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Stars of Tomorrow Calypso Competition 2009
Sekon Alves, the new Star of Tomorrow
Sekon Alves performing "Conscious Lyrics"
TriniSoca.com Reporters
Event Date: January 25, 2009
Posted: January 29, 2009
Results Update: January 30, 2009
Sekon Alves is the new Star of Tomorrow. Sekon won the Stars of Tomorrow Calypso Competition hosted by the National Youth Action Committee in association with Guardian General, on Sunday 25th January, at the Strand, Tragarete Road, Port-of-Spain.
The placings and selections rendered are as follows:
1st place – Sekon Alves – Conscious Lyrics
2nd place – Cindy Alleyne – We Must Reach Out
3rd place – Bevon St. Clair – A Cry to Try
4th place – Terri Lyons – What the Hell
5th place – Amrika Mutroo – Stages in Life
6th place – Marion Paponette – Where It Gone
7th place – Wendy Thomas-Garrick – Scattered Seeds
8th place – Nesta Boxill – Another One At Large
9th place – Kirt Ross – Crack Plantation
10th place – Nicole Thomas – Embrace Your Role
Cindy Alleyne performing "We Must Reach Out"
National Youth Action Committee (NYAC) held their 20th annual Stars of Tomorrow Calypso Competition at the Strand Building in Port of Spain on 25th January, 2009. Fifteen young Calypsonians were on hand to vie for one of the first competitions of the Calypso season.
Akhenaton Daaga addresses the audience
After the invocation that was performed by former Hindu leader Ravi Ji, Akhenaton Daaga delivered the feature address as he shared the history of the competition with the audience noting the role that the competition has played in developing the Calypso art form. This competition he explained was a bridge for upcoming Calypsonians to hone their skills and develop their craft. He paid tribute to the sponsors, Guardian General, and the house band Earl Knight and the Services Brass both of whom had been with the competition from its inception.
Sergio Francisco performing "Paths of Righteousness"
The competition kicked off with Sergio Francisco who delivered his Reggae flavoured song "Paths of Righteousness". In this song he analyzed various forms of social corruptions, severely criticizing the dominance of the blue eyed, blond, White Jesus as he warned of the need to break out of the enslaving tendencies of Western philosophies.
Nesta Boxill performing "Another One at Large"
Dressed in black as a grim reaper, Nesta Boxhill performed his song "Another One at Large" taking on the issue of crime as he proclaimed that they do and do but still the crime rate increases. For every murder that is committed he exclaimed, there is a murderer at large as he highlighted the low number of murderers who are charged.
Nicole Thomas performing "Embrace Your Role"
Also delivering an impressive performance was young Tobagonian singer Nicole Thomas with her powerful rendition of her song "Embrace Your Role" which encouraged citizens to fulfill their social responsibilities in order to improve the state of the society.
Natifah Phillips performing "The Music in We"
With her powerful voice, Natifah Phillips performed her song "The Music in We" in which she declared that "some doh like Calypso, some doh like Rapso, some doh like Pan" but that music is we. Call up the radio stations she urged and tell them to play local music for that music is we. Also dealing with the issue of local music was Sekon Alves with his song "Conscious Lyrics" in which he rejected the view that only Reggae music can have conscious lyrics as he highlighted various Calypsos that deliver serious social messages.
Terri Lyons performing "What the Hell"
Terri Lyons was her usual dramatic self with her song "What the Hell" as she asked what the hell going on in this place as she highlighted various social ills. Cindy Alleyne also focused on the nature of our society with her song "We Must Reach Out" in which she delivered a stern message to wayward teachers and heartless employers who exploited workers in the pursuit of profit.
Marion Paponette performing "Where It Gone"
Similarly Marion Paponette asked where the love gone as she looked at the consequences of inequitable distribution of resources, a failing education system and a nation that has no sense of history.
Bevon St. Clair performing "A Cry to Try"
Bevon St. Clair with his song "A Cry to Try" took the audience into the world of an HIV/AIDS patient as he highlighted the stigma surrounding those who have the disease. Wearing a see through hospital gown and pampers his presentation was very dramatic and emotional as he delivered this serioius and stirring message to the audience. Asking the audience if they knew how easy it was to get the virus he warned them to stop in the heat of the moment and concentrate.
Wendy Thomas Garrick performing "Scattered Seeds"
Mark Eastman infused some Soca energy into the competition with his song "Frenzy" which described his reaction to a female love interest; Wendell Goodridge with his song "Steady Yourself" made a stirring plea for unity as he encouraged persons to steady themselves while Giselle Fraser Washington with her song "We Going Fast" questioned the direction that society is going in. Also gracing the stage was Wendy Thomas Garrick with her song "Scattered Seeds" which encouraged parents and adults to set good examples for children in the society.
Amrika Mutroo performing "Stages in Life"
Amrika Mutroo delivered a unique performance with her song "Stages in Life". With an excellent music arrangement Amrika drew loud cheers from the audience as he gave an insight into the journey and challenges of a young lady as she moved towards womanhood.
Kirt Ross performing "Crack Plantation"
Kirt Ross performed his song "Crack Plantation" which was a dramatic and stirring analysis of the cocaine scourge. Declaring the importance of free the slaves of the crack plantation, his message and performance resonated with the audience. His performance brought the curtain down on the excellent evening of Calypso. Results are expected to be announced soon.
NYAC Stars of Tomorrow Calypso Competition 2009 in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=122790
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