Booster Shot: 2011 Play Whe Groovy Soca Monarch Semi-Finalists

These are the artists who made the cut for the Groovy Soca Monarch Semis to be held on Sunday, February 13th at the Arima Velodrome in Trinidad.

Source: Caribbean Prestige Foundation
www.socamonarch.net

GROOVY CATEGORY

NAME 1 Lawrence Adams 2 Nadia Batson 3 Denise Belfon 4 Ravi Bissambhar 5 Terrin Callendar 6 Judelyn Chitan 7 Shivonne Churche 8 Marvin Davis 9 Kes Dieffenthaller 10 Ricardo Drue 11 Kerwin Du Bois 12 Joel Fevek 13 Nnika Francis 14 Destra Garcia 15 Roderick Gordon 16 Kevon Heath 17 Anthony Hendrickson 18 Darryl Henry 19 Rodney Le Blanc 20 Stevenson Marshall 21 Devon Martin 22 Jahrnoun Mendoza 23 Orlando Octave 24 Patrice Roberts 25 Dale Rudder 26 Kimba Sorzano 27 Dexter Stewart 28 Cassiano Sylvester 29 Megan Walrond

SOBRIQUET Mr. Renzo Nadia Batson Saucy Wow RaviB Super Jigga TC Sugar Jay Lil Bitts Swappi Kes Ricardo Drue Kerwin Du Bois Zan Nnika Francis Destra Chucky Yankee Boy & Patch All Rounder Farmer Nappy Benjai Shal Marshall Lyrikal Jahrnoun Orlando Octave Patrice Roberts Mr. Dale Kimba Sorzano Blaxx Cassi Megan

Always,

Nurse Karen

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On De Scene : HP Dethrones two-time Soca Monarch King Ricky T

A mere few hours ago St.Lucia crowned their new Power Soca King HP. History was made at Socarific Saturday with a Disc Jockey claiming the crown and he did STOP Ricky, in what could be described as an intense battle for the crown. The results of the night :

1^st – HP

2^nd Ricky T

3^rd Superman HD

Tonight the Groovy King with his sweet melodies undoubtedly retained the crown with a second consecutive win, in this competition. With fourteen competitors vying for the crown , one could have concluded from the onset that it was not leaving the King , Alpha. Results were for this segment were :

1^st Alpha

2^nd Superman HD

3^rd Nicole David.

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On De Scene : Socarific Saturday- St.Lucia Carnival 2010

Today, July 10th 2010 the Cultural Development Foundation Presents the 1st ever "Socarific Saturday" Following in the footsteps of our sister island Trinidad , the Groovy and Power Soca Monarch will be held together hence the show was dubbed "Socarific Saturday"!

Tonight , 30 songs are expected to be performed including that of the reigning Kings of both competitions.; (Alpha - Groovy and Ricky T - Power ) , beginning at 8 p.m. at the Mindoo Phillip Park.

Grooovy Competitors :

Menel- Boy You Have Me

Nintus-Don't Apologize

Stacy- One Last Chance

Nicole David - Mr. Dean Dough

Q-Pid - Leave Me Alone

Toya- De Key

Mubarak -Love This Feeling

Phyness - Carnival In Me

Blaze- I Cyan Wait

Superman HD - Gros Pwel

Mantius Carnival Come Back Again

Louie Dan - Jumping Again

Esteban - Jammin It Again

T.C. Brown- Ah Taking Ah Whine



Power Soca Competitors:

DJ HP- Pa Melé

Teddyson John- Rags

Esteban- Big Hit

Alpha- Anything

Ambi- Push Dem

Blaze- Blaze It Up

Ilah Man- Mad People Segment

Superman HD- Ready 4 Dem

Q-Pid- Palé Palé

Mubarak- Wave Something

Kakal- Bomb Song

Mantius- Carnival Is Here

Private Six- Have No Head

Platinum George- Cigarette and Rum

Peace and Soca

Rochelle

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Booster Shot: Text to support your favourite artists at International Soca Monarch!

Tonight is the big night that I have been hyping up like a mad woman for who knows how long.  I am here in Trinidad, mostly for tonight's big show.  It is the biggest and best celebration of soca music on the calendar!

