by Katherine Renton
The Miami Carnival 2022 road march lineup has been fully occupied by Vincentian acts, with Gamal ‘Skinny Fabulous’ Doyle and Shertz ‘Problem Child’ James taking the headlines.
GAMAL DOYLE ‘SKINNY FABULOUS’
The two artists who collaborated to produce the song “Danger” won the hearts of the Sunshine State’s festive crowd.
‘Problem Child,’ who also won the 2021 Miami Road March with his song “Crocodile,” took it a step further this year by living up to his lyrics, “We go destroy everything like we got insurance,” and also taking second place. country with his song “Insurance” or “Nasty Up”.
In the third position comes hot “In de wata” by Rajiv ‘Shurawh’ Sutherland and ‘Chow Ministry’.
The Miami Carnival, organized by the Miami-Broward One Carnival Host Committee, offers a complete package including: Junior Carnival, Panorama, Jouvert and Parade of Bands and Concerts.
Preparations have already begun for the 2023 Carnival after finishing with the 2022 Parade of Bands and Concert last Sunday, October 9.
Yesterday, October 13, when news of the road march broke, SEARCHLIGHT contacted the ‘Problem Child’ to get his feedback on the clean sweep, which he said was “unbelievable”.
Not only did Vincentians secure the headlines in 2022 and 2021, but Soca fans have pointed out that in 2019 it was ‘Famalay’ by ‘Skinny Fabulous’, Machel Montano and Bunji Garlin; while in 2018 “Wet it Up” from ‘Zeek’ took home.
“I was just telling someone yesterday or the day before that, per capita, as far as soca music goes, St. Vincent is probably one of the most dominant island countries in culture,” declared ‘Problem Child’.
Citing hits like Dr Alston Becket Cyrus’ Teaser; Kevin Lyttle’s “Turn Me On”; Jamesy P’s “Nookie”; The “funky business” by Fimber ‘Fimba’ Jardine, he said, “just shows the natural, raw talent that St Vincent and the Grenadines – that we have” per se.
“We’re like a giant,” James said.
SHERTZ “PROBLEM CHILD” JAMES
He thought it was the country’s natural love of music, adding “and we’re also blessed.”
“It’s guaranteed the last couple of years – the last, many, many years, actually – there’s at least one major song that comes from St Vincent or that a Vincentian is responsible for, either performing or writing, that dominates. the soca market”, he emphasized.
On the subject of winning the road march title two years in a row, the artist revealed that “It’s still surreal and I still wonder – is this an actual fact?”
“I work very, very, very, very hard on my productions – on my compositions and it feels good to be rewarded. And what I like or respect about it, it’s a different kind of reward, because there’s no financial gain,” James also concluded.
There are Soca artists from all over the Caribbean fighting for the title and so he likened the achievement to winning the World Cup, explaining, “You can win in your league, it’s easy to win in your league, but to win The World Cup is a completely different task.”
And Problem Child earned this title, inspired by Vincentian devotees.
“Our pastimes, how we celebrate, how we behave during carnivals, or any social event for that matter. I just sang on ‘Nasty Up’ AKA ‘Insurance’ about what we do, how we act, how we have fun. And it’s no different in ‘Danger’. Just sing that we do crazy things, act wild and crazy.”
He explained that he and ‘Skinny’ had been toying with the idea of a collaboration for some time, but the stars had to align.
“He (Doyle) said he thinks he has an idea for the collaboration and he came to me with the idea and we put the song together. He started, and we put the idea together and the rest is history,” James recalled.
With veteran artists like Doyle and James helping to push the boundaries of Soca internationally, the artist was asked what it would take for the music genre to reach the Grammys.
“To win a Grammy, we have to make music that the masses or the Grammy Committee and the rest of the world can relate to, but in doing so we can lose a lot of what makes us who we are,” he said.
The outspoken “Problem Child” also mentioned that it’s “unbelievable” that none of the songs that were placed at the Miami carnival were placed at the road march for Vincymas.
“I want to mention that it is incredible that none of these shows, ‘Danger’, ‘Nasty Up’ or ‘In the Water’ were placed on the road march on our island. No placement, period.”
“I’m not being mean, but I think it’s a worthy mention. I can’t say why, but I just notice that, unbelievably, many times on our island many songs that are not suitable for road marching always end up doing very well after that. That’s just unbelievable to me.”
He said he thinks something needs to be reevaluated.
