3 cool. so cool.

Not very many of my friends know any other national anthems other than the Star Spangled Banner. Jamaica's national anthem is very special to me because as a 7 year old, I took the time out to research and learn the meaning behind the national anthem, so as to have a connection with my mother and my Jamaican family. It's funny to think that my mom, an immigrant from Jamaica, thinks that the Star Spangled Banner is one of the most beautiful and liberating songs that could ever grace one's ears! I feel such pride whenever I hear Jamaica, Land We Love.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMdaY0j4bMI

Carnival/Bacchanal is a very well known parade that takes place in the majority of the Caribbean and some South American countries. There is an annual Carnival in Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Jamaica, to name a few. Carnival is a parade of celebration, dancing, drinking, and pure fun. Everyone on the streets are moving to the music in whatever way they can and it is a beautiful festival that brings many people together. The word Bacchanal means a time of drunken festivities, but I think this Trinidadian Soca song can explain it far better than I.
https://youtu.be/1m9FNP25vM0

(lyrics if you can't understand)
Yeah, baby you know how we do
You, me
You tell your friends
I'll tell mine
It's dat time again

[verse 1: Destra]
Carnival in T and T
Is so special to all ah we
Like we need blood in we vain
Dats how we feel about Port-of-Spain
When de posse dem come in town
Beating pan and ah bongo drum
Is madness everywhere
Carnival is ah true freedom
Make ah noise or ah joyfull sound
And jump up in de air
So...

[Chorus:]
Everybody take ah jump, take ah jump, take ah jump up now
Start to wave, start to wave, start to wave up now
Start to wine, start to wine, start to wine up now
Because, it's Carnival

[Bridge 1:]
So put yuh rag dem in de air, in de air, in de air
Stomp yuh foot dem on de ground, on de ground, on de ground
And lemme see you jump around, jump around, jump around
And let dem know we comin' down, comin' down, comin' down
Yeah ya

[verse 2: Destra]
All de pettiness have tuh down
We is de soca vagabonds
Is madness everywhere
Marinating under de sun
Dis is how we does all come one
And jump up in de air

[Chorus x2]

[Bridge 2:]
So put yuh bumper like ah truck, like ah truck, like ah truck
And lemme see yuh push it back, push it back, push it back
And now yuh ready take ah jump, take ah jump, take ah jump
Well lemme see yuh jook it up, jook it up, jook it up
And lemme see yuh roll

[verse 3: Destra]
Seasons come and seasons go
But Carnival will last
From Port-of-Spain straight to S'ando
Take it out, take it out and play ah mas'

[Chorus x2]

[verse 4:]
Carnival when I comin' down
Jumpin' to dis crazy song
People spreading rumours in town
Machel is ah mad man
You know you love bacchanal
Is part of dey festival
All dat is Carnival

[Bridge 3:]
So put yuh flag dem in de air, in de air, in de air
Stomp yuh foot dem on de ground, on de ground, on de ground
And lemme see you pull yuh rag, pull yuh flag, pull yuh rag
And let dem know we comin' down, comin' down, comin' down
So push yuh bumper like ah truck, like ah truck, like ah truck
Well lemme see yuh push it back, push it back, push it back
And when yuh ready take ah jump, take ah jump, take ah jump up now
Because, it's Carnival

[Outro:]
Watch de ride...
Push it, push it, push it
And everybody take ah, take ah, take ah
And lemme meh see yuh push it, push it, push it
And everybody take ah, take ah, take ah
And lemme meh see yuh now
Like ah truck, like ah truck, like ah
And lemme meh see yuh take ah wave, take ah wave, take ah
And lemme meh see yuh take ah jump, take ah, take ah
And when yuh ready push it, push it, push it
Yeah, ha

It is amazing to me how there is so much talent in EVERY single country on this planet. I looked up "Brazilian Idol" to see if there were any shows similar to American Idol, and I found this video from Brazilians got Talent"of this WONDERFUL young man who goes by the name Jotta A. This video speaks for itself but his voice is absolutely outstanding. It's great that there are opportunities like "idol" shows or "got talent" shows that allow people to create a name for themselves! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_tb2KKjUpM