Bahamian Music

[NassauRocks]

I am a very proud citizen of the Bahamas. I am temporarily residing in Florida for educational purposes. I try my best to share my Bahamian Heritage with others who are interested. I share our famous foods with the American students and anyone else who would be willing to try them. But one thing I will keep to myself is my Bahamian Music I sometimes listen to, to remind me of home when I'm home-sick. I am not proud to say it but our music realy sucks sometimes. I listen to Rap, Reggae, Hip-Hop and R&B. You can realy turn these music up in your car or house and enjoy yourself. But you hardly can with Bahamian Music. Most of it is foolishness! I grew up living off wolf rd and every car I heard outside my window was playing nice loud reggae. You know the addrenelin rush you get when you play a nice hard reggae song loud. Doesn't that feel good. But how would you feel playing Bahamian music that loud. There are a few Bahamian songs I love to play loud, like stagalee and junkanoo by bahamen. But the older guys like eddie minnis, phill stubbs, and others should either step aside and let the younger generation add their two cents to Bahamian music of make better music that makes more sense. The subjects of these songs are of good nature but the lyrics and the beats are horendous! It sound like crap! I mean it realy sucks! These artists should put down the shakers, stop beating on the tin drums and develope something unique that the Bahamas hasn't heard before. What is rake-n-scrape? Junkanoo music is somewhat on the right track but the instruments used to make the songs are either used incorrectly or shouldn't be used at all. I don't know what these so called artists are hearing when they go to the junkanoo but while I was there the music was so loud with the whistle the drums and the cowbells that it sounded a little like listening to heavymetal real loud. If you was to play some heavy metal real loud you would notice that all you have to do is change the rythm a little and it would be the equivelent of being at the junkanoo. What I am trying to get at here is that junkanoo music should be leaning a little towards heavy metal rock-n-roll and away from soca. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we should start making rock-n-roll music but a little work to junkanoo and an electrical guitar should fix the problem. I wish I knew how to send a musical link over this site so I can show you guys what I'm talking about. Imaging the loud bass of a goatskin drum, the electricity of an electric guitar and the blend of a synthasizer combined with a Bahamian twist. All that will be left is for the vocalist to have a nice voice to go along with it.
And fix up on the lyrics.

[islandgyal]

i have to agree with you that so much of the bahamian music played on zns especially is pretty bad, but don't give up. new songs and albums from groups like courage band, brilanders, hogheads are all sounding good and are easy to crank.

they all getting nice airplay on island fm, which is cool, but more bahamians need to look beyond the obvious hitmakers to unearth the good music out there ... rotty ferguson of eleuthera is another solid musicmaker, playing at bottom harbour club every weekend

[Junkanoo Princess]

I find the perspective of NassauRocks and islandgyal quite interesting. Although I have always loved all types of music, junkanoo has alwys been my favorite. Also, I happen to think rap sucks but, I respect the fact that others like NassauRocks and my own children be to differ! Since relocating, I will say that I have grown to like all music made by Bahamians. You see, the way I look at it, while I agree that the quality fo the productions is poor and manyof hte lyrics lame, it is exactly these two things that gives me casue to listen. That's when I know I am really listening to a Bahamian musician! I agree that if Bahamin musicians wnat to make it in the musci aren thay must improve on the quality of what they contirubte. However, I say "You gat me tinking" and the likes keeps me laughing and reminds me of home so much I can stand more of the same! I often tell my husband that what is unique about Bahamian artists is that they can "take anyting and call it song!" BTW NassauRocks, I encourge you to chat with elder members of your family/community who can share some significant history of rake-and-scrape with you. Also, to be really proud to be Bahamian, is to embrace and respect our heritage (including the rake-and-scrape and "bad songs") while contributing to the growth and development of the country. One last thought, perhaps if more of us supported our musicians that would be the catalyst to the improvemnt of what they have to offer on future projects. Having been married formerly to a musician/recording artist, I can attest to the hardships they endure due to a lack of support! For what its worth. BTW, any new releases since Drunk Again?

[Just Food For Thought]

Hell I am not ashame to play my Bahamian Music up loud for the world to hear. I think our music is just as good as any other music out there!

