Kevin Lyttle has had an international hit with 'Turn Me on'

(Read the article then have your say)

One Barbadian artiste believes he has the answer.

John King, a former island calypso king, says it might be the result of a conspiracy among major music labels to keep soca at bay.

Soca, calypso's party sister, has managed a few hits internationally but a real breakthrough has proved elusive.

"Hot Hot Hot" by Arrow is, quite remarkably, still a staple of the international circuit after it was first recorded in 1982.

He can lay claim to putting soca on the international map.

It was 21 years ago that Buster Poindexter's cover version of Arrow's hit carried it into the American charts.

	Machel Mantano is one of soca's more popular and better known performers

In 2000, there was more success with Baha Men's soca-tinged "Who Let the Dogs Out", another cover of Anslem Douglas' Trinidad carnival hit.

Four years later Rupee and Kevin Lyttle also made it to the Billboard Hot 100 with "Tempted to Touch" and "Turn Me On," respectively.

But these are rare forays into the mainstream -- and soca remains without a truly genuine international star.

John King feels the road has been made difficult, deliberately so, by music labels.

He told the Barbados Nation newspaper: "I have tried over the years to get this music to the mainstream American radio stations and all you butt up on is: that the quality of the recording is not good; there is no format that we have that can play it; all sorts of stumbling blocks."

However another soca star, Antigua's Onyan, offers a different view.

He told BBC Caribbean that it's a matter of how to music is marketed: which brand of soca is targeted at specific audiences.

Listen to Onyan in this Marie-Claire Williams report

Montserrat-born soca veteran, Arrow, told BBC Caribbean last year that when his 'Hot, Hot, Hit' hit the scene, international labels were willing at that time to embrace soca.

But he said short-sighted producers and promoters in the region resisted over fears they would be shunted aside.

An opportunity was therefore lost, in the Montserratian's view.

Machel Montano, like his fellow Trinidadian David Rudder, is one of the leading lights of the genre.

Machel admits to a dream to see soca become a global musical force.

	Sparrow is the uncrowned king of calypso but his subjects are regarded abroad as a subculture

Billboard reported in August that he had yet to make an impact despite collaborations with Wyclef Jean, Busta Rhymes and Shaggy.

The magazine said he'd signed international deals with Delicious Vinyl and Atlantic and recorded two albums which remain unreleased.

Rupee and Kevin Lyttle are also signed with Atlantic but their careers seem to have stalled somewhat.

Rupee has more than once been forced to deny he has been dropped from the label, amid suggestions that interest may have cooled.

So why has soca/calypso not enjoyed the acclaim of reggae/dancehall?

Is it resistance from music labels; is it the quality of the music; is it the tempo?

Are we referring to those "raise your hands', "roll your bamzie" songs that, especially today, are produced with just "keyboards" and drum machines"?
If so, we cannot expect it to rise to the standard and acceptance of reggae.

Yesteryear's calypsos may be outdated, today. But, if calypso had to go anywhere, it would had to be at the time of the real calypsonians and, not the wild n' wacky -- wassie entertainers of today.
Chris Seraphine
Dominica

Soca may have lacked success internationally for many many reasons, including the biggest one that right here in the Caribbean -- the local radio station do not play it enough, but to try and change the format of it.

Its a big mistake that much I do know. Take a good look and you will see anytime you try to change a music format to where you want to go internationally you spoil and damage the whole thing. Keep it the way it is, success will come in due time.
Mike Smith
St.Vincent

Blame the failure on the part of Soca producers/promoters to get product into the streets. At radio stations in places like Jamaica and here in South Florida when one recieves ten Reggae/Dancehall Cds, for example, there might be a couple of Soca releases.

Further while reggae music has always had a social comment/protest component, much of Soca has always been simply about "party, party, party".

From the perspective of radio, however, the non-availability of product has been a major factor in Soca not getting the exposure it could have over time. reggae became international only after local stations played it for ages.

In addition, Carnival has apparently failed to push product in the way Reggae Sunsplash and reggae Sumfest have done.
Winston Barnes
Fort Lauderdale
Florida

The Billboard Hot 100 is not the right yardstick to measure the success of the artform. I know of a lots of songs that can make a party of soca lovers come alive.

I have been to all carnivals on the east coast of North America (Toronto to Miami). Despite my fustrations with the promoters and the disorganized shows I intend to continue.

Soca/calypso can be more successful if, 1; It is more widely available for purchase. 2; Concerts start on time and the featured artiste completes his/her act before the police stops the show. 3; Attempts are made to have music for sale at concerts. 4;Lyrics are included so new fans can follow and understand the meaning of the song. 5; Caribbean radio stations play more of it.

