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Ah Wotless Review #5 Kes - Wotless

Ah Wotless Review


(ARGGGGHHH!!!    Help Sombody Please Get this Damn ringtone Out Of My HEAD!!)

From the first 4/4 Bar of muted Snare drum taps , followed by the most recognizable electric guitar rift ever played in a soca song. This song beats and strums its way into the rhythm of even the most outta-timing person, it permeates the soul and  awakens the groove in the stushest of individuals. Some may say it was written for the stush,  But I say Nay!, this is a song meant to give a voice to the free spirited individual who feels compelled to take a break from the rules and break free and express him/herself in a manner that can only be summed  up into its hook line “WOTLESS”

Kes has Come of age with this song, It is a bull’s-eye onto what I would Call GREAT music. If anyone says otherwise I would think that they live in world devoid of fun and should be struck over the head with stupid stick.

The starting of the song really commands attention almost like a drumming for you to get in the grove almost like saying without words “Here is my Timing start wining”. And you maybe could actually fit that sentence to match that guitar rift. (if you tried). The opening words in the verse “ Ah wining away, feeling so nice, so nice,” .  See the Lyrics Below for its full construct.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Opening

Ah Wotlesssssss !!!

Right now I just Wotless ! ( mmm mmm ) ....Repeat 4 times

Ah Wotlesssssss !!!

Verse 1

Ah winning away , feeling so nice , so nice , so nice,

Sweat dripping on meh , but its alright , alright , alright,

And ah feel like , I just win a million dollars!

Everybody watching meh, wearing a million colours!

You wanna talk (Talk bout dis )

Cause when ah wine you go (Talk bout dat)

When ah getting on you go (Talk bout dis)

Call yuh friends and den (Talk bout dat)

Down south dey go (Talk bout dis)

Up town dey done (Talk bout dat)

YOU ! I dont care what you say !

Chorus

Cause right now I just Wotless ,

And I dont really careless,

Meh girlfriend she go get vex,

Meh family go send text,

But I dont care Ah Wotless

Dey say ah moving breathless

But I dont really careless,

Dis year ah moving fearless !

Tell dem call meh name ! I go take de blame !

Tell dem call meh name ! Woy ! I go take d blame ! Yea!

Right now I just ! (Wotless mmm, mmm)

Right now I just ,watch meh na!

Right now I just ,check meh na! (Wotless mmm, mmm)

Right now I just ,hear meh na!

Right now I just ,watch meh na! (Wotless mmm, mmm)

Right now I just ,check meh na!

Right now I just ,hear meh na! (Wotless mmm, mmm)

Ah Wotlesssssss !!!

Verse 2

Ah waving away , feeling so light , so light , so light,

Sun beating on meh , but its alright , alright , alright,

Cause ah feel like, if ah just win a million dollars!

Jumping up and down the street , Wearing Caribbean colours !

Dey wanna talk (Talk bout dis )

And when ah wine you go (Talk bout dat)

When ah rough it up dey go (Talk bout dis)

Run tell somebody (Talk bout dat)

Facebook dey done (Talk bout dis)

De media done (Talk bout dat)

YOU ! I dont care what you say !

Chorus

Cause right now I just Wotless ,

And I dont really careless,

Meh girlfriend she go get vex,

Meh family go send text,

But I dont care Ah Wotless

Dey say ah moving breathless

But I dont really careless,

Dis year ah moving fearless !

Tell dem call meh name ! I go take de blame !

Tell dem call meh name ! Woy ! I go take d blame ! Yea!

____________________________________________________________________

Rating	Description
Out of 5
5	Lyrics Brilliant Lyrics, little reference to Waving & Jumping, marvelous construction and use of current real life words.
5	Vocal Performance Kes did a perfect job of executing his words From the First Shout “Ah Wotless” to Moving Between Full voice to monotone phrases example “Sun Beating On Meh” goes from a montone voice to , a dramatic full voice crescendo of  “Alright ,Alright”. The backup singers provide a Over-sung chorus in a very bassy voice which melds smoothly into the background. If you cant sing Kes’s Tenor Part it Totally appropriate to sing an octave lower as backup.
5	Musicality From the opening bar of drums, to the guitar rift it keeps a real sublime mood and doesn't feel over accompanied by too many instruments. It feels clean and uncluttered and really encourages you to listen closer,rather than cork your ear to harsh backgrounds.
4.5	Replay Worthiness and lasting Appeal Big winner in this catergorie, the song is locked in on a general vibe that is not at all pigeon holed into carnival, It can be played long after carnival and still retain its original vibe.
4.5	Originality Never Heard ANYTHING like in In ANY Soca Before The Theme is a general One which is typical of a Carnival enjoying Trinbagonian, but the Word Wotless Totally belongs to Kes after this song.
24 OVERALL	MASTERPIECE