Must admit, I've lost a little bit of my hype seeing that I actually had to pay a hell of a lot of money for my media pass.  But I do this for you, so wha you go do?  Oh yeah, this time around I'm also doing it for The Caribbean Camera in Toronto, The Searchlight in St. Vincent, and possibly to other international publications I'm not able to disclose as yet.  Allyuh tink is nothing but fete, but is wuk  I here wukking.

If you want to play a part in supporting the artists tonight, I've provided the complete list of text codes.  All you have to do is choose any of the codes listed below and send them to the numbers provided.  The top vote getter will win title of "Peoples' Choice" which has the added benefit of a cash prize for the artist.  So what do you say?  Time to support!

The lines are open from 8 pm to 3 am, and you can text as often as you like.

Check the info below for details:

Bmobile Blackberry International Soca Monarch & Play Whe Groovy Soca Monarch Competitions 2010

Bmobile blackberry international soca monarch &
Play whe groovy soca monarch competitions 2010
Queen’s park oval
Friday, 12th february 2010

Soca fans in trinidad and tobago, st. Vincent, grenada, antigua and barbuda, dominica, barbados, the us and canada have a fantastic opportunity to vote for their preferred soca artiste via sms text messaging in the final stage of the bmobile blackberry international soca monarch competition and the play whe groovy soca monarch competition 2010.

The sms text messaging platforms would be as follows:
 Trinidad and tobago - tstt
 The caribbean – lime
 The us & canada – all major carriers

Soca fans can text the artistes key codes to:
 7622 (in trinidad and tobago and the caribbean)
 78247 (in the us & canada)

Artistes - Text Codes

POWER CATEGORY		GROOVY CATEGORY
1. Fayann Lyons	FAY	1. Fayann Lyons	FAL
2. Blaze & JW	BJW	2. Kerwin Du Bois	KDB
3. Farmer Nappy	FNP	3. Shurwayne Winchester	SHW
4. Blaxx	BLX	4. Patrice Roberts	PAR
5. Tallpree	TPR	5. Chucky	CKY
6. Shal Marshall and Screws	SMS	6. Rikki Jai	RJI
7. Super Jigga TC	JTC	7. Zoelah	ZOE
8. KMC and Ronnie Mc Intosh	KMI	8. KMC	KMC
9. Iwer George	IWG	9. Nnika Francis	NNF
10. Daddy Chess (Dominica)	DAC	10. Little Bits	LBT
11. Tian Winter	TIN	11. Ainsley King	AIK
12. Skinny Fabulous (St. Vincent)	SKF	12. TC (Barbados)	TC
13. Mr. Killa (Grenada)	MRK	13. Metro (Synergy Soca Star)	MET

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

P.S. I know everybody and they bruddah looking for a free online stream to watch. Unfortunately, there is no official one I can give you. BUT...this is 2010. Do yourself a favour and check out sites like USTREAM.COM and JUSTIN.TV . I bet you the price of my press pass some local soca fan will be pointing a webcam at their tv and streaming de show for allyuh.

Not ideal, but still and idea. Have a great night!

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Booster Shot: Performance order for Trinidad Groovy Soca Monarch 2010

Fantastic Friday is only 3 days away.  Today, positions were drawn for both the Groovy and Power categories, but sadly I was sorta sleeping on the job...at Maracas Beach!  So, I was lucky to get the order just for Groovy, but don't worry.  I'll fix you up soon...

1. Ainsley King
2. Nnika Francis
3. Metro
4. Rikki Jai
5. Patrice roberts
6. Chucky
7. Shurwayne Winchester
8. Fayann
9. Kerwin dubois
10. TC (Terrencia Coward)
11. KMC
12. Zoelah
13. Lil Bitts

And there you have it,

Love and soca!

Karen
Reporting live from Richard's Bake and Shark at Maracas Beach, Trinidad!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device available from bmobile.

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Booster Shot: Trinidad Soca Monarch to support Haiti relief

Trust me, I know that the only reason you're readying this post if because you want to know who the finalists are in the upcoming Blackberry International Soca Monarch and Pay Whe Groovy Soca Monarch competition.  Unfortunately, I still don't have those results.  The reasons why not are anyone's guest, however, I've been hearing that one reason could surround the health of one of the judges who up till last night was receiving care at Mt Hope Hospital.  Although, officials at the Caribbean Prestige Foundation deny that this is the reason.