There's nothing to be ashame of, if you play loud and proud who knows people over there might just like it. I know my room mate did not like my music because they was closed minded and never went outside where they were from to experience different cultures beside the US. However, that all changed when they went to the Bahamas and truly experienced our culture. They quickly became a fan of Bahamian Music and did not want to come back to the US (hey go figure ).

We need to stop putting our music down and take pride in exposing it to the rest of the world so that people can say whether or not they like it or not. We need to take for example the Trinidadians, who songs are sometimes crazy in its meanings and contents, but they carry it everywhere they go regardless; as does the Jamaicans.

By exposing our music more, we in turn can help our present and future Bahamian artists to continue bringing out great music at good quality. Instead of negativity spread positivity about our Bahmamian Music....maybe in time the music will be as better than it is today...so don't give up on it and the artist yet.

[hoots]

It's been more than a year since NassauRocks gave his/her 5 cents on Bahamian music. I don't know how long they lived away from home but I would imagine the longer they did, the more they grew to appreciate Bahamian culture and music especially Junkanoo. I've been living away from home off and on for the past two years I can tell you, you definitely get a craving for the drums and whistles after a while.
While I do agree to a certain extent with some of NassauRock's (NR) comments in regards to quality in some of the Bahamian music performed, I think the call for older musicians to step aside is extreme and unnecessary, Especially when you consider Eddie Minis which NR basically describes as obsolete. Some of the music that Eddie produced can still be considered hits among what is being produced today in the context of traditional Bahamian music. Ronnie Butler is another one. Many of his songs written before 2000 are still played today and cannot be touch by some of the music created today. You can't just simply set Bahamian musical icons like these aside. They have contributed so much and can influence the younger generation of musicans. It is up to the younger generation to get their act together and help our music to progress from where the elders have left it. That being said, I am proud to see and hear the work of the group Visage and the more recent group Extra. They are working hard to assist with the progression of our music. Some may argue that they tend to lean more towards soca but there are definitely Bahamian elements involved to create a hybrid of sorts. whether you like their music or not you have to give it to them for at least taking the music somewhere and not letting it remain as it was years ago because music is an element that does not remain stagnant therefore, it should in my opinion, showcases some enhancement from the sound of 20 years ago.
Obviously, I'm all for experimenting in music and creating hybrids but man how could you hear Junkanoo and think its just noise. It is one of the most unique and beautiful sounds I've ever heard ! I hope your opinion has changed since you wrote that piece.




Anyone else have any thoughts on our music?

[YorickBrown]

Tastes do vary, but I think that many people who say that Bahamian music is isn't worth listening to simply do not get enough exposure to it to allow an appreciation to sink in. Our "native" music is played intermittently by many of our radio stations (Island 102.9FM is an exception to this as they fully support Bahamian music and give our tunes some serious play time. ZNS 1540 AM also deserves an honourable mention in this category.)

Most of the web visitors who log into my all-Bahamian music web stream (www.dabahamianting.com) are international. College students in the US, Bahamian citizens working abroad, and tourists from all over the world write me often, saying how much they love the stream. Locals tend to shy away from it, saying things like, "Oh it all sounds the same" or "Man, dey dont have any serious lyrics". I beg to differ, BIG TIME. How can anyone deny the skills of Ronnie Butler, Joe Spence, Blind Blake, Smokey 007, Count Bernadino, KB, Eddie Minnis, Frankie Zhivargo, Pat Rahming, Marvin Henfield, Nita, SG Moxey Band, Tony McKay - The Obeah Man, Swain and the Citations, T-connection, The Souful Groovers, Ira Storr, Fred Ferguson, Freddie Munnings, Sir Kai, Frankie Victory, Dry Bread, Geno D, Bahamen, T'rez Hepburn, Visage, Spice, Basil Lightbourne, Funky D, Veronica Bishop, Val Richards, The Falcons, The Brilanders, Phil Stubbs, New Sensation Band, Elon Moxey, Colin McDonald, Sweet Emily, Andrew Jones, Stone McEwan, Samantha Perigord... Man, and that's just listing the ones that come to my mind right now!

Many people use the limited recording studio resources and resulting album quality as an excuse to deny giving Bahamian music the credit it deserves. Our music always makes a rebound though. Just look at how Elon Moxey's recent Rake & Scrape albums were embraced. We Bahamians love our music, but we are distracted by so much other foreign stuff. Just the fact that Bahamian music can compete with multi-billion dollar industries for our listening "time" shows that it can be a viable enterprise if proper investment moves are made by the local industry as a whole.

