Having had the support of so many people throughout her 30-year career, singer Stacey Sobers felt motivated to express her appreciation to those who helped and supported her along the way in her 2024 calypso Respect The Tribe.
After performing 12th, at Dimanche Gras at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain last Sunday, Sobers placed sixth in the National Calypso Monarch competition.
“It’s awesome getting on that Skinner Park (semi-finals) stage and it’s always significant to get to the finals. I feel a sense of accomplishment in that the work I set out to do has been done.
“Although for me these days it’s not about competition but furthering and bettering myself, it’s good to know you have one of the top ten songs for the season.”
She added that she watched a few of the competitors at the finals and found everyone put their best foot forward. She was also happy to see younger and newer competitors believing they would push the culture forward and continue the country’s traditions.
Respect The Tribe came about when Sobers was performing during the sixth edition of her show Crackers and Cheese in October of last year. She was doing a calypso segment when she walked into the audience and felt inspired to speak about how people lived two or three generations ago, when neighbours would both care for and discipline children without being frowned upon.
[caption id="attachment_1064495" align="alignnone" width="684"] Singer Stacey Sobers says she is happy to see younger and newer competitors believing they could push the culture forward and continue the country’s traditions. Photo courtesy Stacey Sobers. -[/caption]
“It was nothing because all of that was in bringing up a child or teaching a child the way they should grow. Within that moment I started to sing Missing Generation by Ella Andall. When I was finished I said the next song I’m going to do will be about long time and giving due to persons who would have assisted you in growing up and through your career.”
She told her manager and husband of ten years Gervon Abraham her plan, and they decided to contact singer/songwriter Maria Bhola. The result was Respect The Tribe.
She told WMN she recalled people like calypsonians Karen Eccles and Singing Sandra who nurtured, taught, pushed, drilled and guided her in her music career. Also her parents and siblings, extended family and friends who helped in some way, as well as her employer, a cable and internet provider, who gave her “cultural leave” to pursue her art.
“Even if you're not seeing it or respecting it, there's always somebody pushing or helping you. It just resonated in the moment that I couldn't be there without all the people who bought a ticket to come to my show. I couldn't be there without all the advice I got from people, particularly women, in the industry. I could not be there if my mother did not allow me to sing without issues and the support from my siblings when I started getting into singing.
“There are people there ready to assist. How do you repay these people for their lov
