After a reflective season off the stage for over a decade, while functional as a registered cultural practitioner as a Vocal and Performance coach, Barbadian vocal powerhouse Queen Kareen returns to the stage with a renewed sense of purpose, passion, and power. Her comeback is marked by the release of two emotionally charged self-penned singles that speak directly to the heart of a nation and the soul of a people: the searing social commentary “My Condolences” and the uplifting gospel soca anthem “Last Time (Praise Him).”
“My Condolences,” is a heartfelt song that mourns the loss of Barbados’ cultural identity, values, and national pride. Arranged and Produced by Music Director Lowrey Worrell, with stirring vocals and sharp lyrical depth, this calypso shines a light on the nation’s struggles: rising crime, moral erosion, and the fading of traditions that once shaped the Bajan spirit.
“This is more than a song – it’s a national lament. We’ve lost so much as a people. ‘My Condolences’ is my way of honouring what we’ve lost while challenging us all to reflect and act. This song is my way of standing up for the grieving…as a country, we are all grieving. Calypso has always been a tool for truth. And truth is what I’m offering wrapped in a shango beat, but soaked in sincerity.”
Meanwhile, “Last Time”, a production by the legendary De Red Boyz, is a heartfelt gospel sweet soca offering that reminds listeners to offer praise while breath still fills their lungs. Emerging from a place of deep gratitude and spiritual urgency, it is a call to honour God in the here and now.
“The heart of this song is simple but powerful – don’t wait. As a people, we have seen, and are still seeing how life can change in an instant. This may be our last time, so let’s praise Him like it is. Every beat, every breath is a chance to give thanks and praise. And the very fact that we are still breathing?
That’s heaven’s permission; Yahweh’s own edict as declared in Psalm 150:6: ‘Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.’ So let us not waste it.”
We asked Queen Kareen why as a Gospel Artist, she chose to release music during Crop Over, a season often associated with revelry. Why is this the time you’ve chosen to share such powerful messages like My Condolences and Last Time?”
“Crop-Over is more than revelry – it’s a national stage. It’s the one time when the country is fully tuned in; when our nation listens, feels, and responds. Music is always the most powerful way universally to get a message across. Barbados is going through a lot, and silence just didn’t feel like an option anymore. My silence feels like a betrayal! So, for me, this isn’t about making a comeback. This is about coming forward – with intention. ‘My Condolences’ and ‘Last Time’ were born out of conviction, not convenience – to remind us of what really matters.
Queen Kareen is a member of the All Asgard Calypso tent and performs there every Sunday. Follow her on her socials for tent dates and other performances.
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