It should be noted that music appreciation sadly has become influenced primarily by marketing in these times. The dominant markets (Reggae, Hip Hop, R&B and even Gospel) are capturing the loyalty of Bahamian listeners by the tens of thousands. Taking away the appreciation of Bahamian-style music is essentially taking away an integral component of our culture. It's a concerning situation, but as with anything in this Bahamaland we have only a few loyal to what is truly Bahamian and too many loyal to something else.

[YorickBrown]

Like i said, thats your taste. I have been hearing it all my life, it basically all sounds the same now and is boring. Thats my taste.. Other music has changed, from 70's to 80's, to 90's and now .. not saying its not good music, just find it boring.

Yeah, I know that you have your own tastes - that's perfectly fine, but I do have to question the validity of saying that Bahamian music has not changed over the years.

How can you compare these people's songs and say that they Bahamian music has not changed: Smokey 007 to Geno D? George Symonette to Phil Stubbs, Marvin Henfield to Nehemiah Hield? T-connection to The Falcons? Eddie Minnis to KB? (Even the early superstars like Eddie Minnis and Ronnie Butler' have updated their styles over the years.) C'mon, you would have to admit that it is lack of exposure to our Bahamian music that makes people say that it all sounds the same. Just like some people can tell the difference in Junkanoo beats, tunes and sometimes be able to identify the actual group, it takes exposure to and familiarity with the music to appreciate it and see a clear differentiation.

That's not a problem though...Like they say, "Each one to his own"

[chancellor]

Sounds alike to me! Frankly everyone in the industry can sing good, but you have to make the people listen to the music, despite the saying, people do judge a book by its cover. Everyone uses the same tune with the keyboard, everyone has the same beat with the drums. What makes your song better than the next? Dosent sound like too much competition to me! You need to bring new sounds new styles, and someone needs to make better lyrics. Besides Bahamian music dosent have to be calypso, its anything made by a bahamian.

If the Chinese company makes a product is it not a chinese product no matter what? And if an American company makes a product is it not american no matter what? We call mercedes a german car because its a german company even though the materials could be from somewhere half way across the world and even made in another country. So what if bahamians venture into another genre. I mean bahamians are even venturing into rock now because of the heavy exposure to hip hop and dance hall.....sometimes plenty exposure isnt all that good. It can drive people further away rather than attract. If we listened to calypso all day wouldnt it all eventually sound similar and dull?

[YorickBrown]

sometimes plenty exposure isnt all that good. It can drive people further away rather than attract. If we listened to calypso all day wouldnt it all eventually sound similar and dull?

I thought exactly the same way (that Bahamian music was all calypso) until I started buying Bahamian albums and putting them all in a single randomized playlist. We've got all kinds of subgenres within the Bahamian music industry. Take New Sensation Band for example, who has a distinctly reggae-based sound; Andrew Jones, whose band is Rock-based with an island twist; or even Rory's brother, Gavin, who also plays rock. I hardly hear their albums played on local radio, but I definitely make sure they're played.

But what about persons who only listen to reggae or hip hop? To use your words "If we listened to reggae all day wouldnt it all eventually sound similar and dull?" I'm not saying to listen to Bahamian music 24/7. My range of music varies from alternative straight over to down home rake and scrape. It took a while to appreciate our own music though. It doesn't happen overnight.

"It all sounds the same to me" can be said about any genre of music - Mostly by people who dont care to listen to that "particular" type of music.

Take the DaBahamianting.com challenge. Listen to my web stream for 1 day and then see if you can come back here to tell me that we do not already have a diversified musical industry.

