Monday night's Soca and Calypso Monarchs Celebrate, staged at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya, Tunapuna, underscored the futility of trying to separate one genre of the calypso art form from the other.A number of top calypsoes penned in the past, performed by a cast comprising some of the best of today's calypsonians, revealed, for those who may still entertain doubts, that soca is rooted in calypso, as singers have been successfully combining calypso lyrics with dance rhythms throughout the years.
All the songs showcased on the occasion were combinations of storylines of calypsoes mounted on platforms of uptempo music rhythms.
A presentation of Calypso Lovers International, headed by Sugar Aloes (Michael Osouna), the playbill featured performances by 11 bards, some of whom have won titles in the past, including Skatie (Carlos James), Pink Panther (Eric Taylor), Denyse Plummer, Scrunter (Irwin Reyes Johnson), Baron (Timothy Watkins), Black Stalin (Leroy Calliste), Johnny King, Explainer (Winston Henry), Swallow (Rupert Philo–Antigua), SuperBlue (Austin Lyons) and Aloes.
The formidable cast served up a plethora of past and present hits, opening with True Inspiration by Skatie and closing with Fantastic Friday by SuperBlue.In between, Panther, reigning National Calypso Monarch, earned the night's first encore for classy renditions of his selections Laughing In The Ghetto and the prize-winning Travel Woes, which he updated with new lines.
In a short interview after his performance, the reigning monarch said it was the first time he was performing the work publicly since winning the competition last Carnival."I wish to take this opportunity to say a public thank you to all those who offered congratulations, as well as supported my career over the years," he said.
"Winning the title may seem to some to have been a long time in coming, but nothing happens before its time. I felt humbled by the victory, which really was a victory for the calypso art form and all its practitioners. To be here tonight among this cast of talented professionals is a joy and a privilege."
Lone female on the cast, twelve-time calypso queen Denyse Plummer, also charmed the audience and won approval for an awesome rendition of One Moment In Time, the only non-calypso offered on the programme.
Johnny King went among the audience to engage members in a happy sing-along to Ah Want It All The Time, while Black Stalin was recalled for another hearing of the timeless Black Man Feeling To Party. Swallow also received thunderous applause for reviving memories of Doh Stop This Party and Fire In The Back Seat.
Scrunter, Baron, Explainer and Aloes also received plaudits for contributions that had patrons dancing in the aisles, to hits like The Will (Scrunter), Sweet Soca Man (Baron), Lorainne (Explainer) and Signs Of The End Of Times (Aloes).
Special guest artiste Len "Boogsie" Sharpe also entertained with only one selection, Black Stalin's Play One, backed by the accompanying musical aggregation, J D Walcott and the Mystery Band. Show host duty was shared between Tommy Joseph and Dennis "Sprangalang" Hall.