Booster Shot: Mr. Killa is Soca King!

This just in...Mr. Killa managed to swipe the soca monarch title away from Luni Sparks and Electrify earlier tonight in Grenada.

Congrats to Mr. Killa for his winning performance of "Swing it Away"

Swing It Away - Mr killa

See the results below!

1. Mr Killa, 408 points

2. Luni Sparks and Electrify, 374 points

3. Zingo, 320 points

4. Randy Isaac, 316 points

5. Inspector, 314 points

6. Maximillion, 308 points

7. Otis, 302 points

8. Croqueta, 296 points

9. Mr Legs, 292 points

10. Soca Banton, 291 points

11. Lava Man, 285 points

12. Brother B, 277 points

13. De Hammer, 271 points

14. Sheldon Douglas, 260 points

15. 4 Brass, 259 points

16. Soca Sterlin, 206 points

Peoples' choice : Lava Man

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

Read more...

Booster Shot: Unnofficial Grenada Soca Monarch Finalists

Grenada posse...

Here's the unofficial list of 15 finalists who made the cut for 2009 Spice Mas Soca Monarch. The results below reflect what was read out during the live to air broadcast on WE FM last night. Please consult www.spicemasgrenada.com for the official list:


1. Mr. Killa 220
2. Randy Isaac 210
3. Inspector 209
4. Lavaman 209
5. Maximillion 204
6. Sheldon Douglas 204
7. Zingo 202
8. Mr. Legs 192
9. Croquetta 191
10. 4 Brass 191
11. Soca Sterling 189
12. Brother B 187
13. Soca Banton 187
14. D Hammer 186


Congrats to all 14 competitors! They will go up against defending Soca Monarch title-holders, Luny Sparks and Electrify on Friday, August 7, 2009

Read more...

Booster Shot: Order of Appearance for Grenada Soca Semis

Little update for ya! Tonight is the semi-finals for Grenada Soca Monarch. The list I posted earlier in the week was simply who got through. There are 31 semi-finals, but only 15 will pass through to the finals. The list below shows when each artist will perform. The show begins tonight at 8 pm Greenz time.

Here's the order of appearance:


GCC / LIME SOCA MONARCH SEMIFINALS 2009
1. MINEY
2. BOOGIE B
3. BROTHER B
4. SHORTPREE & TRINA
5. MR. RAZOR
6. PUPA LEENDI
7. D HAMMER
8. RANDY ISAAC
9. GOLDMINDZ
10. BLOODFIRE
11. MR. LEGS
12. INSPECTOR
13. 4 BRASS
14. LAKAY
15. SOCA STERLIN
16. SOCA BANTON
17. MR. KILLA
18. TOUCH IT
19. CROQUETA
20. SUPERSTAR
21. BOYZIE
22. TERROR KID
23. MAXIMILLION
24. LAVAMAN
25. KAGE
26. OTIS
27. SHELDON DOUGLAS
28. PAPA JERRY
29. ZINGO
30. GENERAL PEPE
31. BLACK BLINGERS

Reserve – MUSTIC

I'm told there will be temporary live stream available so you can watch a test stream of the Grenada Carnival action live at:
http://www.spicemasgrenada.com/

You can listen to the whole show live HERE

Check it out, and lemme know!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

Read more...

Booster Shot: Grenada Soca Monarch Semi-Finalist named

On July 24, 2009, 30 semifinalists will compete to see who gets throught to the GCC LIME Soca Monarch finals. The semifinal will take place on July 24th at Victoria Par in Grenville.

Among the 30, there are four newcomers, two women, and six former road march winners. So, I don't need to tell you it's serious competition.

Does your favourite artiste still have a chance?

4 Brass
Boogie B
Boyzie
Brother B
Croqueta
D Hammer
General PP
Gold Mindz.
Inspector
Junior Blood Fire
Kage
Lakay
Lava Man
Maximillion
Mr. Killa
Mr. Legs
Mr. Razor
Miney
Otis
Randy Isaac
Papa Jerry
Pupa Leendi
Sheldon Douglas
Shortpree & Trina
Soca Banton
Soca Sterling
Super Star
Terror Kid
Touch It
Zingo

Read more...

Q&A: What is Destra's phone number?...and more!

The Nurse answers your questions!

In this edition: Bunji Garlin, Destra Garcia, Fay Ann Lyons, Machel Montano, Sheldon Benjamin,  St. Lucia Carnival, Aex Jordan, Tobago Soca Monarch.

