|
|
Veterans Shine at Political Calypso and Extempo Competition
TriniSoca.com Reporters
Event Date: July 07, 2007
Posted: July 15, 2007
 | | | Weston 'Cro Cro' Rawlins | |
Defending champion, Weston 'Cro Cro' Rawlins and former National Calypso Monarch, Hollis 'Chalkdust' Liverpool, tied for first position in the 2nd National Political Monarch Competition on Saturday 7th July, 2007, at the Hasely Crawford National Stadium, Port of Spain. The atmosphere in the stadium was like a fiery political rally as members of the audience made no qualms about their allegiance to parties.
The National Political Monarch Competition was first staged approximately three weeks prior to the 2002 General Elections. The competition, which was conceived and produced by top local and regional events promoter, Randy Glasgow, will continue to take place every election year.
The judging criteria for the Political Calypso Monarch Competition required each artiste to perform songs based on the political front, focusing mainly on the 2007 General Elections. The artistes were allowed to use previously released melodies as many of them chose to do.
Keeping the audience informed about the order and direction of the programme while providing humorous entertainment were Mervyn Telfer, 'C.G.' and Dennis 'Sprangalang' Hall. The large audience was very receptive to the witty dialogue among these three and the connection between them and the audience was evident throughout the night.
Also providing entertainment was Phase II Pan Grove who absolutely blew the audience away with several of their renditions. They also initiated the formal start of the programme with the National Anthem.
The first artiste to appear on stage was former Chutney Monarch, Kenneth Supersad. His Calypso entitled "Dookeran is De Man" showed his open support for COP political leader, Winston Dookeran. Although the audience was mostly "a PNM audience", his song was well-received by a large section of the audience.
Also singing on the side of the COP was prominent attorney-at-law and COP Member of Parliament for Pointe-a-Pierre, Gillian Lucky who 'braved it' before the fiercely critical audience, singing "I Eh Fraid Dem". Ms. Lucky's COP supporters cheered her on as she performed. She received good backing from them as they waved their COP flags and banners throughout the length and breadth of her performance. At the end of her song, Lucky seemed quite relieved as she was spared the tongue-lashing from the audience which was dominated by PNM supporters.
Such was the reception of her performance that Lucky tied with Calypso veteran Anthony 'All Rounder' Hendrickson who sang "Calypsonians Tongue Tie" for the seventh position. This Calypso, which was a hit with the audience, echoed the sentiments of many in the society who feel that Calypsonians are fearful of being critical of the government because of their fear of not getting regular state-sponsored engagements.
Members of the audience respond to Winston 'Gypsy' Peters
When former Junior Culture Minister in the UNC administration, Calypsonian Winston 'Gypsy' Peters came on stage, the audience went into an uproar clearly signaling their disapproval. During his performance of "This Land is Mine", Gypsy was hurled with toilet paper missiles and taunted by many of the balisier and toilet paper-waving patrons. Some PNM supporters waved cocoyea brooms motioning that 'Gypsy' should be swept off the stage. As much as 'Gypsy' was challenged by the crowd, he confidently stood his ground and completed his performance.
Former Chutney Soca Monarch and UNC member, Nirmal 'Massive' Gosine, with the largest contingent of backup performers, sang "Wave Yuh Balisier" and this won him the ninth position.
Eldon 'Cardinal' Bhagoo, a seasoned Calypsonian, came in third position with "Vote Wisely". Cardinal delivered the kind of double-entendre, sharp humor and stinging political commentary that one would expect in this type of competition. His overall presentation was also well-received by the audience. With his witty and double-entendre punch line that advised voters not to vote 'fuh cop', many expected him to win the competition.
After being absent from the stage for over a year due to illness, former Calypso Monarch, Michael 'Sugar Aloes' Osuna, graced the stage adorned with balisier in hand and looking quite dapper in his red suit. 'Aloes' blasted the UNC with his song titled "Never Again" and for his efforts he was placed in fourth position.
Calypso veterans Morel 'Luta' Peters and Michael 'Protector' Legerton both tied for the fifth position with compositions that also went down well with the audience. 'Protector's' performance included a large contingency of supporters carrying cocoyea brooms, signaling a clean sweep for the PNM in the upcoming general election.
Dr. Hollis 'Chalkdust' Liverpool performs 'Screening Test'
Also taking part in the National Political Competition were Tobago-based singers, Alex 'Tobago Chalkdust' Gift and Harvey 'The Poet' Anthony. 'Tobago Chalkdust's' Calypso entitled "The Lara Touch" was composed by Hollis 'Chalkdust' Liverpool. 'Tobago Chalkdust' made a name for himself by imitating Hollis Liverpool's style and the audience showed their appreciation for his rendition. 'The Poet' performed his own composition entitled 'The Manifesto' which was also well-appreciated.
