He might be wrong and he usually is, but this week during an interview on CBC radio he was dead right… Well let’s say just “right”.
Blogging about veteran entertainer Smokey Burke and some comments in an interview with Admiral that was literally right on the money.
 Smokey stated that because of the support the United States entertainment industry got from its government, the sector in turn generated billions of dollars and contributed greatly to the U.S economy annually.             
Boyce agrees with this statement one billion percent!
The U.S government supports the industry without getting involved and unfairly competing against the people in it.   In 2007 the movie industry grossed over $9.7 billion in ticket sales, yet you will never hear Condlezza Rice or Vice President Cheney planning to produce  movies and get involved in the entertainment business, they leave that to the persons who specialise and make their living in that sector.   
In Barbados there seems to be perennial mindset by certain misguided officials that Government should be using its awesome power and might to extinguish and crush entrepreneurial cultural spirit. The current Crop Over showdown now on of the mighty government Cohobblopot vs. local entertainers Euphoria event is a blatant example of that perversion of power. 

Looking for a place to take your chile* this Saturday?
(*Chile is Bajan for Child)
Well Pyramid Entertainment has a special kids event on 19th July 2008 which you can read about below….If you notice how well it is written its because I didn’t write it, it’s a press release they sent Boyce Voice….

The spacious grounds of the Plantation Garden Theatre will be transformed into a fantasy playground with activities which include rock climbing, jumping tents, a petting zoo, train rides, face painting, balloon artistes, several games and special guest appearances throughout the evening by various children’s television characters. The evening will climax with a showdown of performances by some of the season’s hottest soca artistes - Lil Rick together with his son the Unda Dawg, Peter Ram, “Soca Queen” Alison Hinds, Mr. Dale, Biggie Irie, Philip 7 of the band Masala, Statement, William Watts, Buggy, the Fraud Squad, twin brothers Barry & Bruce Chandler of the Jabae band, Shanta Prince, Hypasounds, John Mahameed, Stabby the Guard and Nard to name a few.

CEO of Pyramid Entertainment, Santia Bradshaw

noted that, “the event was inspired by the participation of several of the artistes on the Pyramid roster at various children’s parties and children homes during Trinidad carnival to promote their music. During our last visit to Trinidad, Lil Rick, Peter Ram, Mr. Dale and Biggie Irie were so overwhelmed by the reaction of children to their music and the opportunity to meet and take photographs with them that they insisted that we not only host an event of this nature in Barbados but also to donate all profits to a children’s charity.”
Based on the overwhelming public response to this initiative by some of Barbados’ most loved entertainers, this event is likely to become an annual event during the Crop Over season. The demands of the entertainment industry often takes several of the artistes away from their families in order to make a living. Our intention is to create an event which allows the artistes to give back to the community and also to provide an outlet for the artistes to enjoy a fun filled day of activities with their families as well,” Bradshaw added.
Admission to the event is $20.00 per person and entitles all ticket holders (adults and children) to five (5) passes which can be redeemed for access to any of the activities, food and drinks. The event is slated to start at 1 pm and finish at 7pm.
All profits from the event will be donated to the Children’s Variety club,

 

“

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

Where is the Controversy this Crop Over?
I am hearing that question at the Beach, at the Supermarket and at the shows…

People have been writing letters to the media asking in an almost adamant manner where is the controversy.

I am constantly being asked “Boyce wha happen? Wha I ent hearing you this year?”
It was the basis of a newspaper article just last week. In that interview I shed some light on why I had not been keeping noise and explain how I had been doing things differently. It’s almost like I have had to come up with an excuse as to why I have not been fulfilling my usual nefarious role.
The people seem vexed and annoyed. 

There are some people who are of the firm belief that in order for Crop Over to be succussfull there must be controversy, I have even heard that back in the 80’s the then NCF would strategically plan with key calypsonians creating controversial issues at key times to stimulate interest in the festival.For all the years I have been around previous NCF CEO Estwick has never called me and said “lets stir up some trouble Boyce!” I am almost hurt.

So I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere apologies this year for not stirring up any trouble.I apologise for not attacking NCF and Government nor cursing anybody’s ass.

But wait a minute….
To all you controversy lovers out there, all my fans who follow Boyce contentious issues with “Days of our lives” fanaticism, there is still hope on the horizon. Soon there is a possibility you will get your hearts desire, after all what is Crop Over without controversy.
I might soon have to withdraw my apology!

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. 

Admiral MC Nelson

Mac Fingall, Trevor Eastmond and KB Kleen watch out!
I happen to catch a piece of Admiral Nelson MCing “De Big Show” calypso tent this weekend and he was pretty damn excellent.
His joke delivery and comedic timing was impeccable.
Also impressive was his deportment from the time he stepped on the stage with his dazzling white suit he made a statement.
A statement he verbalised when he told the audience they would not miss Mac Fingall because “the Admiral was here”.