Q.  When did Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons get married?

A.  Trinidad’s IT  couple tied the knot in Trinidad on December 23, 2006.

Q.  When was Fay-Ann’s baby born?

A.  Baby Alvarez, Syri,  is the daughter of Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez and Ian Alvarez aka Bunji Garlin. She came to the world via C-Section, on Saturday, February 28, 2009.

Q.  Did Machel Montano have a show in Toronto on March 7? 

A. There was a facebook event advertising an appearance by Machel Montano HD on March 7^th.  However, Machel Montano did not have a confirmed booking in Toronto on that date.  The fete that ensued featured performances from Patch (T&T), Berbice (Grenada) and  Fireman Hooper (SVG)

Q.  Is Shel Shok ill?

A.  This question requires some sensitivity on my part. So, I’ve allowed Sheldon Benjamin to address this one himself.

“I don't go by the name Shel Shok anymore and I am not on soca and carnival. As for health, I am very sick but it will be a long road to recovery. I have to be in bed all the time staying off my feet, ”

Sheldon Benjamin (March 28, 2009)

Q. What was the name of Byron Lee’s band in the seventies?

A.  Mr. Lee’s band was none other than Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.  He started the band in Jamaica way back in 1950, by Byron Lee and his friend Carl Brady.  It continues today, even after the death of Byron Lee on November 4, 2008.  So, in the seventies, it was the very same band!!!!

Q.  When is Destra Garcia’s birthday?

A. Soca star Destra Garcia was born on November 10, 1977 in Trinidad.

Q. What is Destra Garcia’s phone number?

A.  LOL.  You must be mad!  You can always ask her manager for that.  Keep in mind he’s also her man, so, try yuh best!!

Q.  When is Fay-Ann Lyons birthday?

A.  Fay-Ann Lyons was born on November 5, 1980....of musical stock.  She is the daughter of Calypsonian Lady Gypsy, and Superblue!

Q.  When is St. Lucia Carnival 2009?

A.  It’s coming soon!  Carnival Monday and Tuesday are July 20^th and 21^st.

Q.  What is Lava Man’s real name?

A.  When he’s not sending Grenada’s soca crowds into frenzied madness, Lava Man is known as Marcus James.

Q.  Did Alex Jordan leave the BBC 1xtra Soca show?

A.  I asked Alex the same question a few months ago.  Here’s what she said:

“I did. First DJ to ever resign from Radio 1. Well I decided that I wanted to move back to Barbados for a bit as I've been missing my family - and after initially discussing if I could do it from there, logistics wouldn't allow. They are having DT do it and are looking for someone full time in the meantime. My move is to the islands to involve myself in radio/TV/music there, so I'll still be on the scene.”

Alex Jordan (December 5, 2008) 

 Q. Who were the competitors for Tobago Soca Monarch 2009?

A.  The Tobago Soca Monarch competition was held at the Golden Star Entertainment Center, Crown Point, Tobago on February 13^th 2009. You already know that Fire Empress took the crown, but here are the rest of the finalists who did battle that night; 

 Baby Vybz, 

Culture B, 

Dave Sampson, 

Jackie Reid, 

Kabasi, 

Kerrecia de Defender, 

Lion, 

Mauri Hall, 

Mr. Fusion, 

Princess Adana, 

Rheena Riley, 

Sando, 

Ware, 

Wendell Frederick.

More questions?  Post your comments below, or add me on Twitter 

 

 

Read more...

The Rounds: Lavaman withdraws from Grenada Soca Monarch

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's rounds. What a big week in the world of soca. While most of you were recovering from a wild and wonderful caribana season…so much of the Caribbean was smack dab in the middle of the action. Carnival still abounds! So this edition of the Rounds is all about RESULTS.

First to Antigua: It's no secret that Claudette "CP" Peters is still her nation's soca queen. She's dancing all the way to the bank this week after winning both the Groovy and Tempo Party Monarch competitions. This is the 4th year in a row that she's won the Party Monarch title. But this year, her Tempo win with "Bring It On" lands her automatic entry into Trinidad's international soca monarch competition in February. There, CP will compete against TnT's top acts as well as reigning monarchs from across the region like Khiomal, Ricky T, and Skinny Fabulous!

Moving along, Monday and Tuesday was all about Red Hot Flames in the Red Hot St. John's Antigua heat. Oungku called it! Antigua's new Road March is none other than Musical Bomb a.k.a Scyattah.

