Ayana John Winner of $5000 Got Rhythm Competition 

The GotRhythm.com eSoca Competition 2008 came to an end at mid-night August 8th. Congratulations to Ayana John for winning the inaugural competition with Kimberley Inniss in 2nd place and newcomers Rhea & JayCee in third. The order is as follow:

             Song                                          Artist      Prize
1.          Just The Way                          Ayana John         $5000
2.          Merry Go Round feat. Alicia    Kimberley Inniss     $2500
3.          Handle It feat JayCee             Rhea          $1250
4.          Nah Missin Meh                       Edwin Yearwood       
5.          Wrong Gal                                RPB
6.          Show Me                                   Kirk Brown       
7.          Dat Is What I Talkin’ Bout       Andy Armstrong (Blood)       
8.          In a Party Mood                        Hypa Soundz       
9.          Big Girls                                   Biggie Irie       
10.        Baby Oh Baby                          Adrian Clarke       

The producer of the winning song is Darron Grant and he will receive $1000.The customer who purchased the most downloads is Jackie Clarke with 428 downloads and she will receive a Video Camcorder. This competition attracted customers from Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Japan. Special mention must be made of Ikeda Kiyotaka (Kanagawa Japan) who purchased 80 downloads and was leading the customer download competition for over one month and was only passed during the last few days of competition.

The awards will be presented at The VIP Party, which will be held at Café Jungles in The Gap on August 30th. There will be performances by several Top 10 artists. Additionally all eSoca customers are eligible to enter the customer draw for a Blackberry Smartphone, Digital Camera and an MP3 player, which will be held at the VIP Party.

The eSoca competition ran from May 22nd – August 8th 2008, and a total of 189 songs from 126 artists were entered mostly from Barbados but there were entries from United Kingdom, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica. The winners were determined based on the number of songs purchased from GotRhythm.com. This competition is the first of it’s kind and Got Rhythm Inc. will present similar online competitions in other regional territories. The next eSoca competition is scheduled to kickoff in November and will be centered around T&T Carnival 2009. GotRhythm Inc. intends to continue to use technology in innovative ways to promote the music and art of the region by making it easily accessible to local, regional and international customers, in a manner that provides tangible revenue streams to artists and music producers.

Boyce note;Congrats to all the winners of the Got Rhythm from Boyce Voice!

Ayana please remember I was always a fan of yours and Darron Grant as administrator of Boyce Voice we are partners in any money prizes u benefit from..

Congrats to Got Rhythm management in orgainising this innovative competition to spruce up interest in their site and encourage more download sales…

As a collector of movies I have became quite concerned with this new format I now hear about movies now available in Blu Ray. Let me expand.
I started collecting movies from back in the 80’s so I have quite a collection of movies on the old VHS video tape format. All legitimate mind you, there’s no place for pirate copies in my collection. For those of you who don’t know what a VHS tape looks like, look at this….

So on VHS I have titles like Terminator 1 & 2, First Blood, There’s Something About Mary, Bowfinger, Face Off, Blues Brothers and more, like over 30 movies which for Barbados is quite a collection.

Then in the 90’s something came along called DVD Format, so then I had to switch to movies in this new improved format, had to buy a DVD machine then starting with the “Matrix” some of the same movies I had on the old VHS I had to re-purchase on the improved digitized DVDs albeit with extra features.

            My “Matrix DVD

So now I have quite a collection of DVD movies and feeling good, now I hearing bout something called Blu Ray. What the ass is Blu Ray now?  Now do I have to get a new Blu Ray machine and change my movie format again? Cheese on Bread!
I went checking up on this new Blu Ray Crap and here’s what I found….

Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of the world’s leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience.

I think for the time being I will skip that new HD experience; you could go bankrupt trying to keep up with technology. I think we should all make a stand and stick with the DVD format till we die, it’s cheaper…

You would have seen two newspaper ads that say that Peter Boyce is no longer associated with MADD Entertainment Co Ltd and that is true.                           

That has actually been true from January 2008 but is only now being published. Also you would have seen some contentious articles as it relates to the “Euphoria” name Madd and Corporate Affairs etc; I would refer you to the statement which was released by Santia Bradshaw on behalf of Euphoria Inc to shed more light on that issue.       
The 25 year association between Boyce and Madd has come to an end, there have been good times, there have been badd times and they have been madd times, but those times are now ended. 
From what is stated in the media it would appear that never in the 25 years I was associated with Madd Entertainment there was ever a benefit I brought to the entity and if that is how it is perceived, ok.                 
At points in your life you realize its time to move on and that’s what you do, that’s what I have done….                
Boyce has left the Madd Entertainment building…

Local entertainment company, Euphoria Inc. looks set to stage one of the hottest casts of  Barbadian artistes and bands for Crop Over 2008. At a time when all eyes and ears patiently await the release of music from Barbados’ top entertainers and producers, the organisers of Euphoria will pay tribute to the Barbadian contingent of musical ambassadors who have dominated the soca industry in recent times whilst at the same time providing a platform for several emerging artistes. 

