The semifinal round of the Calypso Monarch competition kicks off today at Skinner Park in San Fernando from noon.Sheldon Bullen, aka Sheldon Nugget, performs first with his rendition Then We will Rise.Forty contestants are scheduled to appear and will vie for a chance to enter the final round on Dimanche Gras Sunday (March 6) at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain.Popular calypsonians like Heather McIntosh who copped the National Calypso Queen title last week, Weston Rawlins aka "Cro Cro," Michael Osuna aka "Sugar Aloes," and last year's Calypso Queen Kizzie Ruiz are expected to perform among the first ten.
The youngest performer, 23-year old Asten Isaac, whose sobriquet is "Guidance" will perform "Living in the And."Isaac, in an interview on Thursday said he entered the calypso industry last year.He said the $2 million first prize was not the attraction for him but rather the title of Calypso Monarch.Isaac said: "It is a good incentive to the artform in that it encourages individuals to excel."I have heard a lot of people thinking and saying the prize structure should have been better tiered."My sentiments are probably the same in that regard but however, we will accept that."Performing in the last position is Winston Scarborough aka "De original De Fosto Himself with "Sing Louis Sing."
The order of appearance for today'sCalypso Monarch semifinal are:
Name Sobriquet Calypso
1. Sheldon Bullen Sheldon Nugget Then We Will Rise
2. Dexter Stewart Blaxx Good Time
3. Heather Mc Intosh - Keep It
4. Weston Rawlins Cro Cro Compare And Contrast
5. Dillon Thomas Dilly Suede Guide Them
6. Cathrine Williams - Me And My Drums
7. Michael Osouna Sugar Aloes Not One Word
8. Marvah Joseph Marvelous Marva Salvation
9. Kizzy Ruiz - The Anti Corruption Cure
10. Winston Noel Daz Fork In Napkin
11. Philllp Murray Black Sage Thank God For T&T
12. Eric Taylor Pink Panther Chalkie Say
13. Brian London - We Fed Up
14. Lesley Ann Ellis - In Denial
15. Nicolle Thomas - Spirit Of Truth
16. Selvon Noel Mr Shak The Real Magicians
17. Asten Isaac Guidance Living In The And
18. Marsha Charles Lady Adana Ready For The Truth
19. Errol Ballantyne Bally Carnival Country
20. Tameika Darius - Ungrateful
21. Michael Legerton Protector Ah Rising
22. Hollis Liverpool Chalkdust Wounded Pride
23. Alex Gift Tobago Chalkie Walk In Dem Footprints
24. Wilfred Barker Young Creole Shave Meh Barberman
25. Devon Seale - Ah Need Meh Carnival
26. Dexter Parsons Stinger Mystic Revelations
27. Sean Daniel - Laptop
28. Karen Eccles-Thomas - Will We Rise
29. Francine Edwards Singing Francine Nothing But the Truth
30. Karene Ashe - Uncle Jack
31. Rodney Le Blance Benjai Trini
32. Knolly Brown Brown Boy Toy Of The Year
33. Victor Mc Donald Mr Mack Crooks Family
34. Neville Brown Bunny B Big M Small M
35. Moses Munroe Xposer Things You'll Never See
36. Joanne Rowley Tigress Woman To Woman
37. Deneison Moses Dee Diamond Eyes On The Hill
38. Anthony E Phillip Brother Valentino The Glory Days
39. Shamika Denoon - A Prayer For Our Nation
40. Winston Scarborough Original De Fosto Sing Louis Sing
Tuco congratulates all the artistes and wishes them well in all their endeavours.