carisa.lee@cnc3.co.tt
Forty years after its release, the calypso Lorraine remains a favourite of many people.
The latest person to admit this was BBC journalist Ros Atkins, who tweeted that after he discovered the song by Winston Henry (Explainer) in 1982 he could not get enough of it.
“It’s just an enormous track it was the track that brought the house down everything, I used to run this night in Brixton, in fact, me and my wife Sara loved it so much it was our first dance in our wedding,” Atkins explained on a BBC Radio 6 broadcast.
Atkins tweet was liked and shared thousands of times as many Trinbagonians endorsed his statements about Explainer’s hit song.
“This song is a TRUE classic” K said.
“No doubt this Explainer hit is one for the ages,” Denzyl added.
And while Henry was thankful for the recognition, he was not surprised that it came from a foreigner. Explainer said up to three years ago he performed Lorraine internationally.
“It was always a big song, it’s only in Trinidad I find people used to take it as if it’s an old song, but that’s the way we are,” he said.
The veteran calypsonian said in this country their music is viewed as good enough only for competitions but he believes calypso can make waves internationally, similar to what Lorraine did in the last four decades.
Calypsonian Winston Henry (Explainer) sheds tears of gratitude during an interview with Guardian Media at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
SHIRLEY BAHADUR
“You know who I admire, the soca men and soca women, Patrice Roberts and these people, you know why I admire them because they go out put on shows and sell them out…So the soca skyrockets every time,” he explained.
He said he and Alphonsus Celestine Edmund Cassell (Arrow) were the only two West Indian calypsonians to reach on the British charts.
The Raga Soca (Reggae and Soca) creator said this was why he sang Monarchy in 1980 because a crown does not do anything for the art form. However, back then Explainer said his song was able force a change in the Calypso Monarch Prize money from $1,000 to $12,000.
An increase he almost benefitted from in 1982 when he placed second with Lorraine, a song he almost did not record.
“I was more on songs that probably had some kind of interest competitive wise...I did not believe I could win a competition with that,” he said.
But arranger Franky McIntosh was persistent on not only putting the song on his Man from the Ghetto Album but also leading with it.
“He say one day you going to remember me…and you going to remember this song was chosen by me because I know this song will take you many, many places I would never forget his words, “Explainer said.
And yes, Lorraine (not her real name) is based on a true story. Explainer said exactly how the song described it was how it played out in his life at that time. His favourite lyrics are Babe, my mind is made up Airport Kennedy will be my next stop. Doh cry and try to convince me. Because meh suitcase done pack already.
“When I was about to come back home for Carnival when I told her I going home she start to cry. In most cases you find people get together and they have to separate because of their situation,” he reminisced.
The Explainer dances as he sings his hit song, Lorraine.
SHIRLEY BAHADUR
Over the years Explainer has worked with many young soca artists, he believes they are the future.
He also lectured at school and in prison and said getting the youth involved in culture related activities can create avenues to steer them in the right direction away from crime.
“Before you become a criminal there are so many things you can do,” he said.
Explainer plans to release another album later this year.
The Explainer sings his hit song Lorraine.
SHIRLEY BAHADUR
