Booster Shot: Ricky T is repeat St. Lucia Power Soca Monarch!

(revised 9:45 am, Sunday July 12)

The crowd was thick at Mindoo Philip Park in Castries for the 2009 St. Lucia Power Soca Monarch competition. There were 19 competitors doing battle to dethrone the champ, Ricky T. But no dice. The star of the studio 758 camp, proved to be the crowd's favourite performer for the second year in a row. Ricky T's performance was a heart stopping show of colour, with old mas moko jumbies (stilt walkers), pyrotechnics, and beautiful dance. The onlookers rose to a new level of excitement after watching their soca hero burst into flames for about 5 seconds. In stark contrast to last year's performance, Ricky T's stage performance included creative input from by both himself and his father, as opposed to full reliance on his management team as in last year's competition. Specifically, Teasles dad coordinated the stunt in which the artiste's clothes were lit on fire.

Earlier this week, the cast met to draw for positions in tonight's show, in a rather unconventional way. After initial positions had been drawn, the floor was opened for bartering with sums of up to EC $2000 being exchanged in order to guarantee late appearances for some of the artists favoured to win. (One rep actually boldly admited to paying out $8000, to change his artist's place....mad eh?) After all that fuss, one artiste, Viking was absent due to responsibilities marking CXC's in Trinidad. (I guess soca ain't really paying well enough yet.)

Not my business, but the practice which has become the norm in St. Lucia for at least the last two years brings to light an uneven playing field that favours music camps that are financially well off. To their credit, they don't hide it. So who am I to criticize. Artistes know what they're getting into and stand to earn a little more than the guaranteed $1000 appearance fee if a top artiste is eying their spot.

The 2009 season has been interesting to watch thus far. St. Lucia on a whole has released fewer soca songs this year than in seasons past. Popular acts including Nicole David, Teddyson John, Ricky T and others contributed no more than one song to the carnival music mix. Nicole David was absent from the performance circuit after taking time out to deal with the tragic death of a relative in a vehicular accident early in the season. From what I've been able to see, other factors affecting the release of music here include things like computer difficulties and moreover, internal disharmony in some of the more powerful music houses. It was thought that some of those issues might affect how the soca monarch stage presentations played out. But, after seeing the show. Your nurse is still confident that that the cream always rises to the top.

Anyhoo, y'all don't want my 2 cents. Here's the info that pays...

Voila les resultats pour Lucian Soca Monarch 2009!

1. Ricky T - "Like a Jumbie"
Tent: Take Over Tent
368 points


Ricky T and Friends

2. Ilah Man - "I Want My Money Back"
Tent: NG Soca Stage
353 points



3. Superman HD ft. Teddyson John - "Up! Up! And Away!"
Tent: NG Soca Stage
349 points


Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen