F@#king out done them selves in their attempt to deepen our cultural awareness. I take my F@#king hat off to them, I am learning something from Lil Jon already…

Here are the official results of the 2008 Crop Over preliminaries sent to Boyce Voice from the NCF, those of you who think we are not friends are wrong, check the results….  

19 –PIC-O-DE CROP SEMI-FINALISTS 2008
All Stars   Adrian Clarke    Adrian Clarke
All Stars   Ronnie Clarke    De Announcer
Bacchanal Time  Charles Smith    Romeo
Bacchanal Time  William Waithe    Classic
Bacchanal Time  David Piggott    Kid Site
Bacchanal Time  Rameses Browne    Rameses
De Big Show  Anthony Carter    Gabby
De Big Show  John King     John King
De Big Show  Sheldon Hope    Sheldon Hope
De Big Show  Clairmonte Pilgrim   Pompey
Headliners   Anderson Armstrong   Blood
Headliners   Ishiaka McNeil    Ishiaka McNeil
House Of Soca  Jude Clarke     Hee Haw
Super Gladiators  Andre Inniss    Dre
Super Gladiators  Patricia Noel    Lady Isha
The Experience  Chrystal Cummins-Beckles  Chrystal
The Experience  Margaret Holder    Enobong
The Experience  Rommell Hall    Rommel
The Experience  Mathew Clarke    De Original Clarke Dan
Trimart Hit Parade Anderson Ward    Mr. Impact

19 – PARTY MONARCH FINALISTS 2008
TENT    NAME     SOBRIQUET
All Stars   Kimberley Inniss    Kimberley Inniss
All Stars   Miguel White    Miguel
Bacchanal Time  Khiomal Nurse    Khiomal
Bacchanal Time  Justin King     Justin King
Bacchanal Time  Donella Weekes    Donella
Bacchanal Time  Rameses Browne    Rameses
Bacchanal Time  Peter Wiggins    Peter Ram
De Big Show  Natalie Burke    Nathalee
De Big Show  Stedson Wiltshire    RPB
De Big Show  Terencia Coward-Thompson  T C
De Big Show  Ryan Chase     Buggy
De Big Show  Jafar Burnett-Burnett   Jafar
Headliners   Michael Mercer    Mikey
Headliners   Anderson Armstrong   Blood
Headliners   Dale Rudder    Mr. Dale
House Of Soca  Jude Clarke and Owen John  Hee Haw & Dragon Slayer
House of Soca  Daniel Borman    Jimmy Dan
House of Soca  Owen John     Dragon Slayer
Tomorrow’s Children Jamar Bradshaw    Jay-B

Reigning Monarch
Headliners   Ricky Reid     Lil’ Rick

RESERVE
De Big Show  Elenza Brewster    Serenader

“

Like sands in the hour glass”
“So are the “Days of our Controversial Lives”

I hope you are happy now…
All those people who have been harassing and all the media who have been constantly dropping remarks…
I told you I would soon have to withdraw my controversy apology. Yesterday’s broadcast media heralded my Boyce announcement that the controversial “Euphoria” event is on, As usual on the same night as Cohobblopot.
I also made some statements as to how authorities were forcing artistes to sign exclusive contracts in order to prevent Euphoria from going on. On one hand you have offical statements being made stating events will be given out to allow the private cultural industries to get involved in Crop Over.

On the other hand you have underhanded nasty tactics being used maintain control of the most prized Crop Over asset aka “Cohobblopot”. I understand they are attempting to get people to sign off on 2 year agreements, which means they dont have any intention of releasing control any time in the near future. But yet people standing up in front a microphone and talking bout encouraging entreprenuers to get involve in Crop Over, it makes my ass sick.

So it can be officially stated that you have come to the end of your quiet time ladies and gentlemen, its time to kick some ass!
The immediate reaction I have been getting from people is” I know he couldn’t help”; he could not let a whole Crop Over go and not cause no problems”.
I am pretty disappointed you had no faith in me, I knew I couldn’t do it, but I am hurt that you didn’t think I could.
They are several things that are wrong with that Cohobblopot scenario,Things that need to be spoken to,
so let’s speak to them then!

Stay tuned to Boyce Voice and the media for more, as we commence in what can be termed another episode in the “Days of our Controversial Lives”.

I have been standing in bedazzled wonderment at the metamorphosis of the event which is known to be the climax of our Crop Over festival aka “Cohobblopot”.

It morphs and morphs and morphs, like a “Terminator” special effect.
First cultural authorities started out by saying there would be NO trini acts headlining crop over events that the government staged. 

Then they changed their position and announced that Machel Montano from Trinidad was going to be headliner.
Alright that’s one trini in the “pot” because of Caricom and all that. All right we went on.

Next I see in the media, Trinidadians Patrice Roberts and David Rudder are now being added to be all headliner acts of Cohobblopot, also I hear that Sparrow and Farmer Nappy are included some where in the mix as well.
That’s quite a change in position that started out NO TRINIS will be headlining Cohobblopot.
Next I read that negotiations are now being finalised to include the Brian Lara fete in Cohobblopot. OK then!
There is so much Trini injection into our Cohobblopot that all that is needed to complete the transformation is an appropriate name which optimizes the metamorphosis taking place. Boyce has a suggestion … “Trini-Pot”!
It’s short, to the point and captures the essence of the now diluted event, and best of all its easier to spell…

P.s or what about this one… The “Trini- Metamorphosis-pot”,  thats if you must have a long name

The Perennial Red Plastic Bag

Have you been hearing all the heehaw and debate that has been occurring because the National Cultural Foundation decided to honour Red Plastic Bag for the contribution he made to calypso?

