The Rounds: Usain Bolt jumps into the action for Bacchanal J'ouvert

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Jamaicas two carnivals come to a dramatic end this weekend. Friday night, revellers, artistes and local heros got together in a cloud of mud, powder, paint and water for Bacchanal J’ouvert. Jamaican dancehall king and carnival lover Sean Paul, was sorry he had to run away from the excitement early to catch a flight to Australia, but the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt was in no rush for J’ouvert to end. Nope, not at all...he was in the middle of the action at Mas Camp in Kingston covered from hear to toe in Blue and White paint!

Photo of Usain Bolt courtesy of www.jamaica-gleaner.com

Over in Virgin Gorda, King Paido won his 4th Calypso Monarch Title with the songs “Time to Check Ourselves”, and “Dey Pon Farmville” a chune about that game on Facebook that half of you are probably playing right now. So now he’s got four wins in Virgin Gorda, the last being in 2000, to match the four wins he has in Tortola as well. If you ask me, there’s a good reason they call the man King.

St. Thomas has crowned their first ever party monarch last weekend, and HER name is Rudy! The addition of the competition, is a definite step in the right direction for Soca Music in the US Virgin Islands. The tune is called Pressure Me and a video for said song is just around the corner. So don’t forget to check me for that when the time comes.

After this weekend, the next big carnivals on deck are St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia. But New Yorkers will be plunged headlong into both carnivals before the soca lovers in the island even get to. Last night in Brooklyn, the Vincy community paid tribute to one of its best loved calypso and soca artists, POORSAH. This year marks 30 years in the biz for the iconic political and social commentator. Known for his tiny stature, nasal voice and frantic running and pacing on stage, Poorsah has 5 road march titles under his belt.

Poorsah at SVG Soca Monarch Semifinals, 2008

St. Lucians in New York are gearing up for... “I must be in dat” the event dubbed as the Official US launch of St. Lucia Carnival. It will feature 2010 mas presentations from a variety of popular mas bands, top DJS, and of course, performances from a cast of St. Lucian artists. I think the best thing about it is that Brooklynites will get a chance to register for Lucian Carnival costumes on site, before they even book flights to head to home in July.

When I was in Trinidad for Carnival, I was surprised to turn on the TV and see that Akil Borneo, a popular DJ on 96 We FM had put out a song as a soca artist under the name 5Star Akil. Well, that same guy made news for a completely different reason this past week. On Thursday Akil narrowly escaped death after being shot 5 times in St James Trinidad. He was rushed to hospital where he was swiftly operated on. While he’s not completely out of the woods yet, the good news is, he is in stable condition with hopes to recover.

My shot of Akil on the mic Carnival Tuesday 2009 with Evolution mas band, Trinidad

Before I go, special belated birthday greetings go out to Knycky Cordner who celebrated her special day on Monday in Trinidad. Patrice Roberts turns 25 today, and Sizwe C turns 30 on the 16th. Happy Birthday to all. I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more info on everything I mentioned tonight, visit me online at Nurse dash Karen dot com, or follow your favourite non-medical Nurse on Twitter. Twitter dot com slash Nurse Karen. Now back to de Docta!

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Booster Shot: Happy Birthday Knycky Cordner!

Wishing a blessed and happy birthday to a cousin in the cousin culture, matron in the music and sister in the struggle.

Today we celebrate the birth of Nurse Karen Etc's very own Knycky Cordner, a woman who has truly done it all.  Known for great looks, exceptional talent and a vibrant personality, Knycky is a fixture in the Trinidad entertainment community whose contributions span music, radio, television and the written word.  She is a straight-talker who's no nonsense attitude and electrifying smile inspire thousands of viewers and fans of Digicel Rising Star and the band Ventures.

Our girl's recent triumph over hip surgery has been an inspiration to witness from the sidelines as she continues to stick to her commitments and convictions with elegance and poise.  In short we love her.