Let your own ears prove or disprove your preconceived ideas.

http://www.dabahamianting.com

[hoots]

As you can see from my first post, I am a supporter of Bahamian music and musicians. However, I am also a supporter of it's progression from it's roots, not necessarily neglecting them but seeing a progression in the music. In saying that, I must then take issue with some statements made in Yorik Brown's post.
Firstly,yes island FM should be comended for supporting Bahamian music, but at what cost is this being done. In an attempt to fill the air waves with Bahamian tunes without playing just 10 or twenty albums,it seems to me that they let anyine who hands them a cd have some air time. There are some really poorly produced songs that are played by this station especially in the late evening all to reach the end of supporting our Bahamian culture. In this case, the end does not justify the means. Often, these songs are not just lacking in studio production quality but also lacking in talent and musical sense. Not everyone that has a friend who own recording equipment should make a cd and be allowed to get air time. This is a disservice to the music and to those who seek it's development. I think there should be some sort of quality screening done to prevent this.
Further, when people like Rory and Chancellor say that the music sounds the same. I'd have to agree to a certain extent. When you listen to those who get the most air time today,they do usually sound the same. From song to song or artist to artist. This is coming form somone who is very much exposed to this music. There is a very popular artist out there who has two songs that get a lot of play and they sound so much a like.I was amazed. I as a musican have tried an experimented with some of these songs. With a friend I took about 10 songs and played one melody over all of them with out clashing. Again, I throw my support behind those groups like Visage, Extra a few others. They seem to explore the music and seek to keep it exciting. Again, I'm not say that we should ignore our roots because with out the guys like Ronnie Butler and Eddie Minis we wouldn't be where we are today. They were the leaders of their day and help to change the music back then and it is good that they are still going today. However, the audience that we are catering to is not the same as twenty or more years ago. Lets learn to appreciate what these leaders have given us and seek to expand upon it!

[Iupdate]

Reggae is reggae, rap is rap, rock is rock and junkanoo music is junkanoo music as it is. I think the day will come when a talent will combined the rhythms with junkanoo and come up with just the rhythm that please many others. Not a bad idea at all, I like junkanoo music, but I also like this idea as well. I can hardly wait! However, whatever comes out of it junkanoo music will always be junkanoo music as it is now.

Perhaps junkanoo music will evolve as did many other types of music. Perhaps new artist will emerge, but the artist of today and yesterday will always be the legends that they already are, nothing will change that. Bahamian music as it is has been featured in many major movie productions without a single change made to the rhythm. I see nothing at all wrong with the music and I believe that the day will come when junkanoo music will compete at the top of the charts just like R&B, reggae, rap and rock music.

[YorickBrown]

Firstly,yes island FM should be comended for supporting Bahamian music, but at what cost is this being done. In an attempt to fill the air waves with Bahamian tunes without playing just 10 or twenty albums,it seems to me that they let anyine who hands them a cd have some air time. There are some really poorly produced songs that are played by this station especially in the late evening all to reach the end of supporting our Bahamian culture. In this case, the end does not justify the means. Often, these songs are not just lacking in studio production quality but also lacking in talent and musical sense. Not everyone that has a friend who own recording equipment should make a cd and be allowed to get air time. This is a disservice to the music and to those who seek it's development. I think there should be some sort of quality screening done to prevent this.

Bottom line: The Native Bahamian music industry is dying...fast. It doesnt stand a chance against the multi-billion dollar music industry of North America and with a nation of only 300,000 compared to the millions of people in Jamaica we do not have an industry that is profitable enough to motivate Bahamians to think of the industry as a career option. If someone comes out with an album and wants to hear it on the radio, then I say play it by all means. Some of these persons do it for the love of Bahamian music, not because they have any "skills". I personally know that I play EVERYTHING that I get my hands on. Why? Cause I know that in every music industry you have people who cant make the cut. It's just that we have so few people, "percentage-wise" who can or, for that matter, even try. It's easy to tear down something that is already on the ground. Especially when your ears have been tainted by something that is consider "better" by global standards.

Further, when people like Rory and Chancellor say that the music sounds the same. I'd have to agree to a certain extent. When you listen to those who get the most air time today,they do usually sound the same. From song to song or artist to artist. This is coming form somone who is very much exposed to this music. There is a very popular artist out there who has two songs that get a lot of play and they sound so much a like.I was amazed. I as a musican have tried an experimented with some of these songs. With a friend I took about 10 songs and played one melody over all of them with out clashing.

Now as a musician are you familiar with what Jamaicans call "riddims"? From the time I was in high school there were reggae tapes that had ONE riddim and about 20 artists singing different words to that ONE riddim. It's just that the few Bahamian producers with real talents have not tested that concept at all since we do not have the market for it. The same applied to carnival and soca in the early years and that's where they gained their popularity. And what about hip hop? Performing some basic dj'ing I can mix one beat over half of the tracks that came out last year! Oh, but that's different I guess.