As an avid listener I look forward to improvements in the artform and crave the day when it becomes so readily available that you hear it as outside of Caribbean clubs.
Colville Ferdinand
Georgia, USA

From someone who's been directly involved with the broadcasting of Caribbean music, I can say that Soca's lack of success is due to several factors, and by the way, the same can be said for Reggae.

..... The artists, for producing low quality lyrics (the artists have to sing & produce better songs that the global community will embrace)

..... producers for a lack of quality production and marketing (have you seen or heard a Soca song on national TV outside of the Caribbean?)

.... the lack of distribution to the masses worldwide (which is the key here).

For Soca to achieve the global success it truly deserves it has to be marketed and distributed to that high level.

The same can also be said for Reggae-dancehall. It's the younger generation (white, European, Japanese) that's keeping Roots-Reggae alive.

So it's time for our Caribbean peoples to take our heads from under the sheets and see what's really going on.
Ital-K
St. Louis, MO
USA

Soca does not lack success. It is succeeding and will continue.

The world needs to come to the Caribbean not the Caribbean to the world to show signs of success.

There is so much more that could be said and every thing said already has some value. But the bottom line is love ourselves, respect each other and the world will love you.

Show love for who you are. Never doubt yourself and the world will know you. Soca is part of the Caribbean heritage and nothing will kill that.
Jeanette
Miami

One possible reason soca/calypso is not mainstream is that it's format would have to be changed; the very thing that makes soca appealing to us.

The tempo will have to be changed and the "leadings lights" must have demonstrable talent. It doesn't take much to shout "jump and wave" over and over. And let's face it, a lot of these artistes can't really carry a tune. While the formula works for us it will not necessarily translate into broad appeal the world over.

Often we compare Soca to Reggae and wonder why one is so popular while the other is not. Reggae often deals with international themes; things that disparate people can indentify with whereas Soca is understood by a few.
Devon Oranjestad
St.Eustatius
Netherlands Antilles

Soca fetes seem to be selling out quickly in Toronto whenever they are advertised and the young people seem to be embracing it. I am wedding DJ and Soca is played even at non west indian functions and the people love it!
Tropical Vibes
Toronto

I think you cant really get Soca mainstream as you'd probably have to change too many things that make soca what it is, to make people understand it.

A big step forward would be if people would actually start buying the music they love so much.
Winey
London

How ridiculous is it to say all soca music is sexually suggestive, too fast and has no depth to the lyrics! If that is some people's argument then have they never heard bashment?

A music which is often all of these and hugely popular- give me a break!

In order to hear the intellectual and political soca which isn't fast you have to be an avid listener. You have to know where to find it so the person who rightly did not name themselves needs to not make such blanket statements.

There are several types of music which are not recognised and some people think they should be but I for one am happy soca is one of them. It is definitely part of a culture and has to be FELT from the heart in order to be truely appreciated!
Gee
London

I would rather it retain it's intergrity that 'sell out' and become repetitive and predictable that all musical genres that enjoy great exposure suffer from.

Soca has not had success internationally because most of it (including Machel) is talentless crap
Rick
Trinidad

The scene is too insular and arrogant. 90 per cent of it's rubbish, poppy, and has no meaning or depth. There is some good stuff but on a whole it's at the bottom of the pile for music genres.
Lauren

Soca's lack of success has to do with the music. The beats always sound the same and it's hard to tell one artist from another because they all sound the same.
Cee Lyrical
New York

I believe that soca is not very successful in the international arena because it is difficult to sing along with the music because the tune itself require you to have a lot of energy.

Most music that is very popular, people can bop their heads and not feel compelled to jump and dance.

Maybe if soca becomes more successful outside of the carnival/party setting, then it will be more marketable to others (who do not necessarily partake in those types of activities abroad)
Tina

Why does Soca music has to be slowed down to be enjoyed? This is ridiculous.

Bob Marley and Peter Tosh didn't make reggae popular. Reggae became popular because Jamaican artiste took every possible hit song known internationally and incorporated the raggae beat into these songs.

Most DJs have a bias for reggae, but truly know that soca is more popular, and would not publicly admit it, but would do so in private. Does the Americans or British change their music for acceptance?

I am not a fan of, but if you listen to country and rock & roll; unless you're into these music; the average listener can't understand a word. Why is it; that every good thing that comes from the Caribbean; has to be altered to be accepted.

Soca is and will always be the most popular music in the Caribbean. Soca is the only music that brings life to a party. Trini To The Bone
Kenrick Thomas
New York

I disagree that labels hold the genre in contempt; soca lyrics are predictable to the point where one can claim he/she is clairvoyant. The genre needs to evolve into a more lyrical more substantial art form; qualities that were excluded from its genetic make-up at birth.
Stephen White
Trinidad

I like my country music, and don't care if y'all don't. I reckon if soca were any good, it would loved by the masses.
John Smith
Raleigh, USA

Until UB40 does a soca tune it will not be as popular as reggae.
Vanni
Trinidad

In a society where there are countless benchmarks and goals to achieve excellence, I am not surprised that Soca has not made it to international ‘recognition’.

