HARRY BISSOON

 CSM - YOU HAVE TO OWN THE STAGE. AN ANALYSIS OF CSM26 by Harry Bissoon  My weekend column, 2/20/2021 See all my blogs at letstalkwithharrybissoon.blogspot.com  I am going out on a limb, risking a lot of flak, arising out of my comments below, on the recently concluded CHUTNEY SOCA MONARCH COMPETITION which was held virtually in Trinidad and Tobago. But I hope they will be taken in good faith. The fact that CSM is held during Carnival is not an accident, but a deliberate gesture to have it as an integral part of the celebrations that are embedded in the cultural psyche of the nation. That being said, let us look at CSM 26. Showmanship is of paramount importance, when, as a performer, you are on stage. It captivates your audience, and if there are any minor mishaps.When you are in a competition, you  have to make the stage an extension of your act. You have to own the stage! This is what the winners did. GI, Master Saleem, Daddy Chinee, and Reshma did this. Their prop...

SUPER BOWL 55 HALF TIME SHOW. NO BOSOMS & BOOTIES Harry Bissoon  Super Bowl 55 halftime show was legendary, family oriented, lyrically superb and excellently presented by the talented, three times Grammy Awards winner, Weekend, and when the curtains fell, he had spectacularly closed the show with a superb presentation of his hit song, Blinding Lights.  It was far removed from the  'bosoms and booties' performance of super Bowl 54, which was exciting and appealing, but not appropriate for an event that attracts entire families, with kids and teenagers, who sit around big screen TV's, to enjoy the game, and to  spend valuable time with the family. Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, aka Weeknd, is a Canadian of Ethiopian heritage, and has been blazing the R & B musical trail, copping him numerous awards, already making him something of a legend. He is the holder of three Grammys, five American Music Awards, nine Billboard awards, two MTV music awards, nine Juno Awards, the ...

 See all my blogs at letstalkwithharrybissoon.blogspot.com  CHANGES, STABILITY AND ACCEPTANCE Harry Bissoon My Weekly Column, Feb.7th, 2020. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." Rheinhold Nebhuir. When the American theologian, Rheinhold Niebuhr, wrote the Serenity Prayer, he must have been troubled by his own shortcomings, as well as those of his congregation. His mindset that prevailed in the early 20th century, still has real significance today, as we are beset with problems that must have also existed in his time. The very thought of accepting things that we cannot change, runs counter to our intrinsic and innate curiosity to delve into the mysteries of life, and to seek solutions to the many problems we face.It is this inquisitive process that leads us make advancement in all spheres of life, at least for those who have the wisdom to make changes.  Our problems of today...

  I have watched the just concluded Chutney Soca Monarch semi - finals. Like any other competition, you would have artists who fall within a broad spectrum of excellence,  ranging from not so good to very good. I have a highly favorable idea who will be the artists going to the finals, mindful of the vocals, style, presentation, performance, and musical artistry. I am a follower of many chutney soca artists from all of the countries that took part this year. I haven't looked at the rules and guidelines that govern the competition. Maybe, I should have. but I was stunned at the remarks of some of the judges, glaringly highlighted, in the case of Vicadi Singh. I have seen many artists who put lyrics to Bollywood tunes, so when the learned judge remarked that Vicadi's presentation was a replication of a Bollywood tune which she is quietly singing to herself, instead of following his delivery of the lyrics to the tune, I was taken aback, because it's common knowledge that many ...