Looking forward to reading more of her insightful views right here on this blog!

Happy Birthday Knycky, Have a great one!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen


Enjoy Knycky's humorous 2009 release "Bam Bam Take Over Town"

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On De Scene: "Chutney Bacchanal" is a song...2010

Winners row: Moses Charles 3rd, Rikki Jai 2nd and Ravi B 1st.

Neeshan D Hitman on stage at Chutney Soca Monarch 2010

De News:

Bacchanal Season?

Wherever it hav carnival competitions it bound to hav Bachannal. Wheese! Why boy?

Last Saturday was de NLCB’s Chutney Soca Monarch Competiton. Congratulations Ravi (Bissembhar) B, who was crowed the winner and is also the youngest (27 years) person to ever win the show, opps sorry competition.

The champ came on stage after 10 pm and according to the Newsday newspaper (T&T) was “carried on a sofa by members the bmobile Shiv Shakti Dance Company. He was accompanied during the performance, which was filled with dance and drama, by Barbadian soca star Allison Hinds and his sister, popular chutney singer Nisha Bissembhar.”

Ah sorry eh allyuh, buh ah had a lil gig the same time so ah really didn’t get to see the winning performance. Ah sure ah will ketch ah repeat soon.

Ravi B won TT$200.000.dollars plus a spot in the Bmobile Groovy Soca Monarch competition. He also said he and his band KARMA are booked to perform everyday till Carnival. (and allyuh know is 3 and 4 gigs per nite wit dem bands now rite). Sweet Ravi, SWEET…

Rikki Jai, came in 2nd earning himself TT$100,000 with his song “BARMAN”.

3^rd place went to Moses Charles wit his song “Indrani.

Hmmm, like song on RUM, WOMAN an touched by producer Big Rich (Zaheer Khan) of de Pungalunks Factory RULE ….

Now dah seems clear enough, yun enter, yuh make it t the finals, yuh perform. We “The People” text fuh we favorite an tadaaah a winner. Bu NOOOO….

An ah tell allyuh it must have ah bacchanal. The following is a note written by Neeshan D Hitman (who was also a contestant in Saturday’s grand finale) on his facebook account.

Today (Febuary 1st) at 10:28am

“ I am too blessed to be stressed !

First of all let me congratulate RAVI B and RIKKI JAI on their well deserved first and second place !

I do feel cheated however by amount of complains i have recieved from numerous fans friends and family WHEN THEY TRIED TEXTING DURING THE ENTIRE COURSE OF THE NIGHT their votes were not going thru I have that evidence on my phone also , I am not in anyway upset that i did not win , I DID NOT NEED it as badly as others did , I am me and will continue to be me , with or without that crown , I dont need it to prove a point , I dont need it to pass on others and i certainly dont need it for you to love and support me .

Rikki Jai knows how I feel about him entering the competetion thats just my opinion because if I had won so many times I would have steped back and give a younger artiste that chance , but I am not always right and he really put out his all to earn his position , even though props , glitz and glamour should not be the winning points he works hard at giving us a great show.

Ravi B knew what he wanted and he did not hold back , from the many billboards to his massive presentation , he wanted the crown and he worked also very hard to get it . So I am very Happy for him and Congratulate him once again , i hope he bears in mind that he won the CHUTNEY SOCA CROWN and represents it to the max , not the film song crown or the reggae , dance hall crown etc but CHUTNEY SOCA CROWN.

All i am upset about is the fact that the real amount of VOTES were not reflected towards my Name !"

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

D Hitman also claimed Ravi B’s winner song was also offered to him first but he refused to sing it because he felt he had done too many rum songs during his career
.

