In Search of Suburbia
This narrowing of the Bahamian National Identity is particularly felt in the music that Bahamians produce. A vast quantity of this material encourages and promotes the traditional in favor of reality, and I believe a brief analysis of this form of cultural expression will be helpful to our understanding the overall problem and why Suburbia cannot be found in the popular conception of National Identity. In Bahamian music as it presently exists there appears to be a definite nostalgia for the past that is expressed both in the rhythms and in the lyrics. If you listen to Bahamian artists complain you would be convinced that the young people, and those in Suburbia, don’t like ‘Bahamian Music.’ I believe this assertion to be true and therefore I will not argue against it; however I will contend that this is not our fault.
The chastisement of the younger generation in Bahamian music is a popular trend. Sweet Emily sings soulfully that Bahamians should ‘bring back the good ol’ days’, and Eugene Davis’ song entitled ‘ Ya Remember When,’ encourages the community to ‘teach the young ones so they could know/ that this island thing is not a poppy show.’ Popular songwriter Eddie Minnis saw fit to remake in 2001, a song from 1977 that laments ‘Nassau’s become such a funky town, (negative connotation) since ting an’ ting been goin’ round.’ Although the exact identity of the ‘ting an’ ting’ is left undisclosed the song leads you to assume that the problem lies with the tastes of the younger generation.
Continuing the criticism is Ronnie Butler, whose recent album, ‘the Colors of Life’ is literally saturated with songs that continue and expand on the theme of the ‘good ol’ days.’ One such song entitled ‘Bahamian Thing’ extensively references the ‘island life’ ideal and asserts that the time in his youth was ‘when dis country was sayin’ somethin,’ jack;’ the implied message being that today’s youth have forgotten their Bahamian identity as a result have the country in a deplorable state or are ’saying nothing.’ There may be an element of truth to his statement; some assert that the rise of Suburbia has spawned the great host of social problems that now plague our country. While admittedly convenient, I find it highly unreasonable to blame us, the children, for all of the problems caused by our parent’s migration.