He goes by the name of Lord Funny. But his real name is Donric Williamson. He's chosen the humorous kaiso genre. For C2k12, Williamson is a senior member of the Traditional Calypso on the Move 2012. They are taking calypso to the communities like Carenage and Brazil Village (on the outskirts of Arima). Interviewed on Tuesday, Williamson said: "I am singing about the longevity of the PP. The PM (Kamla Persad-Bissessar) is adamant it can withstand the onslaught of critics. The synopsis is it could be a case of jealousy. It's political commentary using the medium of humour."
Quizzed on the genesis of his ideas, Williamson said: "I have a lot of ideas in my head. I could picture machines dancing. I could picture gardens floating on the seas. I get inspiration from listening to the news. I would listen to something being said, and if I'm reading something...I am a thinker. I like to go into the part of my brain people seldom use." He added: "People don't like to analyse things. I sang about No Water. I was talking about horn and then the chorus was: "No water worse than a good horn." People did not understand it. The university students understood it."
Confident about calypso
He grew up at Cipriani Street, Morvant. His interest in calypso was peaked by listening to greats like Roaring Lion and Beginner. "I had a neighbour who was a technician. He fixed gramophones. I remembered listening to old guys (Radio and Viper) were all singing. Williamson said what set him apart from his fellow bards was his confidence. "I would be liming on the block and singing a calypso. I was confident when I came into calypso I would make it. I would do well. I was a hit on the block. I just knew I would be good at it."
He didn't have 100 per cent support of his parents, but eventually they accepted his love of the art form. He lamented: "They have a lot of people who feel singing calypso is a bad thing. They accepted it because I was doing well." To date, he is pleased that calypso (Klassic Ruso tent) is being staged at Napa, Keate Street, Port-of-Spain. I sang: "Kaiso came from bamboo and sawdust to air-conditioned buildings."