Teenager Helon Francis has positioned himself as the early favourite to capture the 2013 Senior Calypso Monarch title in the Couva Carnival Committee's (CCC) calypso competition.
The Cascade-based calypsonian placed first in the preliminary round on Sunday, with a score of 175 points. Performing simply as Helon, the 19-year-old delivered a polished performance of his social commentary number, Tainted Legacy, to establish his credentials as a major contender for the senior crown.
Former Couva Calypso Monarch, Victoria Cooper, singing as Queen Victoria, scored 175 points to place second in the preliminaries.
In the junior category, Jerod Michael Griffith, a student of Carapichaima RC Primary School, topped the preliminary round with a score of 183 points. He sang Our Children; One Future.
A release from the organisers said rehearsals for both junior and senior finalists take place with the Joey Rivers Band at the Balmain Community Centre, Balmain, Couva, from 9 am on February 2.
The finals of the Senior and Junior Couva Calypso Monarch competition come off on February 8, at the Couva Car Park, starting at 7 pm.
Defending monarchs Rondell Donawa (senior) and Jeromy Rodriguez (junior) will have to overcome stiff competition to retain their 2012 titles.
Wilton "Flex" Griffith, coordinator and MC for the show, said that the competition was of an exceptionally high standard, with a lot of surprises in store for patrons. "Some of the newcomers are pushing hard to win the titles, as you can see from the results of the preliminaries. In the senior category, only ten points separated the 14 finalists. Calypso final night will be a grand occasion," he said.
Finalists for the 2013 Senior Couva Calypso Monarch Competition:
Helon Francis (Helon) � Tainted Legacy
Victoria Cooper (Queen Victoria) � De Betrayal
Malika Ballantyne (Malika) � Target 365
Vernon Bereaux (Big Fisherman) � No Kind Ah Friend At All
Leslie Skeete (D Master) � Sing, Aloes, Sing
Lynette Steele (Lady Gypsy) � Brand Name
Joanna Forster � More Than An Oil Drum
Michelle Henry � Our National Watchword
Rudolph Ramdeen � Long-Time Children
Robert Deen (Comrade Deen) � Massa Day Done
Tenniel Cooper (T-Coo) � Quality Investment
Terry Marcelle (D Masso) � Thank You, Keshorn Walcott
Marion Paponette � The Last Days
Moricia Cagan � Evolution of Soca
Reserves: Francis Ottley � DEM Partners and Dem; Mahalia Regis (Mahalia C) � The Interview; Veronique Benjamin (Veronique) � The Gift of Life.
Finalists for the 2013 Junior Couva Calypso Monarch Competition:
Jerod Michael Griffith � Our Children; One Future
Joshua Hinds � Ah Must Play De Pan
Aaron Duncan (Master Aaron) � Aim High
Aneka Collin (D Talented One) � What I Want To Be
Njala Regis (NG) � Record My Song
Caleb Hinds � To Be Alive
Kevan Calliste � Grandpa's Advice
Shurlana Matos � There Is Something
Reserves: Sherisse Collymore � Games We Play; Jonelle Manwarring � One Life To Live; Necoda Francis (Necoda) � Pass D Baton.
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