CDC tells Zion-I to change lyrics amidst defamation concerns

Calypsonian Zion-I was forced to change some lyrics of his song ‘Hypocrites’ for the semifinals following concerns from the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) about defamation law suits.

While Alvin ‘Zion-I’ Dennie said the problem really affected him emotionally before his performance, the CDC notes that the legal vetting of lyrics is part of a normal procedure which calypsonians know about.

Dennie, who has been singing since 1986, got the crowd moving and dancing when he took to the stage at the calypso semi-finals on Friday, June 24. Those in the front rows were particularly involved singing along with him and smiling.

Therefore it was perhaps not surprising when his song and performance earned the veteran a place as one of the 11 calypsonians going head to head with reigning Calypso Monarch, Shaunelle McKenzie at ‘PanKaiMas’ on July 3.

The ‘Kaisonian’ who sat out of competition for approximately seven years penned ‘Hypocrites’ to provide commentary on various topics, including the audience at calypso shows, the judging, and perceived issues with members of the Government.

The singer, who is ready for the finals concluded during an interview with SEARCHLIGHT in the wee hours of Saturday morning, “You know the stage is still mine and they gotta fight to beat me.”

However, while speaking on various aspects of his performance and song, Zion I revealed, “tonight I had was to be very creative because I was going through a very serious problem that really affected me emotionally,” adding, “but as a professional I got over it.”

He clarified, “I was going through a problem with the CDC where they ask me to change a lot of the lyrics.”

According to the calypsonian, a chorus had to be changed, “and because of that it was very hectic for me, even in my last minute before my performance there was a contingent from the CDC…” he stated, “…saying to me well look if you don’t change these lyrics we gonna cut your mic.”

“I am a person, I always have reserves, so that chorus I had reserved so I just ‘okay you guys get so serious, I going bring it out’,” the singer recalled, saying that he picked the one that was most appropriate.

Zion-I said it worked for him, “You see like I say, it’s not an easy road, but I think I did well.”

The calypso man also disclosed that he did not sleep full nights for the duration of the week as he was rewriting lyrics, but nothing sounded right.

He also said that while the CDC’s lawyer said the lyrics were defamatory, his lawyer said they were not.

Chief Executive Officer of the CDC, Ashford Wood firstly explained that the CDC does not have any control over calypso tents.

When it comes time, the CDC works with the Calypsonians Association, of which the tents are members, to send in judges to choose 22 calypsonians for the semifinals.

“After we would have selected the 22 calypsonians we would ask each of them to submit their lyrics that they would be singing at the semifinals,” Wood explained.

Then the lyrics are passed on to their lawyers who scan it for anything defamatory and if it has, the calypsonian is called in and given the lawyer’s opinion.

“In the case of Zion-I, when he submitted his lyrics, same procedure, we sent them to the lawyer and they indicated that there was some libellous material there,” the CEO said, “we called him in, I had a conversation with him and I indicated to him if he wished to proceed and sing in the semifinals, he would have to change those lyrics.”

Wood said that if Dennie had sung the defamatory lyrics he could be sued; the CDC could be sued, and “each and every radio station that carries that song could be sued and the CDC doesn’t take that road.”

Further, that when this was indicated to him Zion-I made the change.

However, when asked about whether there was a threat to cut the microphone on the night, Wood responded, “(Zion I) went and told the producer of the show that he was having problems remembering his lyrics and he was going to sing the same original lyrics that we had asked him to change.”

Having heard this, Wood said he went to have a conversation with the calypsonian, “…in the presence of his tent leader, the presence of the president of the Calypsonians Association and three of my colleagues who actually work on shows.”

In this conversation, Wood said that Zion-I admitted to having the conversation with the producer and in response he told the calypsonian that he expects him to sing the changed lyrics.

Wood said he told him that “…If you go out there and sing the defamatory or libellous lyrics we are going to cut your mic, yes I told him.”

“And we would have done it. I actually put systems in place to do it,” he added.

“…Because the mere fact he had taken it to another level where he was telling us ‘I am going to do this thing’. And if we had allowed him to do it what it meant is that we were actually in agreement with him to do it,” the CEO explained.

He also commented, “What transpired there is nothing new in the calypsonians minds, it is not new in the calypso arena. Everyone knows the procedure.”

Wood indicated that the CDC holds a meeting and goes through the contract with all participating calypsonians and the Calypsonians Association, and this contract spells out that defamatory content will not be accepted.

He further stated, “…It is not something that Zion-I wasn’t aware of, it’s not something that he doesn’t know and even further, he has made it to the semifinals on several occasions so he knows all about this.”