On De Scene : St.Lucia Groovy Soca Finalists Announced

Last night the CDF hosted the final preliminary for the Groovy Soca Monarch which began just about 6 p.m. to close off 3 hours later. There were suppose to be a total of 30 competitors but only 28 performed in front of the judges to be the ones viable for the 19 spots . We have no confirmation as to the reason for the disqualification of Brandon (one of the competitors) and also as to de reason Manitus did not show up we at Nurse Karen Etc would love to know why ( so Manitus if you reading ,send us a nice email explaining to de fans what real going on) . So yes here you have it :

2009 Groovy Soca Monarch

Dean Roberts – Feeling Nice

Alpha – Cah Wait

Marlon – J’ouvert

TC Brown – Carnival Coming

Ashanti – Leave me Alone

Soca Princess – Watch Me

Zionomi – Who are you

Floopsy – Wave

Q- Pid – Jus Go

Toya – Feel the Rhythm

Nintus – Holy Hangover

Estaban – Wine on Estaban

Teddyson John – Wine if you Winning

Phyness – Time

Vickie – Dance

King – Fa Red – Reveler Girl

Lady Empress – Are You Ready

Maire Anne – Genie in a Bottle

Lady Ce Ce – I Come here to Whine


There are alot of new comers to this competition so I anticipating a tough competition. Who you think taking it this year ? Think Herb Black go be dethroned?

Peace and Soca
Rochelle

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On De Scene: Caribbean Soca Monarch history lesson

In 2001, the OECS Secretariat endorsed the OECS Soca Monarch which from inception has been part of St. Lucia Carnival Activites. Leading soca artistes from all nine OECS member states along with Barbados met on one stage in a show of regional solidarity. However in 2006 the show was renamed “Caribbean Soca Monarch” to allow for entries from countries outside the OECS.

This competition which is entirely different from the International Soca Monarch held in Trinidad, has aruagably held less prestige in the wider Caribbean due to the comparatively lower prize money involved; nonetheless it is the signature of St.Lucia Carnival. St.Lucian artists who place in the local Soca Monarch are automatically entered into the Caribbean Soca Monarch against the regional competitors. Critics echo the competition has of recent years been biased towards St. Lucian artists as the island has the most entries.

Below is the listing of all the winners of the competition who have continued to make history :

OECS Soca Monarch Winners

2001 - Godfrey Dublin ( To Take Away) St.Vincent and the Grenadines
2002 - David "Pung Wa" Patrick (Pussy and Tony) St. Kitts and Nevis
2003 – Mantius (I doing a ting) St. Lucia
2004– Mantius (We Making Love) St. Lucia
2005 – Bomani (I am Soca) St.Vincent and the Grenadines

Caribbean Soca Monarch Winners

2006 – Mista Vybe (Ting for de Road) Trinidad and Tobago
2007 – Ninja Dan (Rise) St. Lucia
2008 – Ricky T (Wheel and Come Again) St. Lucia

Me alongside de reigning Caribbean Soca Monarch King Ricky T

Caribbean Soca Monarch , which is in its 8th year will be held on July 19th 2009 at the Mindoo Philip Park . See who becomes part of history!

Peace and Soca


Rochelle

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On De Scene: Lucian Music Making de Countdown (June 19)

Well nuff tune blazing de airways now a days . With some riddims causing sum serious problems and some collaborations being infectious . Now last time I gave you guys a glimpse of de tunes dat have Lucians chanting de hook and moving their waistline (Read More)

But Today Friday July 19th the songs making the countdown at the top 5 at 5 on The Wave 93.5 is as folllows


5. Up Up and Away - Superman and Mista Vybe


4. Rockshun - Ilah Man

3. Rock So - Emarand Henry


2. Mummy & Daddy - Mantius



1. Relieve Mi Pressure - Q- Pid



Happy Soca Weekend !

Rochelle

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Promoter's View : Shane Larcher on Perfomance segment of Opening of St.Lucia Carnival

My previous post I indicated that I did not stay for the segment which ignited the Mindoo Phillip Park , but Shane Larcher gave a detail description of what went down. Shane is the man behind Party Entertainment 3D. He is reputable for throwing some of the wildest and orginal fetes in St.Luica. And if that is not enough he is the man behind the website www.slucarnival.com where he tries to expose the wider world about St.Lucia Carnival with coverage of fetes , limes and overall facts. If you are in St.Lucia come Carnival Tuesday I know this guy is going to be throwing a huge fete . Now here is his Review :

Shane Larcher and I caught off guard backstage at Opening of Carnival

"The vibe was intense, pulsating and very energetic. The
calypsonians graced the stage with the likes of Lord Believe Me, Ashanti, who
ignited the stage with his popular hit “Leave me alone” and others including the
2008 Groovy and Calypso Monarch Herb Black. After the calypsonians did their
performance on stage, it was time for the Soca segment to jump off. The crowd
was ready, the energy was crazy and it was time to give the people what they had
been waiting for. Many artistes hit the stage singing most of their popular hits
to much of the crowd’s delight, including Mantius, TC Brown, and Q-Pid who
brought her son on stage, who had the crowd in screams with his whine resulting
in an encore of the performance.

