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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Eye Unit : Zionomi and Bobby Bling " Who Are You" (Video)

So Zionomi , one of St.Lucia's reggae stars has made his first video with his single on soca riddim which is the boom bom riddim "Who Are You" featuring Bobby Bling out of Jamaica. De video was directed by Paris Pixels company out of France. This was shot on location in St.Lucia during the St. Lucia Jazz Festival weekend. But here is the teaser, spoke to Zionomi and he mentioned to me there are still finishing touches being done on this video , well so far looking good to me!Here is the video for you ,one of the first soca videos out of St.Lucia for the 2009 season.

Much respect to Zionomi keep doing your thing because I am loving it!


Peace and Soca

Rochelle
www.twitter.com/rochellenoel
rochelle.noel@hotmail.com

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On De Scene: Red Unlimited Ignites Onyan and de Mad Camp!

Saturday Night Red Unlimited held their official band Launch ,there was much controversy over their costume leak (Read it here), but the show was well attended as expected with this party band. Amidst all de Jazz in St.Lucia the Bacchanal could not be contained!

Red Unlimited is celebrating its 5th year on St.Lucia Carnival scene. Last year they won “Band on the Move," an award which signifies they were the most vivacious band on de road for 2kGreat.

MC Pringles a.k.a Superman (you may know him from his Socaritis track last year ) began de show at midnight warming up the crowd for the madness that was set to take place. The show opened with groovy sensation Teddyson John, who took us back into Carnival 2008 mode as he performed his last years track. To be honest I really came expecting to hear new tracks from the roster of local artists set to perform that night but de Mad Camp (Ricky T, Ilah Man, Teddyson John) will keep us thirsty just a little longer.

After the groovy warm up, the script turned to madness as Illah Man came on and the crowd went crazy over him. Boy, he really did work out de crowd as they ran up and down the Coco Palm Crowds. So the high energy of this Power Soca artist transferred right into the audience. In de middle of his performance the chant began “Whoosh Its Superman “and Pringles came on de “Socaritis” was contagious.

But the crowd was pacing themselves because de man himself Ricky T had not hit de stage. But as soon as Ilah Man left de stage Spectacle Band began de chant “Yo oooooh oooh Wam to Dem” and Ricky T came storming on stage and I would have considered show done! Ricky T took us right back to his first year and I must say hats off from de first time I saw Ricky T on stage to now, de man can sure electrify a crowd.

After a long set Ricky T had de crowd in his hands and then de Mad Camp was done it was now Antiguan Onyan and Friends to take de crowd till morning.

Well of course de costumes came out with de addition of one more section and from all the people I spoke to I maintain this band will be Sold Out soon (http://www.redunlimited.net/) . Interesting enough Skinny Fabulous "Head Bad" got a lot of airplay with the addition of de dubplate saying "Red Bad" as each model came on stage.

Well one ting I love mi ole school soca and Onyan had me moving my waist line all night long. The St.Lucian crowd always had love for Onyan and it was nice to see St.Lucian Derek Yarde on de piano during and Krocus alongside Onyan.

Just ten minutes before show was done that is when I tried making my way backstage to mingle. Along de way I could see other band spies enjoying the vibes. Spotted Rankin and Smokes and from the little conversation I had with them there will be a lot coming out of these two producers so note de names now!

Did not stay backstage too long but you heard it, there was a video shoot of Zionomi track on the Boom Boom riddim entitled "Who are you" during de weekend . So congratulations to Zionomi for this latest accomplishment. He is well known in St.Lucia for his reggae tracks and for the first time on a Soca riddim, he has Lucians devouring de tune with its constant airplay.

So everyone was headed to the club, and so did I after the place cleared off. And the Red Unlimited Band was hard at work to transforming the “Carnival Central” back to its ordinary state. I arrived at de club late and so I did not even get in because of the amount of people on de inside. No worries, I saw Dre from TriniJungleJuice again and had a lengthy chat with him and his colleague.

From their perspective, they seem to really enjoy Red Unlimited portrayal this year “Reflections of Rio” . And if everything goes well, they maybe returning to cover St.Lucia Carnival 2009 from de fetes, limes and mas. Last year from the Carnival 360 videos, I know the TorontoLime Posse had a hell of a time here, and I sure hope both make it to yet another Mas in this Simply Beautiful Isle.

TriniJungleJuice Shot of me and my girlfriend. Log onto http://www.trinijunglejuice.com/ for full photo gallery of de event and great shots from St.Lucia Jazz 2009.


Peace & Soca
Rochelle
www.twitter.com/rochellenoel
rochelle.noel@hotmail.com

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