Get Ready to "Rock It": Celebrating Calypsonian Merchant's Unforgettable Legacy
By Ananda/Sokah2Soca
in
Blog
March 22, 2025
Originally posted on the blog Sokah2Soca (www.sokah2soca.com). We bring you only the best new music, while Island Vybe Radio rocks it live on the air!
Do you like Calypso music? We want you to rediscover your love for Calypso music. Today, too much emphasis is placed on Soca music, but if you take some time to listen, you will realize that the mother music is timeless. During Trinidad and Tobago's 2025 Carnival season, I had the pleasure to watch the Brass Bacchanal competition. During the warm-up session, Kern Sumerville and the Sensational Band, featuring vocalist Chuck Gordon, performed Merchant's "Be Careful." I immediately decided to post Merchant's song to show how brass was so much a part of Calypso music, and Merchant's melody showcased it beautifully.
When I searched for the song, I realized that it was from a four-song mini album titled "Rock It," and every song was just wonderful. Merchant is an excellent storyteller, and his voice dug deep into the listener. It was captivating, and I decided that I would post all songs in a blended mix for all fans of Sokah2Soca.
This post will list most of "The Merchant's" music, and if, after reviewing the post, you notice we omitted some songs, please comment and let us know so that we can update it for future reference. Please take some time and listen to the blended mix posted here. DJ Dandelion of Ras FM Sounds created it, and I am thankful for the job they did. They are part of the Island Vybe Philly radio station.
We do hope that after listening to the mix, you get a better appreciation for Calypso music and immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythms of Calypso and Soca music. Merchant's legacy endures through his timeless tunes and heartfelt performances, some of which are available for viewing on YouTube. Enjoy the music, and please share this post with your social media peers.
Dennis Franklyn Williams, aka The Merchant
Born: May 19th, 1943
Died: May 1st, 1999
- 1975—Dreams of Unity
- 1976—Carnival
- 1977—Norman (is that you?) Come And Take It
- 1978—Um Ba Yao; Let No Man Judge
- 1979—Album: Dr. Soca—Songs: Taxi Talk, Think About the Children, Dr. Soca, Sweet Pan, Ah Going And Tell, None For You, Leh We Stop, Roma
- 1980—Album: D' Hardest—Songs: Why Yuh Do Me Dat, Papers Row, Maebo, Don't Buy, Who Squatting, Down At The Disco, No Money, No Pan, Morne Diablo
- 1981—Album: Merchant's Pilgrimage—Songs: Wine I, The Heart Of Me, Hit Me With Music, A Good Thing Going, Holy Pilgrimage, Pray, Righteous One, Instant Funk
- 1984—Let us build a nation together
- 1985—Album: Rock It—Songs: Be Careful, Pan in Danger, Caribbean Connection, Rock It
- 1985—Album: There Must Be A Way Songs: We Going Home, Paranoid, Rocking It, Say It, There Must Be A Way, Give I Beg You
- 1986—There Must Be a Way
- 1987—Album: Ah Coming Too—Songs: Pain, Tumble Down, Ah Coming Too, Leh We Do Ahthing, Ah Coming Jam
- 1988—Album: Power Play—Songs: Soca Powerplay, Don't You, Symphony Of Love, Simmer Down, Private Conversation, Hot Line Baby
- 1989—Album: Innervisions—Songs: Soca Music, Reaching Out, Silver Lining, You Make My Day
Let us promote the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
Our mission is to advance music producers, performers, and Caribbean culture. Your support helps us celebrate and elevate the vibrant sounds and stories of the Caribbean. We can all work together to make sure that this rich cultural legacy continues to inspire creativity and connection while reaching a larger audience. You should always purchase music for sale but refrain from sharing promotional music, as it deprives the artists, producers, and songwriters of vital income. Please note that all our posts can be accessed online via social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and SoundCloud. We recommend exploring your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Merchant Calypso Blend—Rock It Album
Artist/Performed by: Dennis Franklyn Williams aka The Merchant
Mixed/Blended by: DJ Dandelion of Ras FM Sound
Music Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Genre: Calypso
Songs on the blended mix/SoundCloud Player for the album: "Rock It"
- Be Careful
- Caribbean Connection
- Rock It
- Pan In Danger
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.