Now D Hit man is meh boy eh. Since I met him and his family a few years ago ah always find dem to be real peeps (an allyuh know how ah feel bout keeping it real). An even though ah understand his concerns regarding de text fiasco, ah wondering if he shuda post his note so soon after. In my opinion, YES, address the issue, but maybe he cuda wait ah bit. Seek a meeting with the promoters. But I can’t blame some of the people that responded to he note by calling him a sour grape. Ah mean according to my research, dis is not de first year there have been complaints concerning the text set up. So address it before or address it in a proper manner. Buh daiz just my take on it eh. Hitman doh vex ,ah still love yuh.

What allyuh tink?

Genres may divide us but can understanding an acceptance bring us together?

Bless,

Knyx...

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ON De Scene: My Facebook birthday experiment (Knycky)

De News?

HAPPY belated BIRTDAY NURSE KAREN!

Happy New Year. Merry Carnival tuh everybody!

Is ah while I eh come & chat here with allyuh & yes ah feeling shame. But not too much because like ah was telling Rochelle (Noel), I doh write tuh see meh name on ah blog. I write when I’m moved, ah geh ah vibes.

Last nite (dis morning ah few mins after midnite) ah cudn sleep an like I wud do sometimes, ah turn on facebook chat. Now facebook chat for me entails chatting with my thousand ah friends ALL AT THE SAME TIME eh! Overwhelming? Yes, very. An most ah dem saying tuh meh, “Hi Knycky! I is yuh number 1 fan! Ah real like yuh music, ah real like you, yuh eh put out no song this year?” So I tawt tuh mehself, but if dey is meh number 1 fan, despite the slow airplay (daiz ah next blog) shudn dey know dat yes ah “put out” 2 songs dis year?

Ah geh a vibes! (wicked grin.) Ah go do a test on facebook! Two actually.

Now ah was born on de 5^th APRIL rite. An fuh de pas few years since I on de facebook ting, meh birthday up as de 5^th APRIL. So ah decided one: tuh see how much number 1 fans ah really have, dat wud mean, dey real know ting bout meh, like meh birtday. An two: tuh see if people does really take on EVERYTING dey read on facebook. So, like ah say it was a few minutes after midnite...

I Knycky Cordner change meh birthday to 18^th Jan.

Now 2008 & 2009 were the only 2 years I didn’t have a Dutch birtday party (maybe ah cheap but wana feel important hence Dutch-lol). I wasn’t able to do it dem 2 years because like meh number 1 fans know, ah was injured, on luck-down (pun intended) in hospitals & bedroom. But every April prior to dis, tons of friends use to come to meh house tuh celebrate meh birtday wit meh. Buh guess wha? De sudden shift to January eh faze anybody?!?

De messages started coming in, my close palls-lol, calling meh on meh personal number tuh be de firs tuh give birtday greetings. I received hundreds of greetings on facebook, an ah few on twitter. Buh den ah didn really hit up twitter eh. Is only de few dat well connected on de social networks send ah little twit. In all fairness, de twitter community was ah lil hesitant. Ah wonder if dey did smell de rat?

So meh FAMILY, friends & fans DOH KNOW WHEN MEH BIRTDAY IS UNLESS DEY READ FACEBOOK! And DEY DOES BELIEVE EVERYTHING DEY READ ON FACE BOOK. Akira Tanaka & Joanna De Silva is de only 2 people dat call me out (doh privately) & Rochelle (Noel) suspected something was up when meh response tuh she greeting was “thank you?” Yes, wit a question mark. All the odas miss de question mark at the end cause FACEBOOK SAY IT WAS MEH BIRTDAY!!!

AH PROOVE MEH POINTS! 1: Facebook rules when it comes tuh disseminating information? So doh question NUTTEN YUH READ DEY! And 2: Ah hav REAL TRUE FANS? The long an short of it is DOH BELIEVE EVRYTHING YUH READ ON FACEBOOK (or anywhere else) witout questioning it.

Now doh geh vex with meh (too much) eh allyuh. Ah cuda, and didn milk dis ting. Ah refuse all offers tuh go out fuh de birthday drinks, dinners etc. I convinced dose who wanted tuh geh meh presents dat dey really shudn, an dat was hard (fuh me-hehehe)

Ah know ah lot ah people took de time to genuinely sen ah Sister some blessings on her special day. I Thank you all & ah wudn be upset if allyuh cah be bothered on de real day-lol-really.

