BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE big question on everybody's mind is "Who will win the Sugar Mas 43' Soca Monarch Competition?" And in just minutes, an eager bunch of talented soca artistes would take the stage at Carnival Village in soca battle. Their aims would be to entertain their supporters, impress the judges and above all, win the crown.
This article would provide an up-to-date account of what is expected to be an intense, exciting and hard-fought competition.
The Groovy segment of the competition is dubbed the TDC Groovy Soca Monarch and the Power segment is called the ZIZ Power Soca Monarch.1:54 a.m. - Foxy is performing her 'Road Jam' power song.
3:34 a.m. - RESULTS!
TDC Groovy Soca Monarch Competition
2nd Runner-Up - 226 points - Delly Ranks
1st Runner-Up - 230 points - Mr. Mention
WINNER - 270 points - Mr. Bagnall
ZIZ Power Soca Monarch Competition
2nd Runner-Up - 242 points - Mr. Bagnall
1st Runner-Up - 246 points - Mr. Mention
WINNER - 249 points - Sugar Bowl
3:24 a.m. - All the artistes are being presented with trophies of participation.
3:20 a.m. - The artistes are being called back on stage in preparation for the reading of the results.
3:08 a.m. - While the large crowd awaits the results of the judges, they are being entertained by Jessy Astaphan and Kyla Browne.
3:05 a.m. - An electrifying performance from Sugar Bowl who was dressed like famous wrestler, Hulk Hogan, blond hair and all. He left fans purring and wanting more. His performance included a tag-team battle amongst his male and female dancers. There was also an appearance of Sugar Bowl's alter-ego, Acidous. Some have suggested that Sugar Bowl should receive full points for crowd response.
2:44 a.m. - Crowd cheering 'we want Suar Bowl" ahead of his performance.
2:38 a.m. -Energetic performance by Buntin who was clad in all white. However, the audience did not show him any love during or after his performance. Sugar Bowl is preparing to take the stage as the final artistes to perform for the evening. His song is 'What You Gonna Do'.
2:26 a.m. - Dressed like the Incredible Hulk and backed by dancers dressed like Wonder Woman and Super Woman, Mention powered through an electrifying performance which ended with him being suspended 30 feet in the air on an Apple Picker. Up next is Richie Buntin with 'Higher'.
2:11 a.m. - A Flat performance by Fantastic Tunda, similar to his earlier. He did not draw much crowd response during this round. Mr. Mention is up next with 'Power up'.
2:05 a.m. - Fantastic Tunda tells the audience he doesn't want any 'Mango Season' relationship.
2:00 a.m. - Starting from amongst the fans, Foxy made her way to the stage in a parade costume and showcased some of the folklore of St. Kitts and Nevis. She received a good response from the crowd.
1:45 a.m. - Iron Band strikes up and has the crowd dancing and cheering.
1:42 a.m. - Dressed in a waistcoat and top hat, Mr. World was accompanied on stage by four women who were dancing in front of a makeshift roadblock. He lacked energy at the beginning of the performance but as it progressed, it got better.
1:18 a.m. - Despite not having a fancy presentation, Jazzbo had the crowd bouncing and under his commend for the entire performance.
1:12 a.m. - Jazzbo is having no difficulty getting the crowd to 'Bounce' to his popular tune.
1:08 a.m. - The Sugar Mill stage was just set ablaze by Stadics who had three flame-throwers on stage and some members of the audience were throwing flames as well. There was also a fire truck in the crowd which was set on fire. His song is called 'Hypa Burning'.
12:58 a.m. - Bagnall's presentation included a tour of what was called the Sugar Mas Museum... At one point, he burst out of a box and he had the crowd running from side to side of the Sugar Mill. In adding an extempo piece to his song, Mr. Bagnall stated that he was winning both categories of the competition. He also took a shot at Mr. Hype by tossing a box into the audience with the words 'chook anything' written on it and told the crowd to mash it up.
12:39 a.m. - Mr. Bagnall takes the stage next and he would perform his 'Mash It Up' song. The crowd appears anxious and is chanting 'We want d boss'.
12:34 a.m. - Entering atop of a truck and wearing a hard hat, Mr. Hype has at least a dozen backup dancers, two of whom were dressed as chickens. He also had a makeshift band made of cardboard. He was more than successful in moving the crowd to all corners of the Sugar Mill with some persons getting trampled. Hype also responded to Fantastic Tunda who had 'dissed' him earlier.
12:11 P.M. - Accompanied by two girls dressed as candy canes, Delly Ranks came out sporting a red pant and red and while jacket and hat. He received a nice crowd response for the performance. The reigning Power Soca Monarch, Mr. Hype, will take the stage next to perform his 'Chook' hit.
EK is now the MC and he is keeping the crowd warm ahead of the next performance.
