News Five looks back at Palacio’s early days

Our own relationship with Andy began even before this station made its first broadcast, when Andy was hired to compose the theme music for News Five. Over the ensuing sixteen years he has been no stranger, as we produced his first music video as well as twelve episodes of a musical variety show called—what else—the Andy Palacio Show. What follows is a short montage of videos and news clips compiled over that time.

[Intro: Andy Palacio Show]

Andy Palacio
“Well, good evening and welcome to the first ever Andy Palacio show. My name is Andy Palacio and tonight we have a programme lined up for you that’s full of excitement.”

“The Belizean DJs showcase on the Andy Palacio show continues with two super DJs. I notice dat the DJs deh weh come up come rap, they like work with you and I note seh dat they gah fi they own lee kinda language and I si you could relate to that. I hear they seh like wheel up sometimes. How yo woulda wheel up?”

D.J.
“When they seh wheel up ih mean like, alright, the music di play right now and ih seh wheel up we just wah … and dat da weh ih mean by wheel up right, automatically just pull it back way.”

Andy Palacio
“This is my co-host, I.C. Craig. Is that how I should call you; I.C. Craig?”

Indira Craig
“Indira Craig, I prefer.”

Andy Palacio
“Okay”

“Weh yo name paadna?”

D.J.
“David Obey.”

Andy Palacio
“So you dah juni?”

D.J.
“Noh really, I noh like go by juni.”

[Andy and group singing “The Banana Boat song”]

Andy Palacio
“I guess that’s it for the Andy Palacio show this season. Thanks very much to all of you who have taken time out to watch the show these past few weeks and, by all means, look out for us next season. We’ll have more in store for you. in the meantime, let the music play on, keep the action tight. As for me, I’m headed back to my turf on water lane. That’s where the show first started, remember?”

[“Gimme Punta Rock” music video]

Andy re: Keimoun
“This is my first opportunity to actually have these song recorded and released on a compact disc and that way I get to have them exposed to a much wider audience than they hade ever been exposed before.”

[Clip of song “Til da Mawnin”]

Andy re: Til da Mawnin
“We came back to Belize with those masters and we added background vocals here in Belize, turtle shells, Garifuna drums and a couple of other tracks. And that’s what we took to Mexico City for mixing.”

“I think they first got to know about us through our promotional material which Stonetree Records produces and hands out at music trade shows like WOMEX in different European countries. I think they were able to see something different about our music. They were able to observe our styles of drumming, the fact that we sing in a different language; in an indigenous language for that matter, is of interest to these people from other countries. We open doors for other musicians because the whole idea is getting Belize’s name out there, getting—being recognised for something that’s from here. We could go out there and do rap, we could go out there and do reggae but it takes something indigenous from our country and we get appreciated for it. We are not simply participating in this festival, we are actually headlining this festival.

[Andy singing “Watina”]

Andy Palacio
“We had to get it right and it was a matter of timing to fall—to have all the pieces fall together at the right time and this seems like just the perfect opportunity to release this to the world.”

“Making this album was a real pleasure because it gave me the opportunity to work with a number of Garifuna artists that I’ve always had the desire to collaborate with across generations. Nabor, Adrian, Reckless, Lloyd, Justo, Lugua, Aurelio.”

[Andy performing]

Andy Palacio
“Many people will agree that throughout most of my career I’ve been making music for the body and now its time to transcend and perhaps make something for the mind.”

“One of my favourites is Amunegu, which is a serious song of reflection on the future survival of Garifuna culture. I am asking a number of questions and making the point that we cannot just leave these things to chance, that elements of the culture need to be taught in order for them to continue, lest we lose them altogether in times to come.”

[Andy performing “Amunegu”]

Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective had an extensive international tour lined up for this year and according to Ivan Duran, those performances will go forward with several new headliners added to the programme.