I’ll excuse my “fans” dat always support but just doh geh all up in yuh biznezz, so they really wudn know de real date. I’ll excuse new friends (less dan ah year old relationships)

Tanks to all dat participated in meh “experiment.” Ah bet allyuh cah wait fuh de next one (wink-wink).

An ah hope ah doh loose some “friends”. Hmmmmmmmmm

Ah little seriousness now. All who wanted to take meh out, give presents and all dat. Dat was sweet. Wat go be sweeter fuh me doh, is if allyuh cud take all dat extra cash allyuh hav an send it to we Brothers an Sisters in Haiti. We all know de account numbers fuh de banks & various organizations. Digicel & B mobile T&T have their “text to send cash” numbers too. Be a true friend nah.

P.S meh birtday (earthstrong) is de 5^th ah APRIL. Safe?

Oceans may divide us but can (Soca) music, ah lil picong, and tragedy bring us togeda?

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The Rounds: Shurwayne Winchester and Y.O.U celebrated 1 year, etc!

Originally aired on Flow 93.5 FM in Toronto "Soca Therapy"

In this edition:

- Shurwayne and Y.O.U. celebrate one year (Trinidad and Tobago)
- SVG goverment promises money to artists (St. Vincent and the Grenadines)
- Problem Child's Mad House Tour Reality Show (St. Vincent and the Grenadines)
- December carnivals: St. Kitts, St. Croix, Montserrat
- Soca or Die (Canada)
- This week's soca birthdays: B.V.I, St. Kitts and Nevis

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Last Tuesday, Shurwayne Winchester and YOU celebrated their 1st anniversary together as a band. The event took place at Woodford Cafe in Trinidad, the same place they held their very first performance just one year before. Since then, they have the have grown as a cohesive unit, opened their own band room, produced the ABX Riddim for Carnival 2k10, and recorded 18 of their own songs. Shurwayne announced that Y.O.U. would be releasing a new album on the 1st of December.
The very same date marked the 30th anniversary of independence for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. There’s all kinds of reasons why something like that is important news for the rounds, but allow me to give you one more. To mark the occasion, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves announced the government’s plans for an economic stimulus package that includes 1 million dollars in grant money to be doled out to its cultural entrepreneurs. It plain English, the soca artists are getting cheques in the mail just for being creative. Boyyyy, nothing says happy Indy like free money.

Speaking of SVG, I’m not sure how many of you knew that St. Vincent’s Roadmarch king, Problem Child has his very own reality show. It’s called the Madhouse Tour and it launched on St. Vincent’s K45, Iktv channel in the fall. I never mentioned it to you before, because there were no videos online. Well now there are. If you surf over to youtube, You can see funny clips of the artist’s adventures all over the place, including....TORONTO.
We all know that Trinidad Carnival is coming in February. But there are actually several other Carnivals before then. In December three other Caribbean Islands will heat up with the sounds of soca, and theatre of mas; St. Kitts, St. Croix (USVI), and Montserrat. The 2009 Montserrat Festival calendar was just released this past week, with a packed agenda of activities from December 4th through January 1st.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Today is only November 1st. So, happy birthday goes out to soca artist, Lincoln Ward in the British Virgin Island. Then on Saturday, the Parade of Scorpio b-days continues. That night will be the 1st ever Soca or Die Surprise Birthday party for Dr. Jay and friends. Hope you got your tickets! But it’s also the birthday of Juliette Mills from St. Kitts, Tabia from St. Vincent, and Scarface from Trinidad. Don’t look surprised, we already told you November is the month of the Soca Baby!

