Former National Calypso Monarch Cro Cro has made it to the final of the 60th Anniversary Nation Building Calypso Monarch Competition being staged by the People’s National Movement (PNM) on November 19, at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
Also included among the dozen finalists, revealed at a media conference, held last Monday at Balisier House, are other past national monarchs Duane O’Connor and Karene Asche, and former national queens Twiggy, Karen Eccles and Lady Wonder.
The 12 finalists will be competing for over $200,000 worth of cash and prizes and of course bragging rights. According to People’s National Movement Deputy Political Leader, Joan Yuille-Williams: “It was like 60 for 60. We are extremely pleased by the response of the public in such a short space of time.”
She added: “Imagine in just two weeks many of them wrote and recorded new music. It was overwhelming.”
An exciting feature of the competition is the second song category where the finalists are required to perform a vintage Social/Political Commentary calypso.
Cro Cro has been charged to perform Zandolee’s Man Family, while Asche chose Chalkdust’s Let the Jackass Bray. O’Connor picked Sparrow’s Pay as You Earn and De Mighty Trini got Bro Marvin’s Jahaji Bhai.
Over the past year the PNM has been celebrating its 60th anniversary with a number of activities including multireligious events, constituency conferences, the Heliconia Foundation’s 60 Years Through Art, a family day in Tobago, and an exhibition at Nalis.
Balisier House has also been refitted as a museum of sorts, with historical images depicting the contribution of the party to the framing and development of the country, from Independence to today.
The 12 finalists were chosen from a pool of 68 submissions—artistes who submitted songs for consideration by an independent panel of judges. On the night of the competition, each contestant will sing two songs—a nation building song which some of them may have written for the event, and a vintage social-political commentary song only made known to them when they drew for positions.
There was much excitement at the live draw for the vintage social-political commentary song, as some of the calypsonians would not have even been born when these songs were hits on the local airwaves.
While some calypsonians expressed glee, others stated that they were anxious to get started on learning the words and preparing their interpretation of their selected song.
There was a collective sigh of relief when the competitors learned that they would be presented with the lyrics and a CD with a copy of their selected vintage Social/Political Commentary song.
Yuille-Williams, in thanking the 68 calypsonians and songwriters who entered, indicated that each of them will receive a souvenir of the 60th anniversary in recognition of their contribution to the art form. She said she was delighted by the response and gained respect for the calypsonian when, as a teacher, she relied heavily on calypsoes to map the history of T&T for her students.
Tickets for the PNM’s 60th Anniversary Calypso Competition are available at Cleve’s, Frederick Street; Crosby’s, St James; San Fernando East Constituency Office; and Balisier House.
In other calypso news, on Sunday, Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (Tuco) will hold its 14th Annual General Meeting, at NUGFW Conference Hall, Upper Henry Street, Port-of-Spain, at 10 am
PNM 60th Anniversary Nation Building Calypso Monarch Competition – The Finalists:
• Lady Wonder (Dianne Hendrickson)
• Michelle Henry
• Skatie (Carlos James)
• De Might Trini (Robert Elias)
• Karen Eccles
• Cro Cro (Weston Rawlins)
• Sekon Alves
• Gary Cordner
• Duane O’Connor
• Karene Asche
• Twiggy (Ann Marie Parks Kojo)
• Tigress (Joanne Rowley)
QRC celebrates
The Queen’s Royal College (QRC) Old Boys’ Association (OBA) will host its annual dinner at the college, Hayes Street, St Clair, tomorrow evening. The event will commence at 6 pm with a cocktail reception at the gymnasium, followed by dinner at 7 pm in the College’s courtyard.
The OBA dinner is a celebration of the brotherhood that typifies QRC life and is an opportunity for all past students to celebrate the camaraderie which has been central to the ethos of QRC across generations.
This year’s dinner will also mark the 82nd anniversary of the OBA as well as the 157th anniversary of Queen’s Royal College. The event includes the induction of Derek Faria as an honorary member of the OBA, in recognition of his contributions to the QRC community.
In other news coming out of QRC, the OBA, PTA and management team of the college will be hosting the fourth edition of Fete Royal, on February 11, 2017 from 6 pm to 1 am.
Lovin’ Carnival is the theme for 2017, and the Fete Committee promises a great event, with a wider array of food from the usual food providers. Organisers said that bar options will be unique and creative in keeping with the theme, and premium brands will be served throughout the night.
They added that the decor will ensure that patrons feel the love of Valentine’s Day. The organisers said the music from KI the Band, Destra Garcia and Bakanal, Kes the Band and Roy Cape All Stars featuring Blaxx and Ricardo Drue DJ Alicia D Duchess, will ensure the venue is filled with the vibrant new music of Carnival 2017.
Security is also a priority for the organisers. There will be limited parking at secured parking lots around the venue. Tickets are on sale now with an early bird special of $750 each until December 31 or while stock last. Thereafter, tickets will be $850.
All proceeds from the event go directly back to the institution, for the benefit of the students.
For information about the annual dinner and the Carnival fete, call 472 4204; 387 2411; 620 1634; 795 0050; 620 6079. Those interested in Carnival fete tickets can also book by emailing feteroyaltickets@gmail.com.
Parang in the City 2016
Friends of Camsel will host the seventh edition of Parang in the City at Under the Trees, at The Normandie, St Ann’s tomorrow from 7 to 11 pm. Popular parang bands such as Los Alumnos de San Juan, Los Paranderos de UWI, Fuego del Caribeno, Los Tocadores, Sacred Heart Boys’ RC Choir and guest artiste saxophonist Francis Prime, will be the night’s main acts.
Corn soup, pastelles, hops and ham are among some of the menu items guests can enjoy. Drinks will be available from a cash bar.
Camsel’s Marketing and Sales Officer Michael de Peaza said the annual event began because of the “church’s close affinity to parang” and it “provided an opportunity for people who can’t go to the regions of parang like Paramin and Lopinot to be entertained in the nation’s capital.”
Since its inception, Parang in the City aims to offer an opportunity for young paranderos to showcase their talents as they develop in the art form.
Tickets cost $250 and can be purchased at Camsel’s, 31 Independence Square, Port-of-Spain and a range of outlets. For ticketing and more information about the event, call Camsel’s office at 623 6093, or email marketing.camsel@rcpos.org.