In my searching, I found out that Soca Monarch will be giving (a very small amount) to help the relief efforts in Haiti.  A whopping $2 per ticket.  Granted, something IS better than nothing.  However $2 TT is  only   $0.33 US, an amount that when compared to last year's ticket prices accounts for less than 1% of the revenue.

The organizers are working with reduced funding this year, but you have to wonder if the contribution is little more than a gimmick.  If you're planning to attend International Soca Monarch and you want to support Haiti, please consider making an additional donation through a registered charity as well.

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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On De Scene : Antigua Groovy and Party Monarch LIVE!

To all of you , who are not in Toronto taking in the Caribana action or in Barbados on the home stretch to Crop Over or even the BVI in carnival celebrations ; tonight Antigua is inviting one and all to view their Groovy and Party Monarch LIVE!

If you in the Caribbean region you can just flick to "Carib Vision" and join in the action on you TV or if you out of the region watch the live streaming online. CLICK HERE!

Competition has began so quick quick join me in this MAS!

Tonight there will be two newly crowned Groovy an Party Monarch as the reigning Monarch Claudette Peters will not be defending her titles. She is actually one of the hosts of this live broadcast , but she is expected to do a guest performance as well as El a Kru and Burning Flames.

I sure hope I can be there in the next few years, nonetheless our Antiguan Correspondent, Ziggy will give us an aftermath of the competition. Tune in and Enjoy guys!

Peace and Soca

Rochelle

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Booster Shot: Antigua readying for Party Monarch

Sunday was Party Monarch Semi-Finals it Cedar Grove in Antigua. I've been getting numerous requests for the lists of finalists in the Jumpy and Groovy Categories. I have to admit, I dunno yet. As far as I can tell the names have not been released...as yet.

In the meantime, thought you'd might like to know who the semi-finalists were. Those names came out while I was playing J'ouvert in St. Vincent, so I didn't get the info to you as quick as I should have.

Those that make it through get one shot at dethroning Claudette "CP" Peters.

For now, your 2009 Antigua Party Monarch Semi-Finalists

Jumpy Category 1. 3 Pac Banton 2. Blade 3. Byke 4. Da Rock 5. King Danskie 6. King Sonic 7. Lev 8. Lil Pimp 9. Lord Satalyte 10. Melli B 11. Niah 12. Nina Nyce 13. Omar 14. Promise 15. Pump Stan 16. Queen Elizabrat 17. Samoya 18. Shambac 19. Shani 20. Sleepy 21. Soca Chawa 22. Supa Mario 23. Tian Winter 24. Yoko

Groovy Category 1. 3 Pac Banton 2. Blade 3. Butcha 4. Byke 5. Chello 6. De Panman 7. Fucha Kid 8. Jashan 9. Kay B 10. King Danskie 11. Kiyode Erasto 12. Lion King 13. Lyrical Reds 14. Niah 15. Ninety 16. Omar 17. Pump Stan 18. Queen Elizabrat 19. Samoya 20. Shani 21. Sister Virtue 22. Supa Mario 23. Tammy 24. Tian Winter

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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 : 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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Booster Shot: St.Lucia Carnival Season Dates announced by CDF

So ya been hearing plenty talk about the bands and maybe you heard a few tracks coming out of St.Lucia. However the dates to look out for are here!

Cultural Development Foundation annouced the offical dates for the different events set to take place for 2kwine !

Calender of Events for Carnival 2009

May 24th

• Opening of Carnival

June 1st

• Lucian Line Jam

July 1st

• Groovy Soca Monarch

July 4th

• Carnival Queen Show

July 5th

• Calypso Semi Finals

July 11th

• Soca Monarch Finals

July 12th

• National Junior Carnival

July 12th-18th

• Carnival Art Exhibition

July 13th-18th

• Mas on the Square

July 14th

• Inter Commerical House Calypso Competition

July 17th

• Panorama

July 18th

• Calypso Monarch Finals

July 19th

• King&Queen of the Bands/ Caribbean Soca Monarc

July 20th

• J'ouvert

July 20th & 21st

• Parade of the Bands

August 19th

• Prize Giving Ceremony
  

*Dates and events are subject to change

Now you have de dates for the cultural events now if you looking for de hot fetes and shows , no worries , http://www.slucarnival.com/ has that for you. Wha you waiting for , PLAN ya lime !

