The Rounds: Soca Monarch chief judge dies of heart stroke, etc...

The Rounds: Originally aired on Flow 93.5 FM's Soca Therapy with Dr. Jay De Soca Prince on Sunday, January 31, 2010

In this edition:
- RIP Roland Gordon (Trinidad)
- Results of Soca Monarch Semifinals (Trinidad)
- Ravi B is 2010 Chutney Soca Monarch (Trinidad)
- Dominica delays its soca monarch show by 3 months (Dominica)
- Ricardo Drue added to "The Orchestra" frontline (Trinidad)
- Happy Birthday Khiomal, Blood (Barbados), Maximus Dan (Trinidad)

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. Last Sunday's soca monarch semifinals in Trinidad left a lot of people hanging for nearly 4 days. People all over the Caribbean were waiting to find out which acts would eventually get to compete for top honours at 2010 International Soca Monarch Competition. As it turns out results were delayed due to the emergency hospitalization of Roland Gordon. He was the chief judge last week, and also happens to be father of Groovy Soca finalist "Chucky". Two days after critiquing the performances of more than 80 competitors, Gordon suffered a life threatening stroke, and on Thursday, sadly he died. Our deepest condolences go out to all who are affected by his sudden and very tragic passing.

The list of finalists can be found on my blog, but I'll mention a few highlights. As you may have heard, you won't see Bunji or Benjai on the Soca Monarch stage this year. They had no interest in competing this time around. However, you will see JW and Blaze performing their smash hit "Palance". Tallpree will be playing a wikked jab on Fantastic Friday, but fellow Gutter Riddim rider Patch whose song "Pipe" is a phenomenon unto itself...didn't make the final cut. Neither did Toronto's own Slammer Cutter...but we've got some representation in Kerwin Du Bois, who will be making an appearance in the Groovy Category

Nurse Karen and Tallpree in Miami (Oct 2009)

In other Monarch news. Chutney Soca Monarch went down last night, and I've got your top three! in third place was Moses Charles with "Indrani". Veteran Rikki Jai placed second with "barman", and the 2010 Chutney Soca Monarch is cutie pie Karma front man Ravi B with "Ah Drinka"

Let's see, what else when down this week? Oh yeah, well Dominica announced that they won't be staging a soca monarch show for carnival 2010, which is happening over the next few weeks. Instead the event has been moved to the end of May. Reigning soca Monarch Daddy Chess, however, will be competing in Trinidad on February 12th.

Peter C. Lewis in Miami (Oct 2010)

Ricardo Drue has just been named frontline vocalist for Peter C. Lewis' band, the Orchestra. Lewis is ready to pass on the torch...and believes this bright upcoming star is the man for the gig.

Belated greetings go out to Khiomal of the big band Krosyfyah. He rang in a birthday on Thursday (28th). Trinidad's ultimate fighter, Maximus Dan celebrated his earthstrong on Saturday, January 30th, while bajan soca veteran Andy "Blood" Armstrong will celebrate tomorrow on February 1st.

Birthday Boy Khiomal in Miami (October 2009)

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. for more info on all ah dat and more, check me out online at Nurse dash Karen dot com, or why not follow me...Nurse Karen on Twitter. Now, back to de Docta!

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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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On De Scene: Brewsters Road Crew Lime #2

Oye Nurse Karen,

I was in Brewsters Road last night on location in Pelican Village. Brewsters Road Crew parties are the hot cakes in Barbados right now. All of their parties do very very well, especially over the last year. They currently have a series of Friday night parties during Crop Over along with a Pre-Carnival Fete and a Christmas Night event.

 As of last year, Brewsters Road Crew parties became the place to be.  Now of course for several years the Baje International Band fetes was the staple Friday night lime. Now its clearly Brewsters Road Crew time.  Their parties are 100 % soca and they go on almost till mid day the next Saturday, each and every Friday during Crop Over.  We are talking about from 10 pm every Friday night until almost 12 pm Saturday morning. The unspoken party rule in Barbados is that even if you go to another party on Friday nite,  at 4 am all roads lead to the Brewsters Road Event.

Brewsters Road is all about the authentic Bajan vibe and for real soca heads. Last night the soca heads were out in full force and really enjoying it. The second free Pre Crop Over lime and they were people, and more people! Remember this was just a lime but it seemed like many people didn't care their intention was to party and wuk-up like they don't care. Now for me, with the reduced volume of the music, I took the opportunity to  talk and catch up with people I haven't seen in a while and network with people in the industry. You know in the busy season you don't get much time to have any extended conversations.

Quite a few artistes came out to the lime - Khiomal, Katalyst, Mikey, Blood and I am sure they are more who I might have missed. Lots of the behind the scenes persons were out and out artiste managers, dancers, promoters etc and of course the people were out. I actually saw a Basketball Team still in their gear walk into the lime and go straight  for the rum. That bottle of rum went from hand to hand.  Something like NBA playoffs - It was shot, shot pass.

I have to commend the DJs on the night for keeping the soca flavor spicy and flowing.  Saga Boy did well playing a set with several yesteryear hits which the crowd loved.

