2010 Soca Monarch Results

Here are the results for the Soca Monarch shows hosted at the Queen Park Oval last night. Last year's champion Fayanne Lyons-Alvarez placed second in both categories.  That means we have new champions. Congratulations to Shurwayne Winchester for winning the Groovy Soca Monarch crown - the King has taken back his crown! JW & Blaze palanced their way to the Power Soca Monarch crown - congratulations are in order and next up may very well be the Road March title - the song is so popular!

Groovy Monarch
1. Shurwayne Winchester (Winner)
2. Faye Ann Lyons-Alvarez
3. Rikki Jai
4. Patrice Roberts

Soca Power Monarch
1.  JW & Blaze (Winner)
2. Faye Ann Lyons-Alvarez
3. Shal Marshall & Screws
4. Tallpree

Calypso Monarch Finalists 2K10

What yuh say? No! Aloes does cure belly pain and make 'tings right' but too much sugar spoil the ting eh! Many are lamenting the fact that Sugar Aloes did not qualify for the finals with an original composition but Protector with a sampling from Jimmy Cliff made it to the finals. Yuh see, nevah ah dull moment with Trini competitions eh boi...

However one may feel there will always be a problem with the decision of the judges. I am still wondering how some of the 35 semi finalists got in ahead of last year's second place finalist Joanne "Tigress" Rowley. But no one made a fuss about it so whatever happens next will not surprise me.  The decision of the judges is always the final statement.  Maybe it is time that the formula for selecting the people who judge these competitions to be revised. Maybe we need to come up with a new formula to train then select a pool of judges for these competitions. What is your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Here are the Finalists of Calypso Monarch 2010 competition:

Twiggy

All Rounder

Brian London

Skatie

Devon Seales

Kizzy Ruiz

Kurt Allen

Protector

Nicole Greaves

Roderick Gordon ’Chucky’

Singing Sandra

Sean Daniel

Mr Shak

De Fosto"

Remy RemBunction ft. The Mighty Sparrow - Ah Diggin Horrors 2010

The 2010 International SOCA Monarch Finalists

Compliments Julian182 from Islandmix
Groovy Finalists:
Fayann Lyons- Start Wining
Lil Bits- Careful
Zoelah- More Water    (St. Vincent)
Nnika Francis- Survivor     (Grenada)
Miss TC- Hot Sun & Riddim    (Barbados)
Farmer Nappy & Kerwin Dubois- Pavment
Shurwayne Whinchester- Murdah
Patrice Roberts- Wuk It
Chucky- Driffin
KMC- Nah Bad-Talk Man
Ainsley King - Bawl Out

Playlist Name: 2010 International Groovy Soca Monarch Finalists

Power Finalists:
Fayann Lyons- True Lies
Blaxx- Hunting
Tallpree- Wicked Jab    (Grenada)
Farmer Nappy- I Pay For This
JW & Blaze- Palance
Shall Marshall & Screws- Police
Tian Winter- Soca Rebals  (Antigua)
Iwer George- Party Hard
Super Jigga TC -Template
Skinny Fabolous- Beast Leggo    (St. Vincent)
Mr. Killa- Swing It Way     (Grenada)
Daddy Chess -Ready Or Not     (Dominica)
KMC F.Ronnie McIntosh-While You Can

Playlist Name: 2010 International Power Soca Monarch Finalists

35 make it to the Calypso Fiesta Semi Finals at Skinner Park

The next post has the play list for the songs making the finals. Here is the link if you came directly to this post from another site.
Breaking News - Trinidad News and Tobago News

A total of 35 calypsonians have advanced to this Saturday’s Calypso Fiesta at Skinner Park in San Fernando, following preliminary judging at various tents across the country.

The lineup contains a mixture of young calypsonians along with seasoned veterans, who will compete for a place in the Big Yard on Dimanche Gras night, February 14, 2010. The finalists will challenge reigning Calypso Monarch, Chalkdust. Saturday’s show gets underway from 12 noon.

The full list of semifinalists is as follows:

Tobago Chalkie, Alicia Richards, Twiggy, Brother Valentino, All Rounder, Anthony Johnson, Brian London, Skatie, Dee Diamond, Devon Seales, The Stinger, Duane O’Connor, Eric James, Heather Mc Intosh, Joel Parsons, Karen Eccles, Karene Asche, Ninja, Kizzie Ruiz, Kurt Allen, Lesley Ann Ellis, Short Pants, Protector, Sugar Aloes, Michelle Henry, Nicole Greaves, O.C., Count Robin, Mr. Chucky, Singing Sandra, Sean Daniel, Mistah Shak, Spicey, Gypsy and the Original De Fosto Himself.