For me there is a difference between success at a smaller level over recognition at a grander. As with previous comments I too am not entirely taken back and somewhat appeased.

Spearing the music from becoming ‘watered down’, misinterpreted and even ridiculed for me is the greatest accomplishment.

Undoubtedly, it is a double-sided sword as it is somewhat disappointing that the artists don’t receive the perceived necessary recognition they yearn for, but as an avid soca lover, I am exceedingly greteful with the music remaining close to its roots.
Kerry Cain
Pickering, Canada

Do we really want to change the music so much to facilitate international growth. It is a huge part of the Caribbean culture as it is and the Carinivals that the world has come to love will not be the same with a "modified soca".

Dancehall broke through even with its high tempo. Let's not make soca to suit the rest of the world .. but make the rest of the world appreciate soca and the Caribbean culture for what it is.
Stormin' Norman
St Maarten via Jamaica

I think one of the major reasons Soca has failed to succeed internationally is because it hasn't been marketed properly to the international community.

I am a SOCA JUNKIE I fell in love with it, when I participated in an annual carnival we have in Edmonton "Cariwest"

I agree that it's proper music to play when jammin down the road, but not when your chilling in a club. Just don't really go together for some reason. They need to slow it down a bit.

But honestly I love me some SOCA!
Leslie Bang
Canada

When I was living in Toronto the central complaint I received from (non-Caribbean based) locals was that they were physically unable to time their movements to the music and, secondly, that the ability of the Caribbean people to do it seemingly effortlessly did not HELP!

Also, international audiences have a problem understanding the words (literally). A lot of the Trinidadian artists, especially, are easy to understand (if you are from the Caribbean) but to a Londoner or someone from New York? Not a chance.

Last, since the turn of the millennium, soca has been becoming decreasingly creative in its songwriting. Contrast that with Sparrow's timeless hits that displayed the very best songwriting abilities. Canadian comedian, Russell Peters, made a joke about this, saying that he believes some soca artists think up their songs in the shower! This has to stop.
Christian Thorne
Barbados

We make Soca every year. Coldplay, for example, will wait years between recordings, and in between that time they will tour.

Even after T&T made into the World Cup one would think that it would have been the catalyst but alas, no dice... same with pan really... we produce too quickly, not that the creativity is a bad thing, but we really need to be targeting the dance market with the speed of some the songs, and focus on creating that "breakout" track.

Soca music is seasonal, the international market, requires study and a strategic approach. The quality is there though.

Either way, it eh stoppin' me from enjoyin' it.
Aldric George Bailey
Port of Spain

Soca is very popular in the dance clubs. But, personally, when I listen to music at home, I am in a relaxed or contemplative state. Therefore, I rarely reach for a soca CD at home (unless my wife and I are hosting a party or something).

I think the advantage that dancehall enjoys is that it grew out of roots reggae. In reggae, the first international stars were Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, etc. They made reggae a household name which paved the way to stardom for all sorts of reggae styles.

In order for soca to gain that level of success, there must be a trailblazer who can move the people's feet at the club, but who can also enter people's minds at home.
Mark McDonnell
Taiwan

Firstly, the quality of the music and lyrical content is sub-standard, aided and abetted by un-melodious vocals and rush-rush deliveries. We need to get back to basics and do market research to understand the potential consumers.
Paul Charles
Dominica

Calypso/soca lyrics are too, too vulgar, music too fast and those who dance to this type of music, dance in a very vulgar manner.
I am ashamed to invite my friends to a party where modern calyspo/soca music is played because of it'd sexually suggestive lyrics.
Anon
USA

I personally don't care if soca never makes it international - it's one of my favorite musical styles and a large part of West Indian culture regardless. As long as its important to us and people enjoy it, it doesn't matter how much international exposure it gets.
Alex

An opportunity "lost" maybe hindsight, soca music (as Bernard points out) would have to be tailored to an international audience to facilitate cross over.

My personal feeling is that if that never happens at a significant level vs the occasional hits, then the music is no worse off as a consequence, there are many musical artforms that appeal to a specific demographic that have not lost their appeal to the latter because of a lack of international acclaim (Bachata, Ska reggae's predecessor etc).

If the international acclaim grows, however, the career ooportunities for artists and those within the field would certainly increase and potentially facilitate increased growth.
Nick
Trini in NY

Calypso/Soca, has always been a mature audience music, but the artists today are attempting to identify with the teenage crowd. This is evidenced by their lack of emotional content and the athletic pace of the music.The speed might be good for the road on Carnival Tuesday but not for jouvert and we certainly cannot expect the international community to relate or dance to it. Slow it down and make it relevant internationally guys.
Bernard