Mr Soca Superman aka DJ Alvin Toppin took the set and bigged up the artiste in the place and touched some of the newer releases for the season. I think the crowd is still getting familiar with the new music, Blood's tune created a little buzz, but that is not too much of a surprise, Blood is consistent energy year after year. 

Oh before I go I had a little chat with two of the directors of Brewsters Road, Trevor and Tremayne.  They are excited about the season. They strongly believe that the Brewsters Road Product is affordable. They are aware of the current economic climate and they are making sure that their patrons can have a good time without having to over-spend.  After all, they are doing free limes before they launch their official events on June 19. 

Karen between me and you ... and your readers - I feel they have something up their sleeves though.   They too tight slipped about the season. I mean after all their events are hot, they should be doing something to step up their game in 2k-wine. 

I can feel the summer heat. I mean it! The sun is sooooooo hot right now. I think its time for the beach. Ah gone.


Corey Graham 2.0

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On De Scene: Tarah Holdipp at Tone Def Studio

Oye Nurse Karen,

I just got back in from a chill out session with Tarah Holdipp  at Tone Def Studio -  Andy 'Blood' Armstrong's  studio!

!

Blood in his studio

Karen, his album is out already! The early bird catches the worm! Blood has established himself as the early bird since he moved out of the frontline of the Big Band Square One and got behind the mixing board and started producing. Contone, Pong, Mikey are among some of the names that Blood has brought to the fore.

However the lime tonite was all about Ms Tarah Holdipp.

Karen let me tell you the short pants she was wearing! It was TIGHTT... yeah!!! yeah!!!

Tarah Holdipp On Stage

Tarah was looking hottttt. I was looking her and just thinking we should be able to measure her next to Destra! Can we host a sexy ladies of soca contest? Please, Please. And no I don't mean yet another poll matching up names next to names. I wanna see pictures. I am talking about bumpas in photos!

I would help fund that project personally! Oh and I talking about all the women in soca, Tabia , Tizzy.
Ok ok, Let me focus, but I think my digression still relates to what I want to talk about Karen. grrrr I mean give me a chance, to don't restrict my expression so. Just because I am not labelled "artiste".
Right so I was saying! Tarah's track on Blood's album is called "A Good Wuk".
This song really does something for me. It captures some essences of a woman's desire. I don't mean the glamourised version. The real thing straight up! Tarah says it plain. "I need a good wuk". Fellas, imagine a  woman looking like Tarah coming towards you on a dance floor and forcefully saying "IIIIII need a good wuk"... and stressing that III like she is horny!

I just believe that every lady out there needs and deserves good treatment and definitely a good wuk.

I tell you .....Ohhhh Gosssh !! Crop Over Come again ...
So Blood's Album is in stores and his tracks is causing some "chaos" on the radio waves here. You see, April was a reggae flavoured month in Barbados, with 5 major shows climaxing with Reggae On the Hill, last Sunday. In a matter of days the radio seemed to have filled to soca tracks. Karen week 1 has not even passed. Its no wonder that Blood is calling his album "Chaos".

Tarah, Blood and CG 2.0 in Tone Deaf Studios

That is right people, Chaos is Blood's album for this year, more on that album coming soon! I don't want to go too long. I need to leave some space to publicly announce ... gimme some brass, some dramatic applause, adlibs let us go -

"Corey Graham 2.0 Officially Joins Nurse Karen's Team"

I wanted to say publicly, thanks for having me as a part of your team. I must say it has been very motivating to watch your blog grow over the past year or so. I'm a believer that bloggers have a big role to play in helping to build and enhance our Caribbean Community worldwide. I am very appreciative to you for this opportunity to assist you in filling in the dots as we strive to pull the soca community together as a part of the wider Caribbean Community.

Corey Graham 2.0

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Booster Shot: 2008 Barbados Party Monarch Finalists Announced

Source: National Cultural Foundation Barbados


19 – Party Monarch Finalists 2008


TENT NAME SOBRIQUET


All Stars Kimberley Inniss Kimberley Inniss


All Stars Miguel White Miguel


Bacchanal Time Khiomal Nurse Khiomal


Bacchanal Time Justin King Justin King


Bacchanal Time Donella Weekes Donella


Bacchanal Time Rameses Browne Rameses


Bacchanal Time Peter Wiggins Peter Ram


De Big Show Natalie Burke Nathalee


De Big Show Stedson Wiltshire RPB


De Big Show Terencia Coward-Thompson T C


De Big Show Ryan Chase Buggy


De Big Show Jafar Burnett-Burnett Jafar


Headliners Michael Mercer Mikey


Headliners Anderson Armstrong Blood


Headliners Dale Rudder Mr. Dale


House Of Soca Jude Clarke and Owen John Hee Haw & Dragon Slayer


House of Soca Daniel Borman Jimmy Dan


House of Soca Owen John Dragon Slayer


Tomorrow’s Children Jamar Bradshaw Jay-B



Reigning Monarch


Headliners Ricky Reid Lil’ Rick



Reserve


De Big Show Elenza Brewster Serenader





NB. The draw for order of appearance will be conducted at the NCF HQs at 10:45 a.m on Saturday 19 July, 2008

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