The content was first published 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!
Before soca took center stage, before the fetes and riddims defined our seasons, there was music—pure, potent, and deeply rooted. Mr. Desmond invites you to slow things down this evening and reconnect with the sounds that shaped Trinidad and Tobago’s heartbeat long before the big trucks rolled in.
Tonight, we wind down with a glass of wine and pay quiet tribute to classic R&B songs from yesteryear. Listen to the velvet tones of Gladys Knight, Otis Redding, and The Stylistics, as well as the soulful declarations of love and longing from celebrated artists you may have forgotten. R&B offered a warmth that crossed oceans and found a home in Caribbean hearts.
When you listen to Mr. Desmond's selections, your brain will be flooded with musical memories of R&B and sweet reggae that you loved to listen to. From the velvet tones of Gladys Knight, Otis Redding, and The Stylistics to the soulful declarations of love and longing that brought joy and sorrow 'back in the day!'
We’re not just revisiting tunes tonight—we’re revisiting feelings. We are toasting to the songs that shaped our parents' era and shaped our personal growth. Enjoy the rewind.
Let us spread awareness of the Caribbean diaspora's culture.
Our goal is to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and tales of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy continues to reach a wider audience and foster creativity and connections. While you should always buy music for sale, you should avoid sharing promotional music because it denies songwriters, producers, and artists important revenue. Please be aware that all of our posts are available online via social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, 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:
Show: The Classics with Mr. Desmond
Stream: Mr. Desmond on ilannet (https://ilannet.com/mrdesmond/)
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Genre: Classics—R&B
Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband music and Soca Thrive!
? Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but on a daily basis.
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 small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.
Bumpa Move (Clean Version) – Punz ft. Skillibeng | Bouyon Power in Motion
By Ananda/Sokah2Soca
in
Blog
July 04, 2025
The content was first published 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!
I saw this song posted on YouTube, but I got caught up with other projects that delayed my posting until I saw Punz on the Madder Drive alongside Shal, Goofy, and Ding Dong, featuring Deejay Punz in the segment titled "Punz Talks New Path, Similarities Between Bouyon & Trinibad, Skillibeng's Bouyon Track, 'Bumpa Move'!" Indeed, one can say that the version presented here for this post is Bouyon brilliance with an infectious twist; this one’s engineered for movement and mayhem—in the cleanest way possible.
This song is going to become a hit... a party hit for sure! However, we decided that we needed a clean version of the song for posting. We have posted mixes that have 'adult lyrical content' but decided that this music was so good that we believe a clean version will surely do well but not as well as the raw original version at parties. From the dynamic production house of Touch The Road Records (TTRR) comes a fresh, clean rendition of “Bumpa Move,” a high-octane Bouyon track by Punz, featuring none other than Skillibeng. While the original version, spearheaded by Punz, is built to shell down parties island-wide, this clean edit keeps the same electrifying energy with lyrics fit for broader platforms.
As you may realize, we have posted Bouyon music with some regularity. We believe Bouyon is on the rise, but, for some, the raw lyrical content is an issue and definitely not lyrically radio-friendly. While the original version will no doubt fuel the wildest segments of fête season, this clean cut courtesy of TTRR provides an inclusive alternative without dulling the impact. It’s Soca-adjacent, Bouyon-rooted, and community-ready—perfect for daytime sets, radio rotation, and everywhere Caribbean music deserves to shine.
We believe that this is the moment for Bouyon to gain popularity across the Caribbean and become mainstream in the international market. This genre from Dominica is pushing through borders and asserting its place in the pan-Caribbean soundscape. This radio-friendly version should help with the song and genre's promotion. So press play and enjoy Punz and Skillibeng's Bouyon track "Bumpa Move."
Let us spread awareness of the Caribbean diaspora's culture.
Our goal is to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and tales of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy continues to reach a wider audience and foster creativity and connections. While you should always buy music for sale, you should avoid sharing promotional music because it denies songwriters, producers, and artists important revenue. Please be aware that all of our posts are available online via social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, 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: Bumpa Move (TTRR Clean Version)
Clean Version: TTRR—Touch The Road Records
Artist/Performed by: Punz ft. Skillibeng
Origin: Dominica/Jamaica
Genre: Bouyon ?
Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband music and Soca Thrive!
? Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but on a daily basis.
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 small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.
Wukkkin Riddim Igniting Party Vibes: Alison Hinds, Edwin Yearwood & Marzville Light Up Kadooment 2025
By Ananda/Sokah2Soca
in
Blog
July 04, 2025
The content was first published 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!
Saturday morning is the time to pump up the music and start the weekend activities with some sweet Caribbean musical flavor. Just in time for Kadooment 2025, Monstapiece Entertainment & Nelieux dropped the "Wukkkin Riddim." This music is 'mad,' and it is indeed 'wukkkin right!' This music lands like a jolt of pure soca electricity—infectious, unstoppable, and soaked in Caribbean pride. This is more than a rhythm; it’s a statement. A celebration. A musical bacchanal led by three icons who understand the power of waistlines, rhythm, and revelry and the art of wukup!
