The Rounds: Shelly G is a no show at Carib Soca Monarch

The Rounds: Originally aired on "Soca Therapy" Flow 93.5 FM in Toronto on Sunday, February 28, 2010

In this edition:

- Bonesman is Guyana's Carib Soca Monarch (Guyana)
- Shelly G fails to defend her title (Guyana)
- Sye wins Mas Domnik Road March title (Domnica)

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Now that we’re all back from Trinidad, it’s time to catch you up on some of the news from the rest of the Caribbean. This week: Guyana. Mashramani Carnival just ended this past week. Vanilla retained her Road March title. Her second consecutive win is brought to you by the song “High”. It was played more often than Jumo’s “In the Air”, “Fan Me” by Slingshot and “Is We Own” by Bonesman.
Guyana crowned a new Soca Monarch last weekend! Last year’s winner Shelly G was a total no-show for the Carib Mashramani Soca Monarch last weekend. While it was a big surprise to all her fans and supporters, the organizers saw it coming, considering she never even bothered to rehearse her presentation beforehand with the band.

In fact, before Mashramani Shelly G spent two weeks in Trinidad where she took in Carnival and recorded new collaborations with an Antiguan artist and three Trinis….one of whom is Miss Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon.

It would probably take a bit too long to explain her reasons for bailing on the event, but it has to do with a fellow competitor who produced a song with derogatory lyrics aimed at her…and some other drama surrounding her being banned from a local tv station.

So, she wasn’t there. But instead, the 29-year old Forest Ranger who goes by the name of “Bonesman” celebrated all that his nation and carnival have to offer with “Is we Own”, the tune that earned him one million Guayana Dollars.
His winning performance featured a costume display and the X factor Dance Troupe, but he says his highlight for the night came in the form of a compliment. Bonesman nearly fainted when he came off stage and Machel Montano told him his performance was excellent! Awwww….how schweeet!

A few weeks ago, I let you know that Dominica would not be holding it’s Soca Monarch show during the Carnival Calendar this year. So no news there, but there is a new Mas Domnik Road March King. Congrats goes out to Sye, a calypsonian from the Salisbury Calypso Tent. His controversial song “Dr. Finger” is the new Dominica Road March, even though it was banned by a popular radio station for it’s lyrical content.
I’m Nurse Karen, and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more info on anything you heard today, look me up on line at Nurse dash Karen dot com…or follow nursekaren on Twitter. Now, back to de Docta!

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The Rounds: Fay-Ann Lyons is a Mommy Now!

Good Evening Soca Lovers!

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.  The Soca Therapy crew is all back from Trinidad and Tobago carnival, with lots of stories to tell. 

First, listen up, cuz I’m only going to say this once.  Faye Ann Lyons and Bunji Garlin are the proud parents of a bouncy baby Girl.  The new addition to Trinidad’s 1^st family of soca arrived on the scene by C-section around noon yesterday.  Faye-Ann was admitted to Mt Hope hospital on Friday evening due to a condition called Pre-Eclampsia.  It’s set on by stress during the pregnancy and affects one in ten first time moms.  It can be very dangerous for both mother and child.  The baby girl was delivered one month ahead of schedule.  Although the little one is quite premature, both she and Faye Ann are doing great.  According to Faye-Ann’s manager, members of the Trini media have been camping out at the hospital, hoping for pictures, and even quizzing hospital staff for details. The name has not been released, although from what I can tell they have chosen one. The family is just trying their best to maintain a little bit of privacy. 

A baby girl, is the last of several prizes Faye-Ann was able to win this carnival. She is now the biggest ever winner slew of new titles to her name.  Last week Friday, I watched her become the first female to win the Power soca crown in Trinidad, beating out husband Bunji Garlin and Iwer George who tied for second place, and Blaxx with Tusty, who rounded out the fourth position.  She was a double queen that night, also taking the top spot in the groovy category over last year’s defending champ, Shurwayne Winchester, Benjai, and Zoelah respectively.  Congrats to each of them, for putting on a spectacular show.   The viewers at home texted in all night to legitimize Faye-Ann’s winning role.  As if two titles wasn’t enought, she earned 60 per cent of the people choice votes too!

It’s such a big week for Faye Ann.  Tuesday solidified her as the Soca Queen of Carnival 2 K Wine.  Meet Super Blue was heard at judging point’s 410 times, making Mrs. Lyon-Alvarez this year’s Road March Queen as well. Destra came second with Bacchanal, and Blaxx came third with Tusty.

 Before I go, I’ve got lots more news, that you can check out in detail on Nurse Karen Etc.  This afternoon, Shurwayne Winchester held his 2^nd annual Children’s Concert in Tobago to benefit the Happy Haven School.  The kids were treated to performances from TC, Princess Adanna, Destra, Benjai, Black Stalin and more.  Speaking of Tobago, Trinidad's sister isle held its own Soca Monarch competition about two weeks ago.  Let me formally send my congratulations to Fire Empress for snatching up the crown with "Mamalaya." In 2K9 women rule, for real!

With Fire Empress at the SVG Soca Monarch Semi-Finals

Carnival just came to an end in Guyana and Dominica too.  Vanilla is this year’s Mashramani Road March Queen after, placing second to Shelly G at Carib Soca Monarch with her song “Rude”.

In Dominica, Daddy Chess is Soca Monarch and De Energiser wins Road March with a Calypso entitled, Carnival is Colour.  It’s the first release off his new album Sugar and Spice.

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds.  For lots more detail and discussion about everything mentioned today, plus my day-to-day, Trinidad Carnival Diary, visit the Nurse Karen Etc blog online at triple w dot mustard seeds dot net.  Now, back to de docta!

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Booster Shot: Guyana Carib Soca Monarch Results

Shelly G was crowned the new a new Carib Soca Monarch was crowned Sunday night at the National Park in Guyana. She dazzled the crowd withe her performance of "Work It" There were 12 artists vying for the crown, with no defending champion in their midst. Last year's victor, Adrian Dutchin chose to sit out of the competition this year and tour with his band Krosfyah.
Cash prizes are alotted for the winner and two runners up. Amounts in Guyana dollars were set at $750,000, $400,000, $200,000. There is also a prize for best newcomer set at $100,000.

So here you have it:

Champion - Shelly G, "Work It"
1st Runner Up - Vanilla, "Rude"
2nd Runner Up - B52 aka Lil Man, "Circuit Overload"
Best Newcomer - Anaconda, "Festival Fever"

See the complete list of competitors below:

‘Anaconda’ - Mark Batson
‘Bonesman’ - Orlando Johansen
‘Brains’ - Roger Hassel
Beverley Williams
Fireclan (duo)
‘Lil Man’ - Wilbur Levans
‘Passion’ - ClintonAdolphus
Purrsonality (duo)
Reflections (duo)
‘Shelly G’ - Shellon Garraway
Tomeeka Thomas
‘Vanilla’ - Melissa Roberts

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