It’s Carnival time and smutty calypsoes have reared its ugly head again. Please don’t get me wrong, my favourite cultural art from is calypso. I am not a prude and, like any good old Trini, I love a decent morsel of “dirty” calypso, providing it does not descend to the unhealthy depth of vulgarity.

Let’s look at two of the calypsoes which are being given widespread airplay.

The first is called Fax (I think). Have you heard it?

If you have, can you tell me in all honestly if that should be played on the radio? I know that times have changed but should that be allowed to be played on the airwaves?

Those in my age bracket will recall years ago when “smutty” tunes were not given airplay in the name of good taste and upholding of a sense of dignity.

It is true that no one can legislate morality or even tell another what is good or bad as these are subjective issues. I also know that times have changed but what is vulgarity and lewd behaviour will always remain just that.

How come in those days programme directors knew what constituted morality and immorality? Have we developed other definitions for these attributes to the point where we have thrown good taste and decency out the window?

Do you think people like June Gonzales, Bob Gittens and so many other like-minded radio personalities would have permitted this amount of garbage, which passes for good calypso, to be aired on their stations?

I think not.

I had a chat with a radio DJ on this topic last week and while defending the playing of Fax and other downright filthy calypsoes on his station, he said he had no responsibility for instilling sound moral values in his young listeners.

Another DJ bluntly said to turn off the radio when those tunes are being played.

That kind of argument is so flawed that it confuses one’s intelligence.

Perhaps I am wrong but that kind of composition—and even those which were banned long time ago—shows a great amount disrespect for women, for the singers themselves and the wider society.

One of these stations conducted a poll on whether Fax should be played or taken off the air. Out of the 60 callers would you believe that 42 of those adult callers voted in favour of playing?

But the most astounding fact was that the vast majority of those who called in were women.

What is this place coming to when women who are supposed to be the virtual cradle of morality—instilling the right virtues into young children—are in the vanguard of those pushing vulgarity to all and sundry?

No wonder we see on Carnival days, and particularly in the junior Carnival show, young girls aided wining down to the ground copying, in many instances, the lewd conduct of their parents/guardians.

Instead of allowing these children to live out their innocence until they reach the age where they can make intelligent choices, they’re being bombarded by the filthiest, crudely-put-together words in the name of “we culture.”

That is not my culture. My culture tells me we can have fun and merriment without sinking to the lowest depths of morality. I wonder if these calypsonians allow their own children to listen to their tunes. Are you proud that other people’s children should be bombarded with that kind of base number?

There is a second song and the most disgraceful part is that it is being sung by a female bard. It speaks about the Cat and Sonia, no doubt wanting people to feel they are singing about the two inter-island ferries.

Double meanings in calypso is employed by a lot of calypsonians but, unfortunately, too many of them descend to low levels, completely disregarding the fact they are not singing to just a selected few.

By all means sing your “nasty” numbers in the tents but do not expect to hear them on the radio.

If we as a society support such trash in the name of entertainment, these calypsonians who put together such crude verses would not be encouraged to change their focus in the interest of the all to fight to save our children from this type of corrupting influence.

I also believe—confirmed by relevant studies—that some music tend to send subliminal and dangerous messages which, in very many instances, influence serious antisocial behaviours.

It is useless asking this Government, or any other for that matter, to impose sanctions on calypsonians who insults the dignity of our entire community with such unadulterated rubbish.

Young people can easily be led astray by some of these lyrics and I sincerely hope that in an effort to save our country from a culture of anything goes, our calypsonians who promote that kind of culture should clean up their act for the national well being.