Singing Jackie retains crown; Hot Rod wins first crown

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SINGING JACKIE has once again been crowned the Female Bacchanal Calypso Queen while Hot Rod, for the first time in his career, was adjudged winner of the Best of the Rest Calypso competition last evening (Dec. 27) at Carnival Village.

From a field of nine, Singing Jackie amassed a total of 435 points with her song ‘Turn your scars into stars’ to be crowned the 2009/2010 Female Bacchanal Calypso Queen.

The First Runner-up position went to Kibi, a former Bacchanal Queen, whose ‘Job Vacancy’ motivated many patrons to dance and sing along with her, while Singing Angie copped the Second Runner-up position performing ‘Queen of the Green’.

Singing Jennifer was adjudged Third Runner-up with ‘I change my mind’ and she was also presented an award for Long Service in the calypso art form. The female competition saw two newcomers in Majestic D who performed ‘Love is the Cure’ and Sha Angel who sang ‘Soldier’.

The other female participants were Singing Pearline who won the award for Most Improved Calypsonian, she sang ‘Something must be working’; Singing Dolly, who performed ‘No Way’; and Singing Venus, also a former Calypso Queen, who sang ‘Like a Woman’. Singing Jackie’s rendition is a song of encouragement that states all is not lost, no matter how tough the situation is.

Jackie, whose real name is Jacqueline Leader, stated in the song that last year she lost both her mother and daughter but was still able to turn that pain into joy.

Although her song has a very strong message, some persons in the crowd were of the opinion that Kibi, whose real name is Kibiane Willet, should have won the crown.

Willet gave an entertaining performance singing about the qualities she wants in a mate in her tune ‘Job Vacancy’, which features the melody from a past hit - ‘De Man for me’.

Following the Female Bacchanal Calypso Queen competition, patrons were entertained by five men who vied for the Best of the Rest title.

However, it was Jamal ‘Hot Rod’ Butler, whose face was masked with smiles when he was announced winner of the competition. Hot Rod amassed a total of 237 points with his rendition ‘P-Peep’.

He was followed by Provoker with ‘Don’t take me for no ATM Machine’, and Lala with ‘Lie Low’ in that order. The other competitors were Unexpected with ‘Sesame Street Government’ and Daygo with ‘Wha dey deh pon?’ Just before his performance, Daygo, who is wheelchair bound, stated that he lost his foot because of diabetes after receiving a cut on it.

Following the two competitions, patrons were treated to exciting performances by Mighty J with ‘Don’t bring your guns to town’ and Lord Kut with ‘Ho-mea’.

The Female Bacchanal and the Best of the Rest were hosted by Sexy Sandra B and Chris Roberts. Sexy Sandra B also aired her views on an issue she felt strongly about with regards to the National Calypso Monarch competition.

Sandra B said that last year, during the tents and leading up to the final night, she and Calypso Reggie had hosted the shows but neither of them was chosen to host the final show.

“They chose two other persons who don’t come to the tents, and Reggie and I have been the ones to host the shows and now on final night they don’t use us. Those things are not fair! I don’t care who upset…I am going to speak me mind,” she said.

The National Carnival celebration continues tonight with the National Carnival Queen Pageant, which will see six contestants vying for the crown at Carnival Village from 8:00.