Eight finalists to vie for Humorous Calypso crown

Eight finalists will vie for the crown of National Humorous Calypso Monarch on March 31. The finalists were chosen from the semifinal leg of the competition, held on Saturday, at SWWTU Hall, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain. Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO), in its attempt to provide an alternative Carnival experience, decided to host the competition in March. The cramped 2012 Carnival schedule also resulted in the decision.  A total of 25 semifinalists, selected from all calypso tents in T&T during the C2K12 season, competed for a chance at the final. 

 

The bards performed for a packed audience and in the presence of the Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Winston “Gypsy” Peters. The programme, originally carded to begin at 7.30 pm, did not get started until approximately 8 pm, hosted by Tommy Joseph. Helon Francis, the second runner-up in this year’s National Schools Calypso Monarch final, was the opening guest performer. He performed two songs—Number 2, a piece addressing the issue of fame and being a winner, and a social commentary on the nation’s upcoming 50th anniversary of Independence. The actual competition then got  under way with the first performer Michael “Mr Nature” John receiving thunderous applause from the audience for his piece Vision from Beyond (messages he received from beyond from calypsonian Cypher on how he should run his government).

 

Performances by Elizabeth George (Lady Aiesha), Julian Hunt (Kid Kalaloo) and Elon Baggoo (Cardinal) brought members of the audience to their feet in the first half of the contest. The 15-minute intermission was quickly followed by performances from Myron Bruce (The incredible Myron B), Michael Osouna (Sugar Aloes) and Donric Williamson (Lord Funny). The audience was kept entertained throughout the show by host Tommy Joseph, who interspersed the competition with his brand of comedy. Reigning National Calypso Monarch Duane O’Connor made a special guest appearance. The eight finalists were then announced at the end of the programme, at around midnight. Screams of displeasure erupted from the audience as some crowd favourites were not announced as finalists, and when Sugar Aloes was announced as one. Total prizes for the competition amount to $75,000 with the monarch receiving $25,000.

finalists