Over to sunny Barbados... There's this guy de people and dem refer to as De General. Known for consistant hits with his legendary band Krosfyah, Edwin Yearwood is smiling after an oh-so-successful Crop Over. The song is called Handle Yuh Business. And it's obvious - that is PRECISELY what he had in mind when he performed his way into 1st place at the Peoples' Monarch show last week Thursday.

Then Monday was the big finale…The Grand Kadooment parade. Why stop at one title when you can have two? Edwin walked away with Tune of the Crop as well. (For the non-bajans out there…that's Road March. This is the 4th ever Road March win for Mr. Yearwood. Congratulations Edwin – Handle Yuh Business!

Grenada is in the height of Spice Mas right now! On Wednesday, Yaga Miser became the brand new Groovy Soca Monarch. His performance of "Someone to Love" beat his closest competition (Terror Kid) by 19 points. Last year's winner, Scholar, chose not to defend his crown.

In the Power Category, the the action took place on Friday. Luny Sparks and Electrify took top marks with Clear D Way. Mr. Killa in 2nd and Mr. Legs 3. For you Lavaman fans, I should note that your boy withdrew his name from the competition due to a discrepancy over the rules that came to light at his Village Soca Monarch performance early in the week.

(Let's be real...that's what the management is saying in an official statement released to the media, but the evidence speaks for itself.) Lavaman was performing at the Village Soca Monarch earlier in the week. He had the crowd real going crazy. He instructed the fans to go down by the judges. So they did - the only problem is they were carrying chairs, torches and big flags. As he sang SPLASH wet up, wet up, the judges got a public bath. Needless to say...they didn't like that too much.

It was a real scene. See it for yourself.

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Please leave me a comment online at the Nurse Karen Etc blog at triple w dot mustardseeds dot net. Now back to de docta!

Read more...

The Rounds - August 19, 2007

Good evening Soca Lovers, I’m nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s rounds. Grenada carnival wrapped up on Tuesday. And Congratulations are in order for Berbice. Traffic was THE chune heard most often on the road, beating out Ah Cyah Hear by Lava Man, and Tall Pree’s Trees.
Sadly, There won’t be any carnivals in the West Indies for a little while now, but THEY can’t expect the rest of us to stop de jumping. Yuh gah be real athletic to keep up with all the carnival action, so ah feel we ought to light a torch and send it rrround the world just like they do for the Olympics. So from Grenada, we passing we soca torch to Ottawa, then it’s going to Boston and Notting Hill, England. We blazing right back to Barrie, Ontario on September 1st. They will be hosting their first ever CaribFest just north of Toronto. Then dat torch lighting up the sky in Brooklyn a few days later.
I’ll be completing MY personal carnival marathon for the Summer in London and New York. Next Monday, you’ll find dis Vincy Vixen on the road with Poison UK before crossing the ocean for the 5th Annual International Soca Awards.
I f you haven’t cast a vote yet, now is the time to show your support for our very own reigning BEST INTERNATIONAL Soca DJ…Dr. Jay de Soca Prince. He’s looking to take the title again this year, but that can only happen if you take the time to VOTE. Head over to triple W dot Soca Awards dot com and show dem boys exactly why Toronto IS Soca City.
Well, if back to back wins isn’t reason enough to believe dat Dr. Jay is a soca Olympian, how about this? VP Records is bringing the 7th edition of D’Soca Zone to a record store near you. The two disc collection of soca favourites from the year gone by, features a bonus CD mixed and hosted by de docta he-self. So if you’ve been wondering where to LEGALLY buy songs like We Ready to Go, Hott Spot or Flames. Here’s your chance.
Speaking of great BAJAN chunes…A date has been set for the 2008 edition of the Barbados music awards. If you love the creativity and sweetness of Bajan music of EVERY genre, January 27th is THE night. The Sir Garfield Sobers Complex will come alive to celebrate the very best.
I’m Nurse Karen and those were Doctor Jay’s rounds. Please text your comments to 9-3-5-9-35. Now back to de Docta!

Read more...

