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Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 2016 - HOME
sung by Anslem Douglas
composed by Carlon “Panman” Harewood
lyrics by Gregory “GB” Ballantyne
produced by Leston Paul
click here for lead sheet
LYRICSVerse 1
There was a time when
Pan run things
In every fete steelband playing
The bigger bands would split in five
And keep as many fetes alive
Steelband was community-based
Inside we band
Dem strangers never held any place
(But) now is this man
From that band
Fall een so you impress
Like hired guns from de wild wild west
Chorus
Steelband was community
It wasn’t about money
Panyard was a nursery then
Boys grew to men
Tantie ‘Dis’ and Uncle ‘Dat’
Politician and Peewat
Everyone throw een dey hat
Steelband was all dat
Chorus 2
Panorama night
We jamming still
Once dey raise de light
Is plenty skill
Dis eight-minute walk is our own
To make Pan talk in the magic tones
In control
We have a role
To sell steelpan to de whole wide world
Verse 2
I remember Ras Ellie play
Wid four steelbands on de same day
Four pairs of sticks was in his hand
And he changed pan and changed four bands
Back then we played 10 minutes flat
120 players
Some bands dey try to use more that dat
When steelband clash
Was cutlash
Pan World was blood and gore
But now is strictly a musical war
Chorus
Chorus 2
_________________
Verse 3
San Do, Coffee Street was Pan Land
Every cross-road had a steelband
Steelband Arrangers held they ground
So every band had dey own sound
Had no Drillmaster in de yard
De Arranger
He would subtract, divide and he add
Dem arrangement
Was potent
No crazy chromatic long run
Stay in your ears when de Rama done
Chorus 1
_________________
Chorus 2
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Top vocalist Anslem Douglas represents Nostalgia in fine form. He has a profound vocal which is momentous to this track for the 2016 Panorama season, one where he has been in high demand for his talents. Douglas has already brought to life music of other composers in Soca Have Dem So and Sweet Lime Energy.
The Grammy award-winning composer of “Who Let The Dogs Out” - Douglas’ vocal work has also brought alive such marquis ‘Pan Songs’ as Len “Boogsie” Sharpe’s Musical Vengeance, Battle Zone and It’s Showtime by Edwin Pouchet, and Brian “Bean” Griffith’s Big In De Dance, to name but a few over the last several years.
Carlon “Panman” Harewood is the composer of Nostalgia. He has been arranging for steelband for 25 years; at age 14 Carlon did his first arrangement of Lord Nelson’s “La La.” His arrangements have played out in sixteen Panoramas, placing 2nd with Trinidad East Side Symphony in 2012 and 2015 and with Potential Symphony in 2004 (his own Conventional Band in the Small Category). This 35-year-old musician spends most of his days happily behind his tenor pan. .
Carlon is also a former Captain and 16-year-member of the National Symphony Steel Orchestra (NSSO). Carlon will confess that Pan is his passion and it is what has brought him to his success today. Friends, family, performers and panmen alike, would agree on the great talents of “Panman,” a name he normally goes by. Carlon has played Pan, his country’s national instrument, alongside many performers and is himself an ‘instrument’ to the development of youths and his community.
Gregory “GB” Ballantyne is the song-writer of Nostalgia. He began composing professionally in 1986, when he collaborated with Len “Boogsie” Sharpe to pen Pan Rising and Dis Feeling Nice sung by Denise Plummer. In the ensuing years he would co-write winning Panorama selections for Desperadoes, and again for Phase II.
In Trinidad, GB’s compositions have won the National Calypso Monarch (Senior and Junior) Young King, International Humour, National Queen, Unattached Monarch, South Calypso King and East Zone Monarch. His works have placed artistes like Rikki Jai, Devon Seale, The Mystic Prowler, Aaron Duncan, to name a few, into winner’s row.
GB’s credits also include National and Regional Calypso Monarch titles in Antigua and Anguilla, as well as Chutney hits such as ‘Tassa-Man’ sung by Rooplal Gidharie and the perennial favourite ‘Ribbons’ sung by Marilyn Williams.
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