BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER a 10-year hiatus from local carnival calypso scene, Star Shield has returned to participate in the Sugar Mas 45 Calypso Monarch Competition.
Registered and ready to go, Star Shield – while speaking with SKNVibes Entertainment – said he returned to the Calypso Monarch Competition after being encouraged by some of his supporters.
“I have been getting a number of request from the public to reenter the competition because one the reasons is that the standard has dropped considerably. One person in particular called me from overseas and said to me they think that if something isn’t done this year then the calypso would lose all its momentum, the actual competition would lose its momentum and it would not really be supported efficiently in the future.
“Another one is they are saying that in the times when I was entering competitions, the nature of my material was geared towards keeping the community aware and conscious. And from since they have lost that element of the culture, that seems to have caused the youths to lack the requirement to live the way that we used to live so they have become violent. Materialism has driven them to become violent.”
Star Shield, when asked by this publication to give some insight into his competition pieces, opted not to do so save to indicate that he would continue addressing issues of social consciousness.
Asked why he retired in 2006, the entertained highlighted a number of reasons including that competing was quite taxing and sometimes expensive.
He however continued performing and took the opportunity to participate in other competitions such as the Best of the Best in Nevis in 2013.
Over the years, he has won two crowns from the Carnival Calypso Monarch Competition and an aggregate of five crowns, including that of the Calypso King of New York.
His repertoire include songs such as ‘Good vs. Evil’, ‘Hurray Mas’ and ‘The Vicious Circle’.
Concerning the Sugar Mas 45 Competition, Star Shield expressed that he is “happy to be of service to my people and my country and also to our culture. And I believe that it would make a tremendous difference and that this year’s Carnival would be something to remember. This year’s Calypso Competition would be something to remember.”
The veteran performer said he is not making any commitment to enter next year’s competition but prefers to take it one step at a time and play the cards according to the hand he is dealt.
“I would take it one year at a time. I am here now and my situation permits me to enter. I don’t know what it would be like next year. I would hope that the situation would be more likely that I could make another contribution next year.”
Star Shield’s Sugar Mas 45 contenders are expected to be released shortly.
