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Giselle a Groovy Soca Monarch
Written by : Dunstan Creavalle
Location : London
Photographer : Dunstan Creavalle
Posted : Aug 21, 2007 : 1:10:42 PM |
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London's first ever Groovy Soca Monarch Finals was the surprise ingredient added by the Association of British Calypsonians (ABC) to the 2007 calypso tent menu at west London's Yaa Asantewaa Arts Centre. On 17th August, twenty artists competed in front of a capacity audience for the honour of being the inaugural title holder.
MC ‘Mr International’ supplied the gags in between introducing the performers, as well as oftentimes singing a repeat of a performer's final verse. He also courted controversy by inviting some performers, but not others, to have an encore - despite the vocal requests of the audience. All the performers were warmly supported by the appreciative audience as they provided a mixture of upbeat, conscious and humorous social commentary.
Clivus, with his song Caribbean Timebomb, was first on stage, whilst the seasoned Alexander D Great was the final performer, with Finest Cuts. The evening's youngest performer, T&T's Junior Soca Monarch Tenisha Weekes, both impressed and entertained with her very humorous Ah Not Eatin' Dat.
Arguably, judging by the vocal requests for an encore by the audience, Helena B, with her Take This, was the people's favourite. Perhaps, in the future, distribution of the judging criteria and a breakdown of their scoring would give the audience a better appreciation of why the winners have been selected.
For the finale, the Mighty Tiger, who had been for the majority of the night restricted to sitting due to a trapped nerve in his back, gave what may indeed be his final performance. He also announced that that, from next year, London's Calypso Tent will move to the Tabernacle. Also performing was the visitor, Trinidad's Brown Boy, who incidentally is the brother of the ever-present Lord Cloak, who pleased the audience with the quality of his kaiso - which included a social commentary on the usage of tattoos by women in Trinidad!
London Calypso Tent
Groovy Soca Monarch Results:
1st Giselle (When Will I see You)
2nd Cleopatra (Ain’t Gonna Lose No Sleep)
3rd Helena B (Take This)
3rd Brown Sugar (Ah Don’t Want Ah Ting) |
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