On April 18, 2012, the Jamaican Observer published an article which speaks of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ) presenting a recommendation to the government to make payola a criminal offence. In simple terms, Payola is the act of paying disc jockeys or deejays for airplay. This has been a raging issue in the Jamaican music industry over the last 5 years, resulting in a down spiral in the quality of music being penned and produced.. Some media houses, more than others, have been guilty of such an act; this can be deduced from the routine playlists that disc jockeys select from on a daily basis. I agree with the BCJ as this issue has resulted in many quality songs being shelved and those that are lacking the oomph and the zeal, which is missing from the music, are constantly on rotation. I say kudos to the BCJ for the direction they are trying to steer Jamaican music in and I do hope the government takes the recommendation seriously which will lead to them tabling a bill which will eventually be passed; making payola illegal.
The issue of payola has been brought to the fore as background for a more serious issue to which I will segue. The issue of payola may seem simple but it leads to more dire issues which may stem from the constant airplay a song receives, a song lacking in moral but more so, is preaching or dwelling on practices that are wreaking havoc in society. The songs in the spotlight for this issue of TL provide differing views on a major, but seemingly taboo issue in today’s society, Violence Against Women. All levels of violence to me are important but this particular act hits very close to home, as close friends and even family members have fallen victims with little or nothing been done to provide redress. The first song, Mi a di man by Popcaan, sheds light on the frame of mind that many men in society have. The idea that they are the man in the relationship and what ever they say is final. The entire song, from intro to the final verse, is laden with directives and the repercussions if they are ignored. The authoritarian attitude that covers each line of the song should never be one that is present in any facet of society as there is a very high possibility that violence may be the end result. I will now bring payola into the picture. This song is on every radio station, which is not necessarily an indication that the act of pay for play was present, but many songs with similar content and has less popularity has reached the airwaves because of the prevalence of payola. The constant airplay that this song receives, provides more opportunities for it to be heard by those shallow-minded men who practice everything they hear uttered by musicians.
I am 100% against VAW and that is the reason why I am so disgruntled and peeved about the lack of airplay that the next song, Dangerous Love by Tarrus Riley, gets. It is a very soulful song with brilliant melodies laid on a brilliantly orchestrated riddim, but most importantly, it promotes the ideal course of action to take to avoid VAW. The song opens with quite an annoying young lady who obviously was never told that grievous words stir up anger. The song is also an ideal response to Popcaan’s song because Tarrus speaks of the routes he will go to avoid the practice of VAW. So opposite are these songs and their lyrics that and ideal response to one can be found in the other, note Popcaan states kyaahn throw mi outa apaatment complex but Tarrus leads off his first verse by saying a radda to live pan di housetop dan ina contention wid ma woman. The latter song falls in a category of music that is hardly being played thus stifling the growth of many aspiring artistes.
Artistes profess their never-ending love for women in one song then go on a different track and provide contradicting lyrics; in my opinion, any act of violence against women is a misogynic act.
Me A Di Man
By PopCaan
Crowd Response Riddim
INTRO
Patwa, (laugh) Don Corleon
Heey, stay true to the streets ino pawdie
Gyal kyaahn clown man unless mi no yaadie
A mi grandfather rule fimmi granny
Gyal clown no gyal kyaahn call mi
CHORUS
No gyal kyaahn gimmi no chat because a mi a di man
Otherwise from Corleon a mi a di don
If mi seh no lef (d)i yaad gyal a deh yu fi tan
Yu kyaahn clown mi no gyal no own mi
Yu kyaahn gimmi no chat because a mi a di man
If yu giit weh first it nah go be a second
Kyaahn attack fry yaiy wid any weapon
Yu kyaahn clown mi no gyal no own mi
VERSE 1
Gyal, kyaahn gimmi breakfast ina bed ino
No gyal no run man head ino
If yu dream seh yu dwiit, try no wake, play dead ino
Kyaahn watch di place dem weh mi go
Easter time yu betta lou (leave) bun an start buy bread ino
Sopm a go crack like egg ino
Faaty (forty) gyal mi get a Portland splash when mi an Zebbi go
Gyal a run mi dung any weh mi go
CHORUS
No gyal kyaahn gimmi no chat because a mi a di man
Otherwise from Corleon a mi a di don