The all star line up which will feature performances from soca diva Alison Hinds, Edwin Yearwoord, Khiomal and Adrian Dutchin of Krosfyah, Lil Rick, Peter Ram, Biggie Irie, Mr. Dale,Blood, Rameses and Jabae 
will join Contone, Pong, Fraud Squad, Stabby the Guard, Versiwile, Unda Dawg and many others at the Wildey Gymnasium on the 3rd August, 2008. DJ’s will include Jon Doe, Dave Smooth, Bubbles and Hurricane.

“The organisers promise that this event will empower all Barbadians to support Bajan brands particularly at a time when the changes in the global economy are likely to impact on the earning capacity of all Barbadians. We need to support each other now more than ever as a demonstration of our collective strength as a people but more importantly we need to create viable platforms to promote, market and exploit the talent of our artistes.Events such as Euphoria are a true demonstration of a Bajan brand which contributes positively to the entertainment sector and to the wider Barbadian economy,” states torganisers.   

Early bird tickets will start at at an affordable price at $30.00.

For more updates and a full line up of the confirmed artistes log on to www.pyramidartists.com for more information

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,

 

Big Beautiful and Happy

If you think Big is Beautiful more power to you! I read in the media that the organiser of the annual Miss Big and Beautiful Beauty pageant lamenting on the challenges and obstacles which stand in her way.

Lead by people like health professional Dr Henry Frazier, the competition has received some harsh criticism for featuring full size (aka fat) women as encouraging obesity and a lifestyle that leads to heart disease.

One of the innovations that promoter spoke of putting place was the requirement that all the “Big” women in the pageant MUST join a gym.
Now to me that doesn’t make any sense, obviously women following that advice will get smaller which seems to go against concept of being “Big and Beautiful”. If you are going to the gym how will you make that 200 lb minimum weight requirement to enter the competition?

The promoter should not sway from her principles, she needs to “screw her courage to the sticking place”
If you believe that being Big is Beautiful Stand Up for it!
If Asiba and other skinny starve out people don’t like fat girls, that’s their frigging business.
They are men out there who will do any thing for a plus size woman so who the ass are you to say they are not beautiful.
Remember Captain Sawyer 2005 calypso about how he likes them “Big and Fat and Thick”? that is the national anthem for some men.
If I was the promoter I wouldn’t change a damn thing, in fact I would be promoting my contest and my girls will be better and bigger than ever and if you don’t like that well you know what you can kiss, that’s big too!

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.

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”

This is not R.Kelly!! (he says it isn’t him)

Why did so many African-American women support R. Kelly?

I came across this article in Newsweek magazine which highlighted a phenomenon that I had already noticed.
When the R.Kelly verdict was announced there were all these women who had gathered around the court to show their support for the singer who were ecstatically happy on hearing the “not guilty verdict. They danced a jig like in my previous post!
The article focused that despite the overwhelming video tape pornographic evidence which featured him having sex and urinating on an underage black girl, black women stanchly defended him.
I find that concept to be amazing, wha I gun left home and go in a court yard talking bout I supporting R.Kelly? Wha I know something bout he?
Maybe he flipping well do it…
If that were you on that video tape do you feel you would have gotten off? Alright then!
On how women go to court supporting these high profile characters I have a parallel I would like to put to you to make a point.
Remember years ago when they had the Chico and Mac situation here in Barbados?
They were some foreign male strippers who came down here and did a show for the bajan females, the women loved them! And I mean that literally.
After Chico and Mac were arrested for their dastardly salacious acts Bajan women turned up in droves in the court yard to show their support for the strippers.
Men now, would go and watch women strippers, throw money at them, and if the price is right have sex with them.
When the female strippers get arrest you think you would see men in court talking bout them supporting them?
In fact a man would say “don’t call my name hear!” and would walk pass like he never see the woman in his life.
My theory is women fall in love and just feel the need to go out and support these people blindly.
I guess that’s what they mean when they say “Love is blind”.

Ps: by the way the Mac I mentioned above is not Mac Fingall, just so you know…