The Rounds - August 12, 2007

August 12, 2007
Dr. Jay’s Rounds
Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Everytime time Caribana finish, I feel as though summer nearly done. Once my skin get bun up from playing mas, I figure it’s time to roll over and await the inevitable cold season. Well, not so on the sunny shores of the Caribbean. De hottest time of the year, NOW start!
Monday was the Grand Kadooment in Barbados, the final climax on the Crop Over calendar. Mas players were a little upset that the big parade was soaked with rain, but they made the most of it anyway. The soppy weather slowed down the pace from a jump to a chip, and Mr. Dale went home as road march king for Soka Junkie.
Over in Antigua Lord Satalyte made up for his second place finish at soca monarch...by leaving all competition in his dust come Carnival Tuesday. Antigua’s new road march is a chune called OK Papi. It’s one them songs nobody knows the right words for, but they love it bad!
For all the carnivals this year, we got to enjoy seeing a few new faces in the limelight. Seems like the people have spoken and it’s time for something new. Down at Spice mas they tried something new LAST week, when they held the first ever Village soca monarch competition. Ten soca artists were selected to represent their home towns, competing for soca supremacy. The inaugural Village Soca King is Lavaman with his smash hit Ah Cyah Hear. He beat out Tallpree’s “Trees” and Berbice with “Traffic”.
Gouyave posse, I hate to say it, but you weren’t placing in the village show, and the luck wasn’t THAT much better on the national stage. Mr. Killa has been officially dethroned of both his soca monarch titles. At the Groovy competition, Wednesday , Killa had to give his crown to last year’s Calypso King, Finley “Scholar” Jeffrey. Landing himself with a measely 8th place finish for his country-style soca tune, Rider.
This weekend, insult was added to injury as Killa had to settle for third place in Power Soca behind Luni Sparks and Eliectrify and Inspector.
Up here in Ontario, some of us continued to jump up at Hamilton Caribbean carnival yesterday. Glue guns and safety pins gave last week’s Caribana mas a last hurrah in the sunlight. If your feet, still have a little bounce left next weekend…head over to Ottawa for the grand finale of Caribe-Expo…The parade is on Saturday, just be sure and dry clean yuh costume!
I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Please text me your comments at 9-3-5-9-3-5. Now back to de docta!

Read more...

The Rounds - November 26, 2006

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.
As I prepared to come in today, I have to admit…I got a little bit confused. December begins in less than one week, but outside it’s looking like a boxing day picnic on Grande Anse Beach. So, I packed up some paper plates and some pelau and headed out to enjoy the balmy November temperatures.

Not far from the real Grand Anse beach in Grenada the entire Big Artiste Crew was trying a ting themselves. Thursday past was Michelle Sylvester’s birthday. She spent the evening singing her heart out at St. George’s University alongside all the regulars, plus Grenada’s own Mista Killa and Lavaman. Looks like Lava Man is now pon CAMPUS studying, rather than studying those gun and weed charges from the summertime. He and the other big artistes lent their big VOICES and big HEARTS to perform at a charity event at the beachside university.

The man who was deputy chairman of Trinidad’s national carnival commission is not lending his TIME to the planning process anymore. With Carnival just over two months away, the resignation of Ainsworth Mohammed came as a shock to the Trini media on Friday. Mohammed refuses to work with Culture Minister Joan Yulle-Williams and he’s not afraid to say it. For a while now she’s been at odds with the entire NCC board over how the festivities will be run in 2007. She’s got plans to tear down the Grand Stand staging area at Queen’s Park Savannah and replace it with a million dollar Carnival Centre. The board just wants everything to stay the way it is for one more year, since time is so short. Earlier this year the Chairman fled the board too, fed up as ever…so when the minister held a private meeting with the key carnival interest groups, excluding the NCC….Mohammed called it quits for good.

And you know what else is DONE? De big Digicel Rising Stars show. Is lucky ah have meh pelau , because otherwise I woulda have to eat my words. Last Sunday was the final showdown between Omar Rathurin of Antigua and SVG’s Kyron Baptiste. I told allyuh, I wanted to cast a vote for the Antiguan, but the Caribbean public held a different opinion and they phoned in en masse to prove it. St. Vincent and the Grenadines went on to win top prize for the second time in the two years the competition has been around. What can I say? Vincy sweet…sweet and nice!

The entire cast is all smiles though. While Kyron might be the only one leaving the show with a recording contract, all of them will get a taste of the Celebrity life on the Rising Stars holiday Album. Dr. Jay, you can gimme dat one fuh de Christmas. Tanks.

Down in St. Kitts, Alison Hinds is encouraging people to start their Christmas shopping at Courts. The new face of the “Get it Now” campaign has begun her regional tour, appearing in stores. In Basseterre, she didn’t perform, but she was there to witness a dance competition held in her honour. Independent ladies from all over were rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrolling it right to the check out line after getting autographs signed by the shining Bajan Star.