12:02 a.m. - A dedication to Kittitian girls, Delly Ranks is about to perform 'Sugar Wine'.
11:58 p.m. - What a way to start th Power Segment! The performance from Jeezy Sparta and Rucas was energetic and drew great response from the crowd.
11:43 p.m. - She was dressed as a reveler and was accompanied by a number of individuals who created a party scene. The ZIZ Power Soca Monarch Competition comes up next with 12 competitors beginning with Jeezy Sparta and Rucas who will perform 'Thief My Style".
11:35 p.m. - The final contestant for the TDC Groovy Soca Monarch Competition is Ladonna who is performing her piece 'Fetting Hard'.
11:30 p.m. - Tunda brought some comedy and drama to the show as he came on stage dressed in a shirt with the words move out written on it and he brought what he called "the waistline police" on stage which amused the audience. He also added a verse to the song 'dissing' reigning Power Soca Monarch Mr. Hype. A gentleman portraying Mr. Hype was arrested by the waistline police at the end of the performance.
11:23 p.m. - Fantastic Tunda is on stage with 'Move Out'.
11:18 p.m. - Both men were dressed as taxi operators who were seeking a job from a whining lady. They received little to no response from the crowd who lost interest with the long scenario on stage.
11:10 p.m. - With their props including a bar setting, Globe and DC are performing their 'Whining' song.
11:05 p.m. -The veteran performer was dressed in a tuxedo and was accompanied by four dancing ladies who were representing Carnival. Mr. Mention encontered some difficulty with the music at the beginning but recovered and received a fair response from the crowd.
10:59 p.m. - Mr. Mention is rocking a few members of the crowd with his 'Explanation'.
10:46 p.m. - Crowd awaits the appearance of Mr. Mention. As the DJ announces his arrival on stage, the crowd gravitates to the stage.
10:44 p.m. - Buntin - the reigning Calypso Monarch - is dressed live a caveman and is joined by four similarly-dressed ladies. His delivery of the song was good and he got good response from the crowd.
10:41 p.m. - Richie Buntin enters the stage with his groovy piece 'Playing Me Mas'.
10:36 p.m. - Jazzbo of the Small Axe Band came on stage with three dancing ladies. He got good response from the crowd.
10:27 p.m. - 'Anaconda' singer, Jazzbo has taken the stage.
10:42 p.m. - Lady DIva, draped in the national colours, put down a fantastic prformance and received good response from the crowd. She was joined on stage by mock-a-jumbies, clowns and masquerades who were also draped in national colours. She performed 'Home Sweet Home'.
10:15 p.m. - He had a solid performance but used no props on stage besides a lady who joined him in the latter part of the rendition. He received a fair response from the crowd.
10:11 p.m. - Up next is Jeezy Sparta with 'Hey Gyal'.
10:05 p.m. - Smartly-dressed in suit and tie and carrying a briefcase, Mr Bagnall sent the crowd into a frenzy and had his fans chanting "we want de boss". He also threw some cash into the audience claiming that this was a second double salary. And at the end of his performance, he was given a resounding round of applause by the hundreds of soca lovers gathered.
10:00 p.m. - Bagnall was off to a rocky start but quickly recovered and seemed to have connected with the audience.
9:47 p.m. - Solid performance by Delly Ranks who performed without Meeko. He was dressed as a reveler and was accompanied the three ladies in costumes displaying rum and food and the ladies also distributed small bottles of alcohol to the members of the audience. Up next is Mr Bagnall, the 'Carnival Boss'.
9:45 p.m. - Up next is the reigning Groovy Momarch Delly Ranks featuring Meeko with 'Rum, Food and Wukup'.
9:40 p.m. - Foxy just left the stage, having come out clad in a blue parade costume and surrounded by three shirtless men who displayed the Kittitian Whine. The men brought huge cheers from the crowd as they displayed what can be described as a 'rubber waistline'.
9:28 P.M. - Eazi just left the stage putting down a solid performance and got a fair response from the crowd. He came in a costume portraying a monster entering a bedroom setting on stage with a female who was dressed in red lingerie. He also ventured into the crowd and had members of the crowd singing his tune. Next on stage is Foxy performing her groovy piece 'Addictive Whine'.
9:14 p.m. - DJ Kevy Kev introduces first competitor Eazi who would perform 'Monster in your bed'.
9:08 p.m. - MC DJ Kevy Kev indicates the show is about to begin as the national anthem is now being played.
9:00 p.m. - Props are beginning to apear on the stage so the start must be near.
8:50 p.m. - Show yet to begin, but the crowd has built up significantly since the last update.
8:38 p.m. - The night of the finals for the Soca Monarch Competition at the Sugar Mill. A crowd has already begun to build and is expected to grow. However a light drizzle could mean a further delay in the start of the competition.
