BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DESPITE some minor hiccups, the relatively large and very receptive audience at De House Nitery in Soho was on Thursday (Nov. 21) treated to a night of social commentaries by calypsonians of the Proud Sound and Legends Tents, as they prepare for this year’s National Senior Calypso Monarch Competition.
Fifteen calypsonians participated in the second of the Calypso Tents since its launch on Sunday night (Nov. 17); nine from Proud Sound and six from Legends.
Singing under the Proud Sound Tent were Persuader, Abba Lively, Lord Matt, I-Soursop, King Rock-A-Fella, Queen Kibby, King Lala and Lord Kut; while the Legends Tent comprised Alamoulou, Rudder, Lady Diva, Lord Felix, Jungle Lion and King Socrates.
All of the calypsonians performed well; even Calypso Reggie, the Emcee of Proud Sound, who created history that night for being the first calypsonian to sit on stage and sing from a book. He told his audience that judging from the numerous government-sponsored projects and events, it is evident that General Elections are near.
But, according to some members of the audience, the night belonged to Queen Kibby, Lady Diva, Isoursop and Socrates.
Appearing onstage in a jeans and dark colour jersey, an obvious much-reduced Queen Kibby belted out her up-tempo rendition of ‘Nothing for Me’ in a clear, melodious, high-pitched voice that complemented her performance, which left her audience awe-struck as she ably demonstrated how one should do the Butterfly.
Her postures, gesticulations and facial expressions were all appropriate for the message she brought to the stage – ‘Nothing for me’ even though there is enough for everyone. And the audience called for an encore.
Lady Diva’s ‘Smooth Government’ was a song that speaks to her choice of political party that she wants to see in office. She, too, possesses a melodious high-pitched voice which she used to let her audience know that she is in support of a Unity Government.
She noted that a house that is divided would never stand and it is the will of the people to see the Unity Concept being successful in the upcoming General Elections, adding “One for all and all for all”.
While Lady Diva had spoken about her choice of political party, Isoursop decided to launch an attack on the reigning Calypso Monarch, King Konris, who was also in attendance.
I-Soursop’s song was entitled ‘One Song’. A song in which he said, “Number Three…we nah vote foh he.” He said the constituents would be voting for Sam Condor and Unity, adding that King Konris had given up his $10 000-monthly job to contest in an election that he would surely lose.
He also said that the Labour Party Administration had created a post at the National Bank for the reigning Monarch’s wife, and that all the crowns they had given to him were in preparation for a political life.
The curtains came down on the night’s event with Socrates singing ‘Spinners Wicket’. He, too, had launched an attack on the Labour Party Administration.
Using cricket in his analogy of the political situation in St. Kitts and Nevis, Socrates said that the Labour Party comes with pace bowling in its campaign but it has many “spinners” who distort the truth.
He named Austin Edinborough as a spinner on the airwaves. He also named Erasmus Williams and Charlie Jong as individuals “binded in Douglas contract to launch spin attacks”.
The night, however, was not without satirical ingredients as Lord Felix’s rendition – ‘I want to live in Dubai’ – ended with him having to remain in the oil-rich city after he tried to return to St. Kitts and was told that because of a scam his citizenship was sold.
Lord Kut also played his part with ‘Galo Galo’, which speaks about a politician who had visited an alienated town and whatever he told the resident their response was “Oh galo galo”.
He stated that the politician was about to walk on a certain part of the town and was warned by a resident to be careful, because his nice-looking pair of shoes would be dirtied by galo galo…“The same kind of thing (excreta) that comes from his mouth”.
But it was King Rock-A-Fella who had the audience in stitches.
In his own inimitable style, Rock-A-Fella slowly and seemingly laboriously walked onto the stage and began pumping his ‘Full Confidence’ song with a little jig and slow movements of his over-sized waist.
He chastised Sam Condor and Timothy Harris, stating that the two of them “reaped the harvest of Labour…that’s why Douglas called them hogs”.
Rock-A-Fella, in his message to the two former Ministers, said, “Don’t blame Douglas for your mistakes…Sam you gone, Timothy you gone.”
He then lyrically attacked all those calypsonians who sang about the Labour Party Administration, including Lady Diva and I-Soursop.
Earlier today (Nov. 23), SKNVibes encountered Rock-A-Fella on the Bay Road, in the vicinity of Courts, and he claimed that tonight he would be coming strong to discipline Lord Felix.
The third Calypso Tent will be held tonight at Central Gas Station at the junction of Cayon Street and Victoria Road with Emcees Calypso Reggie and Sandra B, while the fourth will be held tomorrow night at Sprat Net.