As you would know Admiral Nelson is more known for his “Festival Stage” radio show, where his acerbic and critical tongue has been used on many a calypso tent.
He would therefore know that if he were to make a mistake and not be a good mc, he would have had hell to pay. So he had no choice but to come up to the mark.

You would have seen Admiral as an MC for the Banks Cable and Wireless Vintage Cavalcades where he more dispensed historical calypso information with little jokes. But last night he made his intro with a comedic commentary on the different kind of sex people have in their kitchen bathroom and bedroom and established an immediate connection to the audience. It appeared most of the people there had engaged in sex at some time or the other and knew what he was talking about.

Admiral stated it was his objective to host the calypso finals and if his performance in “De Big show” is any thing to go by, that could easily be a reality.

Did you see me on TV last night? Yuh Idiot! Making comments about my Visit to Llaro court to meet the Prime Minister of Barbados. I was part of the entertainment industry who met with the PM to make submissions to his drafting of the budget.
I have the official statement entered below but I will also give you a Boyce Voice exclusive behind the scenes commentary.
Lets start with my pictures….

That’s beautiful ent it? That is like the yard of Llaro Court taken from the back porch where we were sitting, don’t you wish you had a yard like that?  It looks like one of those picture post cards somebody send you from over in away. But its taken right here in Barbados the most beautiful garden you ever saw.

Speaking of beautiful here’s me and Santia, while it is true I am beautiful right now I am refering to Santia who is the head of Pyramaid Entertainment who attended the consultation.

Who was also beautiful that was there was the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Natasha King, not that I am looking but if I were, I would look for her. I apologise for not having a picture of her as I would have been holding her too and that would have been good.

Lets go into my one dissapointment of the visit, you know I can’t keep, I was so vex then.

As we were waiting we were offered drinks and i asked for powerade AND THERE WAS NONE!

Heres me after I did not get my Powerade, I almost left, I was going to ask for Bakes but I decided not to push it

Here is the Entertainment delegation Norman Barrow,President of Batman Sinclair Gittens and Michael Agard manager of Krosfyah, never go any place with Norman, he gets all the damn kisses, thats the second reason I almost left…

Heres the group again this time with Jan, why is Jan smiling like a cheshire cat? She got the drink she wanted,if I had gotten the drink I wanted I would have been happy too, but smiling like a tom cat..

 Heres the offical press release I put out:…

On Wednesday 25th June a delegation representing the entertainment industry met with the Prime Minister at Llaro Court to make recommendations as the PM prepares for his budget speech.

This delegation consisted of Norman Barrow, Santia Bradshaw, Peter Boyce, Hilana Layne, Michael Agard of Krosfyah and Sinclair Gittens the President of BATMAN.

In our non traditional industry, entertainment. We are not usually included in discussions at this level and we were thankful for the opportunity and that the PM should see us as important a sector to invite.

Discussions were frank and productive and we were able to make submissions that would be  beneficial not only for cultural industries but to the Barbados economy as a whole.

I beleive that statement speaks for it self, In terms of going into more depth as to what was discussed and the proposals which were put forward, NO!
You so malicious then you does get me sick, you want to know every thing, if you are nice I might tell you some time later

I apologise for not having a picture of me and Prime Minister David, and I know there are some people out there who would say I really did’nt meet him, but i did honest…

Peter “who met the prime minister ‘Boyce is moving away from the computer…

The little Rick leadeth his son

I mentioned it in passing but I felt the need to go back and expand on it.
Blogging about the concept of the Hypa Dog and the Under Dog duet which consists of Little Rick inducting his real life son to the 2008 Crop Over stage.

I see this as a significant event and I will tell you why because I usually do. And you usually read it as you have nothing else to do.

Little Rick whether you like it or not, is looked up too as a role model by a majority of Barbadian youth.
His widespread popularity is evidenced by the huge listener ship of his Guinness radio rush hours and the dominance of his music among the youthful demographic speaks to this fact.
Often you hear Lil Rick’s influence mentioned in a negative light usually at government consultations where it is often stated he is leading the youth astray promoting alcohol and wuckless music.
How ever you must consider this.

There is a widely accepted practice among young Barbadian males of getting their girlfriends pregnant and then leaving them to raise the children alone with out living up to their responsibilities as fathers.

Lil Rick therefore by publicly acknowledging his role as a father is providing a positive role model to the misguided wuckless men out there who need to be shown the way.

So those Lil Rick detractors who are always pulling him down need to take note of that.

Son of Little Rick “the Under Dog”