The Rounds: Benjai walks away from Soca Monarch...

Originally aired on Sunday, January 24, 2010 on "Soca Therapy", FLOW 93.5 FM

In this edition:
- Soca Monarch Seminfinals (Trinidad)
- Benjai backs out of Soca Monarch (Trinidad)
- Fire Empress is Tobago Soca Monarch (Tobago)
- Poongalunks Factory dominates 2010 Chutney (Trinidad)
- Sizwe C helps send aid to Haiti (USA)

Good Evening Soca Lovers,


I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. January 24th is a big night for soca in Trinidad! This is the evening when the semifinalists for international soca monarch, show their stuff for the judges to determine who will make it to the finals.

Notably absent today is Benjai, who was successfully named as a groovy semifinalist. He said and I quote. "I Benjai will be pulling myself out of the soca monarch. It is because as artists we are too good and honest to be a part of dishonesty. People need to speak out."

People have, and people will continue to do so...but that won't be ME tonight!

Benjai and Nurse Karen (Miami, October 2009)

What I will tell you is that Tobago, for the first time ever has a guaranteed competitor in the Power final on Fantastic Friday. Last Sunday, Fire Empress successfully defended her Tobago Soca Monarch title, placing ahead of Princess Adana, and Dave Samson. Her winning song may be called "De Session Done", but if you ask me....her SEASON has just begun.

Fire Empress and Nurse Karen in St. Vincent (July 2009)

For all my Chutney lovers out there, the Chutney soca monarch goes down on January 30th. ...And Kenneth Salick will have to defend the crown that "Radica" won him last year. 12 competitors will compete in the final, and check this out 11 of them will be singing songs produced by Big Rich of Pungaloonks Factory fame. So no matter what happens on Saturday, one studio will come out as winner!

As you are well aware, the struggle to rebuild Haiti continues, and the generosity of caring people around the globe is very inspiring to see.

Several soca artists have been busy doing their own part to make a change. Many people don't know that Sizwe C is an active member of the American Armed forces. He told me that he spent 5 days on the Air Force base in Miami loading tons of cargo, specifically water, food, and power generators destined for Haiti. There is a chance he may be deployed there, and if that be the case, he is ready, willing and able to serve.

Sizwe C

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. For more information on anything you heard today, Check me out online at Nurse dash Karen dot com or follow Nurse Karen on Twitter. Now back to de Docta!