Final Thoughts

There is a 60’s -70’s styled guitars mixed into the background parts of this song almost unrecognizable to the undiscerning ears. Almost like a “boom-chika-wa-wa” but not totally. The Mixing of this song really needs to take a bow for the reverbs of Kes’s  and the bands voice . It is a GOOD use of that particular effect and not in any way overdone. The produce deserves a true applaud for this song.

Kes and the Band….. Bravo…… You all did what %95 of our local artist can’t do I.e Make GOOD MUSIC. You all are true musicians from your vocal abilities, to the musical accompaniment, to the creativity of the music, to the lasting appeal and feel good vibe your music accomplishes. I hope you all keep up the great work. I look forward to more from you guys.

I really Do hope you guys win Groovy soca for 2011 YOU ALL DESERVE IT. Unlike you closest competitor… Which I will Review in my Next Posting #6.

Review #4 Machel Montano - Advantage

This Review Is Dedicated to My #1Fan  fishfishy27 (I love you)

For the life of me I can’t understand How Machel does it, How does this man have the ability to take One word and make it into an entire song.  Time and time again he repeats this feat without fail, for example in past times he has written entire songs around single words and simple phrases such as,  “scandalous”, “Jumbie” and “Big Truck”., and now his biggest offering for 2011 Is the Anthem for zealots of the Stage “Advantage”. Now I say zealots Because you have to be a real fan of Machel to unquestionably accept everything he puts out there , which is like 95% of the soca loving public. Fortunately I fall in the latter 5% of the listening public which doesn’t jump on the Machel bandwagon without looking every time.

 “The stage is in front of us time to get advantageous”

“Trample it, Stamp on it, Jump on it, Jump on it, Jump on it,”

Ok fine Im a Mindless Zealot too!! And I can’t help it……I don’t think after hearing that opening Line that anyone who donned a costume and crossed the savannah Stage at carnival, can resist the instructions ,to selfishly take part in attempting to inflict as much energy, into an attempt at destroying the stage with the soles of their  feet. The Opening lines of this song sums up this carnival experience with such simplicity its almost uncanny.

(sing the following lines in the verse of Advantageous)

De lyrics  good and  effort less, less, less, less

But the repeat words is  mess, mess. mess, mess.

It have real style and finesse, ness, ness, ness

But it still is not the bess, bess, bess, bess.

See I could Be a  Lyricist too J

The song contains a copious amount of Verbs which instruct you to “do” to the stage which isn’t bad at all because that is basically what you do there, i.e Trample it, stamp on it , ramfle (rumple) it,  Jump on it, Wine on it. (Poor stage L). Majority of the song is very energy infused repetition of the idea of taking advantage of the Stage , From thanking the Government, to declaring its our privilege to take “advantage of the stage”.

Rating	Description
Out of 5
4.5	Lyrics Repeated lyrics done properly is acceptable and doesn’t feel like it was used as filler, but as a point being driven home.
4.5	Vocal Performance Not harsh on the ears but could have has a lil more ad lib singing. Vocal dynamics shine when he sings “Today, Today ,Today”
5	Musicality Lots of instrumental dynamics in the performance, Full paced road soca. It has what is needed for a good Road song.
2	Replay Worthiness and lasting Appeal Sadly this is first and foremost a road march song which will see its exit from the airwaves on Ash Wednesday and only rear its head in  foreign carnival s for the rest of the year.
3	Originality Typical Machel song, if you’ve heard One you’ve heard all nothing innovative or ground breaking in terms of creativity or uniqueness.
19 OVERALL	BIG CHUNE!!

