Most of us have listened to a song and recognized a reggae rhythm fused into another music genre. Similarly, there are other popular genres of music originating in the Caribbean that also have distinct rhythms. For example, soca music is a genre of music originating in Trinidad and Tobago during the 1970s by fusing African/Calypso and East Indian rhythms, joining musical elements of the two main ethnic groups in the country (Luxury Caribbean News). Deriving from the genre of calypso, soca has a more energetic and upbeat tempo which is the main distinction between the two genres. A soca rhythm can be produced using only the drums and percussion instruments such as the hi-hat and cowbell to make loud, fast beats. However, most soca songs use synthesized drum sounds when recording tracks. With that being said, I thought the song Savannah Grass by Kes not only exemplifies a basic soca rhythm but also incorporates sounds of the parent genre—calypso. The intro is a calypso song and then scratches into an upbeat soca rhythm with bold hi-hat sounds that make you want to dance. Soca music centers around the beat and rhythm as opposed to the content of lyrics. Overall, the creation of soca and its powerful rhythm have become the staple of Caribbean culture and an important aspect of Caribbean Carnival.
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