Booster Shot: More on Barbados' Sweet Soca and Party Monarch

Nurse Karen with Sweet-Soca and Party Monarch Champ TC in Barbados (July 2009)

Found an article worth sharing about the big competitions held for Crop Over this past Sunday. Congrats once again to TC and Nathalee. So far, Woman is Boss for Crop Over 2009

TC does the double to join winners’ row

7/27/2009
Barbados Advocate
By Khalil Goodman
TERENCIA “TC” Coward brought ‘the riddim’ and made history – winning the both inaugural 98.1 The One/Banks Sweet-Soca competition and the Mount Gay/Lime Party Monarch yesterday.

Singing the song “Hot Sun and Riddim” in both competitions, Coward captured the two trophies and $32 000 in combined cash prizes. Neil Bernard and Nicholas Brancker produced track helped edge out TC’s tent mate, Natalie “Natahlee” Burke. She came second in both competitions singing “This is What We Do.”

Natahlee lost to TC by 20 points in the Party Monarch competition and by only one point in the SweetSoca.
To read on, click here

Nurse Karen with Sweet Soca & Party Monarch Runner Up, Nathalee Burke in Barbados (July 2009)
Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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On De Scene: TC is 2009 Barbados Party Monarch too?!!

Our very own Corey Graham has been on de scene awaiting the most anticipated Party Monarch results for the past few minutes . Barbados seem to be in soca mode with TC gaining the FIRST ever Crop Over Sweet Soca Competition and tonight she is the Party Monarch for 2009 .


Results :


1. T.C. - Hot Sun N Riddim




2. Nathalee




3. Red Plastic Bag



4. Khiomal


5. Mr. Dale

We're in the dark as to how the same song is permitted to take the title in two seperate competitions. Time to take a closer look at the NCF Rules!

Thanks Corey and we look forward to your review on the competition in the coming days. Congratulations to TC !!!







Peace and Soca



Rochelle

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Booster Shot: TC is inaugural Sweet Soca Champ

Here are the results from The first ever Crop Over Sweet Soca Competition!!!

(Special thanks to our own Corey Graham 2.0 who is at Farley Hill National Park in Barbados awaiting the Party Monarch results)

1. TC - Hot Sun N Riddim

2. Nathalee Burke - What We Do

3. Mikey - I in Dat

4. Mr. Dale - We Come to Party

5. Blood - Back It Up

Congrats to Miss TC. She's been doing this soca thing for a while now. It was my pleasure to finally meet her in person 2 Sundays ago at Caribbean Wet Fete in Bridgetown. We chatted about this season...and the chances of this very thing happening! She edged out Nahtalee Burke by just 1 point!!!


Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

P.S. Party Monarch results coming any second now!

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Booster Shot: Barbados Party Monarch & Sweet Soca Finalists Announced

Barbados - Party Monarch & Sweet Soca Contestants Announced

The anticipation.. the agony of waiting… feels like it's been a long haul, but finally the results are known. The finalists have been released for two of the most aniticipated competitions on the Crop Over calendar.

The eight finalists in the 98.1 The One Banks Sweet Soca Competition are:

Song Title Artiste

1. All Night Til Morning Statement

2. Back It Up Blood

3. Come Out Mr. Dale

4. Hot Sun and Riddim TC

5. I in Dat Mikey

6. Trouble Khiomal

7. What We Do Nathlee

8. We Come to Party Sir Ruel

RESERVE:

Winin' Zone Brett
----------------------------------

The ten finalists in the Mount Gay and LIME Party Monarch Competition are:

Tent Artiste

1. Bachannal Time Timmy

2. Celebration Time Donella

3. Celebration Time Khiomal

4. Celebration Time Lil Rick

5. De Big Show Nathalee

6. De Big Show Red Plastic Bag

7. De Big Show TC

8. Headliners Blood

9. Headliners Mr. Dale

10. Headliners Mikey

RESERVE:

De Big Show Kirk Brown

Crop Over

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On De Scene: Barbados' First Ever "Groovy Soca Monarch" Semi-Finalists.

Barbados is known around for the groovy soca, well the only non Trini to win the International Groovy Soca monarch was a Bajan in the form of Biggie Irie! It took a while in coming but finally in the year 200wine, Crop Over will see its first ever a Groovy Soca Competition. We seem to have to name things a little differently.

We call Soca Monarch - Party Monarch, Road March translates to Tune Of De Crop. We are keeping consistent and calling the Groovy Soca Monarch - the Sweet Ragga Competition.

Here is the list of semi-finalists. One of them is sure to create history this year being crowned the Groovy Soca Monarch.

1. All Night Til Morning - Statement.
2. Back it up - Blood
3. Busted William - Watts
4. Carnival Jooks - Lil Rick
5. Come Out - Mr Dale
6. Good Vibes - Lorenzo
7. Hot Sun and Riddim - TC
8. Hottie Hottie Gal - Tarah Holdipp.
9. I in Dat - Mikey
10. Keep Drinks Coming -Out Patients
11. Move Over - Tasha
12. Peter Pan - Peter Ram
13. Trouble - Khiomal
14. We Come to Party - Sir Ruel
15. What We Do - Natahlee
16. Wining Zone - Brett

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The Rounds: Here's the proof - Faye-Ann's Belly!