♫ Please click the music player button below to listen now (a small triangle in the music player/TV frame).
Originally posted on the blog Sokah2Soca (www.sokah2soca.com). We bring you only the best new music, while Island Vybe Radio rocks it live on the air!
The NCC hosts the National Stick-Fighting Finals for Carnival 2025 on Wednesday, February 26, at Skinner Park, San Fernando. "Bois" start time is 7:00 PM! "Any boisman can fight any boisman," but are you man enough to get into the Gayelle?
The finalists scheduled to brave the Gayelle and share blows are as follows:
- Daniel Barclay
- Selwyn John
- Ronald Lewin
- Anderson Marcano
- Oniel Odle
- Wendel Wright
Stick fighting is serious business, and blood can be spilled in the Gayelle. It's 'buss-head' time, and only professionals who understand the art of stick fighting are in the ring. As the crowd roars with anticipation, the atmosphere thickens with excitement and tension. Every strike and parry will be a testament to the skill and determination of these fighters, who have trained tirelessly for this moment under the blazing sun. The men who made it through the early rounds to the finals paid their dues and are deserving of their place in today's event. Enjoy the show, and may the most skilled stickman emerge victorious!
Addendum:
The Championship battle: Anderson Marcano vs Oniel Odle
The Champion Stick Fighter for Carnival 2025: Anderson Marcano
Let us promote the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
Our mission is to advance music producers, performers, and Caribbean culture. Your support helps us celebrate and elevate the vibrant sounds and stories of the Caribbean. We can all work together to make sure that this rich cultural legacy continues to inspire creativity and connection while reaching a larger audience. You should always purchase music for sale but refrain from sharing promotional music, as it deprives the artists, producers, and songwriters of vital income. Please note that all our posts can be accessed online via social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and SoundCloud. We recommend exploring your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Event: National Stick-Fighting
Organized by: National Carnival Commission of Trinidad & Tobago
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.
♫ Please click the music player button below to listen now (a small triangle in the music player/TV frame).
Unleash the Carnival Spirit with DJ Dondelion's Latest Power Soca Mix 2025
By Ananda/Sokah2Soca
in
Blog
March 12, 2025
Originally posted on the blog Sokah2Soca (www.sokah2soca.com). We bring you only the best new music, while Island Vybe Radio rocks it live on the air!
Who said the spirit of Carnival is over? You mad, or what? Today we drop the latest mixtape from DJ Dondelion of RAS FM Sound, and it is scorching hot! This mix is titled "Power Soca Mix-Trinidad and Tobago-Carnival 2025"! We are confident that you will love the vibe, the energy and the intention of the mix... it is intended to keep the spirit of Carnival alive!
While you may anticipate hearing all the Power Soca tracks from Trinidad, it's important to note that the summer carnival artists from up the islands are the true creators of this genre. DJ Dondelion has made sure to provide you with the most recent Power Soca tracks, while regional stars such as Rick T, Skinny Fabulous, Pumpa, Mr. Killa, Problem Child, Konshens, and Trinidad's talented Soca artists contribute to enhancing the vibe. There is a passion and fire that these regional Soca stars bring to the Power Soca vibe.
When you listen, take note of "Pardy" by Machel Montano, "Carry It," and "Thousand" by Bunji Garlin; these are the top three Road March tracks heard on the road for Carnival 2025 in Trinidad.
If you live in North America, you can sense a change in the weather. Spring is but a few days away, and what a way to enter the season... a sweet mixtape from the RAS FM Crew!
Make sure to stay tuned to Sokah2Soca and Island Vybe Philly Radio for updates on upcoming events featuring DJ Dondelion and his crew of incredible mixologists. So let the music play and remember to stay tuned into Sokah2Soca for excellent music from some of the best DJs in the business.
