SuriPop

SuriPop
Frequencybi-annual
Location(s)Paramaribo
CountrySuriname
Inaugurated25 November 1982 (1982-11-25)
Organised byStichting ter Bevordering van Kunst en Kultuur in Suriname
Websitesuripop.sr

The Suriname Popular Song Festival (commonly called SuriPop) is a biennial song festival that has taken place in Suriname since 1982. The festival is organized by the Foundation for the Promotion of Arts and Culture in Suriname (Dutch: Stichting ter Bevordering van Kunst en Kultuur in Suriname).

The event is one of the largest music events in Suriname.[1] The first three editions of the festival were held annually, but later editions have been held every two years. The twentieth edition of the festival, SuriPop XX in 2018, was named the "Golden Edition".

History

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The original idea for the festival was from Juan Navia, a Chilean musician who had moved to Suriname. He founded the organization to host this festival in 1978 together with several friends, including Ruben del Prado, Werner Duttenhofer, Leni Healy, Karin Refos and Harto Soemodihardjo. The organization was set up in the office of Healy and Duttenhofer. The first edition took place in Theater Thalia;[2] Navia selected a composition by the French composer Franck Pourcel as the theme song.[3] Later editions of the festival were held in the AMOS Sports Arena, and since 2010 in the Anthony Nesty Sports Arena.[4]

The first edition took place on 25 November 1982, two weeks before the December murders would send the mood of Surinamese society to a low point. According to Duttenhofer, this was reflected in the sombre tone of the songs in the 1983 edition.[2]

Since 2011, former contestants have been invited to join the SuriToppers, a supergroup which makes annual tours in the Netherlands.[5] The planned SuriPop in August 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Suriname.[6] SuriPop returned in 2022, with the final performance gala scheduled for 3 December.[7]

Compositions

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The competition has two phases: pre-selection and performance. In the first phase, submitted compositions are primarily judged on melody and lyrics, while the performance is judged on presentation. Since the 2015 preselection, composers are no longer allowed to compete if they have previously won the event; this stipulation is meant to encourage new composing talent. The arrangers are given full latitude, so a song could even be changed in musical style. Nevertheless, composers retain the right to withdraw a song if the result is disappointing. After the pre-selection, twelve songs advance to the performance stage, with two additional songs held in reserve.[2]

At the performance evening gala, vocalists chosen by the composers perform the songs accompanied by the orchestra of SuriPop.[8] Navia was the first conductor of this orchestra.[3] Since 2014, Ernesto van Dal has been the conductor.[9]

The copyrights of the songs go to the organizing foundation. The festival also has sponsors since the income from record sales and festival tickets is insufficient to cover the foundation's costs, which include fees for the arrangers, vocalists, language experts, music transcribers and the release of the albums and the songs. One month before the festival, the CD album of the selected songs is released in stores. Over the following weeks, the music videos are shown on TV. This gives the public ample time to judge the songs and possibly discover if plagiarism has occurred.[2]

Winners

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The festival prize is awarded to the composers. The first-place composer receives a sum of money and the Jules Chin A Foeng trophy. The second and third prizes also include cash sums, while the other finalists receive a small fixed amount.[10]

Starting in 2006, arrangers have their own prize.[2] Since 2016, a prize is also awarded for the best music video.[11]

The following list shows the winning composers and songs.[1][10]

Year Edition Title Songwriter Arranger Vocalist
1982 SuriPop I Gi yu wawan Erik Refos and Wim Bakker ? Powl Ameerali
1983 SuriPop II Net alen Winston Loe Century (band) Rein Carrot
1984 SuriPop III Gi yu Henk Mac Donald Ronald Snijders Rudolf Heidanus
1986 SuriPop IV Pikin fowru Roy Mac Donald ? Helianthe Redan
1988 SuriPop V Ef a kan Erik Refos and Siegfried Gerling Juan Navia Powl Ameerali
1990 SuriPop VI Wi na wan Julius Vreden Juan Navia Kenneth Arias
1992 SuriPop VII Den momenti sondro yu Ricky Cheng A June and Howard Cheng A June ? Ruben del Prado
1994 SuriPop VIII Lobi singi Martha Tjoe Ny Marcel Balsemhof Astrid Belliot
1996 SuriPop IX Aku cinta padamu Siegfried Gerling ? Clinton Kaersenhout and Haito Doest
1998 SuriPop X Efu geme no ben de Guillaume Creebsburg ? Patricia van Daal
2000 SuriPop XI Yu na mi son Ruth Koenders ? Vernon Mercuur and Marjorie Declerq
2002 SuriPop XII Tide ete Henk Mac Donald ? Rudolf Heidanus
2004 SuriPop XIII Ibri yuru Hèlène Bonoo Bud Gaddum Ngina Devis
2006 SuriPop XIV Na yu sey Bernice Hubard Marcel Balsemhof Meryll Malone
2008 SuriPop XV Ala ogri e tja wang bun Gail Eijk Demis Wongsosoewirjo Bryan Muntslag
2010 SuriPop XVI Wan krin portreti Ornyl Malone Cherwin Muringen Cherwin Muringen
2012 SuriPop XVII Koloku Sergio Emanuelson Ornyl Malone Lady Shaynah and Elvin Pool
2014 SuriPop XVIII Lobi de ete Cornelis Amafo Robin van Geerke Dominique Ravenberg and Rodney Deekman
2016 SuriPop XIX Yu kori mi ati Xaviera Spong Ernesto van Dal Benjamin Faya
2018 SuriPop XX "Golden Edition" Taa fa Byciel Watsaam Ivan Ritfeld Eugene Main and Lycintha Watsaam

References

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  1. ^ a b "Terugblik SuriPop: Suriname Populair Song Festival deel 1". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). 27 August 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hendriks, Henk (30 November 2008). "Barometer van de maatschappij". Parbode (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Wij hebben nooit gezegd dat het Suripop themalied van ons is of door ons is". De Ware Tijd (in Dutch). 21 July 2014 – via fathh.com.
  4. ^ "Suripop zorgt voor Surinamesfeer in Nederland". Starnieuws. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  5. ^ Administrator (13 January 2020). "Vier SuriToppers theaterconcerten in mei 2020". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  6. ^ ATV-Networks Suriname (17 April 2020). "Suripop XXI Gala-avond afgelast". Youtube (in Dutch).
  7. ^ "Strijd begonnen voor Suripop XXI". Ampie's Broadcasting Corporation (in Dutch). 4 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  8. ^ "ANALYSE: Suripop op de ontleedtafel". De Ware Tijd (in Dutch). 6 August 2018 – via fathh.com.
  9. ^ Administrator (6 October 2017). "Ook Suripop heeft last van economische crisis Suriname". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Terugblik SuriPop: Suriname Populair Song Festival deel 2". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). 28 August 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  11. ^ Administrator (2 August 2016). "Nu ook Award voor beste videoclip bij SuriPop". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2021.