But wait, the music isn't just sweet; the production team brought together some really talented people for this album. The Bajan Queen of Soca, Alison Hinds; the ever-smooth lyrical craftsman, who brings the vibe; and the energizer magician, Marzville, all keep this rhythm pumping with excitement and pure vibes.
This riddim works; it is different yet familiar for Bajans and uniquely sweet for the rest of the Caribbean. This vibe should easily transition to North America for their upcoming carnival celebrations. This music exudes a sweet and radiant quality, evoking a sense of belonging in the Caribbean.
From Sokah2Soca, we say: turn this one way up. And if you’re lucky enough to be on the road this August, make sure your flag is high and your energy higher—because this is what real Caribbean joy sounds like.
Let us spread awareness of the Caribbean diaspora's culture.
Our goal is to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and tales of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy continues to reach a wider audience and foster creativity and connections. While you should always buy music for sale, you should avoid sharing promotional music because it denies songwriters, producers, and artists important revenue. Please be aware that all of our posts are available online via social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, 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:
Album Title: Wukkkin Riddim
Artist/Performed by: Alison Hinds, Edwin Yearwood, Marzville
Produced by: Monstapiece Entertainment & Nelieux
Mixed & mastered by: M.A.D. One
Origin: Barbados
Genre: Soca ?
Tracklist:
Wukkkin Riddim - Instrumental
Alison Hinds—Baddie Wuk
Edwin Yearwood—Coming Fuh U
Marzville—Mash Up
Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband music and Soca Thrive!
? Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but on a daily basis.
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 small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.
Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart: How Sparrow Turned Heartbreak into a Global Classic
By Ananda/Sokah2Soca
in
Blog
July 04, 2025
The content was first published 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!
Here at Sokah2Soca, our goal is to feature our Caribbean culture past and present, and because we exude cultural pride, musical legacy, and the Caribbean’s global imprint, we jumped at the opportunity for this feature post. On Thursday, June 26, I was listening to WACK Visual Radio 90.1 FM and the host/presenter, Richard C, played Sparrow's classic version of “Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart.” I decided immediately that I should post about the song because it has one of those fascinating journeys that starts in Brooklyn and ends up echoing through calypso halls and European charts.
Songs traveled by heart, spanning oceans and generations, long before streaming playlists and viral hits became the norm. “Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart” is one of those rare gems. Born in Brooklyn in 1964 and reimagined in the Caribbean by the legendary Mighty Sparrow, this ballad of heartbreak found an unlikely second life as a soulful calypso anthem. But how did a tender tune become a European chart-topper and a Caribbean classic? Sparrow’s version didn’t just cover the original—it transformed it. This song is the story of how one man’s voice turned sorrow into legacy.
Norman Bergen and Shelly Coburn wrote the song in 1964 in response to a request for British-sounding material. Initially envisioned as an uptempo tune, Norman Bergen and Shelly Coburn transformed it into a soulful ballad during a last-minute studio session. Jazz singer Arthur Prysock released the song initially, but it didn't garner much attention in the U.S.
Enter The Mighty Sparrow, the Calypso King of the World. In the late 1960s, Sparrow recorded the song with Byron Lee & the Dragonaires, giving it a smooth, Caribbean soul twist that resonated deeply with audiences. His version charted in the UK and the Netherlands, where it became a massive hit—spending 27 weeks on the Dutch charts and peaking at #2 in 1978. That’s no small feat for a calypso ballad originally penned in Brooklyn!
Sparrow’s emotive delivery and the lush arrangement helped the song transcend genres. His interpretation gave it new life, especially in the Caribbean and Europe, where it became a beloved classic. The Dutch mistakenly credited Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) with the song's release. Those responsible for the production notes later corrected the incorrect credit.
It's intriguing how a song may not be accepted or appreciated where it was originally released, yet later finds fame in a distant land, performed by a singer who might not be well-known at the song's source. Now, here's something to bring a smile to your face: A friend was arguing with her husband when her girlfriend teased her, saying, "Isn't love grand? That's why I'm single!" That doesn't matter for this post, but love is love, and only a fool breaks his own heart!'
Let us spread awareness of the Caribbean diaspora's culture.
Our goal is to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and tales of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy continues to reach a wider audience and foster creativity and connections. While you should always buy music for sale, you should avoid sharing promotional music because it denies songwriters, producers, and artists important revenue. Please be aware that all of our posts are available online via social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, 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: Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart
Artist/Performed by: Slinger Francisco, aka The Mighty Sparrow, with Byron Lee & the Dragonaires
Composed by Norman Bergen and Shelly Coburn (1964)
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Genre: Calypso ?
Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband music and Soca Thrive!
? Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but on a daily basis.
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 small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.
