BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN his first interview since not being able to take the Sugar Mas 45 Senior Calypso Monarch crown, King Socrates said that although he did not win in that regard, the calypso art form did.
Socrates – according to the judges – was outperformed by King Craig, beating him with a 25-point-margin.
On the night of the show, SKNVibes spoke with a number of individuals and while some agreed with the judges’ decision, majority said they could not understand how he was able to beat Socrates.
Both songs which King Craig used to win the crown were penned by Socrates, who has been his writer for a number of years.
Speaking with this publication, Socrates said this is not the first time that he was beaten in such a competition with his own material. It happened about two years ago when Lady Diva placed First Runner Up and he placed Second Runner Up and it also happened several years ago with his daughter Queen Anastasia.
The veteran performer congratulated King Craig on his accomplishment and wished him well in his regional undertakings.
“In terms of the last show, there are people who expected a different decision than what the judges rendered. That being said, Calypso Craig made a very, very effective presentation… I want to encourage Craig because I believe the material he has, he can easily take it to Anguilla in the Leeward Islands Competition…so I wish him all the best. Lady Diva now has the chance to go to Montserrat in December this year to compete at a level over there as did Queen Kibi.”
There is some talk that Socrates may have fallen short in his performance because he had difficulty with the opening line of the song. He however, has denied this.
“There is some talk around town that I bust. I state categorically, that did not happen.”
Prior to the final night of competition, it was reported by this media house that half of the 16 songs which were to have been performed on that night were written by King Socrates.
However, SKNVibes understands that he wrote for 11 calypsonians including himself. And of the 11, two participated in the Junior Calypso Monarch Competition. He informed that he also wrote a song for Singing Jennifer which she did not get the chance to perform and one for one of the contestants of the National Carnival Queen Pageant.
The senior calypsonians he wrote for include: Rudder, Jungle Lion, Lil Miss Attitude, Sparta, Mighty J, Singing Diva, King Craig and Lady B.
“I do it because of the love for and survival of the art form and I intend to continue very much in that vein.”
SKNVibes understands that this is the first time that the veteran has written so many songs - 22 -for any single carnival celebration. He said it is likely that this feat is unprecedented in the local and possible regional circles.
A couple of years ago, King Socrates announced his retirement from the competition stage and returned this year, as he explained, to elevate the standard of calypso within the Federation.
He said that has been achieved and he announced that he would not be retiring anytime soon as “there is need for a lot of support in building the platform.
“I am glad I did participate and I intend to continue on that level to make sure that calypso survives in St. Kitts-Nevis…”
