On De Scene : Caribbean Soca Monarch 2009 TONIGHT!

Carnival Sunday and though it is overcast in St.Lucia, the celebration will continue. This morning I attended the dipping of the positions for tonight's event ; Caribbean Soca Monarch.

Cultural Development Foundation graced the media, artists and everyone else present with some words on the growth and influence of this competition. A few artists scheduled for tonight's event will be absent due to flight delays. Which leaves a total of 10 competitiors (including the reigning Caribbean Soca Monarch King, Ricky T).

The 10 listed in order of numbers which they drew at the function will compete in front of 7 judges (from around the region) and of course the soca enthusiasts which will flood the Mindoo Philip Park this evening.


1. St.Vincent and the Grenadines - Skinny Fabulous (De Beast Leggo)

2.Grenada - Herminey “Miney” Victor (1000 Masqueraders)

3. St.Lucia - Ilah Man (I want my Money Back)

4. Barbados - Michael “Mikey” Mercer (Explosion)

5. St.Lucia - Ricky T (Like a Jumbie)

6. Guyana -: Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts (Ah Coming)

7. St.Lucia - Q pid (Relieve Me Pressure)

8. Trinidad and Tobago -Street disciples (Take a Wine and Hush you Mouth)

9 Grenada -Lyndon “Pupa Leendi” Adams (Rum Oye)

10. Dominica -Chester “Daddy Chess’ Letangs (Ready or Not)

The show begin after the King and Queen of the Bands scheduled for 8 p.m.. And we will be bringing LIVE COVERAGE of the enitre event (King and Queen of the Bands and Caribbean Soca Monarch)!

So WATCH LIVE !


Peace and Soca
Rochelle

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On De Scene : Caribbean Soca Monarch Finalists Announced

Well this is de show dat pushes St.Lucia Carnival up to a higher gear , talking about the Caribbean Soca Monarch. The list of competitors are in so here it is at your disposal. There are a few islands whose arists have not been confirmed by CDF. But according to them , towards the end of next week they should be announced. So for now here is the list of artists that will join the 2009 St.Lucia Soca Monarch along with 2 other St.Lucian aritsts on July 19th at the Mindoo Philip Park. Boy I excited bout this show , saw at least two of the artists in Trinidad and they delivered! I am certain it will be a Great Show!



Caribbean Soca Monarch

Mikey - Explosion (Barbados)


Tino - So High (BVI)


Daddy Chess - Ready or Not (Dominica)


Miney - 1000 Masqueraders (Grenada)


Pupa Leendi - Rum Oye (Grenada)

Vanilla - Ah Coming (Guyana)

Rondell Meade - ( Song not Confirmed) (Montserrat)


Skinny Fabulous -Head Bad (St. Vincent)


To be announced (St Vincent)


Benjai - Drunk Again (Trinidad & Tobago)


To be announced (Anguilla)


To be announced (Antigua & Barbuda)


Nurse Karen, I know you itching to change your flight schedule. No worry ah go get on bad for two or for de whole Team!

Peace & Soca
Rochelle

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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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The Rounds - March 4, 2007

Good evening soca lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are doctor jay’s rounds. So, It’s Sunday again and you’re back for some good old fashioned Soca Therapy. Is a good ting too. For those of you who are lucky enough to be holding tickets to the big return fete this Saturday…you better start to train those muscles from now. March 10th promises to be a real workout and ah tell you, the Kingdom of Soca will have you wukking tings you never thought about in years. Arms gah be strong fuh Open De Gate with Shurwayne Winchester, de vocal chords mussee healthy if you plan to reach the heavens for Fireball. and keeping up with Maximus Dan, Nadia Batson and Biggie Irie is no small ting, neida…because you’re not going home till the morning comes.
Last week, one of our texters told us that the Guyanese posse will be out in the hundreds to party at de Return. Well if you think you think that is plenty, you should have seen the streets of Georgetown, Guyana this past Mashramani Day. Brand new Road March Queen, Vanilla proved to have the most popular melody to hit the streets. Her song “Queen of the Band” has made her Queen of the Road for the very first time. The 24-year-old from Hopetown Berbice, joined the team at Kross Color records as a graphic designer. The owner needed a female to sing a jingle on short notice and Vanilla’s flavour could no longer be kept secret. That opportunity led to background vocals and now centre stage. The new artist competed in the Carib Soca Monarch competition this year, but didn’t place…and guess who eh kay!?!? The judges and dem could eat they heart out.
The new reigning Soca Monarch of Guyana is John “Slingshot” Drepaul. He managed to knock the crown off the cute little head of Adrian Dutchin. From what I hear Slingshot is no stranger to fighting up for Guyana. He once fractured a limb singing at a local food aid concert, and last week “may God bless he soul” de man go and break three bones in his lower back while taking part in the Float Parade. NOBODY could tell me dat man is not patriotic!
I’m patriotic too. Proud to be Canadian. Proud to be Caribbean and proud to be…African. For the next two Sundays, if you miss me, I’ll be gone to Ghana, West Africa. While black history month may have passed, it’s never to late to learn about the part of the world from which the roots of this culture originally took shape. I will be visiting the Gold Coast to celebrate the nation’s fiftieth year of independence from Britain. I will be learning about leaders and freedom fighters, and definitely enjoying the tropical heat and the beautiful beach.
I know some of you are wondering what on earth all this has to do with soca music. Plenty come betta dan dat! The beautiful music we call soca was created by, performed by, perfected and popularized by people whose veins pump African blood. Ghana was the last stop for hundreds of thousands of black men and women who were snatched forcibly from their homes. They would eventually populate the Caribbean for 400 years as slaves. As we enjoy the rhythms in our music and the beauty in our masquerade, please remember that all of this celebrates a heritage that was paid for on the backs of our African ancestors. It’s ours to enjoy, so long as we in our freedom keep within us the same light of faith that guided them through a much darker time.
I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Please send your comments to soca at FLOW 935 dot com. Spread the Love…

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