Caribbean Christmas Music: Christmas in Paradise by Lincoln Ward

Lincoln Ward is a musician from the Virgin Islands who released a Christmas album in 2009 featuring classic Christmas songs with a fresh twist.

Lincoln Ward is a talented musician from the Virgin Islands. He writes, produces, sings and arranges music for himself and several other artists. His Christmas in Paradise album was released in 2009 and its nine Christmas songs are performed with a fresh approach to traditional Christmas music. This album also features other artists who hail from the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the United States Virgin Islands (USVI).

Lincoln Ward is a Rising Star

Lincoln Ward has been featured in Core Magazine from the USVI and on Tempo Networks. According to his biography, Lincoln has performed in Nevis, Dominica, St. Vincent, St Croix and New York. He has released several albums including Me And You in 2006, Soakin Wet (Maxi Single) in 2007 and Four Seasons of Summer in 2010. His music videos, which have all appeared on Tempo Networks, include "Soakin Wet" shot in Nanny Cay in Tortola, "Poison", "Slowly Me and You" and "The One." This bright Virgin Islander holds a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science but his love is music. His parents both have a musical background and one of his uncles, Watts Pemberton, now deceased, was an acknowledged poet, musician and painter.

A Caribbean Christmas Album is Christmas in Paradise by Lincoln Ward

Lincoln Ward's Christmas in Paradise represents a Caribbean Christmas album with an international flavor. Lincoln collaborated with Virgin Islands' vocalists: Mckenzie Baltimore, Sandra Pemberton, Kirk Adams, Tamisha Georges and the Acappella Fellas. This album also features two popular DJs - DJ Poppy Pops from Isle 95 radio station in St. Croix and Gadiethz from ZROD radio station in Tortola. The saxophone showcased in two of the songs is played by Jeremy Vanterpool, another Virgin Islander.

• The Title Song "Christmas In Paradise": "Christmas In Paradise" by Lincloln and Mckenzie Baltimore begins with the chorus "This is the time of the year, when friends and family draw near, Christmas in Paradise." "Christmas In Paradise" urges the listener to want to spend Christmas in paradise as it refers to coconut water, guavaberry wine, the beaches, the pastries and the friendly people. "I invite you from far and near to come take a taste of our atmosphere, the Virgin Isles is the place to be so tell Santa Claus to be on the beach" are lyrics that call to the listener to visit the Caribbean for Christmas.
• "Oh Holy Night" Performed in a Fresh Way: Lincoln along with USVI Soca artist Rudy give a powerful performance to this traditional Christmas song. With the infusion of Beyonce's "Halo," "Oh Holy Night" comes alive. "You're everything I need and more and it's written all over your face, Jesus I can feel your halo, you know you're my saving grace" are the words that end this song.
• An Entertaining "Drummer Boy": Lincoln sings the traditional "Drummer Boy" lyrics with the addition of DJ Poppy Pops from St. Croix as the MC on the track. This song has a hip hop appeal with the mixture of drum beats which bring the literal drumming to the "Drummer Boy."
• The Bonus Track "Sweetest Drug": Although "Sweetest Drug" is not a Christmas song, this soothing and melodious song is itself like an addictive drug that keeps the listener wanting more. Produced by Alton Bertie, Lincoln sings in the chorus "She's the sweetest drug, I can't get enough of her...I can't help myself".

Christmas in Paradise Bonus DVD

Lincoln has also included a bonus DVD with the Christmas In Paradise album. The DVD includes the music video for "Give Love on Christmas Day" featuring Gadiethz. The video was produced by VI Lander Films. There is also an interview with Lincoln and excerpts from the studio sessions with the other artists on the album.

Lincoln Ward is a multi-talented musician, song-writer, producer and singer who continues to improve his musical repertoire. He released Christmas in Paradise in 2009 with nine Christmas songs that he performed with an artistic and fresh style. This album also features a bonus song, "Sweetest Drug" which is not a Christmas song but makes a great addition to Lincoln's album. Christmas in Paradise is an album for anyone who wants a Caribbean Christmas album that remakes the classic Christmas songs in an innovative and enjoyable way.

Update: Lincoln released, "The Reason for Christmas" in 2016 featuring twelve (12) songs including "Carol of the Bells," "Happy Christmas," and "Do You Hear What I Hear." This album also includes "Christmas in Paradise."

