A WELL-OILED MACHINE

Behind the Music

BOUYON TIME

BigMacTheanonymouswriter

8/3/20253 min read

Saturday, August 2, 2025

A WELL-OILED MACHINE

By BigMacTheanonymouswriter

August can be a terrifying month for people who have experienced devastating hurricanes in August. As I am writing this note the temperature in New York City is in the lower 60s following two days of rain; which commenced the month of August. Before we know it the 2025-2026 academic school year will be in session.

However, it is August 02/2025 and that means one of the biggest festivals in North America is in full swing; yes, it is Caribana weekend. Surprisingly, I have received only one flyer, and that is for the football/Fete Match in the Dominican-Canadian community, scheduled for 2pm on Sunday the 3rd of August, in Scarborough, with music by Island Therapy. So, the way things are, four of the biggest festivals in the world, happens to be Caribbean carnival cultural festivals based in four separate countries and are held in this season of changeover from summer to autumn/fall. These countries include Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Europe, and America.

Lucky for the Caribbean region these are all Caribbean/West Indian festivals. Bands like the Swinging Stars Band of Dominica, traditionally participated in both Caribana and Labor Day festivals for decades, and some of its members would have to return to the island after Caribana to fulfill their regular job responsibilities and other commitments. Traveling a second time from Dominica, a few weeks later to NYC to perform for the Labor Day weekend.

For the Dominican Caribana crew, their festival would begin on Caribana Friday night on the Farm! For decades Dominicans held their own, even in the shadows of the “Trinidad Machine.” Some of these community-based events survived until organizers were not physically able to handle these responsibilities. Such stories of families, friends, and community reunions need to be told, and songs should be made to salute the promoters and creators of such events.

On the New York side there a many unsung heroes. One of the brothers that would have housed/accommodate band members including the Swinging Stars band passed away about a decade ago. The point is folks have grown old and will get old and pass away. And I feel that this is where we are, this is probably why August began like September!

While the “Trini Machine” appear to be well-oiled, operating with maximum efficiency, and is moving full speed ahead with young blood replacing the old blood, and new parts replacing the old parts; what has happened or is happening to the Dominican Machine?

Is this new generation of Bouyon Music really “running things”? Why aren’t there several Bouyon artist present at Caribana running the place? Like at least ten of them?

The creators of “Someone Else” should have been at multiple events over the Caribana weekend, being driven from event to event, to each island community event, because the song track is so “Big.” Yes, it’s a “Big Chune” (Jamaican patois)/slang! Even more, the song track represents a new generation of artist, but also presented an answer and solution to the debated Nasty Business bouyon music, which runs on the same riddim(s)(rhythm(s)) as the nasty business but speak directly to the ladies and deals with the complexities of relationships!

Lucky for Dominica, the World Creole Music Festival is days away. Because of what August represents in the psyche of Dominicans, the month should be highlighted and taken seriously; backed up with the “August Budget” or a name more creative to push Dominica forward. Literally, August can make or break Dominica! But the tighter the making process; the harder the breaking process!

Some of the biggest names in Bouyon music today, were not even born when this Canada, New York tradition was in its heyday, or time of great success and popularity. And I am talking about the 1990s era, because I did not even experience the 1980s, era. Was I not even born… as yet, or maybe… I was? Probably… I was…thinking!

I heard, that the track “Someone Else” was one of the biggest song tracks in the Caribbean, and even for Trinidad carnival. What are we expecting from our artist if the “Dominican Machine” is not well-oiled, or actually broken? The track, even with 10 million views on YouTube has no video!

BigMacTheanonymouswriter

References:

https://dominicabouyonmusic.com/a-well-oiled-machine

Someone Else

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92RMfTHLZOg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuYYXu3ulJg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVKbgYPZPqQ&t=35s

Canada: Caribana 2025

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/58th-toronto-caribbean-carnival-what-to-know-1.7596952

https://nowtoronto.com/lifestyle/events-happening-in-toronto-this-weekend-aug-1-4/

https://www.caribanatoronto.com/

https://www.caribanatoronto.com/nightlifeevents