Peace and Soca

Rochelle

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(Eye Unit): Happy Birthday Benjai!

Benjai turned 33 recently and he marked his big day with a performance on Friday at the 601 Liquid Lounge in San Fernando, Trinidad.  The artist whose real name is Rodney Le Blanc, is recognized for his quirky antics and signature sayings on the mic.  Many current day soca artistes have been compared to their dancehall counterparts for their aggressive chatting style, but in my opinion, Benjai's sound harkens back to the golden age of dub, with a laid back sing songy playfulness that reminds you more of jazz scatting than fire flinging lyricism.

Carnival 2009 reminded Trinidad and Tobago that Benjai is very much alive and well.  After a couple of seasons bumping around with the HD Entourage, he was seen in concert gracing the stage with an updated version of his original band of Guntas, Asylum.  

So today, lemme pay a wee tribute to the guy who had had me forgetting that I was in Trinidad to work!  When the tunes "Tanty Seh" and "Drunk Again" came on the loud speaker, I was a screaming 14-year-old girl, just loving the carnival.

Thanks Benjai, and Happy Birthday!

Take in his much criticized stripped down, but completely infectious performance of "Drunk" again at the Grooy Soca Monarch Competition on Carnival Friday 2009. For this, he landed a 3rd place finish with nothing but a smile and his music.

See-me-ne-me-ne-me-ne-now!

Need more?  I posted the video once before with commentary.  Check it.

http://mustardseedmedia.blogspot.com/2009/02/eye-unit-benjais-groovy-soca-monarch.html

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The Rounds: False alarm, CPF to pay Fay-Ann all she's owed.

Good Evening Soca Lovers. I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.


It's St. Patricks's Day Weekend in Toronto, and Calle Ocho weekend in Miami. So, south Florida’s biggest Latin festival is on and popping with a little soca, mixed in for good measure.
Today, Kevin Lyttle appears on the Power 96 stage alongside Shaggy and Brooke Hogan.

A shot I grabbed of Kevin Lyttle at home in St. Vincent, back in 2006

Kevin’s working to push out a sophomore album for the North American market this year. You can expect guest appearances from man like Pitbull, "Mr. Boombastic" – Shaggy, even Fat Joe. Weird, right?

With Destra in Toronto in '08

While we’re talking about new soca albums. Get your hands on these: Trini Jacobs has got one. Destra's got HOTT. I would STRONGLY recommend "On in 5" by Kes the Band. Oh and for the big people... check calypso vet, David Rudder for "Trinidad Stories." You can download them from Trinidadtunes.com or bug your local music seller and make them stock the music YOU love.

King David Rudder in Washington, D.C., in January 2009.

This was a topsy-turvy week for Trinidad’s reigning soca Queen Fay-Ann Lyons. She received a letter from the organizers of the International Soca Monarch competition informing her that her prize money would be slashed due to the economic down turn. Yes, you heard me right! The Caribbean Prestige Foundation was blaming its main sponsor, the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs for going back on its promise to provide a $1 Million first prize for the winner of the Power Soca Category on Fantastic Friday. Just two days ago, there was a big uproar in Trinidad when the news got out that Fay-Ann would be getting just $750 thousand instead.

The Nurse and Fay-Ann, Toronto 2008

Well, I have some good news for you. Late yesterday, the president of the Caribbean Prestige foundation issued a release apologizing for his very SCHUPID error. Fay-Ann will get the $1 million after all, plus all the cash she’s owed for Groovy Monarch and Peoples Choice. He’s now saying that he mistook the Ministry’s recommendation for a directive. That means, he thought the government wasn’t going to fork out the cash at all. Truth be told, they just well cheap and were HOPING to keep a little extra in their pockets. The wretches.

All’s well that ends well I guess!


I’m Nurse Karen, and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Check out Nurse Karen Etc on facebook or mustard seeds dot net for more juicy soca news. And don’t forget, the only soca news podcast, Dr. jay’s rounds is available for download at soca therapy dot com. Now, back to de docta.

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Eye Unit: Benjai's Groovy Soca Monarch performance (Video)

Here it is. So, a few of you know that when Benjai chopped his locks a couple years back, I was on the radio telling the ladies I had developed a genuine soca crush. So, it was real hard not to smile from ear to ear during his Soca Monarch Unplugged performance of Drunk Again.