Classic R&B: The Best of Luther Vandross...The Best of Love

Luther Vandross remains a well-loved R&B singer and his The Best of Luther Vandross...The Best of Love album features his early hits like "Never Too Much."

Luther Vandross died in 2005 at age 54 but his music continues to spread the message of love. One of the earlier compilations of his greatest hits, The Best of Luther Vandross…The Best of Love, has the recognizable songs "Any Love," "Never Too Much," "Love Won't Let Me Wait" and "A House is Not a Home." This twenty song album was originally released in 1989 and later digitally re-mastered for distribution on compact disc (CD). 

Vandross wrote, arranged and produced many of the songs on this classic R&B album. Vandross' songs such as "Here and Now" and "So Amazing" are staples at weddings. His songs have also been sampled by other artists such as Janet Jackson's sample of the instrumental of "The Glow of Love" in her 2001 release, "All For You." Vandross has also sang duets with Gregory Hines, Cheryl Lynn, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé.

Music from the 1980s –The Best of Luther Vandross…The Best of Love

The CD version of The Best of Luther Vandross…The Best of Love has two discs spanning almost a decade with songs from 1980 to 1989. While some of Vandross' songs have been sampled by reggae, R&B and hip hop artists, his actual songs continue to play today and are enjoyed by his fans.

• The Hit of 1981 "Never Too Much": "I can't fool myself, I don't want nobody else to ever love me" is the opening line of this chart topping song which was written by Luther Vandross. Music fans will remember the beginning of the music video with a man scanting with the boombox. "Who needs to go to work to hustle for another dollar/ I'd rather be with you cause you make my heart scream and holler" are also lines in this song that express that the love from that special someone could never be too much for the singer to handle. "Never Too Much" was also sampled by reggae artist Beenie Man in his 1998 release of "Who Am I" in the bridge where Beenie repeats the opening line of the song.

• Vandross' "A House is Not a Home": "A House is Not a Home" was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and released in 1981. Vandross opens the songs with "A chair is still a chair/ even when no one's sitting there/ but a chair is not a house and house is not a home when no one's there." Vandross expresses how he misses that special someone and that he is still in love with her. "A House is Not a Home" was also featured in Twista 's 2004 hit "Slow Jamz" featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx off his Kamikaze album. Jamie Foxx repeats Vandross' line "Say you're gonna be, are you gonna be" in "Slow Jamz." "A House is Not a Home" was also featured on the last episode of the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. The characters jokingly shared that everyone in the neighborhood who appeared on Showtime at the Apollo sang this song and got booed off.

• R&B Hit of 1986 "I Really Didn't Mean It": Vandross sings of his jealousy and wanting to make his lady jealous in return. The chorus begins "I told my girl bye-bye/ but I really didn't mean it". He continues to sing that when he walked away, he cried and that his girl took him back because she knew he really didn't mean his actions. This song almost has a disco feel to it as it speaks of the ups and downs in relationships while making the listener nod his head in enjoyment and in agreement.

• Vandross' Top Wedding Song "Here and Now": This song is perfect for weddings because it expresses sentiments that a new couple getting married would feel. Written by Terry Steele and Dav-e! also known as David L. Elliot, the chorus states "Here and now/ I promise to love faithfully/ You're all I need/ Here and now/ I vow to be one with thee." It was originally released in 1989 and still remains a staple at weddings today.

Luther Vandross Released More Albums

Luther Vandross continued to release songs past 1989 including the Power of Love album in 1991 in which the songs "Power of Love" and "Don't Want to Be a Fool" are featured. In 2001, Vandross released a self-titled album featuring the hit "Take You Out" with Grace Beauvais as the leading lady in the music video. The Dance With My Father album was released in 2006 with the songs "Dance With My Father" and the Grammy award winning "The Closer I Get to You." Vandross' "eighth and final Grammy came for best R&B performance by a duo -- the remake of "The Closer I Get to You," sung with Beyonce Knowles."

Details of the other albums that Luther Vandross released can be found on his official website. Even though Luther Vandross has passed away, his music will never be forgotten. A talented writer, singer and producer, Vandross gave listeners an earful of lyrics about love. His album The Best of Luther Vandross...The Best of Love is a compilation of his top hits from 1980 to 1989 and an album that his fans will always enjoy.

Reggae Artist Gregory Isaacs is a Music Legend

Gregory Isaacs, the Jamaican reggae artist who sang "Night Nurse" and "Rumors" died in London on Monday, October 25, 2010 but his music will live on.