"It all sounds the same" is such a lazy-minded statement. Just admit that you would rather listen to something else and do just that. Don't fuel the fire that is already burning up whatever musical "industry" we have here locally. Look at the persons who are our TOP artists. Most of them have FULL-TIME jobs in other areas. What do you expect from an industry that hardly gets any airtime, struggles to sell CD's, and has such a limited market to push their music to? It's a vicious cycle and Bahamians need to stop compaining about it and comparing our music industry to others who actually get support when they ask for it!

Again, I throw my support behind those groups like Visage, Extra a few others. They seem to explore the music and seek to keep it exciting. Again, I'm not say that we should ignore our roots because with out the guys like Ronnie Butler and Eddie Minis we wouldn't be where we are today. They were the leaders of their day and help to change the music back then and it is good that they are still going today. However, the audience that we are catering to is not the same as twenty or more years ago. Lets learn to appreciate what these leaders have given us and seek to expand upon it!

Visage and Xtra are excellent bands who have merged the sounds of more popular genres with ours and seem to be largely influenced by Trinidad carnival. That's why people like them so much. Popular music sells. Local music doesn't. Bahamians just like foreign things and do not give their own a FAIR chance. Our industry never got a chance to cut its teeth and from the way our youth shun it, I doubt it ever will. Just today I went into a certain music store and the people who served me looked at me shocked, like "Why are you buying Bahamian CD's dread? Ain't nobody into that <insert expletive here>."

Oh well, such is the death of Bahamian culture - watered down until it's non-existent.

[Teniel]

Everyone has different taste in music, that is fine. Yes there are alot of Bahamians that do not like or listen to Bahamian music fine once again. However just because you do not liek a certain form of music does not justify knocking it down and speaking negatives about, particularly when the music is produced by your own country. What happened to Bahamian pride and heritage. Rake and scrape will never be played in the clubs, in fact it shouldn't, but that does not mean that we should throw stones at it,a nd dishonour it, it is in fact our indigenous music. Rake and scrape is to us, what bag pipe music is to the Scotts, however I doubt you would fine many Scotts speeaking negatively about it, and in fact you will see many of them with pride wearing their kilts and bag pipes.

The bottom line is that Bahamian music or music by Bahamian artists may not reach the global recognition of reggae and soca, but the least we as Bahamians can do is to support our own. We seem to knock down everything that is Bahamian, embrace everything that is foreign, adn then complain about foreigners coming into our country to take over, aint that ironic

[finekameo]

The bottom line is that Bahamian music or music by Bahamian artists may not reach the global recognition of reggae and soca, but the least we as Bahamians can do is to support our own. We seem to knock down everything that is Bahamian, embrace everything that is foreign, adn then complain about foreigners coming into our country to take over, aint that ironic

I agree with this sentiment totally. I am constantly impressed with the Jamaicans. I am in the US and I rent a house with a Jamaican and an American. The other day we were watching a soccer match between a Jamaican team and a US team. Though the game was in the US, the Jamaicans had an incredible contingent there to support their team. In confidence he admitted that he had barely heard about the team nor did he like them. But when they are in the public sphere he still supported them.

This is a major fault of Bahamians. We have a hard time separating our personal preferences from what is the right course of action. This is expecially important when you are expressing your preferences in the view of a non-Bahamian. To you it is viewed as expressing your preference, but to them it is most likely seen as being unpatriotic or unsupportive of your countrymen. Look at what happened with someone simply stating their preference of music. Context is everything.

[chancellor]

I didn't know i'm supposed to just support something or someone automatically because its Bahamian. I dont think that's enough. There has to be something more than that. Besides in this increasingly global society things like that just dosen't work anymore.

However you know a genre is missing if the people in it are pleading for support! The music industry dosent work like that. Genres come and go, they peak peak at one point, then degenerate and fall the next. What annoys me, is that when people starts taking interest in something outside of the box or claim their dislike of something common or traditional, they are seen as strange, weird or in a Bahamian case unpatriotic. The point is I think that much better can be done in the area of music....calypso or otherwise...and many other things. Quit mediocrity because these days you cant even get by with that!