Toronto’s night sky was set afire last evening for the 40th annual cavalcade of lights, but we go blaze it up in de West End tonight for the Big People Parang Show and Dance. I hope somebody told Mr. Scrunter that Nurse Karen would like to hear him sing Anita (aye aye aye…don’t want no ham, don’t want no eggs...) oye oye oye. Whole day people been asking me about tickets and times and directions and WOY…why allyuh don’t you just go to http://www.socatherapy.com. That’s where to find out everything about everything. But if you just want to know if I go be there…you better believe it…just as soon as I hand back meh mic to Doctor Jay.

I’m Nurse Karen and those were doctor Jay’s rounds. Send me your comments at soca @ FLOW 935 DOT Com. Now back to de docta.

Read more...

The Rounds - August 27,2006

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. As I was preparing to come in today, it occurred to me that I’ve never taken the time to tell allyuh how much I care for you and your heatlh. Hear nah, is not just because it’s my job that I’m compassionate. I does really kay in truth. Dr. Jay prides himself on his uncanny ability to make you wine from 6 to 9…and I tell you, that is no simple task. Yuh need real waistline strength for the stamina soca therapy demands. So, you’ve been trained by the best and now it’s time to work on some other skills.
I believe the key to happy living is moderation. There is a time and a place for all things…but never EVER lose control.
Who doesn’t love fried chicken? Tastes nice, feels good in yuh belly…but it would never be healthy no matter how many HERBS and SPICES that Colonel wants to season it with.
Outta Season soca artists have been known to cook up some trouble too. Down in the Spice island, one of this year’s roadmarch contenders was caught in possession of HERBS. Lavaman sang a song called “behave yuhself”…but he forgot to practice what he preaches last week when he and his friends were pulled over after a gun shot was fired at party in Gouyave. Police found a pistol with a spent shell in the chamber…and in his vehicle they found plenty of that WACKY TOBACKY.
Tomorrow is the big road parade in Notting Hill, England. The 42nd annual carnival is the biggest outdoor festival in Europe. Eleven thousand police officers are getting paid join the party. Today the focus was on children. It’s a big party still, but plenty smaller than the mayhem expected for tomorrow. When I think children’s carnival…I picture families, little cuties in costume. Babies balling on stage cuz they fraid to wine fuh judges. Dem tings dey. What I don’t expect is to hear the twenty six people were arrested for drug offences, theft and drunkness. People…what allyuh tink dis is? For carnival it’s ok to get wild, but dat don’t mean you hadda go crazy.

We pushing music here, not schupidity.

I’m hoping the soca lovers in Charleston, South Carolina have a healthy appreciation of West Indian culture without making the same mistakes as some who have been celebrating a while longer. Earlier this month, Charleston celebrated its first Carifest, complete with Steelpan, Mas, soca, reggae and The Mighty Sparrow. Sounds like a good start to what may become and yearly tradition.
Dr. Jay’s Rounds are all about that…culture! I let you know what’s going on everywhere in the world where soca is playing. In this city, so many of us look forward to a weekend of fun and fetes each summer, but many of you know ANYting about what Toronto Caribbean Carnival is really all about.
I want you to think about it. Meditation is good for your health too. After Dr. Jay signs off for the night at 9 pm, turn on the tube for two hours (while you’re listening to SPEX of course!) There’s a special on Omni 1 tonight called “We Jumping Higher”. You’ve got to learn your culture so that no one can take it from you and sell you back a watered down version. When you educate yourself you can keep it organic...authentic and real.
While I’m on that subject I have to raise a noni-juice to Dr. Jay de Soca Prince. Once again, he has been nominated for an International Soca Award. Look for him in the category: Peoples Choic “Best International DJ”. This year’s event will take place at the legendary Apollo theatre in Harlem, NY. The awards show is a not-to-be-missed event. Could you imagine all these people on stage? Kevin Lyttle, Alison Hinds, Machel Montano, Bomani, Claudette Peters, Gail Ann, Keisha Stewart, Lisa Toney, Ragga, Natasha Wilson and Jason Benn! Well you don’t have to imagine. THEY WILL BE THERE. So will Dr. Jay. Here at Soca Therapy, we’re hoping he’ll win the title for the second consecutive year. He works hard to give you the best in soca music while educating you about the culture in pan moments and the rounds.
My last key to a well balanced life is social participation. When you have a chance to have your say…make sure you’re saying something! Voting ends this Thursday, so be sure to remind the world who is the real big man in the business. Cast a vote fuh de man!
I’m nurse Karen and those were Doctor Jay’s rounds. Sned your comments to soca at flow 935 dot com. Now back to de docta.

Read more...