BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ALTHOUGH they are many people who have the view that this year’s Calypso Competition was not judged on a fair standard, one of the artistes spoke to SKNVibes Entertainment about his experience and thoughts about the Finals.
Well, for those who were there, they can testify to the fact that each competitor brought everything to the table during their fight for the crown.
However, in an exclusive interview with this publication, Calvin ‘I-Soursop’ Johnson believes that his omission from this year’s Finals might have been because he protested against his tied position with Lady Diva in last year’s competition.
“Last year they tried to throw me out from opinion because I tied for seventh position with Lady Diva and they only wanted seven in the Finals. So, my thing was that two people can’t be tied with the position.”
He added that after much controversy he decided to settle for the eighth position, making him one of the artistes to not make the Finals.
I-Soursop also told this publication that although he was eliminated, he did turn up at the Finals and performed as a guest artiste.
For this year’s competition though, I-Soursop believes that in addition to last year’s protest, he was not selected to contest in the Finals because of his composition.
“The second reason is because I had a song out there named ‘One Song’ and they don’t want that song to play in the Park at election time.”
He added that while the eight finalists were announced on the night of the Semi-Finals, his name was never mentioned until the next morning as an alternative act for the Finals.
“What they normally do is pick seven calypsonians to go to the Finals, and in the event of anybody dropping out the alternate comes in. What they did on that night is that they went and pick eight one time because they know Konris was not taking part,” I-Soursop said.
The calypsonian further explained that although Konris Maynard, the 2013 Calypso Monarch, did not formally announce his withdrawal from the competition, the Carnival Committee had already known of his decision.
When asked about his view on the night of the Finals, I-Soursop had this to say: “Well, I know all along they put Richie Buntin to win the crown. I knew that all along! And his behaviour would say, ‘Well they brought me here to take this crown.’”
He said that was the behaviour of the new king at every event they had attended and preformed prior to the Finals, adding that “the other calypsonians were playing blind to it but I knew it all along”.
When ask if he would compete in next year’s competition, I-Soursop said, “Every year I will be there…with God’s strength. I believe that once God gives you a talent you have to use it. If you can write and sing…do it.”