I know you're supposed to get points for all manner of things at these competitions...and de boy just came out with his mic and sang! Usually, I'd have words about something like that. Maybe I would call de man lazy, or cheap, or whatever. But I can't hate he had the crowd from start to finish with this one. Plus, de man smart. He's keeping his whole appearance fee!

Big up Brenn - de manager. Great to meet you in the flesh.

...Swanky!

Ok allyuh, here's the artist who put the icing on top (Nurse) Karen's 2009 carnival carnival cake..Benjai!

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Eye Unit: Zoelah's Groovy Soca Monarch performance (Video)

You all know Zoelah took home 4th prize for her performance of Wine Up On Me on Fantistic Friday. I had the best seat in the house, in the media booth...right next to the left confetti machine.

I so enjoyed the show, but most of the night I was in the worst of moods. I knew that I had all-access to the hottest ticket of the soca calendar, but a little carelessness on my own part caused me to leave my camera, and all my money where I was staying. Grrr....

Thank God for You Tube. You go get it anyway!

Zoelah went for the bedroon vibe, and i think all of Hasely Crawford Stadium was in the mood. See for yourself!

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Booster Shot: 2009 International Soca Monarch Finalists announced

Ok, be honest!  How many of you were watching that choppy live stream of Trinidad soca semis online yesterday instead of the Grammy's? I did AND I've got the results!  Soca is MY music.  So, I could barely wait for today to reach to find out who the judges were feeling.  

Yesterday, the Arima Velodrome played host to the precursor for Trinidad Carnival's most hotly contested event.  It's the place where careers are made, and soca stars are truly born....the 2009 bMobile International Power Soca Monarch competition and Whe International Groovy Soca Monarch competition.  

Respect where respect is due.  Sunday's Semis began right on time, and stage management was clearly handled with style and finesse.  What seemed like a million and a half semi-finalists managed to take to the stage between 4pm and midnightish , all hoping for one of a handful of spots on Fantastic Friday.  In the power category, there were only six available spaces to fill thanks to what I like to call the Caribbean Prestige Foundation's "Lesser Antilles Affirmative Action Plan." De man dem wan call de show INTERNATIONAL, so they made sure of it this year by actually guaranteeing a slot in the finals to each of the  reigning 2008 Soca Monarchs/Party Monarchs/Power Soca Monarchs from the soca power house islands; Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 

I didn't catch all, but I watched long enough to know that there are quite a few artistes who seriously mean business this year!  The problem is, there just aren't enough spots at the main event for everyone who feels they paid they dues to get there.  It's ONE MILLION TT DOLLARS at stake, so you better believe the gloves are off!

Who will reign victorious? Hell, if I know...but one thing is for sure, there is no place I would rather be on February 20, 2009!

Congrats to all who made it through.  For all my soca family who didn't make the final cut, we all love your music just the same.  Keep giving your all this season. Besides, the fans are the only judges you need to worry about!  

Love and soca..

(Nurse) Karen

I don't wanna kill you with long talking. So, these are the lucky stars who shone bright enough to make their dreams come true.

Power Soca Monarch Finalists:

Bunji Garlin - Trinidad and Tobago (defending)
Claudette Peters - Antigua and Barbuda(seeded)
Khiomal Nurse - Barbados (seeded)
Luni Sparks and Electrify - Grenada (seeded)
Ricky T - St. Lucia (seeded)
Skinny Fabulous - St. Vincent and the Grenadines (seeded)
Berbice - Grenada
Blaxx - Trinidad and Tobago
Fay-Ann Lyons - Trinidad and Tobago
Iwer George - Trinidad and Tobago
Patrice Roberts - Trinidad and Tobago
Shurwayne Winchester - Trinidad and Tobago


Groovy Soca Monarch finalists:

Shurwayne Winchester - Trinidad and Tobago (defending)
Benjai - Trinidad and Tobago
Biggie Irie - Barbados
Fay-Ann Lyons - Trinidad and Tobago
Hunter - Trinidad and Tobago
Kerwin Du Bois - Trinidad and Tobago
Nadia Batson - Trinidad and Tobago
Patch and Mastamind - Trinidad and Tobago
Tizzy and Richard Trumpet - Antigua and Barbuda / Trinidad and Tobago
Zan - Trinidad and Tobago
Zoelah - St. Vincent and the Grenadines


Check Up
Ok, I know some of your favourite artists are missing in this list. That's because they didn't score high enough! In case you need a refresher, view the original list of semi-finalists here. Comment below. I'll save my comments for later!