Final Thoughts

I have to Say Taking Advantage of the fact that stage has returned to the savannah was a intelligent if not predictable maneuver By Mr Montano. It was inevitable that someone was going to come up with a song to take advantage of the fact, that people would delight in the return of the big stage. Therefore it was to his advantage to write a song based on the emotional euphoria of zealots everywhere, coupled with the mindless troves of fanatical followers he has to compel them to take “Advantage” of something that they love so much…. Phew!…

Sadly the death of this song will be the following the heart pumping paces it put people through for those 2 carnival days. It In my opinion was written to infuse as much energy and energy into the revelers for carnival. It is sadly though unable to go past these two days in any meaningful way as the whole premise of the song is about the Stage.. It can regain and kindle some memories of the carnival feeling in  subsequent carnivals in other parts of the world. But anytime in between that song can only live on in our minds as a feeling for that one short period when we enjoyed it.

 It almost seems so sad that all the effort put into this song is like the effort put into Fireworks. Made to Shine Brilliantly for Just a small Moment, Put smiles on People’s faces and disappear quickly only to leave the memory of its magnificence………….

Ps. Machel Montano - Advantage, Winning road march …DUH!!!

A Lil Bitt of Review No #3 Lil Bitts - Sweetness

Lil little bit of sweetness

Okay so the First time I Heard this song the First words out of my mouth was RIPOFF!, and immediately dismissed it to the left. As time has passed I  somehow think I didn’t give this song a fair chance to impress me, so here is my Fair analysis of the main offering Of Lil Bitts for Carnival 2011.

Riding on the Honey Riddem for 2011, the Song Opens with a big up and shout out to the No less than Great (some say) Kernel Roberts...Now I have stated in my previous critiques that ego trips are one of my MAJOR pet peeves, but somehow this shout out skews that in favor of Kernel the Producer rather than Lil bitts herself so I’m going to let it slide for just this once. I think producers need a Big Up now and Again as a lot of the creative Genius of songs tends to flow through them, and this particular producer has influenced a few great songs. However I still think it’s inappropriate to have anything in a song that doesn't ADD or have anything to do with the song.

Now the writer of this song (Sherrard Churche) has let the influence of other music inspire the opening lines "word for word" and "bar for bar" it’s literally a sample of a song of years past  either he was influenced by "CJ Lewis -Sweet for my sweet" or the Older "The Searchers - Sweet for my sweet"  I believe the CJ Lewis version might be the one because I doubt the older one is of his era.

The Song continues with a real soca/dancehall vibe accompanied heavily with a lot of synthetic instrumentals, no live band here. Now, as the words progress with this song, it becomes apparent after a few replays that the song is HEAVILY CHARGED with sexual innuendo. Now I can't imagine how she got so many into this song without it being banned. It is amazing if you really ketch on to all the lines in the song... for example where she sings “Can you handle my sweetness? rough it up in my sweetness?"...Lawd aye. a cold shower is required after listening to this song.

I couldn't figure where the chorus of this song starts as it isn't clear but it does seem to be somewhere near, "Wine to the ground Boy Go down, Go down, turn it around boy go down, go down. (Go down, go down) x 10 times." Now I have a real Problem with repetitive lyrics but somehow this time it didn't seem Overdone as it sometimes is. A repetitive lyric for the sake of Extra lyrics as I have said before is dumb because it sits out there with nothing supporting it. While this Repetitive section is supported by the previous choral lines.

I do like that this song uses lots of References of Sweetness, e.g. KC dinner mint, honeycomb, sugar cane, sugar etc. I was however lost for how Cinnamon is sweet?  In all and all it remained within the Theme of the Song Of "sweetness" which is a big commendation for her and the lyricist.

Rating	Description
Out of 5
3	Lyrics Thought the first line was "borrowed" the song didn't seem to take much from anywhere else and the lyrics flow well and make sense. Good use of repetitive lyrics
4	Vocal Performance The Little Lady can sing can hold a note with style. However there seem to have words that get lost in song diction issues.
1.5	Musicality Singing on a Riddem is not that great unless you are the Creator of the Riddem it almost sounds like words were fit into it just to make up the timing.
4	Replay Worthiness and lasting Appeal Big winner in this category as the song is not locked into any situation and can be played Long after carnival without it sounding Dated.
2	Originality Sadly Being on a Riddem also hurts your originality as other songs tend to be similar. Taking a line from another song doesn’t help either. It only makes the song to a familiar listener a borrowed one.
14.5 OVERALL	Fair

I’ve given this song a sort of backhanded review; it has many great elements to it but couldn't escape the small things like "Riddem's" and "Borrowed Lyrics". While the remaining lyrics came together and made sense the Idea of "sweetness" isn’t a new one either. But this song did refresh the topic of "sweetness" for the season and most likely will remain in moderate rotation for the rest of the year.