Your Track Mix List is here:
- Road Meeting—Fay Ann Lyons
- Carry It—Bunji Garlin, Flatten
- Voice & Bunji Garlin
- Thousand—Bunji Garlin
- Look, Something to Talk About—Ricky T
- Find Out—Skinny Fabulous
- Mash Pit—Lyrikal
- Time & Place—Pumpa
- Coat of Arms—Mx Prime
- Truck Instructions—Nailah Blackman
- Psycho—Mr. Killa
- Like Never Before—Problem Child
- Behavior Nothing—Shal Marshall
- Banana—Nailah Blackman
- Must Bend—Problem Child
- Ya Know It—Problem Child
- Pushing—Pumpa
- Madness—Lyrikal & Skinny Fabulous
- Sake Down—Mr. Killa & Patrice Roberts
- Terrance—Trinidad Killa
- Fitness—Trinidad Killa & Jadel
- Hardest Jam—Lyrikal
- Rum Bus - Konshens
- Her Mudda—Machel Montano & Pumpa
- Wave It—Machel Montano
- Party Time—Skinny Fabulous
- Fete I like—Bunji Garlin
- Pardy—Machel Montano
- Fallen Fetters—Machel Montano & Skinny Fabulous
- Higher Power—Mical Teja
Let us promote the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
Our mission is to advance music producers, performers, and Caribbean culture. Your support helps us celebrate and elevate the vibrant sounds and stories of the Caribbean. We can all work together to make sure that this rich cultural legacy continues to inspire creativity and connection while reaching a larger audience. You should always purchase music for sale but refrain from sharing promotional music, as it deprives the artists, producers, and songwriters of vital income. Please note that all our posts can be accessed online via social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and SoundCloud. We recommend exploring your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Mixtape Title: Power Soca Mix-Trinidad & Tobago-Carnival 2025
Mixed by: Dj Dondelion of RAS FM Sound
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Genre: Soca-Power Soca
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.
♫ Please click the music player button below to listen now (a small triangle in the music player/TV frame).
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Results for 2025: A Celebration of Culture and Tradition
By Ananda/Sokah2Soca
in
Blog
March 12, 2025
Originally posted on the blog Sokah2Soca (www.sokah2soca.com). We bring you only the best new music, while Island Vybe Radio rocks it live on the air!
Trinidad and Tobago had a surprisingly uplifting carnival with excellent music and new emerging stars that bodes well for the future of this yearly festival. The steel bands have taken a prominent role as a driving force, especially for those living overseas who want to view this event online.
Now that King Carnival has concluded, preparations for the upcoming year are already underway. Reviews of what went wrong and what can be done better, along with new ideas, will be conducted, and a new plan will be put in place for the next year. While all of this is happening, people are searching online for the results of the recently completed Carnival 2025. We have put together most of the results and will update the post as more information becomes available.
In the meantime, we encourage everyone to share their experiences and highlights from the event in the comments section. Your insights will enrich our coverage and help shape future Carnivals into even more exciting and memorable celebrations.
National Panorama Results/Pan Trinbago
Single Pan Bands
- San Juan East Side Symphony—The Guns—Duvonne Stewart—284 points
- Chord Masters Steel Orchestra—Swing Engine—André White—276
- Metro Stars Steel Orchestra—Disco Daddy—Kersh Ramsey—272
Small Conventional Steelbands
- T&TEC New East Side Dimension & Golden Hands Steel Orchestra (SCBF2025-Tie)
Medium Conventional Steelbands
- Katzenjammers Steel Orchestra—267 Points
- Pan Elders Steel Orchestra—Mih Lover—272 Points
- NGC Couva Joylanders Steel Orchestra—Cut The Bush—271 Points
Large Conventional Steelbands
- Republic Bank Exodus—Too Own Way—Voice—Terrance "BJ" Marcelle—288 Points
- bp Renegades Steel Orchestra—Bet Meh—Machel Montano—Duvon Stewart—285
- Heritage Petroleum Skiffle Steel Orchestra—Retro—Voice—André White—283
Junior Panorama Champions
Primary Schools
- Sand Boys Steel Orchestra—Dingolay-Shadow—70 Points