Before I go...good news. Knycky Cordner performed again with her band Ventures for the 1st time since her hip surgery earlier this year. Happy to see the girl back in action!
I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. To get the news first, be sure to visit nurse dash Karen dot com or follow me, nursekaren on Twitter. Now back to de Docta!

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Nurse's Lounge: We meet at last!

Nurse Karen and Knycky Cordner
Afer the search parties gave up looking for Ms. Cordner, I felt a distant vibration in the bottom of my handbag. My telephone, which I had previously thought useless began to shiver and blurt out in an orgasmic scream....KNYCKY IS CALLING!!!!

I was so excited. I meet soca artistes very frequently, so perhaps our meeting needn't be so dramatic, but allyuh...this is special!

Knycky's Thursday night was already booked solid, but she managed to squeeze me in somewhere between Valsayn and Curepe....just to say we did. The meeting spot was a KFC actually. Sadly, I indulged in a very greasy, but very good Chicken sandwich as I waited for the newest princess of the the Trinidad Blogosphere emerged from her chariot.

It was worth the wait. If I haven't made it clear prior, I appreciate the lady. Beyond what I consider to be first rate good looks, Knycky's got a spunky personality. Our brief, but very real meeting felt as natural as loading a new soca track to my ipod.

Very happy to have met you in the flesh Ms. Cordner! Next time I'm in Trinidad...we limin'

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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Nurse's Lounge: Paging Knycky Cordner!

Nurse Karen at Question Mark Entertainment

Ha ha ha... if your'e reading this...please help me find Nurse Karen Etc's own beloved correspondent Knycky Cordner. She's not lost in the traditional sense. It's just that I can't find her. I arrived in Trinidad this morning from a sleepless red-eye flight on Caribbean Airlines.

I'm in transit to Vincy Mas...but thought I'd take a day in T&T to link a few precious soca contacts in our music's mecca before my life is completely overcome once again by the carnival jumbie. On the very top of my list was linking with sister-girl-singer-hostess-blogger-chicky of the hour...Knycky Cordner. Some of you would never believe this...but in spite of the fact lady-girl writes for the blog, the two of us have NEVER actually met in person! Crazy right? Thought that woulda been a simple enough itch to scratch. So far no dice.

Knycky, where yuh? I been looking everywhere. I checked by some of my relatives hear Trincity Mall. I searched over by UWI in St. Augustine. I went up and down the Avenue in Woodbrook.

I stopped in at Synergy TV. This must be the 4th time, I've gone in to meet with Peter C...only to find out plans changed without my knowing. This time I was lucky tho. I met a producer who's looking to chat with me about contributing to their programming. You know I'll keep you POSTED!

Where was I? Knycky...yeah. Whey she dey? I went round the savannah in the rain. I found myself at Question Mark Entertainment (the folks that manage peeps like Kes the Band and Maximus Dan). Who should I see cooling out in front?...a handful of the band members from Asylum.

Nurse Karen Etc followers should know that my travel lines up with Asylum's gigs more often than probably any other band. So, had to pop in. They are rehearsing Saucy Wow's music for a gig at DC's Star Nightclub on Saturday night. ( I won't be there. Check me a Vincy Insomnia) The pop-in turned into a meeting with Simon Baptiste ( The CEO!!!!) Guess who has a nice new shrink wrapped copy of the Kes the Band "On in 5" CD now?!

Yeah...finding all kinda ting today. Still no Knycky.

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

P.S. still in the bandroom...pics coming just now.