CLICK HERE 

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Eye Unit: Watch Trinidad Carnival Live!

Go ahead and thank me! The recession is hitting everyone hard. So, yuh betta enjoy this special chance to watch most of the official Trinidad Carnival events live as they happen for FREE!


(Only catch is that if you're using a Mac, you may not be able to view this stream. Let me know if it works for computers not running windows.)  Also, remember to press pause on the music player on the right hand side of the screen!

In lieu of kisses, I would settle for comments right here on (Nurse) Karen (Etc)
Then you could join Nurse Karen's Fan Club on Facebook


Then add me on Twitter, so you'll never miss a thing again! Now, I guess we'll call it even.

www.twitter.com/nursekaren

Enjoy!

Hope you're enjoying the live stream.  To follow the individual experiences of the Nurse Karen Etc team at Carnival, follow:
www.twitter.com/rochellenoel 
www.twitter.com/knycky 
www.twitter.com/nursekaren

Safe and Happy Carnival All!

Watch Trinidad Carnival 2010 Live. Soca Monarch. King and Queen of the Bands. Calypso Monarch

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Eye Unit: Happy Birthday Peter Ram! (video)

For all you Peter Ram fans out there.  Today is YOUR day!  Barbados' original rudeboy is celebrating a birthday, so I am too.  (celebrating his, that is) I've only met the man once backstage at a KOS fete in Toronto. He was about to get his photo taken and he asked me to pose with him.  All now, I've still never seen that picture!  He didn't know who I was, and back then, that's how I liked it.  

Next time we meet, I go shake his hand, though.  This artist has definitely grown into his unique signature style. He makes soca that moves Bajans as much as it does Trini's or Ja'cans.  As for this Vincy-Canadian, he's OK by me.  Peter darling, in case you're curious, I was the publicist who distributed the Lava Slide Riddim.  I think that mighta been my first soca-related gig...haven't got my life back since!

He'll be in Toronto this weekend to perform at the always sold-out "Doh Cry Ah Leaving" fete.  Then off to T&T to see if he can wiggle his way into the people dem Groovy Soca Monarch Competition.  

Happy Birthday & Good Luck!

Fans, here's your boy Peter Ram with his 2007/2008 smash! Pumpin!

Can't get enough of Peter Ram?  Check out his latest video "Tight"  right here.

Read all previous (Nurse) Karen (Etc) mentions of Peter Ram here. 

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The Booster Shot: Trini Soca Monarch Semifinalists Announced

Happy New Year Soca Lovers,

I hope you didn't miss me too bad while I was enjoying de Christ-mus break. I had mehself a wonderful time. Food, family, fun and fete. Oh yes, and I even put a little bit of the black back in my skin while vacationing in sunny Florida for Old Year's.

Happy New Years from Florida -The Movie, starring me and meh mischevious friends!

So, I know we dun tick off ten days from 2008...so, you're probably wondering why I waited so long to say "hello". This year is going to be a big one for soca. We're kicking it off with Carnival in Trinidad. Early on the calendar and promising to be full of surprises, the biggest fete in the West Indies will not disappoint. I booked my ticket and ah well ready for the mas.

But first up, it's all about fantastic Friday. You got it...The international soca monarch competition. This just in: 2008 will be more international than ever. You'll see competitors from Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent. Plus comebacks from former stars like Bunji Garlin, and his father-in-law Super Blue. You'll see former Xtatik frontliner Peter C. Lewis and veteran soca sweet man Rootsman. (Rack me, rack...he love of we vincy gyels...so we love him right back!) There are even some newcomers I eh self know nun tall!

Get your first glimpse at the unofficial results below:

Happy 2008! Keep that soca pumping!