The BBC Caribbean Report announced on the morning of Monday, October 25, 2010 that reggae music legend Gregory Isaacs died at 59 after a bout with lung cancer. Isaacs is well known for his expressive lyrics about love and was also referred to as the 'Cool Ruler'. He has released countless songs and albums which are appreciated globally.

Gregory Isaacs - The 'Cool Ruler'

Isaacs' albums include Cool Ruler released by Frontline in 1978, Can't Stay Away released by VP Records in 1992, Mr. Isaacs by Blood & Fire Records in 1977 and Maximum Replay released by Gone Clear Music Distribution in 1996. His most recent release was Brand New Me in 2008 by African Museum. In August 2010, Isaacs performed at the British Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival.

The Popular Classic Reggae Songs of Gregory Isaacs

When anyone thinks of Gregory Isaacs, the first songs that come to mind are "Night Nurse," "Rumours" or "Red Rose for Gregory." Other classic songs include "Mind You Dis (Rude Boy)", "All I Need Is You" and "Too Good to Be True (Soul Jam)."

• "Night Nurse" Calls for Attention: "Tell her it's a case of emergency, there's a patient by the name of Gregory" sings Isaacs in the lyrics. His emergency or ache is a broken heart that needs to be mended by one special lady who can "quench dis ya thirst" because "the pain is getting worst." Gregory Isaacs released a remake of "Night Nurse" with Lady Saw (http://www.ladysaw.net/) on Reggae Gold 1996.
• Classic Isaacs in "All I Need is You": The songs starts with the lyrics "they can't get me with silver, they can't get me with gold, they wonder why I love you so." In the chorus, Isaacs sings the anthem "all I need is you and only you will do." This song shares the expression of love between lovers.
• "Red Rose for Gregory": In this song, Gregory Isaacs wonders about who may have sent him a red rose. This song has simple yet flowing lyrics with a paced reggae beat as Isaacs sings "somebody sent a rose for me and I don't know who could it be." Even as the song comes to an end, Isaacs leaves the listener wanting to know who really sent the red rose.
• Who Spread the "Rumours" about Gregory Isaacs: In "Rumours" Isaacs expresses his frustration about people spreading gossip about him planting marijuana or as he sings it "sensi me planting". Even though he sings of his aggravation, the lyrics do not insight any malice or bad intention towards the gossipers.
• Isaacs Sings "Mind You Dis (Rude Boy)": "Mind you dis, rudeboy, mind you disrespect me" is the repetitive hook on this song. While "Mind You Dis (Rude Boy)" is not the typical love music that Isaacs is known for, this song cannot be discounted. He sings to his opponent "take it easy, just calm, your battle is hot but my victory is sweeter, don't agitate my temper show respect to your elder."

Gregory Isaacs is simply asking the younger generation to show respect. Reggae music fans will miss Gregory Isaacs for his classic style and expressive lyrics. However, even with his passing on October 25, 2010, reggae music fans will always remember songs like "Night Nurse" and "Mind You Dis (Rude Boy)" which represent Isaacs' smooth style.

Caribbean Literature: The Saving Work by Tiphanie Yanique

Virgin Islander Tiphanie Yanique published The Saving Work in 2007. This chapbook tells the story of the life of two families in the Virgin Islands.
Tiphanie Yanique is a young writer and poet who hails from the United States Virgin Islands (USVI). She wrote the chapbook The Saving Work and published it in 2007 with Kore Press Inc. Although The Saving Work is under twenty pages, the story keeps the reader drawn to it with its twists and the eventual climax. Yanique has been published in several writing journals and since publishing this chap book, she has published her first novel.

Tiphanie Yanique is Versed in Creative Writing

Tiphanie Yanique writes fiction and poetry. I first met her at an open mic in 2007 held by the Rock Collective in St. Thomas, USVI where she shared very inspiring poetry. She is currently an assistant professor who teaches creative writing courses at Drew University. Yanique has won several prestigious awards for her writing including the 2007 Kore Press Short Fiction Award, the Boston Review Fiction Prize in 2007 and the Pushcart Prize in 2007. She was also recently listed in the The National Book Foundation's"5 Under 35" Fiction, 2010.

According to the 'About the Author' section in The Saving Work, her work has been published in Callaloo , The London Magazine, the Cream City Review and many other publications. In 2010, Yanique published her first novel, How to Escape from a Leper Colony: A Novella and Stories.