If mi seh no lef (d)i yaad gyal a deh yu fi tan
Yu kyaahn clown mi no gyal no own mi
Yu kyaahn gimmi no chat because a mi a di man
If yu giit weh first it nah go be a second
Kyaahn attack fry yaiy wid any weapon
Yu kyaahn clown mi no gyal no own mi
VERSE 2
Ey, so when mi text dem come iin don’t read dose (those) text
Kaa mi know fi a fact seh a you going vex
Certain type a feeling dat kyaahn express
Kyaahn throw me outa no apaatment complex
Some man a mek gyal a tun dem ina fool
My teacher no teach me dat ina skool
Kyaahn mek mi eye full a water like pool
Di bible seh a man fi rule
CHORUS
No gyal kyaahn gimmi no chat because a mi a di man
Otherwise from Corleon a mi a di don
If mi seh no lef (d)i yaad gyal a deh yu fi tan
Yu kyaahn clown mi no gyal no own mi
Yu kyaahn gimmi no chat because a mi a di man
If yu giit weh first it nah go be a second
Kyaahn attack fry yaiy wid any weapon
Yu kyaahn clown mi no gyal no own mi
Repeat VERSE 1
Gyal, kyaahn gimmi breakfast ina bed ino
No gyal no run man head ino
If yu dream seh yu dwiit, try no wake, play dead ino
Kyaahn watch di place dem weh mi go
Easter time yu betta lou (leave) bun an start buy bread ino
Sopm a go crack like egg ino
Faaty (forty) gyal mi get a Portland splash when mi an Zebbi go
Gyal a run mi dung any weh mi go
CHORUS
No gyal kyaahn gimmi no chat because a mi a di man
Otherwise from Corleon a mi a di don
If mi seh no lef (d)i yaad gyal a deh yu fi tan
Yu kyaahn clown mi no gyal no own mi
Yu kyaahn gimmi no chat because a mi a di man
If yu giit weh first it nah go be a second
Kyaahn attack fry yaiy wid any weapon
Yu kyaahn clown mi no gyal no own mi
Repeat VERSE 2
Ey, so when mi text dem come iin don’t read dose (those) text
Kaa mi know fi a fact seh a you going vex
Certain type a feeling dat kyaahn express
Kyaahn throw me outa no apaatment complex
Some man a mek gyal a tun dem ina fool
My teacher no teach me dat ina skool
Kyaahn mek mi eye full a water like pool
Di bible seh a man fi rule
CHORUS
No gyal kyaahn gimmi no chat because a mi a di man
Otherwise from Corleon a mi a di don
If mi seh no lef (d)i yaad gyal a deh yu fi tan
Yu kyaahn clown mi no gyal no own mi
Yu kyaahn gimmi no chat because a mi a di man
If yu giit weh first it nah go be a second
Kyaahn attack fry yaiy wid any weapon
Yu kyaahn clown mi no gyal no own mi
Song ends
Dangerous Love
By Tarrus Riley
Dangerous Luv Riddim
INTRO (Woman Quarreling)
Four o’clock
Weh yu a come from
How mi a call yu an yu nah answer yu phone
One a dem night yah yu a go come home an doan (don’t) si mi
Watch (kiss teeth)
Kyaan tek no more
Oooohoo, yu a hear mi Troyton
VERSE 1
A radda (rather) to live pan di housetop
Dan ina contention wid ma woman
Radda plant greens ina di jungle
Dan fi a war wid mi girl every second
First shi love mi den she hate me
Everyday mi feel like is warfare
We fighting on the daily
Mi and yu together girl it unfair
CHORUS
We got a dangerous love woman
We got a dangerous love
What a dangerous love woman
We got a dangerous love
VERSE 2
Mi no waahn yu kill me or me kill you
Nah go a prison an spen’ life chuu (because of) you
And mi nah look up ina no sun, mi nah go mad chuu you
A radda see yu sometime, a radda pass chuu (through)
Hey baby yu naah fi lonely
Di day yu seh yu done girl yu know seh I leave
Doh haffi gimi no bun girl yu naah fi run me
Instead a fighting please avoid me
Yu love me den yu hate mi
Everyday mi feel like is warfare
There is a thin line an yu crossed it
Mi an yu together girl it unfair
CHORUS
We got a dangerous love woman
We got a dangerous love
I no waahn no dangerous love woman
An yu no need dangerous love
VERSE 3
Well I no waahn fi be no victim
Dis relationship sinking
An di same one yu kissing
Waahn report yu missing
An mi naah go do yu nutten
An no mi naah go hurt yu
Fu a next man go employ yu and start fi work yu
Repeat VERSE 1
Radda (rather) to live pan di housetop
Dan ina contention wid yu woman
Mi radda plant greens ina di jungle
Dan fi a war wid mi woman every second
First yu love mi den yu hate me
Everyday mi feel like is warfare
We fighting on the daily
Mi and yu together girl it unfair
CHORUS
We got a dangerous love Jah know
We got a dangerous love
Kyaahn tek di dangerous love jah know
Mi no waahn di dangerous love
What a dangerous love
Woman yu got a dangerous love
Kyaahn tek di dangerous love
Mi know yu no waahn di dangerous love
No
Oohooo heeeey ooohooooo
Kyaahn tek no more
Oohooo heeeey oh oh oooohoo heey heey ooo
Kyaahn tek no more
Oooohhooo baby
First yu love mi den yu hate mi
Everyday mi feel like is warfare
Wi fighting on di daily
An a mi an yu together girl it unfair
CHORUS
We got a dangerous love jah know
We got a dangerous love
Kyaahn tek di dangerous love jah know
Mi no waahn di dangerous love
Hhm, wi try and wi try
Nothing changes
But can we work and go through the phases
Woman a love yu but dis love is danger
A kyaahn afford to let yu come an.. hooooo
(Song ends)
