Musician has hard time over election Calypso

Brent McLean

Tuesday,  May  10, 2005

Well known local musician Brent McLean’s political follow-up to the 2000 Election song, “No Vote for You” has reportedly been removed from Radio Cayman’s play-list. Up until recently Mr McLean said that “No X Part 2” had been receiving airplay on Radio Cayman along with several other songs. However, Mr. McLean told Cayman Net News that when inquiring as to why he hadn’t heard the song recently, Radio Cayman informed him that a Government Minister called them and told them to stop playing the song until after the election. 

A banker by day, Mr. McLean entirely wrote, composed, and performed the upbeat calypso tune. The song’s lyrics do not mention any political candidates by name but do make reference to current government shortcomings with lines such as, “And you have the nerve to say give you one more try, when all of our public schools don’t even have a roof to keep them dry” and “From East End to West Bay man they coming out, creating a heat wave just to get you out.” 

Mr McLean had a close friend call Radio Cayman to request the song but was told that they “weren’t playing that song until after the election.” He is shocked that his song has been eliminated from Radio Cayman’s airwaves. “I am a nobody,” he said. “Why are they so worried about my little song? They must be really worried if they think my song will effect the outcome of the election.” In 2002, Mr McLean wrote “No Vote for You” which won an award for its humourous activism that was even presented by the Hon. McKeeva Bush. 

When asked why the song had been taken off the air, Director of Radio Cayman, Loxley Banks told Cayman Net News emphatically that the song had not been banned. “We have banned no songs.” However, after calling in to the request line to request the song, Radio Cayman said that we would have to call back later and that they “weren’t sure if they would be able to play it later.” Up until press time the song had not been heard on the air.

Mr. McLean is concerned about the blatant censorship. “We are treading a thin line. Is this a democracy? We cannot allow them to do this. I love my country. I love freedom. I have children and I want them to grow up in a democracy. I don’t tell lies. I’m just taking a turn at the system, not at anyone in particular.”

Mr McLean added that he was disappointed that a song meant to poke a little fun at Government had been taken so seriously. 

However Mr McLean should take heart as some of the most famous songs in the world have at one time been banned from radio waves around the world and if he releases his political calypso now he could make his first million.

Brent McLean composer of No X Part 2

No X Part 2

Verse 1

Well it’s time again 
To see de smiling face
Well it’s time my friend
For the horse and push cart race
It’s election time again
And every horse and donkey in the race
Pretending to be my friend
So I had to pick up my pen again
Fours gone and I didn’t hear from you
Now you on the radio up in the papers too
Talking all about your plans shaking
everybody hand
Begging me for four more years
But there’s something you have to understand

Chorus

Not getting no X no way
If election was today
Not getting no X no way, no way
Not getting no X no way
Same answer for you in May 
Not getting no X no way, no way

Verse 2

Ivan come and gone
Still you didn’t learn a thing
How to treat your people
Where’s your priority
10 million to foreigners to clean up the whole Island
All the money wasting petty cash to education
You say the future’s bright
Man you take us for fools
When all of our children doing part time school
And you have the nerve to say
Give you one more try
When all of our public schools
Don’t even have a roof to keep them dry

Verse 3

How could we ever forget 
In you we put our trust
But as soon as we turned our backs
You giving out free status
Boy for that you have to go
Me children future now in doubt
So we coming together
Just to X you out
From East End to West Bay man they coming out
Creating a heat wave just to get you out
In the halls of parliament all across this little Island
Man the people fed up
Man de making a stand, they coming with a brand new plan

   Back...