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The Rounds: Sanelle Dempster now singing with Jabae

(originally aired on Sunday, June 7, 2009 on "Soca Therapy" Flow 93.5 FM, Toronto)

In this Edition:

• Artist news at Crop Over: Stabby, Contone, Bruce and Barry Chandler
• Bunji and Fay Ann for Cohoblopot
• Problem Child goes poo poo in the bushes
• Signal Hill Choir to honour Shadow and Rudder
• Knycky Cordner now writes for Nurse Karen Etc

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. The last of Barbados’ pre Crop Over Cavalcades took place last night. And boy, was it ever bubbling over with information. Stabby de Guard performed a couple of new follow up tunes to last year’s smash, Go Stabby. And he informed the crowd that he’s now - a Sergeant. I guess boyfriend got a promotion or something. A few other things have changed since last Crop Over too. Contone cut off his dreadlocks. Bruce and Barry Chandler are no longer a part of the band Jabae, and the new frontline includes Sanell Dempster, and some fresh-faced 17 year old dude (Hadda find out his name for you!) A while ago, Barry had informed me that he’s been performing on a cruise ship throughout the year. Even without the band, he continues to make an impact on Crop Over with his very hot track, “Old School.”

Barry Chandler and Nurse Karen in Toronto

Apparently, the organizers of Crop Over are ignoring last year`s protests and complaints from the local music industry about booking foreign artists for Cohoblopot. This year, in addition to Machel Montano HD, Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons have been added to the already expensive cast.

Nurse Karen and Bunji Garlin in Miami

If you’re heading to St. Vincent and the Grenadines for carnival, and your itinerary happens to include any big fetes at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex, Puhlease do yourself a favour and mind where you step. Last night the venue played host for the Wildest, Wettest H20 Soca Fete ever. Destra and her band, Skinny Fabulous and the Alliance Band, plus a bunch of local acts gave memorable performances. In spite of the drinks flowing like water, and the water flowing like, well water too...the promoters somehow failed to provide sufficient bathroom facilities backstage for the artistes. So, Problem Child made the best of a bad situation by ( hear this) taking a number two in the bushes! Well, when yuh gotta go, yuh got to go!

Problem Child and Nurse Karen in Toronto

Trinidad's Signal Hill Alumni Choir is hard at work rehearsing the repertoire of Shadow and David Rudder in preparation for the group's 25th anniversary concert later this month. Artistic Director John Arnold describes the work of these two Calypso greats as "music that would certainly live on as classics for years to come."

Nurse Karen and David Rudder in Washington, DC

Everyweek, when I sign off, I take a moment to remind you to check out Nurse Karen Etc for more information. I don’t normally take time to share personal news with ya, but this time I’ve got something I can’t wait to say. This past week, soca artiste, Knycky Cordner, who happens to also be a popular trini radio and tv personality and former Miss Trinidad and Tobago, just joined my amazing team of international soca bloggers!

Our girl Knycky and friends in Trinidad

So now you can get on the scene reports from Trinidad, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Barbados, plus my regular Booster Shot news updates! I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Don’t forget to log on to nurse dash Karen dot com to welcome Knycky Cordner to the family. Now, back to de docta!

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On De Scene: Knycky Cordner joins the Nurse Karen team (a personal intro)

On De Scene:

Hi Guys. Nurse Karen may have told you I'll be joining the team, but I just want to take a little time to introduce myself.

I am Knycky Cordner. I live in sweet T&T. I'm an Entertainer (vocalist with the band Ventures formerly Blue Ventures since 2004), & I Host events, Radio & TV Shows. At the moment I'm preparing to host Digicel Rising Stars T&T, season 4.

I'm a down to Earth type of person, my fave catch phrase is "keep it real". I love the outdoors. I have a pet Turtle called Sameel-as if allyuh really want to know that-giggle. I just had my 2nd Hip replacement surgery in March. The first was in Dec 2007 and God alone knows how, but they put in the wrong part! Have you ever heard more BS?!? Anyhow, don't want to stray on my very first blog.

Ahhhh, blogging, I'm new to this, and one thing you must understand is I write how I speak (real dialect) so don't expect any grammar lessons from me-LOL.

I think I'll be good on this site though, I think my contributions will be appreciated by you Guys cause being an Entertainer puts me right there on the scene. I love to report-NOT MACO EH! LOL...So put them together & you get a good Soca Blogger-LOL.