Meantime, the preliminary round of the Extempo competition was held at the Strand Entertainment Centre on Monday night and the results are expected to be announced later this week.

http://news.bn.gs/

SW Storm ft Ravi B - De Hammer (Pong Pong) 2010

National Panorama Semi Finals Results for 2K10

National Panorama 2010 Semi-Final Results

Once again the Savannah was on fire with Pan in Yuh Pwefen! Sweet pan as Trinidadians like to say and it was one that was full of the usual 'ole talk and bacchanalia' that is the norm for barrel lovers. The judges never know what they are doing but are always right when "my band" makes it to the big stage. This will never change. However, most people don't realize or simply don't want to accept the fact that the people judging the steel band music have always been right with the final results. Simply because we "find that the music sounded sweet" does not mean that the band scored well in the judging categories that the judges are marking on the score sheets. Indeed, the judges decisions are final (so be it) but the fact remains that  every Trinidadian feels that he/she knows better resulting in a barrage of reasons to scratch our heads. We need to understand that the judges really respect the art form and will always do their best to give a fair assessment of the performance. Indeed we all have our biases but I believe that the professionalism of these people supersedes their prejudices ensuring just results.

Here are the results of the semi finals that took place on Sunday.
Ten (10) steel orchestras in each category will move to the next round in two separate Finals (bands in blue move on to the finals)

Large Bands:

1 Petrotrin Phase 11 Pan Groove Pan Army 277

2 PCS Silver Stars Battle Zone 273

3 TCL Group Skiffle Bunch Pan On Fire 272

4 Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars Large Is Large 266

5 Solo Harmonites Smooth Sailing 260

5 WITCO Desperadoes Musical Magnum 260

5 Caribbean Airlines Invaders Tell Dem 260

8 NLCB Fonclair Rewind 259 9 rbtt Redemption Sound Setters Pan On Fire 258

10 bp Renegades Battle Zone 257

11 T&TEC Tropical Angel Harps Battle Zone 256

12 Sagicor Exodus Pan in the Mas 255

13 Starlift Pandemic 254

14 Pamberi Sweetness 242

14 Our Boys Something Special 242

16 Petrotrin Siparia Deltones Pavement 238

17 Birdsong Vibes of a Mad Man 235

Medium Bands:

1 Steel Xplosion Radica 270

2 Valley Harps Battle Zone 269.5

3 NLCB Buccooneers Surrender 267

4 Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille Surrender 266

5 Katzenjammers Lightning Strikes Twice 263

5 Curepe Scherzando Battle Zone 263

7 Carib Dixieland Somewhere In Tobago 260

8 Couva Joylanders Smooth Sailing 257

9 CLICO Sforzata Wild & Free 254

9 West Side Symphony Somewhere In Tobago 254

11 Alutrint La Brea Nightingales Surrender 250.5

12 Tokyo Vibes of a Mad Man 249

13 Pan Elders I Come Out To Play 248

14 Arima Angel Harps Smooth Sailing 247.5

Small Bands:

1 Laventille Serenaders This Melody Sweet 267

2 Merrytones Pan War 260

3 Crescendoes Musicale Pan War 255

4 Golden Hands Dingolay 253

4 Arima Golden Symphony Smooth Sailing 253

6 Tamana Pioneers Pan On Fire 250

7 Tornadoes Battle Zone 248

8 Panosonic Connection Pan On Fire 241

9 Fascinators Pan Symphony I Music 239

9 Codrington Pan Family Pandemic 239

11 Flamingoes Battle Zone 232

12 Antillean All Stars Musical Fire 229

13 Longdenville Claytones Battle Zone 226

14 TIPICA Spreading Hands 225

Chutney Monarch Finals

The wild card in the decision making process for the Chutney Monarch finals was the text voting that was allowed from where ever a phone call could be made. Indeed the music has evolved with elements of Soca and Chutney and Hindi blending to create a music that is unique to Trinidad inside out - "We Ting!"

T&TEC Gayatones provided the music and it was very good indeed.  The entire show was well staged and could rival the International Soca Monarch in a few years.  Talk about progress and growth... the rest of the music community should take note because the people really came out and supported this show. 

Here is the order the artistes that made the finals performed:

  1 - Kenneth Salick - KES 

  2 - Ravi Bissambhar - RAV 

  3 - Omadath Maraj - OMM

  4 - Derrick Seales - DES 

  5 - Soca Elvis - ELV

  6 - Lalchan Babwah (Hunter) - HTR

  7 - Andy Singh - ANS

  8 - Neesahn Prabhoo (Hitman) - NEP

  9 - Kris Persad (KI) - KIP

10 - Heeralal Rampartap - HER

11 - Rikki Jai - RIJ

12 - Moses Charles - MOC 

The results are as follows:

   First Place - Ravi Bissambhar 9,527 votes

   First Runner Up - Rikki Jai 4,872 votes

  Second Runner Up- Moses Charles

  4. Kris Persad (KI)

  5. Omadath Maraj

  6. Lalchan Babwah (Hunter)

I must tell you that the winner was unexpected at such a large margin. I personally believe that most people believed that Rikki Jai won the competition tonight.  However, the performance of the younger Ravi B and the popularity of the band Karma (that he performs with) may have been the engine that drove home the votes for the eventual winner.Congratulations to the producers of the show, it was fantastic!