- St. Margarets Boys Anglican—DNA-Mical Teja—268
- Febeau Pan Giants-Runaway—Mical Teja—257
Secondary Schools Panorama Champions
- Bishops Anstey & Trinity College East—Trinidad Sweet-Voice & V'ghn—267 Point
- NAPS Combined Steel Orchestra—Buss Head-MM & Bunji—tied with Saint Francois Girls College—Bun Dem—Black Stalin—266 Points
National Under 21
- Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra—Inventor-Olatunji—285 Points
- Invaders Youth Steel Orchestra—Pan in A Minor—Lord Kitchener—tied with Supernovas Youth Steel Orchestra—Energy Killers-Kerwin Du Bois—278
Chutney/Chutney Soca Champions
- Chutney Soca Monarch—Machel Montano
- Reshma Ramlal—Queen of Chutney
The Champion Stick Fighter for Carnival 2025
- Anderson Marcano
- Oniel Odle
Reigning Champs of Soca
- Blaka Dan—Ultimate Soca Champion
- Zachary Ransome—Primary School Junior Soca Monarch
- Jaleese Lazarus—Secondary School Junior Soca Monarch
Youth Soca Champion
- Sucre - The Greatest - 366.5 points
- Verse—Pump It Up—331 points
- Christo—Unity—330.5 points
Calypso Champions
- Helon Francis—National Calypso Monarch (Senior)
- Xaiden Darius—Junior Calypso Monarch
- Singing Sonia—NWAC National Calypso Monarch
- Squeezy Rankin—Young King Calypso Monarch
- Phillip Murray—Black Sage—Extempore Calypso Champion
- Akeem Chance—Preedy—Freestyle Calypso Champion
Brass Bacchanal Champions
- Kern Summerville & The Sensational Band—Bet Meh—358 points—National Brass Champs.
- D All Starz—All Ah We Is One Family—349 points
- Brass 2 The World—Drunk and Disorderly—348 points
Road March Champion 2025
- Pardy—Machel Montano—267 Plays—National Road March Champion
- Carry It—Bunji Garlin—253
- Thousands—Ian Alvarez (Bunji Garlin)—22
Champs of Carnival Mas Bands
Senior Band of the Year
- Mini—Moko Somokow-Cane, The 1805 Christmas Rebellion
- Small—Tribal Connection Cultural-Promotions - A Tribute to Indian Mas
- Medium—Kirk Alliance & Partners—Holy Trespassers: Life's Bitter-Sweet and Savvy Moments
- Large—The Lost Tribe—Lost in Time
Junior Band of the Year
- Junior Mini Band—St Bridges Girls RC School—Up Up and Beyond
- Junior Small Band—House of Jacqui—Spectrum of Life
- Junior Medium Band—Coco-Lily Productions—Trini Bush Medicine
- Junior Large Band—Zebapique Productions—Yuh Ever See
Kings of the Bands (Parade of the Bands)
Senior King of Carnival
- Curtis Eustace—Spirit of ‘D’ Gasparee Cave
- Fareid Carvalho—Dralozo A Being From The Sun
- Errol Sookdeo—An African Drummer
- Antonio Rampersad—Jungle Fever
- Khayri-Jaalam Williams—Secrets of the Sky
- Ares Barkarr—Serpent of Lalah
Queens of the Bands (Parade of the Bands)
Senior Queen of Carnival
- Roxanne Omalo—Sirena—Mistress of the Seas—443 pts
- Rana Kandoo—Maiya, Goddess of Creation—439 pts
- Nicole Hercules—De Tiger Butterfly—429 pts
Junior Queen of Carnival
- J'Nai Edwards—Medicine Woman—408 Points
- Yvonne Rose Mack—The Meandering Mandarin of Salah It—405 Points
- Annalee Rampersad—The Beauty of Love—403 Points
Brass Band on the Road Carnival Monday & Tuesday
- Dil E Nadan/The Music Boss Raymond Ramnarine
Let us promote the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
Our mission is to advance music producers, performers, and Caribbean culture. Your support helps us celebrate and elevate the vibrant sounds and stories of the Caribbean. We can all work together to make sure that this rich cultural legacy continues to inspire creativity and connection while reaching a larger audience. You should always purchase music for sale but refrain from sharing promotional music, as it deprives the artists, producers, and songwriters of vital income. Please note that all our posts can be accessed online via social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and SoundCloud. We recommend exploring your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Carnival Results 2025
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Carnival Lagniappe Video Courtesy: WACK Visual Radio 90.1FM
Code: CRTT2025
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.
♫ Please click the music player button below to listen now (a small triangle in the music player/TV frame).