Then it was time for the 758 crew, better known as Mad Camp to hit the stage. With a quick band change, the energy was up again, ready to explode into the crowd. Teddyson started things off with his popular groovy and new track, warming up the crowd for the power that was about to come.

Signaling for Ilah Man, the two hands went up and it was madness inside Mindoo
Phillip Park. Performing hits such as ‘Mad So’, Illah Man surely delivered,
calling on Pringles aka Superman to fly. Patrons in the crowd moved from left to
right in the rain, as Superman HD commanded the crowd. Signaling Illah Man to
return to the stage, one popular song ‘I want my money back’ was a hit being
performed. Rags, towels, umbrellas and whatever persons could use were up in the
air, as persons chanted ‘I want my money back’.

With energy levels up, it was time for the Pressure man Ricky T, to hit the stage. Belting out his popular hits, Ricky T teased the crowd over and over cutting his latest song ‘Like a Jumbie’ short many times. Knowing when the crowd was ready, Ricky T belted out the big tune, ensuring that St. Lucians showed they were the best for Carnival.

It was real Jumbie in the crowd, as persons shoes came off, jumping, waving,
running and whining as Ricky T kept the crowd without rest. All good things must
come to an end, as the fireworks lit up the sky, signaling the end of a launch
packed with fifteen band presentations, steel band, carnival queen contestants,
thousands of patrons, vibes, energy and so much more. St.Lucia Carnival 2k9 is
here, enjoy cause "NOTHING SWEETER DAN
DAT!"

Shane

Wooow! I sure wished I stayed to see de madness,nonetheless I must catch it, cause season S T A R T !

Peace and Soca

Rochelle

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On De Scene : St.Lucia Offical Opening !(PART TWO)

So went to de media booth to rest my feet and met up with Radio personality Mikey Mike Rogers from The Wave and he was giving me a little insight about their Big Show, Outrageous in Black come Carnival Friday, which will feature the Queen of 2009, Fayann and Bunji Garlin alongside de Alsyum Band. Now I go leave that for another time.

Mikey Mike and I at the Opening of Carnival

The band display went on till night , as each band encouraged potential revelers as well as media to go to their Band booth to register and to get to know more about their packages for 2009.

Now what is carnival without a hype! Spotted Mr. Barrie Hype on his home soil taking in the carnival season , Ah sure hope I see him in a band come Carnival Monday and Tuesday ! We proceeded backstage,artists were preparing to MASH up the place as this was the culmination of the entire show.

Barrie Hype and Myself Backstage Opening of Carnival

Backstage the energy was tense artists alongside producers geared up. I did catch a glimpse of few persons who I know is contributing heavily to this year’s music.

Myself and Alpha Before hitting the Stage

Myself, Smokes and Rankin Backstage (Read More)

Myself and Manitus Backstage

Now what is St.Lucia Carnival without de Mad Camp (Illah Man, Teddyson John , Ricky T), unfournately I wasn’t able to stay for their performance but I know those three guys DELIVER ! And with all three having heavyweight tunes under their belt already, no doubt they may have close off the show with a Bang!

Myself and the Mad Camp (L- R Teddyson, Ricky T, Ilah Man)

Overall the show was dragged and I doe care 15 or 20 bands that segment could have been condensed to allow patrons of de event to savour the juice of de show. I am excited that we have come out strong with 15 bands but ah sure hope those bands reach their target numbers. I wanna extend thank you to Mr. Greggar Deterville from http://www.scruffyimages.com/ who helped and taught me to take the few shots in this post. I would also like to thank Shane Larcher from http://www.slucarnival.com/ for chaperoning me through my first Media Coverage of St.Lucia Carnival Opening.

I anticipate a fruitful season for St.Lucia Carnival and you guys have full access to it all. Til next time

Peace and Soca
Rochelle

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Eye Unit: Happy Birthday Private 6! (Video)

Nurse Karen and Private 6 in St. Lucia, July 2008

Lucian Posse!

I have to send you a great big goofy HELLO from Toronto!  Just found out that there's a direct link to (Nurse) Karen (Etc) from the St. Lucia Carnival website, and that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  

I'm real glad to have you following me for the carnival season.  So I thought I would celebrate by recognizing the born day of one of your native sons.  Thursday, March 26 marked the 20th birthday of Private 6!  He's a spirited fella who's been strengthening his performance chops with the help of Slaughter Arts.  Some of you may know him from a collaboration with Orion on the Soca Bluetooth Riddim in 2007 called Kalina.  But he had a pretty big tune last carnival with "For Cable".  <--- If you're not a Lucian, think about it... 

 

I was on the island to see de man perform the chune, and I figure this would be a great time to share.  Private 6, all the best for carnival 2009...and HAPPY BIRTHDAY rudebwoy!

These are random clips from SLU Soca Monarch 2008, so you'll see Mantius, Platinum George, Ilah Man, and Nicole David too!  Enjoy...

Love and Soca, 

(Nurse) Karen

http://twitter.com/nursekaren

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