POEM: Regaining Inspiration

It took me some time to
rid myself of the block
and it wasn't like it was locked
but I guess I was just flocked
with insignificant tidbits
that just offset my wits
for some moments
so my comments
have been minimal
and the subliminal
remained in space
not shared
but not to worry
it's all under repair
and while you may
want to compare
it's only fair
to let you know
that I dare
to be different
I dare to face the
consequences
I move with passion
and not in the everyday fashion
cause that's my style
and my vibe
is about contentment
and positive sources to vent
releasing the blocks
that keep us locked
in our fears
it's time to awake and rise up

© Ribbon 2014

Short Poem: Music in the Message

Rhythm makes the beat of my message

and blues show my versatility

even if I pop my ego along the way

the reggae sensations take me to the next level

and soca time is happy time

I'm a 70s baby and a classic comic

so my range is wide and contains 

elements of all genres

© Ribbon

Hoping for the Best

I am a proud Black Diamond generation, a descendant of Christiana Freeman from Belle Vue, Tortola. I also have Johnson, Cills, Blyden and Samuels blood in me with roots that reach to St. Croix. I am a proud Virgin Islander in every way.

I love my people and my heritage. I am a melting pot of talents, personalities and cultures with deeper roots in Africa. My life journey so far has been eventful and interesting. I say a lot of "been there, done that" even though I am not a thrill seeker but I love my life.

I have no reason to be depressed or hateful. I still wouldn't change a thing. God charted this destiny for me and I look forward to whatever else he has to bring for me. Good and bad come and these all help to mold us. I'm not wanting the bad but in life things happen that we don't like and don't want. God is in control. I will cry and will feel hurt in some instances but I can't change time or circumstances.

Mr. Merrit Herbert would always announce every morning on ZBVI, "Hope for the best, get ready for the worst and accept what God sends."

Ribbon

POEM: You Have Done It All - for those with love on their minds

Farmers' Week 2014 - February 7-14, 2014 in the BVI

Steel Pulse's Smash Hits is Classic Reggae Music

Steel Pulse is a reggae band that was formed in 1975. Their Smash Hits album features hit songs like "Your House," "Bodyguard" and "Tightrope."

Steel Pulse (http://steelpulse.com/) is a reggae band started by musicians of West Indian heritage who were living in the United Kingdom. They have released over fifteen reggae albums, one of which won a Grammy award. Steel Pulse's Smash Hits album was released in 1993 and at the time presented a compilation of their hits of the early 1980s. Songs like "Chant a Psalm," "Roller Skates" and "Not King James Version" are featured on this album.

Who is Steel Pulse

The founding members of Steel Pulse were David Hinds, Basil Gabbidon, Ronnie "Stepper" McQueen, Steve "Grizzly" Nisbett, Selwyn "Bumbo" Brown, Alphonso "Fonso" Martin and Michael Riley. Steel Pulse's official website shares that McQueen "suggested the group name, after a racehorse." As time passed, old members departed and new members joined. The most recent list of the band members are the original Hinds, Nisbett, and Brown with the backing band featuring Alvin Ewen, Clifford "Moonie" Pusey, Sidney Mills, Kevin Batchelor, Jerry Johnson and Clark Gayton.

Steel Pulse Released Many Albums
Steel Pulse first album was Handsworth Revolution in 1978. The songs included the song "Handsworth Revolution" and "Soldiers." The next album was in 1979, Tribute to the Martyrs and then in 1980, Reggae Fever (Caught You) was released. Songs from the albums released in 1982, 1984 and 1985 form the Smash Hits album, respectively True Democracy, Earth Crisis and Babylon The Bandit. Their 1991 release Victims features the song "Taxi Driver". A live album Rastafari Centennial was released in 1992, Vex in 1994 and Rage and Fury in 1997. 2004 brought reggae fans African Holocaust with the song "No More Weapons" featuring Damian "Jr Gong" Marley. In addition to Smash Hits, Steel Pulse has released other compilations of their reggae music including 2000's Ultimate Collection and 2006's Rastanthology II: The Sequel.

The Songs of Steel Pulse'sSmash Hits

Smash Hits compiles sixteen of Steel Pulse's reggae hits. Including two dubs or instrumentals, this album includes songs from Babylon The Bandit, the winner of 1985 Grammy's Best Reggae Album. David  Hinds, the lead singer, wrote all of the songs on this album except for "Your House" which was written by Alphonso Martin.

• "Blues Dance Raid": "Music a bubble/not looking for trouble" start "Blues Dance Raid" from the True Democracy album. This song is about the authorities who infiltrated a jam session. "Tipped off by informer, them a watch who come out and come in" tells the listener that there would have been an informant. Steel Pulse was emphatic about the raid and sang "Them a run come kill I vibes/ interfere with I." Morgan Heritage remade the song in 2008 with the title "Raid Rootz Dance."
• The Struggling Man's Song is "Tightrope": Steel Pulse in "Tightrope" expresses that sometimes life is difficult but there is hope. The chorus is "They got me walking/ walking on a tightrope/ can't afford to bump my toe/ as long as Babylon/ Babylon is my foe/ I will have hope in my soul." Babylon refers to the 'system' - the politics and red tape that keeps people from progressing. "Tightrope" comes from the Earth Crisis album.
• "Not King James Version": Steel Pulse encourages listeners to learn about their history in "Not King James Version". "This ya version a no King James Version/ cause out of Africa came the God not heathen" is the chorus. The band repeats "African Heritage - I don't wanna lose you" throughout the song. The reference to 'King James Version' is to the King James Version of the Bible. Their claim in this song from the Babylon The Bandit album is that the bible and the history books omit the true value of Africans to ancient history.
• "Roller Skates" Tells a Story: Steel Pulse tells a story in "Roller Skates" about a fun date in the evening where the singer is jamming his boombox while on roller skates. "The guy jumped on me/ messed up my clothes/ smashed and cracked my radio/ calling all detectives/ there's a criminal at large" are some of the lyrics. In "Roller Skates," Steel Pulse continuously repeats "Life without music/ I can't go" and "Give me back my radio." The song could also be a deeper metaphor for the music industry where the big executives probably were taking advantage of the artists.

Steel Pulse's Smash Hits is a reggae album featuring the band's earlier hits like ""Worth His Weight in Gold" and "Leggo Beast." This album compiles the top songs from Steel Pulse's 1982, 1984 and 1985 albums of socially conscious yet enjoyable reggae music.

My Journey - Music by My Side

I went to a workshop today that encouraged me to continue doing some of the things that I do. It encouraged me to keep a journal and as you know a blog is a web journal. I love this blog because I can free my mind with just my crazy thoughts, my creative juices and my unique inspiration.

I came home today wanting to cover some math with my son as well as enjoy some music. I went from reggae to R&B and spanned some years going back to some Marvin Gaye, Hi-5, Lloyd, Avant, Tony Toni Tone as well as some Niyorah, Pressure, Omari, Rizon and others. I just felt mellow like I need to let loose. I danced a bit which is something that I love to do.

Some grade 4 parents including myself are having troubles with elapsed time so I needed to change the tempo. My son is getting it slowly and it makes no sense for me to further frustrate him and myself. Instead I threw on some music and he made some strides. We'll attack again tomorrow with or without the music.

Music has been my best friend as a child. I have lots of brothers and sisters but we never lived together when I was a child so I had to talk to my radio. Music has been my company and my inspiration and I think it will forever be a part of me.

Through primary, secondary and tertiary education and even on my way to work, I've always had music by my side. You may think it's a sad existence but it's my life and I love it.

Ribbon