‘Open your cabeza’

Speaking at a ceremony at the VIP Lounge of the Piarco International Airport, Rose expressed concern that some younger artistes appear not lack creativity in their music, having “just one line” and then a chorus.

“There are too many topics in the world,” she said. Rose said younger artistes need, “to open their cabeza and start creating beautiful music.

She opined, “People open their ears.

“Their ears was shut for a long time but when they hear certain lyrics...their ears open and their eyes open and they jump up.” She recalled this was the effect of her calypso “No Madame” which, “caused the Government of TT to change the laws of the domestic servants in 1974.” Rose said she wrote that calypso, “after listening to the cries of domestic servants.” She said after an Italian journalist wrote an article about that song, then prime minister Dr Eric Williams, “picked up the article and then called in his Cabinet” and changed those laws.

Saying she never studied French and her great grandmother who was from French Guinea only taught her a few words, Rose said she was delighted to see children and old people in France jumping and dancing to “Leave Me Alone” when she sang it in English.

Rose was thrilled to know that former United States president Barack Obama had danced to her calypso. The gathering laughed when she quipped, “I think he was telling (US President) Donald Trump to leave me alone.” Community Development, Culture and the Arts Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby Dolly praised Rose for her achievement. Gadsby Dolly said Rose proved that “gender is not a barrier” and age is just a number. After singing a verse of “Leave Me Alone,” the minister said Government will continue to support Rose in whatever way it could. Gadbsy Dolly said there will be talks with Rose before she leaves the country to honour her commitments.