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. Last night was a real busy one here in Toronto. The action was spread across the city for Dr. Jay's Big People Comedy and Parang Show featuring music by Leon Coldero.

The Nurse and Leon Coldero at Broward Carnival in October

Mr. Playhouse threw his "November to Remember" birthday Party with an ALL STAR line up of selectors...AND lastly, CVR Jingle Jam. Santa was there, Frosty was there and I was there too. The cast was Bunji, Shurwayne and Skinny Fabulous ...but I have to admit I was mainly studying Faye-Ann Lyons and her 5 months pregnant belly. If you didn't believe me the first time around Mrs. Lyons-Alvarez is most definitely pregnant. She was jumping up and down barefoot with a big checkered scarf covering the protruding bump. And because my approach to journalism is extremely thorough, I even gave it a little rub. Belly still hard like rock. Just a different shape now.

Nurse Karen giving Faye-Ann's belly a rub for good luck!

Other news from Trinidad's hottest couple...while Faye-Ann has been busy building a baby in her workshop, husband Bunji has been building beats in his lab. By now, no doubt you have already heard the Bus Stop Riddim, new for Trini Carnival 2009. That is the result of Bunji Garlin's first go at music production. Not a bad effort at all.


Now to another more experienced PRODUCER, who happens to be an artist as well. Tortola-native Kamau Georges a.k.a Mr Network added a new credit to his resume last week. He co-producer a track for Ludacris' brand new album Theatre of the Mind with Clinton Sparks. That should mean something to you if you're into hip hop! The song is called "Calling up the homies!"...but look out for another chune that you won't find on the album. It features Ludacris and magician Chris Angel. The song is aptly named "Mind Freak!"

Nurse Karen with Kamau on Carnival Monday in Trinidad

Which brings to MIND, an artist whose voice is a FREAK of nature. So you know Teddyson John?...former St. Lucia Groovy Soca Monarch? He got married to his girlfriend of 6 years about 2 weeks ago. They are so hot. Word is Teddy was emotional at the sight of his gorgeous bride. They said their vows, then the happy couple cruised the Caribbean for their honeymoon.

A shot with Teddyson before he tied the knot at St. Lucia Power Soca Monarch Finals in July

Before I go...lemme just send my official happy birthday greetings to Lil Rick, and the lovely island that brought us the Hypa Dog....Barbados! Today is the nation's 42nd anniversary of independence.

Here I am at my birthday party last month with Bajan B-day boy Lil Rick!

Celebrations took place throughout the Diaspora last night, but at home in BIM the official event was held at Garrison Savannah. The show featured a re-enactment of the first independence complete with rain showers. But the stars were out in abundance to keep the spirits high. There were performances from Peter Ram, Nathalee Burke, Red Plastic Bag, Arturo Tappin and Adrian Clarke. Then to end the night with a bang...the sky lit up with a stunning display of fireworks. I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. To leave a comment, see photos and videos or just read more about your favourite artists...and don't forget to subscribe to The Rounds Podcast on itunes or Soca Therapy dot com. Now, back to de docta!

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The Rounds: Khiomal is new Barbados Party Monarch!

Good Evening Soca Lovers,


I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds.


The Caribbean bade farewell to yet another Carnival this past week. St. Lucia was ablaze on Monday and Tuesday with Ricky T taking his 3rd roadmarch in a row. If you've been keeping score, that was Container in '06....

, Pressure Boom in '07

and Wheel and Come Again swept everything in '08. That's right my people. He managed to win Lucian Power Soca and Caribbean Soca Monarch too.

So let's recap:

St. Lucia Roadmarch goes to Ricky T, Herb Black's Suzette ranked number 2 and Ilah Man's "Mad So" rounds out 3rd place.

As for the Caribbean Soca Monarch, Bajan Soca Junkie, Mr. Dale grabbed the trophy for 3rd. Lucian Wildman, Ilah Man came second, and Ricky T - number one again! Ricky's girlfriend is expecting their first little one in a matter of weeks. At the Power Soca finals, she told me that the baby started kicking as soon as daddy's victory was announced. Sounds like the whole family will be jumping for joy for a very long time.

Today Barbados corwned a Party Monarch and it's not 2007 defending champion Lil Rick the Hypa Dog. So Congrats goes out to Khiomal Nurse. The Crown looks good on you Babes. In second place was Mikey, and 3rd place goes to the lovely lady Nathalee Burke.

Nurse Karen with Khiomal in Toronto

Lil Rick had to settle for 5th. Word on the ground is that Peter Ram gave and excellent performance. It's clear that the Pyramid entertainment camp put a lot of energy into staging "Carnival Praise" complete with a gospel-style choir led by Biggie Irie. Ram is pretty unhappy about what was reported to be a 14th place finish, as evidenced by his refusal to give interviews following the release of the results.