Things like this get me sort of lost, how can that be misconstrued as a bad thing?
How can local calypsonians be complaining because a local calypsonian is being honored?
So what if Bag is in the competition this year does that in some way negate the contribution he has made to calypso over the years?
If the NCF were to honour Trinidadian calypsonian Shadow or wait till Machel came down here and honored him I would see why people would have a problem with that.

Red Plastic Bag would have revoloutionised Bajan calypso when he started in 1982, with hits such as “Mr Harding” “They Publish it” “can’t find me brother” and more.
He is a perennial calypso stalwart who not only could win a calypso crown back in 1982 but in 2007 and possibly 2008.
If Red Plastic Bag can’t be honored for the contribution he has made to calypso in this country, then who can be?

The pugnacious and vehement discourse which has erupted from NCF’s decision to honour “Bag” is a reminder of one of the songs he wrote that I mentioned above, the fact that some people don’t just “publish-it“ they “talk it” as well. 

“De cavalcades now start”

”Dat was the best cavalcade ever”

These are just a few of the comments Supreme Events has been getting in response to the special vintage “back in time” Banks Cable and Wireless cavalcade held in lowlands st Lucy on Saturday.

Rpb Gryner Gabby Romeo John King, Director Poonka mash up the place and now like Gryner the people are saying “we want more”.

It is amazing that the biggest response we would have received from the cavalcades so far would have been to the “old” music on Saturday night. It shows Barbadians have a special place in their heart for songs like “Brother Fuzzy” “Jack” and “Mr. T”

 Michael Forde aka Director also did a very effective folk music presentation which was well received by the audience. Also MC Admiral Nelson was effective and entertaining at the same time with DJ’s Radar and Mikey Mix who did a special “back in time” musical appearance.

One of the challenges of the Lowlands St Lucy venue was how to attract patrons to a site that was pretty much out of the way and the vintage Cavalcade did just that.

Congrats to the National Cultural Foundation for making sure there is a place for ALL calypsos in the Banks Cable and Wireless Cavalcades for 2008 including vintage.

One of the innovations which was announced at the recent Crop Over Breakfast launch was the addition of another kadooment route.

What do you think about the splitting of the route?
 A friend of mine who regularly goes down to Trinidad carnival expressed this concern.
He said that unlike Trinidad, Barbados does not have massive costume bands and to split them on the route would even more diminish their visual impact and take away from the Spectacle of Kadooment.

On the other hand splitting the bands might lead to a more manageable and safer event where the police might be happy and revelers have more fun.

What do you think? One route or Two?

As we previously said the Sponsors Breakfast stage at Sherbourne Center on Tuesday by NCF while “bakeless’ was other wise an impressive launching of Crop Over 2008.
The Chairman of the NCF spoke, Minister of Culture spoke but I was especially impressed with the speech given by Prime Minister David Thompson.

In his speech the PM stated “I fully endorse the work that the National Cultural Foundation is doing, but I am hoping that over time they can hand over some of those activities to the management of new players who can truly make it a national festival,”

I have already stated my “Euphoric” joy in hearing of this new policy of the current government in contrast to the exploitive agenda which existed before.

Of course as commented by P’ Oui any one can say any thing but you must wait and see if they will follow through with action. What impressed me with the speech was not just the content, but the knowledge that what was being stated was already being put into practice.
Example; my involvement working with the NCF coordinating Cavalcades, one year ago would you have guessed that the culturally nefarious Peter Boyce would be the point person for the government’s inaugural Crop Over event? That’s an example of private enterprise being utilized.
Another Example “Cohobblopot” the premiere revenue generating gem of our national festival, I happen to know NCF is right now reviewing tenders to give out a concession for that event to be done by a private promoter. That is something that would never have happen before. “Give away we biggest money earner? Wuh You is a idiot?” That talk done, new policy in place!
This opens the door that fledging young promoter talent like Ronnie Morris, Chris Harper, Andy John and more can get involve with the festival.

So in the case of PM David he is not just doing the talk but “walking the walk”,

The prestigious Sherbourne Center

Where were the bakes?      That is the question I asked when I attended the “Sponsors breakfast” yesterday morning at Sherbourne Center hosted by the Government and NCF.

In case you don’t know, the “Sponsors Breakfast” is an annual event where the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) invites sponsors to breakfast with the objectives of wooing them with highlights of the coming Crop Over season and hopefully acquire their financial support through sponsorship.Or the government gives sponsors some hot tea in an effort to help them “brek de air” and “brek some money” at the same time…

The presentation of the ‘Breakfast event” was impressive, the entertainment was excellent especially the multimedia piece performed by Merle Niles and Jennifer Walker. Prime Minister David Thompson was there along with Minister of Culture Steve Blackette, the NCF Chairman, CEO and a cadre of government ministers.

NCF Corporate Communications officer Wayne Simmons performed M.C duties and along with media specialist Doug Hoyte presented the 2008 Crop Over theme for this year “We Ready”.

Will go into what the Prime Minister said tomorrow but today I want to focus on a more important point. The food served at the event was excellent with eggs, fried plantain, fruit and other breakfast gastronomical delicacies. Except for one thing, look as I may I could not find any bakes….! Fish cakes were there, but no “bakes” that popular bajan delicacy from years ago made with flour and water.

Come to think about it I have never been to a function and been served “bakes”, that needs to change. NCF being the vanguard of our culture needs to take the lead in this indigenous food matter. Next time we have a traditional Bajan breakfast, I want to see some bakes…!

Otherwise Great Event, Can’t wait for Crop Over 2008!

Tomorrow; The PM say dat…….. (to be continued)