The Saving Work Tells a Virgin Islands' Story

In six short chapters, The Saving Work tells the story of two families in St. Thomas, USVI. The story starts "A church is burning down." The two women who witness the burning church are both white American women, Diedre Thompson and Violet de Flaubert. They migrated to St. Thomas and married local black men and became a part of the community, especially in the church. Unfortunately, both women could not get along and as the story continues as the writer discusses a friendship between Diedre's son, Thomas and Violet's daughter, Jasmine.

Religion is a Central Theme in The Saving Work

Religion stands as an underlying theme of The Saving Work. With both Diedre and Violet being heavily involved in the church, they raised their children to have strong faith in religion. This faith impacts the decisions that all the characters make in the story - the sexual choices, marriage and passing judgment. Of course the reminder of the burning church also falls within the religious theme.

The Saving Work is a Great Piece of Creative Writing

As the story continues, the relationship between Thomas and Jasmine becomes complicated and the story gets more intense. As the writer delves into the complexities of the de Flaubert and Thompson families, the images of the burning church is replayed. The Saving Work speaks of love, shame, the want of prestige and of the way families communicate. While the ending can be considered sad, the twists in the story and the imagery keep the reader enthused. Just as the story begins with the burning church, the true reason why the church is burning is revealed in chapter six.

Tiphanie Yanique, the author of The Saving Work and How to Escape from a Leper Colony, has had her work published in several publications. The winner of the Tufts University Africana Prize for Creativity, Yanique's poetry and creative writing continue to be recognized and are inspiring readers worldwide.

Caribbean Literature: Tanti at de Oval by Paul Keens-Douglas

Legendary Trinidadian story-teller, Paul Keens-Douglas, expresses with lively recitation the tale of Tanti Merle's visit to a cricket game at the Oval.

Paul Keens-Douglas wrote the short story Tanti at de Oval to give the readers a colorful example of life in the Caribbean. Tanti at de Oval is about the writer's aunt, Tanti Merle, and her first visit to The Queen's Park Oval (the 'Oval') in Trinidad to watch an important cricket match between Trinidad and the Combined Islands. Tanti Merle is a colorful character who likes to be in control. Some Caribbean natives would describe her as 'liking her own way.'

Paul Keens-Douglas is a Playwright, Writer and Performer

Paul Keens-Douglas is a Trinidadian-born playwright, writer and performer whose voice is well known in the Caribbean. A writer for over thirty years, Keens-Douglas' narratives have aired on several radio stations. His stories offer engaging colloquial language, vivid imagery and relatable tales. Keens-Douglas is also a motivational speaker and recently in 2008 was the keynote speaker at the Virgin Islands' Humanities Council's 'Virgin Voices: A Literary and Spoken Word Festival' in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

A Caribbean Story: Tanti at de Oval

Tanti at de Oval is written in first person as the narrator tells the tale of Tanti Merle's antics from her preparation for the trip to the match to her behavior at the game. With the aid of colorful illustrations by Joan Camps- Campin, Keens-Douglas shares how Tanti Merle embarrassed herself and her companion at the Oval. Her antics include her large basket of goodies, her selection of a taxi bus and her loud cheering at the match. The story hits a climax as the match concludes and Tanti nearly caused a riot among the spectators. Keens-Douglas writes "Dat same Tanti Merle dat look as if butter can't melt in she mout. It take me 'bout two hours to get she out de Oval. She lose de basket an' de Parasol mash-up."

Caribbean Language & Life

Aspects of Caribbean life highlighted in Tanti at de Oval are the significance of cricket, the dialectal language and the camaraderie and rivalry fostered by local sports. In relation to the language, Tanti at de Oval is written in dialect but a glossary is provided to describe such terms as "jook out" which according to the writer means "to dig out with (a) sharp object."

Paul Keens-Douglas is a well-known Caribbean storyteller who uses rich dialect and colorful expression to tell his stories of Caribbean Life. Tanti at de Oval is one of his published works that narrates the tale of Tanti Merle's visit to a significant cricket match at the Oval in Trinidad. This book offers a delightful view of Caribbean life through Tanti Merle with heartening humor, intense expression, colorful language and colorful illustrations.

11 Tips for Washing Clothes at the Laundromat

If you do not have a washing machine at home, these helpful tips will help you to survive your trips to the laundromat. Being organized is key to getting this chore done.

