BASSETERRE – A commentator’s remarks about a calypsonian’s performance during the finals of the Sugar Mas 44 Calypso Monarch competition was the basis for the construction of one of this season’s most popular calypso tunes. And the artiste said he is confident that this time, he will be taking the crown.
I-Soursop – who has been participating in the Calypso Monarch Competition for the past 11 years – released his two competition pieces for this year: Free Advice – which has been making its rounds on radio stations and Sing out of Key Again – which has drummed up support and popularity from the tents.
The artiste recalled that following last year’s competition, he was approached by his manager who alerted him of some of the renarks made by one of the commentators of the finals night. One such comment, he told SKNVibes, was that that competition was the first time that he has sung on key.
“I can’t stay on the stage and hear what the commentator says. So my manager – Vernon Springer – came with a recording two days after Final Night last year… He was very much upset with Bouncing’s commentary but I calmed him down and said it is nothing, everyone has their opinion. So we stayed there and talked a bit about what went wrong on that night…
“About February we had another talk where we went out and while we were there sitting, I said to him, listen to this… If I am singing calypso for 11 years and for 10 years I sang out of Key…the coincidence is that as soon as government changed, I started singing in key. So I told him it has to be there was something the Government was doing wrong that had me singing out of key.”
While his song contains messages of things that transpired in the past, I-Soursop gave warning to the sitting Government that if it does not follow the straight and narrow, he would revert to singing out of key.
“So I am saying to the Government now, they must not make me sing out of key. Which means if you do anything wrong, I will sing out of key. Because quite obviously is when things go wrong that I sing out of key. This year I really want to win so I hope they don’t do anything wrong, because I want to stay in key.”
The calypsonian said he is focused on winning the crown and is of the view that last year, when he placed Second Runner Up, he was not given the position he earned.
“Last year I think I won hands down but I was a scapegoat last year. I feel like the judges didn’t want to say as soon as Unity win they gave me the crown. But I feel like I won last year. I haven’t seen anybody who could have beat me last year.”
And his confidence level for the Sugar Mas 45 Calypso Monarch Competition was expressed in these words, “I will this competition hands down”
Following last Sunday’s eliminations, I-Soursop was among the 16 who have advanced to the semifinal round. He placed eighth in that group and he is to return to the competition stage on Sunday (Dec. 18) for the semifinals where seven would advance to the final round.
The bunch is seeking to dethrone King Astro of Nevis who has won the title two years in a row.