In closing this is not the Best of “Lil bitts" I’ve heard Better, But defiantly worth listening to it’s a very likable song on the level of "Anthem for Hot girls" who want to tease men. It think gets a fair review.

Licks For De Boss! Review #2 Iwer George - Come Tuh Meh

If i said i liked Iwer's music over the years, I would Be lying,  actually i cant tell you how many times i would buss a big Sterupes every time i heard the "han-han-han-han....." song...Lawd Jesus!  Im getting an Migraine just thinking about it...But  Lo and Behold! when i heard the offerings' of  Iwer For 2011 I retracted my generalized opinion of  a waste of time, to a more open minded one.

The first thing i have to say about this song its that it is INFECTIOUS  Like a festering disease the more exposed you are to it, the more it takes you over.

Drums oh those drums! they compel you to release  your stiffened body and adopt a loosened attitude. I think i would put many an inebriated individual into a puppet like state, and force them to dance as though trapped in a bad episode of Fraggle Rock .

The First words "Selecta gimme de riddem" is a cliche' opener for any song and i have a pet peeve about this. I think It should Be left for LIVE Performances and never Be Recorded for replay....i think it was Totally Unnecessary in this song, as "the riddem" that he say to "Stop" , pauses for 1 second, and then Returns...
Um, that so doesn't make any sense...The lyrics of the first verse however are brilliant! its story like lament about giving up soca and going into retirement, is Believably a realistic and true story of his own. and as it progresses into the word where the "jab-jab singing in meh head" it blends  almost seamlessly into the chorus of  " Trini people ah say come tuh meh" .... The call and answer of "Come tuh meh!/Move!" really instills in your mind a struggle between the devils of your conscience and your better judgement...HOWEVER the seamlessness of the song becomes Blurred and disjointed as the first verse  seem to almost have no bearing on 2nd or 3rd. It almost descends into the lament of a whiny , jaded  musician, as the words tend to drive home the point that "everybody want to fight him dong"  so sad that its in there, as it changes the mood of the song to that of  either an aggressive or empathic emotion (if you pay attention to the lyrics). I personally feel empathic.
The song continues to do the typical carnival event explanatory thing  talking about the jourvert and carnival morning, the bridge of the song is a typical Iwer styled "repetative lyric mashup" which acts as more of a filler that anything else.. and ends typical soca style with the  chorus fading out.

Rating	Description
Out of 5
3	Lyrics The First Verse was seamless and has a story-like vibe.  Verse is Well done and Hook line "come tuh meh" is brilliant. Falls flat with the continuity and repetitive bridge.
1	Vocal Performance Not the best of voices it is true you can recognize his voice anywhere it is unique, not very many dynamics or singing technique to talk about.
5	Musicality The Jab Jab Drumming Is PARAMOUNT it keeps the pace of the entire song and doesn't get monotonous or boring. back up chorus added a little to it.
3	Replay Worthiness and lasting Appeal It is defiantly a Jouvert song with the theme of jab-jab and the drumming it has its place in a dark environment wouldn't convey the same emotion during the day so night time and jourvert morning would be the best experience of this song.
2	Originality Typical jourvert song, typical flag and Rag references but the first time Ive heard "Jab Jab rag/flag".
14 OVERALL	Fair

One other thing I noticed that i didnt like abou this song and also in many other songs. The Ego trip! If it is one thing i find unnecessary is an artist saying "who he/she is" in a song. LET YOUR MUSIC SPEAK FOR YOU.  It is totally unnecessary to say who you are unless it had absolute bearing on on  the song you're singing....Example of appropriate ego trip 'Eminem - My name is' (slim shady)... any other situation is just ridiculous. If your music is any good people will know who you are, quite Frankly Iwer i Knew it was you from the first word that came out you mouth...sheesh!... I didn't need to hear it in a airy voice hovering over the song reminding me that you are the singer....

Soca Artists Please For the love of soca, ego tripping  does NOT make Good Music!

Anyhow even though i gave a Fair Review to this song Guess what, I am 100% supporting Iwer George - Come tuh meh, for Soca Monarch 2011...

