This is a call for the organisers and judges of the Soca Monarch competition to set higher standards to improve the show, its international appeal and the performances. This year the prize is $2 million and the winner must be someone deserving. The perception is that the performer that moves the crowd the most wins the Soca Monarch. This has led to all the artistes stopping the music and shouting instructions, talking, sometimes for lengthy periods, then suddenly starting up again and sending the crowd wild. The crowds in most cases are responding to the restart of the music and not the effectiveness of the performer.
At the semis Bunji did an entire story, as reported in one of the daily newspaper. How is this possible?The organisers also need to set a time limit for the performances so that the show moves smoothly. If the performers want to use their time talking then they will be judged on that. This year, with higher stakes, the organisers should use the opportunity to up the ante and encourage the performers to move the crowd with their singing, their voice, their music. The honest response of the crowd to the performer that can move them without shouting a host of instructions should be the real winner. Let us see real performances and not this continuous shouting at the top of their voices.
What attracts the fans in the first place is the original song; we want to hear that song. Yes, it can be varied for a live performance but not the amount of screaming, shouting and lecturing on stage that we are now being subjected to. We are all looking forward to a grand show this year with all the big soca stars of T&T but we want to see what makes them big.
Allis Gillis
Via e-mail