Rikki Jai - "Bar Man"

New Machel Montano HD- Not Going Home (2010 Trinidad Carnival)

Not Going Home - Machel Montano HD

Produced By Keron "Sheriff" Thomson, Of Machel's New Album "Album 34"

Trinidad and Tobago's Groovy/Power Soca Monarch Finalists

The Caribbean flavor has expanded and by extension the International standard has been set this year and as a result we could very well see a winner coming from one of the islands of the Caribbean other than Trinidad and Tobago  this year, 2K10. Who is your favorite artiste and what is your opinion about Fay Ann's chances of repeating as champion again?

International Groovy Soca Monarch Finalists 

Defending Champion is Fay Ann Lyons Alvarez (Trinidad and Tobago)

Kerwin Dubois (Trinidad and Tobago)

Shurwayne Winchester (Trinidad and Tobago)

Patrice Roberts (Trinidad and Tobago)

Chucky (Trinidad and Tobago)

Rikki Jai (Trinidad and Tobago)

Zoelah (St. Vincent & the Grenadines)

KMC (Trinidad and Tobago)

Lil Bitts (Trinidad and Tobago)

TC (Barbados)

Nnika Francis (Grenada)

Ainsley King (Trinidad and Tobago)

International Power Soca Monarch Finalists

Defending Champion is Fay Ann Lyons Alvarez (Trinidad and Tobago)

Blaze and JW (Trinidad and Tobago)

Farmer Nappy (Trinidad and Tobago)

Blaxx (Trinidad and Tobago)

Tallpree (Trinidad and Tobago)

Shal and Screwz (Trinidad and Tobago)

Super Jigga TC (Trinidad and Tobago)

KMC and Ronnie McIntosh (Trinidad and Tobago)

Iwer George (Trinidad and Tobago)

Daddy Chest (Dominica)

Tian Winters (Antigua)

Skinny Fabulous (St. Vincent & the Grenadines)

Mr Killah (Grenada)

Superblue "1994 Flag Party"

They don't do it like this anymore! Enjoy Superblue captivating the crowd with his very unique style!

2-11-94 - NATIONAL SOCA MONARCH COMPETITION @ THE SPECTRUM, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO..
Production by TTT...Courtesy of CARIBBEAN PRESTIGE PROMOTIONS
JOIN THE CultureShare SOCIAL NETWORK MOVEMENT @ http://cultureShare.ning.com

Dream Team models heat up the stage for their Band Launch of Gems of the World for Trinidad Carnival 2010.

No Radio Airplay for some Soca Songs

There are a myriad of issues that could lead to a station not playing an artiste's song. However, the first issue that needs to be addressed (in the case of Trinidad) is the amount of local music that is played on the stations. Most of the stations in the country cater to an American flavor and only during the carnival season do they play any local music (calypso, Soca and chutney flavors).
OK, in Trinidad there is one consistent "total local radio station" and that is WACK Radio 901 Fm (http://www.wackradio901fm.com) and they too have issues with certain artists and songs not being played.
They really try to play as much of the new music but many songs fall through the crack. Here are some things to consider:

1. Payola is an issue with some stations. I am saying this not because I know for sure but it is a fact of life in the music industry and I don't this it is any different in Trinidad or the rest of the West Indies. Pay for pay is a reality!

2. Some stations don't have a list of songs on rotation and leave it to the on air personality to play the music. Some of these DJ's are limited with funding and their personal tastes will dictate whom they play.

3. The stations should have a music pool from which the DJ's can get the music to play

4. The artistes too need to go themselves or send someone to "drop off" their music (hey these are the islands of the Caribbean Ok). Just go to the station and present your music in person; sometimes you may find yourself on air introducing your music with the DJ.

5. Some stations play mostly Soca with limited Calypso; some are chutney based with limited Soca and minimal Calypso. Know the stations and what they push before laying blame at any station footsteps.

6. Internet radio is big... send your music to these people... most of the time they will play your music

7. Get your fans to call the station to ask for your music ... fans listening to the station is the lifeblood for advertising dollars earned by these entities. That goes for the internet stations too (more important for the more established ones).

8. Think outside of the box don't lay blame on anyone - go out there and get your music heard.

9. Soca Mafia? Maybe... but that means that people are paying for this to happen! It also means that it is the artists destroying each other (those who have the income to do it)

10. People are already tired of poor lyrics and repetitive rhythms. The new music is too robotic. They need to get back to musicians in the studio to present a better sound. Whether or not you agree the quality of the music (lyrics and music) has deteriorated!

11. Hey people want to hear Soca and much of the music being presented is not really Soca but masquerading under the banner of Soca!

12. Too much inter island pettiness (I noticed this on Islandmix.com where there is a hatred for Trinidad/Trinidadian culture).

Machel and the HD Crew 2K10

Artist: Machel Montano
Title: Thiefin/Bumper to Fender
Album: Album 34
Year: 2010
Genre: Soca
Origin: Trinidad and Tobago

The Magic and Creativity of Peter Minshall

Peter Minshall's Tan Tan and Saga Boy