2014 Canadian Calypso Monarch

STOP CALYPSO MONARCH CATASTROPHE

By William Doyle-Marshall

 This year’s Canadian Calypso Monarch contest takes place on Saturday, July 26^th at the P.C. Ho Theatre, Chinese Cultural Centre, 5183 Sheppard Ave E. in the east end of the City of Toronto. It is customary that staunch calypso fans would at least expect to hear one or two new singers. But the lists of finalists from the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes dashes any such hope.

A panel of judges chose eight singers from the three struggling calypso tents that operated in the city for three weeks -- Tropical Rhythms, The Professionals and Kaiso Forum. Clearly. From the standard of performances, the organization should be paying close attention to improving the art and skills of these aspiring calypsonians. Instead of talking OCPA must demonstrate its ability to truly take steps to develop the calypso artform. Despite the glitz associated with its year-round mini events, substance is absent from its programming.   

   The newest name among this year’s finalists is Susan G (Susan Grogan). Other contestants are Yellows (David Morgan) – 2002 Soca Monarch; Webb (Hamilton Alexander) many times finalists and Montreal Monarch; Panman Pat (Pat McNeilly) – two times Canadian Calypso Monarch; De Carra (Leslie Carrabon) – a finalist in previous contest; Macomere Fifi (Tara Woods), five times Canadian Calypso Monarch and winner of numerous other titles; Guney (Guney Cedeno) a one-time Canadian Calypso Monarch; King Cosmos (Henry Gomez) previous winner of the Monarch and Beginner (Michael Moore) five-time holder of the Canadian Calypso Monarch title. The reserve is Connector (Joel Davis) who captured the Canadian Soca Monarch title on a few occasions. 

                      Finalists in 2014 Calypso Monarch Competition Beginer (toip) and Yellows
 
Traditionally, calypso lovers who attend Calypso Monarch contest expect to hear compositions that more or less capture the essence of developments in their communities – whether it is in Trinidad and Tobago, Toronto, New York, Washington or London, England. However the crop of Canadian calypsonians have been avoiding this trend. One must wonder whether it is the result of recent practice by the OCPA gang of punishing compositions that criticize their practices. It is well known that singers have been left out of finals due to their compositions. The lame excuse advanced have always been that songs must be respectful. It is well known that good calypsoes over the years have skirted with the borders of legality. No sensible singer or composer willfully composes or performs material that are offensive or disrespectful.

  Here I salute Norma Coard (Lady Scorpio) for her review of last year’s OCPA fiasco which she describes in song as one big catastrophe. “Anyone who was involved in the brew know it was mix up like callalloo– calypsonians, judges and OCPA too,” she sings.  Patrons to last year’s Calypso Monarch competition still recall confusion as Pan Man Pat left the stage without completing his song due to what he termed a technical problem.  However the judges placed him fourth rather than disqualifying him from the competition.  No doubt this action motivated Scorpio to sing in her review “he walk off the stage in a rage, let’s hope this year we turn a new page.” She advises the organizers to be careful what they do because their actions will reflect on them. “Get the judges to attend a proper workshop otherwise this nonsense will never stop,” Scorpio advises. I hope Colin Benjamin and his team will pay attention to this concern.

  Michael Moore (Beginner) and Joel Davis (Connector) Michael Thomas (Redman); Henry Gomez (Cosmos); Leslie Carrabon (De Carra) and others have tasted the rod of the censors in past years. The effect of the practice is pronounced in the material offered by singers this season and naturally in the finals for July 26.

  This time around Beginner wants to meet with his creator to ask him about those tornadoes and flooding, earthquakes, storms and hurricanes that we have been encountering. He want the creator to tell him what to do with these experiences. The five time Calypso Monarch broadens his swing by shifting attention to unfortunate events involving children being killed in Ottawa, and their bodies stuffed in suitcase. “What a waste, father what a waste. So much people died in Korea when a ferry sank over there and some school children won’t see Christmas; snipers gone wild in Texas. Look at my little country, Trinidad: we not easy. They killing like crazy, soon they go kill everybody; then we’ll have a whole empty island. Tell me oh Lord you have a plan. God see we through, I ask the whole world to pray with you,” Beginner sings.

   King Cosmos takes us to the Senate in Ottawa with the scandal involving the three Conservative Senators who are now facing fraud charges. They think we stupid, is Cosmos’ refrain after being bombarded by volumes of media material related to the discrepancies reported related to expenses. The latest development is suspended Senator Mike Duffy, now facing 31 fraud charges laid by the RCMP. The two others are awaiting their days in court as well.

Hamilton Alexander (Web) is concerned with the senseless wars that are taking thousands of lives. He warns “All the money you keep spending on weapons of mass-destruction could be spent on health and education”. After spending billions on weapons killing each other in two world wars, many are suffering from this ordeal but there are still conflicts in the world, the finalist notes. He appeals to war mongers to think about the future.

The reigning Monarch Macomere Fifi offers “Before You Gone” – a tribute to the Mighty Sparrow, Calypso King of the World. This is her contribution to the man who has been the leader in the Calypso world for decades whom she regards as one of her heroes. Fifi is paying homage to Sparrow while he is still alive and could listen to her calypso and nod his head – hopefully in approval. His songs made her want to sing calypsoes – listing all the major hits he offered.

We anxiously await the July 26^th presentation. Expectations are high that improvements will be significant especially on the part of the organizers. No more making up of rules on the spot but doing the proper thing and it should begin with having competent judges to perform a very important exercise of selecting winners according to their performances and content. As the audience and contestants believe songs will be judged on their Lyrics, Melody, Vocal Rendition, Presentation and Originality.  Special awards categories for Arrangement, Local Content, Humour, Background Vocals, and Best New Artist. We trust the judges will not be swayed by audience response and above all they would be competent enough to recognize that while people may laugh at certain comments – does not make the statement(s) humorous.

July 19, 2014