Why you may ask..?? Duh... the song was made for Nocturnal Bacchanal  and if the Live drumming Is as intoxicating and Infective as the  recording he is going to reduce the crowd to a mass of puppets compelled to "move" on command.. a disaster to pinkie toes everywhere but a absolute "Recipe for  2 million dollars"..

"Come tuh meh, Money oye , aye ya aye" :)

Introducing The Googly Eyed Man

Well It was Inevitable I Needed a Avatar / Mascot to be My Intermediary  as i have decided to remain an anonymous blogger. 

So i decided to Whip out the Adobe Illustrator and Crank Me out a lil guy to be my mascot.

and also at the same time Crank me Out a Logo. Killing 2 birds with one stone is fun!

Sorry No review till tomorrow...I ve already decided Victim #2 He is famous and is a BIG Contender in 2011 Soca Monarch...cant wait till Tomorrow :)

Its Here Review #1:Michelle Xaviar - Fetting For days

Im sorry Destra you know Youre my #1 But sadly I feel More Inclined to review the Underdog who is even more Underdog to You. But Talented non the less....

So On to the Review

When I first hear this song I didn't know who was singing it i thought Hmm it didn't sound as powerful as the other voices iv'e heard, and after a few seconds of listening i realized "wait nuh" that unified background vocal sounding very "Imij & company-ish" I soon realized my suspicion was correct but even more surprised to Realize That Michelle Xavier was the lead vocal.. Wow she's certainly stepping away from the background.

So now ah open meh ears and listen a little more attentively to the nuances of this song. and i must say listening 5 times to a song and picking it apart is Very Difficult and im glad i did because usually we take for granted a lot of what we listen to.

First off the Intro and Opening Lyrics create a really sublime mood which is mirrored in the words "Do You feel de Pressure building Up" it really sets the tone for the song with the subtle harmonious vocals which the lead vocalist interjects and punches trough to give you a sense of disrupting the calm of the pressure building. at at the end culmination in a synchronous jarring "Hurr", which ushers in the chorus that exude the "Fetting For Days and Night " etc. (listen to the Link)

The progression of the song tend toward a typical soca a-la Destra very Pop-ish , with enough varying lyrics describing the experience and scenario of fetting For Days, and at the same time encouraging the non fetters to desist from Blocking the fetters who seem to want to "fete for days"...?... Make sence.... It described many of the sentiment of the typical partying Trinidadian, Unity, Rag flags in the Sky etc Typical of the Carnival experience but generic in every sence of lyrics. But executed fairly well as the focus is not really Flags,rags etc. Is more the feeling of "fetting for days".

Rating	Description
Out of 5
3.5	Lyrics Great Opening mood setting at the beginning, tends to get generically obvious with over done words, Rags Flags etc.
4	Vocal Performance Backup singers have harmonious fills and support the lead. lead singer has been Help With a noticeable level of "Auto-tune" in the recordings. Bridge section has "exposed lead vocals" a which demonstrates the singers vocal ability.
4	Musicality Great Drumming in the Background and keyboard playing the almost unnoticeable Brass like instrument. Far from the super-synthesized background music usually hear in a lot of Soca. You can actually notice there is live music in there.
3.5	Replay Worthiness and lasting Appeal Sadly its a song lyrically locked into Carnival because of Heavy references to carnival , but ignoring the lyrics the emotion the Chorus "We Feteing for days" could give this song a life beyond Carnival.
3	Originality Utilizing Background Vocals is nothing new but i really appreciate music that sets a tone. nothing ground breaking in originality. But original enough to set it apart from the Mundane and uninspired.
18 OVERALL	Big Chune!!

In my final analysis i have decided this song is a true representation of musicians Just By the mere Fact that the song follows a tried and true recipe of including a bridge ie" intro- chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus". Nothing New or exciting is introduced in the Lyrics but i has its moments where you wanted to follow the instructions, but it fell a lil flat because of the lack of absolute moving power i.e Attitude in the lead vocalist voice. Playing this song in the Correct Forum I.e the Road on carnival day would present a different Scenario as when it is amplified, the Emotion and Expression would Present itself in a different way.

I'm glad to hear this offering From Michelle and Imij & Co. Fetting For Days is a Great Hit and defiantly Not a miss.