Jack, I'm not attempting to cover anyone's songs- apparently not permitted in Trinidad- but to write my own songs in the calypso idiom, as calypso is satirical/protest music as well as humorous songs of daily life and singing duels- and compete in calypso competitions. I am not planning to sing anyone else's songs, but to become a calypsonian (a performer who writes and sings their own calypsos). I think that the base of my question is "At what point is a person being exploitative and appropriative and what can I do to make sure I never cross that line?"