Power

• 1. Allan Piper (St. Lucia)
• 2. Blaxx
• 3. Blazer Dan
• 4. Bunji Garlin
• 5. Crazy
• 6. Dawg E Slaughter
• 7. Denise Belfon
• 8. Eustace and Phive Pound
• 9. Fay-Ann Lyons
• 10. Fireball
• 11. Keisha Stewart
• 12. Kurt Allen
• 13. Lil Bits
• 14. Lil Rick (Barbados)
• 15. Luni and Electrify (Grenada)
• 16. Ms Alysha
• 17. Nadia Batson
• 18. Nnika (Grenada)
• 19. Olatunji
• 20. Patch
• 21. Pelf
• 22. Problem Child (St. Vincent)
• 23. Ricky T (St. Lucia)
• 24. Rita Jone
• 25. Rootsman
• 26. Sanelle Demspter
• 27. Sean Caruth
• 28. Shurwayne Winchester
• 29. Super Blue
• 30. Tizzy (Antigua)
• 31. Young Marcel

Groovy

• 1. Ainsley King
• 2. Brent Anthony
• 3. C'Donnia
• 4. Cassi
• 5. Devon Matthews
• 6. Eunice Peters
• 7. Fay-Ann Lyons
• 8. Farmer Nappy
• 9. Gary Cordner
• 10. Jamesy P (St. Vincent)
• 11. Kees Dieffenthaller
• 12. Keegan Taylor
• 13. Laura Pereira
• 14. Mr. Dale (Barbados)
• 15. Michelle Sylvester
• 16. Marianne (St. Lucia)
• 17. Mr. Chucky
• 18. Nadia Batson
• 19. Patrice Roberts
• 20. Peter C Lewis
• 21. Peter Ram (Barbados)
• 22. Skhi
• 23. Shal Marshall
• 24. Shurwayne Winchester
• 25. Terry Seales
• 26. Teddison John (St. Lucia)
• 27. Tony Prescott
• 28. Tizzy (Antigua)
• 29. Third Bass
• 30. Tracey D
• 31. Zoelah (St. Vincent)
• 32. 3suns
  

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The Rounds - October 21, 2007

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m nurse Karen and these are Doctor Jay’s Rounds. It’s another hot Sunday in Toronto, and to mark the occasion, I’ve brought you some equally hot news.
Guyana’s ministry of culture, youth and sport has decided to bring back the Guyana Music Festival that was first started in 1952. Next year, Guyana will play host to the Caribbean’s ideas expo, Carifesta Ten...and the government is praying for a cultural renaissance. The initiative aims to provide more support for the nation’s music industry, and better training for its next generation of entertainers.
St. Lucia’s 2007 groovy soca monarch is not just Goin Down de Road, he’s been jet setting over to gay Paree. Teddyson John and his pan-caribbean performance band, BlueMango just took their act to the 2007 Cibrations Caraibe Jazz festival in Paris France. The band whose members come from Barbados, Martinique, French Guiana and Saint Lucie, received rave reviews after opening for John Legend at the Internationally renowned St. Lucia Jazz festival earlier this year. And now it’s paying off. The group got to take their sound to a festival featuring Caribbean jazz expressions, in Euro’s afro-music mecca!
Another soca artist who’s NO stranger to having his business all over the world, was just invited to speak at Washington D.C.’s historical Howard University. Machel Montano was booked to provide the keynote address at a program called Soca 101, organized by the school’s Caribbean Students’ Organization. Invited, but de big star mussee catch a little stage fright. The educational event went on with no Machel to be seen. He sent his regrets, and I’m told he made an appearance on campus the next day to sign autographs.
When I think of Machel Montano, the last thing that comes to mind is SHYness! Whether he on stage sending a mampie flying in the air, or if he’s just proving dat he’s a real winer man, dat boy oozes confidence. On Friday, Machel and de HD family proved THAT to be true at the ever popular Zen night club, when a couple of bullet proof vested trini cops threatened to shut down de session. Why, you ask? LEWD CONDUCT! Everybody knows, is a regular day in the life of a roadmarch king when the artist gets on stage only to have the girls in the front row INSPECT THE QUALITY OF HIS FAMILY JEWELS. Machel tell de police to lock him up if they want to, but is not he fault de gyal dem getting on scandalous. In the end, the incident produced nothing but hearty laughter from all in attendance…and earned Mr. Montano Nurse Karen’s 2007 award for the King of Commess. Machel, I love you bad jed. You make my job so much easier.
Look out for him in 2008 with a brand new roadmarch contender called Unconditional Love, and a groovy follow up to One More Time that he previewed for the giggling crowd at Zen.
I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Please text your comments to 9-3-5-9-3-5, now back to de doctor.

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