Boogsie out to win panorama, drops Nailah's song in favor of Hello

Young soca artiste Nailah Blackman, at two events last weekend, expressed disappointment that Phase II Pan Groove was no longer playing her song Sokah for the National Panorama competition this year.

At the Soka and Ice cooler cruise aboard the Harbour Master and later at the Hakwai Clan City cooler fete at the Government Campus Plaza on Saturday night, Blackman told patrons: “Phase II Pan Groove has cut our honeymoon a little short and they will no longer be performing my song for Panorama. I want to send Mr Len Boogsie Sharpe a little message. I want to see the most vibes I’ve ever seen with you singing ‘Sokah till I Die’ from the back to the front. Sokah will never die.”

An equally disappointed Sharpe told Newsday, while he started arranging Blackman’s song for the band because of a verbal agreement, he never signed any contract with the singer.

“While in the pan yard for Christmas, I heard Kees Dieffenthaller’s Hello (on the Folklore Riddim) and immediately it took over my mind, body and soul. That is kaiso, so I end up starting the song.”

However Blackman’s disappointment stemmed from the fact that she found out about the change of song over social media and, to not look like a fool, having told over 30 party audiences that Phase II was going to play her song, she had no choice but to inform her fans that it was not going to happen anymore.

But Boogsie denied Blackman learnt of the change via social media. He said a member of her team came to the pan yard and heard the change and informed her. And having found that out, Boogsie said he telephoned Blackman’s manager Anson Pro and apologised to him.

“I wasn’t getting the kick I was looking for from Nailah’s song. But the structure of Hello is beautiful and it just hooked me. It is the best song I’ve heard for the year musically.

“I want to apologise to Nailah, Anson, Lord Shorty, her fans and mine for changing the song but I couldn’t help it. There is no malice and I think I made the night decision, and with that song Hello I am going to win Panorama.”

Blackman stated however that she was particularly happy that big band Supernovas and reigning Junior Panorama champs, the Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra are among five bands that will be playing Sokah.