Dive deeper into Caribbean music and culture at Sokah2Soca — your go-to source for Soca, Calypso, and Carnival coverage. First published on Sokah2Soca, now streaming live via Island Vybe Radio.
How sweet was it? Well, it was so sweet that we just wanted to share it to let everyone know how good it was, so let's set it free today—let's "Free Up" the music. This song is going to bring back sweet memories for many, so let's go back and experience the electric vibes of Trinidad & Tobago Carnival 1989. The vibe was palpable, and everyone wanted to celebrate Tambu's carnival anthem, "Free Up."
Soca music was different; the vibe was infectious, and it was a transition period where Calypso and Soca vibes dominated the music. It was a time when the music was bursting with energy and liberation, dominated the Carnival stage, and "Free UP" earned its rightful crown as the Road March winner of 1989. With its irresistible rhythm and Tambu’s commanding vocals, “Free Up” became more than a song; it freed the people to celebrate with pure abandon—it was a movement.
It was not just Tambu changing the music scene; oh, hell no, it was the vibe and music of Charlie's Roots and the sweet sound of brass music, inviting revelers to “Free up yourself, free up!” The vibe and Tambu's voice echoed through every fete, every masquerade band, and every jump-up across the nation. Tambu’s anthem captured the spirit of Carnival: freedom, joy, and unity.
The goal was to charm the people and have the road revelers wanting nothing else but to be free on Carnival Day. The Road March crown was the last of the competitions to win and Tambu could sense and taste victory with carnival bands blasting his carnival anthem. Tambu Herbert, already a beloved figure in Soca, cemented his legacy with this win. 1989 belonged to him and, looking back one can reflect and concede that “Free Up” wasn’t just a hit—it was a cultural moment that still lives on in the hearts of Carnival lovers.
For those who were there, those who experienced that season, it wasn't just memorable; it was a music style that was melodious and captivating. So, whether you chipped down the road in 1989 or just discovered the magic of Tambu’s classic, this tune remains a timeless reminder to let go and live loud.
Big up Tambu! Big up Trinidad & Tobago! Carnival 1989—forever legendary.
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Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Free Up
Artist/Performed by: Chris "Tambu" Herbert
Written by: Chris Herbert
Recorded At – Coral Sound Studio
Mixed At – Rawlston Recording Studio, Brooklyn
Published by Cott Music
Manufactured by Charlie's Records, Inc.
Marketed by Charlie's Records Inc.
Distributed by Charlie's Records Inc.
Distributed by Crosby's Music Centre
Distributed by West Indies Records (Barbados) Ltd.
Produced/Arranged by: Joe R. Brown & Pelham Goddard
Backing Band – Charlies Roots
Backing Vocals – Albert Bushe, Christopher (Tambu) Herbert, David Rudder, Louis Wharwood, Susan Garcia, Raymond Voisin, Vonrick Maynard
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Year: Released 1988 for Carnival 1989
Genre: Soca ?
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We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
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