Closer to home, ScotiaBank Caribana is off to a very positive start, right here in Toronto. Last night's Calypso Monarch competition was a sold out affair. And by sold out I mean patrons turned away at the door and ting. So, let this be a lesson to everybody. Buy up your tickets in advance. Caribana events a sell off!...and make a profit.

Congratulations to Toronto's new Calypso queen. Macomere Fifi dethroned 2007 Monarch, Structure. Fifi's song "Barrack Obama" ( a very popular theme for Calypsoes this year) was also awarded honours for Best Presentation and Best Vocal Rendition. Her other selection Take Back we country earned recognition for Best Melody and Best Arrangement. She can thank Winston Maingot and Oswald James for that.

Congrats also to De Carra for an impressive second place finish and Structure, you're still on the boards! Kudos on third place.

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Please check out the Nurse Karen Etc blog at mustardseeds dot net for more information on any of the news you've heard here. And remember you can always get the Rounds to go at Soca Therapy dot com. Now back to de Docta!

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The Rounds - December 31, 2006

Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds for Old Year’s Night 2006. As we move forward to 2007, here are nurse Karen’s top ten tips for success.

1. Make love your priority…
A couple weeks ago Dr. Jay started referring to Bunji Garlin by his wife’s maiden name. Only…she wasn’t his wife yet. The nuptials finally took place last week Saturday...and I’ve heard it was more like an all-inclusive fete than a wedding. Faye-Ann and Bunji sang for their guests and they ate everything from stewed pig, to wild meat. If the amount of food at a wedding is any indication of a couple’s love for each other, this marriage will last forever.

2. Always have a plan.
It looks like Trini Culture Minister Joan Yulle Williams still hasn’t found a suitable Chairperson for the National Carnival Commission with the main event less than two months away. For 2007, do yourselves a favour and plan ahead. Your good reputation is too valuable not to.

3. Aspire to achieve.
Dr. Jay and I believe YOU deserve success in 2007. So, when opportunity knocks, open de door…but only if your house is in order. Bajan singer/songwriter Shontelle Layne was more than ready to answer last week when she signed a 7-album recording contract with Universal/Motown. That’s the label that promotes Damian Marley and Chamillionaire. The young law student at the University of the West Indies won party monarch in 2006 with Nathalee Burke for her song Colours and she also wrote “Roll” for Alison Hinds.

4. Embrace change
If you’re afraid to try something new, take a lesson from Freddie MacGregor. In 2006, the Grammy nominated reggae artist produced his first documentary film…and in 2007 he will be releasing his own soca song featuring Bunji Garlin. If you don’t believe me, check for him on the road in Fun Station 4’s brand new mas band, Pulse8. Freddie will be in a section called “Cocktails: You Shake – We Stir”

5. Act your age
I don’t mean you must act older, just behave bet-ter. Do like Rootsman and use all your success and wisdom from the past to bring you more blessings in the future. Rootsy celebrated 30 years as a calypsonian in 2006, and for 2007 his new tune Soca Jumbie is proving to be one of the most requested new releases for Trini carnival.

6. Pursue your dreams
I grew up in the 80’s, watching the bands go by on University Avenue. I remember music with a message being part of the Caribana soundtrack. I remember wearing t-shirts that said free Mandela, and meh momma telling me not to go in certain stores because they got rich off of Apartheid in South Africa. And so I remember a song called Shaka Shaka that came out in 1988.
If someone were to tell me then, that it would be 19 years before Bally would pursue his music fulltime, I woulda laugh in they face. Well allyuh…when God give you a dream, it’s for you to wake up and live it. Finally, Bally retired from his job at Customs and will be advocating Calypso music as the public relations officer for the Trinidad United Calyposonians Organization.

7. Share your education
When you know something, believe you me there’s someone out there who wants to learn. Finally the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Education is offering workshops on Soca Music in the school system. Starting Friday, each school can send three students and one teacher for a course on how to become a soca performer, focusing on song lyrics as a tool for reading.

8. Find balance
It’s not easy to have it all….unless yuh some kind of soca prince or someting so. But, if you want the most out of life you have to work hard. Parang Soca songstress Marcia Miranda spent years working as a flight attendant for BWEE while working on her music. So, as you face your trials in the upcoming year - remember…you CAN have it all.

9. Make a lasting impression
You may be young, you may be small, but if you play your cards right, the world will remember you. Look at the Soca Warriors football team. Trinidad is the smallest country to ever play in the FIFA World cup and now two streets in Germany are getting a name change to celebrate that victory. So if you ever make the trip to Rotenburg, meet me at the corner of Trinidad and Tobago. I’m sure you could find some inspiration there.

10. Make time for fun
Our friends in St. Kitts are ringing in the new year at a “Night of Stars Gala and Ball.” Partygoers will be treated to music by Small Axe band and d’Vybz band all night long. Then tomorrow morning they’ll be jumping up through the streets of Basse-Terre…and there’s nothing wrong with that!

I’m nurse Karen, and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds for Old Years night 2006. Have allyuh-selves a good time tonight, and I’ll see you in 2007. Send your comments to SOCA at FLOW 935 DOT COM. Now back to de docta!

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