Freelance Correspondent
“Ah have a tory fuh yuh.”
Whenever you see that phrase pop up on Roderick “Chuck” Gordon’s Facebook page, pull up a chair; you know that class is in session. The two-time Calypso Monarch might have missed the cut for the 2026 Dimanche Gras finals last month, but he has now focused his attention on an online stage where the “tories” never miss a beat.
As a true calypsonian, major news headlines never escape his peripheral vision. Every time a story breaks, Chuck gives voice to the street with another verse.
His latest instalment tackles regional tensions sparked by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s recent controversial address at the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in St Kitts and Nevis.
“When de mark buss, she say US support is a muss, ah say buss buss, when de mark buss, when de mark buss... we’ll see who really who for us, she too mauvais langue,” Chuck sings.
He explains why the speech was fair game.
“I felt the tone of the conversation that our Prime Minister carried was a bit undiplomatic and provoking to other Caricom nations,” he says.
“We all know Caricom has its failings, but I don’t think that is the posture to adopt. The verse speaks for itself in terms of how I feel about it and how many others continue to feel about the presentation.”
Chuck’s perspective is shaped by his nine-to-five.
As a social worker, he sits at the intersection of structural inequality and socio-economic gaps. It is this daily immersion in the country’s ground-level realities that fuels his social commentary.
“I am experiencing the micro issues as a practitioner, but I am trying to address the macro issues in calypso,” he explains, revealing he has a mountain of material written that the public never even heard in the tent. “My work as a calypsonian is to speak truth to power. Tory Time was an attempt to reflect on the misgivings of people in leadership positions—to de-pedestalise and humanise them. And just as the tradition goes, offer picong and a good laugh.”
Despite the growing interest in his new releases, Chuck remains candid about his disappointment regarding the Dimanche Gras results. He maintains that he gave it his all, “pong for pong,” and deserved a spot. To this day, fans still stop him in the streets to voice their dissatisfaction.
“I was literally shocked,” he shares.
“Objectively speaking, in terms of performance and criteria, I felt that I did well. I didn’t make a step wrong. Everything worked according to plan—vocally, the band, the crowd engagement.
The audience response was so outstanding that they were still chanting ‘mauvais langue’ well after the next two or three competitors were announced. The MC took pains to calm them down. People were shocked too. Some even told me they were moved to tears when they saw what took place.”
This knack for observing society is an inheritance. Born in Laventille and raised under the guidance of his late father - the legendary musician and calypso judge Roland Gordon - Chuck has always been a student of the craft. He is now making a concerted effort to move away from the long-winded calypsos of bygone years which focused solely on
meeting competition criteria. He believes this shift is vital for the artform’s survival.
“I had a post where someone said Tory Time was too airy-fairy. But I have created a more entertainment-based, danceable style of commentary. It is definitely the future if we want to reclaim the space that is calypso.”
Chuck’s digital tent is now open for business 365 days a year. It’s the kind of kakatang that Trinbagonians live for. Scanning both the local and international scenes, Chuck stands ready. When ‘de mark buss’, you can trust he’ll be right there to bring the ‘tory’.
