Ashkenaz to host benefit for St. Lucia

Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center has graciously agreed to host a benefit concert to raise funds in support of victims of Hurricane Tomas in St. Lucia. The concert will be held on January 16, 2011. Ashkenaz is located at 1317 San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley.

According to organizers of the event there will a guest appearance by either the St. Lucia ambassador to the US, or one of his representatives.

More details will be posted on this blog as they become available.

'Have a Heart' goes viral

A calypso about the politics of aid in the Caribbean in the aftermath of Hurricane Tomas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy8n3T7CMEI


Have a Heart
Music and Lyrics
by Harry Best 11/12/10

I
Kamla ‘had a little sister
Used to ‘live up in St. Lucia
When de ‘master of disas’ter
Tomas trash on she

Helen ‘call on de family
For sup’port in this tragedy
Kamla ‘say if I ‘help
What’s in it for me

Chorus:
Have a heart, Kamla
Have a heart
In de Ca’ribbean sea
All ah ‘we is one family
Have a heart, Kamla
Have a heart
Don’t ‘tear us apart
Kamla, Have a heart

II
We know ‘you still green in de game
But you ‘put you country to shame
You should ‘check your self
And ex’tend an apology

Tell me ‘where is fancy bred
In the ‘heart or in the head
Did you ‘set de ‘same condition
For sister Haiti

Chorus:
Have a heart, Kamla
Have a heart
Is ‘one day for dog
And ‘one day for manicou
Have a heart, Kamla
Have a heart
(Put) Po’litics apart
Kamla, Have a heart

III
Now de ‘rest of de family
Say three cheers for Brother Rowley
When he ‘stand up and say
I am my Brother’s keeper

Brother ‘Eric we remember
Spared no cent in his ‘endeavor
To ‘keep us together
And ‘grow as one family

Chorus:
Have a heart, Kamla
Have a heart
In de Ca’ribbean sea
All ah we is one family
Have a heart, Kamla
Have a heart
Don’t ‘tear us apart
Kamla, Have a heart


Refrain:

Let’s make a new start
Kamla, Have a heart
Let’s do it right smart
Kamla, Have a heart
Repent and restart
Kamla, Have a heart

What goes around must come around, Kami
The love you save might be your own, Kami

Feel we pain, Kami
Look how we sleeping in de rain, Kami

Feedback:

"Thanks for shareing with me… that is hot… you should send it to Kenny at WACK …dont sit on it you would be the first… dont let croco and them boys beat you to the punch… keep up the good works, again that is hot."-- Kenrick Wharf

"Kaiso! Is damn good calypso, boy!" –Michael Oliver-Goodwin

"A strong composition. I like how you introduced and then developed the theme, using metaphors and idioms, while maintaining clear diction throughout. I enjoyed listening." –Clevil James

"Beautiful song...lyrics intelligently written...which amazes me...Guys like you and Dieghton Charlemange with amazing song writting and musical skill are not making commercial music. This one is a winner!" –Leo Donnelly

"Kaiso! Kaiso!" –fishboy55

"That was awesome. Thanks for sharing. Best regards, and keep ‘em coming."--Norma Birch

"Great job Harry. I love it." –Isa Cyril

"Nice lyric Harry… i like the song..,sounds like all you!! Continued creativity" –Andrew Charles

"OMG!!! I like." –Jacqueline Nicholas

"You're great !!!" –Walter Downes

"Like St. Lucia 'Simply Beautiful'. No condemnation in there but a plea to give love." –Percival Goodman

"Nice calypso..." –Ossie Gomez

"Nice song" –David Reid

"A beautiful calypso - It is a beautiful piece of poetry and music., welldone Harry!" –Monty Thomas

St. Lucia devastated by Hurricane Tomas

Click this link to view photos of damages done by Hurricane Tomas:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55373451@N06/show/