The big winners of the 2007 National Political Monarch Competition were Weston 'Cro Cro' Rawlins and Hollis 'Chalkdust' Liverpool. They were both crowd favourites proving once again that the Calypso veterans rule the Calypso scene.
Using the chorus-line from Denise Plummer's Calypso "Woman is Boss" 'Cro Cro' sang 'Patrick is Boss' which was a favorite of the majority PNM audience. He sang stating categorically his allegiance to the PNM and showed his support for Patrick Manning as the Prime Minister. 'Cro Cro' gave his customary energetic performance which received favourable response.
In his traditional lyrical style, Hollis 'Chalkdust' Liverpool sang his composition "Screening Test" where he chose between different candidates for the upcoming elections. Like 'Cro Cro', his performance was well-received and many in the audience expected him to place well.
The following are the twenty-five Calypsonians that performed that night:
Calypsonian / Composition
Kenneth Supersad / Dookeran is De Man
Harvey 'The Poet' Anthony / The Manifesto
Rannie 'King Soul' Peters / Congrats
Morel 'Luta' Peters / PNM Have It Nice
Anthony 'All Rounder' Hendrickson / Calypsonians Tongue Tie
Winston 'Gypsy' Peters / This Land is Mine
Michael 'Sugar Aloes' Osouna / Never Again
Weston 'Cro Cro' Rawlins / Patrick is Boss
Nirmal 'Massive' Gosine / Ah Riding With The PNM
Elon 'Cardinal' Baggoo / Vote Wisely
Donrick 'Funny' Williamson / This is PNM Country
Roger 'Bodyguard' Mohammed / Ungrateful Pastor
Wayne 'Impulse' Modeste / King Ka Ka
Gillian Lucky / I Eh Fraid Dem
Gary 'M'BA' Thomasos / Ah Gone Back With De PNM
Eric 'Pink Panther' Taylor / PNM Say, Welcome
Alex 'Tobago Chalkdust' Gift / The Lara Touch
Errol 'Bally' Ballantyne / All Yuh Come
Heather Mc Intosh / Check I
Hollis 'Chaulkdust' Liverpool / Screening Test
Michael 'Protector' Legerton / Halleluiah
Carlos 'Skatie' James / Call It Now
Scorpie / Prime Minister's Post
Winston DeFosto" Himself Scarborough / Write It Off
Tommy Joseph / Political Speech
For the Political Extempo Competition, each artiste was required to spontaneously compose lyrics based on the nation's political arena, especially events and scenarios revolving around the 2007 General Elections. The judging points were as follows: Lyrics - 50 points; Melody - 20 points; Presentation - 20 points; Crowd Response - 10 points.
Tommy Joseph, Mark 'Contender' John and Stephen 'Ras Kommanda' Pascal
In the Political Extempo Monarch segment, out of the seven Calypsonians who vied for the crown, Contender and former Extempo Champion, Black Sage had to challenge each other in the end. Contender's wit and lyrical savvy proved more than challenging for the likes of Black Sage. He was crowned the first ever Political Extempo Monarch.
The Calypsonians who competed in the Political Extempo were as follows:
Calypsonian / Topic
Phillip 'Black Sage' Murray / Camille's Credit Card
Llewellyn 'Short Pants' McIntosh / Chief Justice Sharma vs. Sherman Mc Nicholls
David Brown / Chinese Labour
Mark 'Contender' John / Gillian Lucky
Francois Ottley / Brian Manning Nine Million Dollar Basketball League
Sheldon John / Basdeo Pandsy's Red Beret
Joseph "Lingo" Vautor-La Placeliere / Patrick's Seer Woman
Although twenty-five Calypsonians competed in the Political Calypso Monarch Competition and vied for the crown, the results of the first nine were announced. They are:
Position / Calypsonian / Composition / Points
1st / Weston 'Cro Cro' Rawlins / Patrick is Boss / 257
1st / Hollis 'Chalkdust' Liverpool / Screening Test / 257
3rd / Elon 'Cardinal' Baggoo / Vote Wisely / 255
4th / Michael 'Sugar Aloes' Osouna / Never Again / 251
5th / Morel 'Luta' Peters / PNM Have It Nice / 250
5th / Michael 'Protector' Legerton / Halleluiah / 250
7th / Gillian Lucky / I Eh Fraid Dem / 248
7th / Anthony 'All Rounder' Hendrickson / Calypsonians Tongue Tie / 248
9th / Nirmal 'Massive Gosine' Gosine / Ah Riding With The PNM / 247
The 2nd National Political Monarch Competition was well-attended with an estimated attendance in excess of ten thousand. However, many persons commented that the actual competition was surprisingly unexciting. They said that most of the compositions lacked the sweet flavor of Trini humor and the stinging political commentaries they expected from this type of show.
National Political Calypso Competition 2007 in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=74041
|
|
