Reigning National Calypso Monarch Roderick "Mr Chuck" Gordon, International Soca Monarch (Power)/Road March champion Machel Montano and International Soca Monarch (Groovy) Olatunji Yearwood all sang some of the most infectious songs for Carnival 2015.
There were also some endearing ditties by Destra, Farmer Nappy, Devon Seale, Benjai, Ricardo Drue and Sekon Sta. So: what do these artistes have in common, you may ask? These songs are among the Top 40 Calypsoes for 2015, according to the National Action Cultural Committee (NACC).
Despite this year's tsunami of soca songs, 40 of the year's best calypsoes and soca items have been shortlisted by NACC. Identified as the Top 40 Calypsoes for 2015, from these calypsoes, a panel of judges will select the Top 20 Calypsoes of 2015, which will be awarded at the 28th Annual Top 20 Calypso Stars of Gold and Calypso of the Year Awards.
This gala affair will be held on Friday, November 13, at the Central Bank Auditorium, Eric Williams Plaza, Port-of-Spain, from 8 pm.
A NACC release stated, "The 'Top 20' Awards are awards of distinction and represent the pinnacle of achievement for excellence in calypso composition and our system of adjudication seeks to tap our collective wisdom in order to establish national consensus about the essence of truly great calypsoes."
For further information, interested people can call 623-5470 or email NACCcommunications@gmail.com
Top 40 Selections–2015 (in alphabetical order)
CALYPSO–ARTISTE
Ah Gone–Heather Mac Intosh
Band of the Year–Mighty Diamond (Patrick Purcell Lewis)
Child of Liberty–Ife Alleyne
Citizen's Pride–Duane O'Connor
CSM 20–Rikki Jai and Ravi B
Dey Sticking–Shadow (Winston Bailey)
Dis Is My Life–Arnold Jordan
Drums of Hope–Nicole Thomas
Equality–Ezekiel Yorke
Every Knee Shall Bow–Karene Asche
Games–The Original De Fosto (Winston Scarborough)
How Much–Kerine Williams
I Believe–Chucky (Roderick Gordon)
King #2–Kurt Allen
King Birdie–Joanne Foster
Like Ah Boss–Machel Montano
Lucy–Destra (Destra Garcia)
My House–Farmer Nappy (Darryl Henry)
My Humble Plea–Devon Seale
Noise–Five Star Akil (Akil Borneo)
Ola–Olatunji (OlatunjiYearwood
Peace Seeker–Sean Daniel
Perspective of Black–Nicklas Gosine
Phenomenal–Benjai (Rodney Le Blanc)
Senior Citizen–Contender (Mark John)
Stalwart–Helon Francis
Take Me Back–Sekon Alves
The Best–Sekon Sta (Nesta Boxill)
The Essence of Building–Sasha Ann Moses
The Voice–Georgia Mc Intyre
Time to Arise–Allison Bernard
Trinbago Is Mine–Ras Kommanda (Steve Pascall)
True Democracy–Candice Robinson
Twice A Child–Lesley Ann Ellis
Unquestionable–Sheldon Reid (All Stars Panorama Selection)
Vagabond–Ricardo Drue
Voice of the Aborted–Lady Gypsy (Lynette Steele)
What Maestro Say Is True–All Rounder (Anthony Hendrickson)
What You Willing to Die For–Tigress (Joanne Rowley)
Wishful–Brian London
Sparrow to sing on Monday
Calypso lovers are in for a treat on Monday when living calypso legends Mighty Sparrow and Chalkdust perform at De Nu Pub, formerly The Mas Camp in Woodbrook at 8.30 pm. Sparrow is scheduled to be back home having received an OBE in Grenada last night.
Although both bards are expected to include some of the hits that won them national calypso monarchs titles, with Christmas right around the corner, both might also include their popular Christmas ditties in their repertoires. Sparrow's bushel of yuletide classics include I'll Be Home for Christmas, Home for the Holidays, White Christmas and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, while Chalkdust's Something Salt is the bespectacled calypsonian's most popular hit of the season.
Tribute for Trinidad All Stars......
......Fanfare for the best all-inclusive party
Fanfare & Associates, emerging J'Ouvert band producer, pays tribute to people and organisations in T&T who have risen to national recognition. In this regard, Massy Trinidad All Stars, having won the National Panorama title and People's Choice award, Band of the Year and the International Panorama, has been Fanfare's choice for special tribute.
Fanfare leader Peter "Blues" Reynald said: "Trinidad All Stars' successes have gone unnoticed by the country's cultural organisations. I am really surprised that no cultural organisation, including the National Carnival Commission (NCC) or any of its Special Interest Groups, honoured All Stars for its unprecedented achievements, so we decided to do something about it," said Reynald.
Reynald added: "For 80 years the All Stars story has been nothing but progress and achievement–not just as a steelband but as an organisation that has been uniting a community and satisfying its legion of loyal supporters."
The tribute event was held at Pandemonium Steel Orchestra panyard, located on Norfolk Street, Belmont. It was attended by Pan Trinbago vice president Byron Serrette; National Carnival Development Foundation (NCDF) chairman Mahindra Satram Maharaj; All Stars manager Beresford "Berry" Hunte; band arranger Leon "Smooth edwards; and members of All Stars. Hunte, Edwards and Clive Telemaque were presented with plaques.
To further emphasise Fanfare's acknowledgement of All Stars' achievements, the band's Carnival 2016 J'Ouvert presentation will be A Fanfare to Trinidad All Stars. Fanfare, this year's J'Ouvert Band of the Year winner, will launch its mas on Sunday, November 15 at the Royal Air Force Association on Queen's Park East, Port-of-Spain.
For Carnival 2015, Fanfare held a unique band launch in that it was an all-inclusive event which carried an admission tag of just $40 and at which patrons were treated to a wide array of food and liquor. Reynald has promised that next month's launch will outdo the last one, adding that music will be by DJ Cutting Crew. The launch begins at 4 pm and it is probably the only Carnival mas band launch where patrons can dance to the recorded music of the Joey Lewis Orchestra.
Comedy treat for children
Yangatang Comedy Tent will present its annual special gift of entertainment and treats to the children and staff of two homes. Scheduled for Sunday, the first will be held at Princess Elizabeth Centre, located on Aripaita Avenue, Woodbrook, at 1 pm, and the second will commence at 4 pm at St Mary's Children's Home, EMR, Tacarigua.
During these shows, the children and staff will be entertained by top comedic artistes such as Tommy Joseph, Peter Joseph, skits by Lady Aiesha, Granny X and more.This week a spokesperson for the organiser said: "Over the years the children, especially, have come to look forward to these shows, so we try our best not to disappoint them."