My first real "piece" will be on the benefit concert for Producer Sheldon "$hell $hok" Benjamin. It's kinda sad really, the reason for this concert being Sheldon is very ill with Cancer, however I feel very proud of all the artistes, musicians, promoters, EVERYONE that has & will contribute to this venture. It shows that in crunch time we can all get together & support as best as we can. De love dey!

The concert promises to be a real treat. Alison Hinds will perform, the last two bands that Sheldon worked with Destra & her band, Machel & The HD Family & many solo acts. I promise to report all. Will try my best to get some pictures as I don't even know how to use a digital camera. Yes it's a shame, buh doh worry, ah learning.

Well I don't want my blog (yeah I said it my blog hmmm-lol) to get too boring so I'm gonna close off here. Before I go, I want to say a BIG FAT THANK YOU to the real Bloggers (that sounds funny eh), Nurse Karen, Corey K Graham, & Rochelle Noel. Thanks for all your support Guys, one day...I"m gonna be better than you! LOL, seriously, love you all...

Bye Socanites,

Oceans may devide us but Soca brings us together!

Bless,

Knyxx...

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Booster Shot: Trinidad 2009 International Soca Monarch Semi-Finalists Announced

The Caribbean Prestige Foundation annouced the names of the semi-finalists for the the 2009 bMobile International Soca Monarch competition yesterday in Trinidad.

The Semi Finals will take place on February 8th at the Arima Velodrome. Groovy begins at 4p.m., followed by the Power Soca Monarch.

Here's what you came here for:

Please note: This list does not include the reigning Soca Monarchs and Party Monarchs from around the Caribbean who have been guaranteed a spot in the finals on Friday, February 20th. Therefore five places in the finals have been reserved for Claudette Peters, Khiomal, Luni Sparks and Electrify, Ricky T and Skinny Fabulous.

Groovy Soca Monarch Semi-Finalists

• Alicia Lee
• Ansel Joseph
• Benjai
• Biggie Irie
• Blazz
• Cassie
• Cedonia
• Chucky
• Edwin Yearwood
• Erphaan Alves
• Esther Dyer
• Farmer Nappy
• Faye-Ann Lyons
• Fireball
• Gary Jackson
• Hunter
• Iwer George
• Kerwin Du Bois
• Patch
• Nadia Batson
• Patrice Roberts
• Pelf
• Peter Ram
• Sean Caruth
• Shal Marshall
• Shyann Bailey
• Skhi
• Sugar Raye
• Tracey D
• Tizzy
• Zan
• Zoleah
  

Power Soca Semi-Finalists

• Anslem Douglas
• Benjai
• Berbice
• Blaxx
• Blaze & JW
• Blazer Dan
• Choppa
• Faye-Ann Lyons
• Ivy
• Iwer George
• Jermeeka Mundy
• TC ( The King of Swag)
• Knycky Cordner
• Lil Bitts
• Nadia Batson
• Ninjitsu
• Nnika Francis
• Olatunji
• Patrice Roberts
• Russell Cadogan
• Shurwayne Winchester
• Soca Tech
• Terri Lyons
• Tony Prescott
• Trevor Gore
• Tyra Matthews.
  

Quick comments:

Interesting to see Faye-Ann Lyons name included in the mix, considering that just last year she told the media that she would no longer enter her name in future Soca Monarch competitions. By media I mean the Trinidadian media and myself, when I interviewed her for the cover of WE magazine about one week after Carnival. Beyond that, Faye-Ann will be just shy of 8 months pregnant on the date of the semi-finals. The decision to enter is indeed surprising, but she's been receiving rave reviews for her mid pregnancy performances thus far.

For those of you who don't know the name Terri Lyons, that's Faye-Ann's sister, yes people another one of Superblue's girls. She's been releasing songs for the last few years, however, she hasn't had much success with that. However, Terri is quite gifted in the area of dance, having worked with the Black American Circus in New York.

I would love to see your comments. What do you think about who's up there and who's missing?

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