Doing laundry is a chore that some people hate because it can be time consuming. It gets more difficult when there is no washing machine or dryer at home because this means either paying someone to complete the laundry, washing by hand or making that fated trip to the laundromat. There is no need to fear trips to the laundromat because the time it takes to wash, rinse and dry four loads of clothes simultaneously is less than the time it will take to wash two loads at home. Washing clothes at the laundry is not difficult but some planning is needed to ensure that the money and time spent are used wisely.

Plan Ahead for the Laundry Chore

• Tip 1 - Have coins or money set aside: If the laundromat has coin-operated machines, have a roll of quarters ready to walk with. If there is a change machine available, walk with a ten or twenty-dollar bill and exchange for quarters. Do keep in mind that change machines can malfunction.
• Tip 2 - Check detergent, bleach and softener levels: Do not wait until arriving at the laundromat to realize that the softener bottle is empty. A good habit is to check the levels after completing the laundry so that if any detergent, bleach or softener is needed, it can be added to the shopping list early.
• Tip 3 - Sort clothing at home: Sorting clothes at the laundry wastes time. Sort clothing at home into manageable loads that can fit in the washing machines of the laundromat. E-How.com in " How to Do Laundry " describes this simply by stating "to do laundry, first sort your dirty clothes, making separate piles for whites, bright colors and darks". A helpful hint is to put loads into pillow cases.

Helpful Hints for the Laundry Rush

• Tip 4 - Secure washing machines: Never walk into the laundromat empty-handed. Always walk with at least two loads of clothes and on arrival place them in available washers thus securing the use of the machines. One load of clothing can be spread to secure as many washers as needed.
• Tip 5 - Follow washing machine instructions: Instructions are given to ease processes. Most commercial washers have instructions on the inside of the lid. It is helpful to review the instructions to ensure that clothing is washed properly. It is important to add bleach and softener as directed to avoid damaging garments.
• Tip 6 - Be aware of temperature settings: Always check garment labels for the washing instructions so that while sorting, clothes are placed in the correct pile and are washed at the appropriate temperature setting to avoid shrinkage, bleeding or other damage. It is suggested that all white clothes are washed in hot water and you can add bleach if desired. Clothing with color should generally be washed in warm water, however, be sure to read the tag for washing directions."
• Tip 7 - Never leave clothing unattended: It is always best to stay at the laundromat while clothes are washing and drying. Leaving clothing in the machines wastes the other users' time and causes unnecessary work for the laundry attendants who have to remove the clothing and find places to store them.

Maximizing Your Time at the Laundromat

• Tip 8 - Walk with an activity to occupy downtime: Walk with a novel, textbook, newspaper, bible or a hand-held video game to keep occupied. Re-connect with family and friends by calling while using a hands-free device. There is no need to sit and be bored while the washers or dryers are spinning.
• Tip 9 - Sort clothing for the dryer too: If all the washing machines have completed the cycle, ligher clothing and sheets can be dried together and heavier items such as jeans and/or towels, depending on how many, can be dried together. The lighter clothing dry faster than the heavier ones and spare change and energy can be saved by doing this.
• Tip 10 - Walk with hangers: If the laundromat has carts with the hanging bar at the top, then walk with hangers to hang shirts, pants and skirts to ease ironing after.
• Tip 11 - Fold as much as possible: Folding clothes helps to save time with ironing. If there is limited space, fold as soon as is convenient at home as this will reduce creases.

Use these 11 tips to ease visits to the laundry. There is no need to be frustrated with this chore. Plan ahead, use the helpful hints for the busy times and maximize the time and money spent at the laundromat so that the washing, drying, hanging and folding are lighter tasks.

Making the Step Towards Success - Confidence

We often talk about success, as I did in yesterday's blog post. First you have to want it for yourself and you have to have confidence in yourself. It's easy to say it but building your confidence means overcoming personal hang-ups, bad history, gossip and negative friends. It means breaking bad habits as well.

I know what I want to achieve and I have to find a way to get it. I don't want a lot. I just want to make a difference in the public service that I work in and in my community. Therefore, I have to lead by example and I have to encourage others. Unlike many people, I did not have a life plan set out. I look for opportunities and I run with them. I won't say that I have made the best decisions overall, but I have been able to find positive in every thing - even in what could be perceived negative.

Finding confidence to take that step is not easy. Sometimes people see your potential and push you. I like to encourage people when I see that they have the ability. Why not? I've had positive people on my side and I am grateful for the opportunities granted to me. I hope that I may be a positive influence on the persons who come in contact with me. I hope that I can inspire confidence in them.

Ribbon