Congrats to JW and Blaze and Shurwayne Winchester who won Power and Groovy sections of the International Soca Monarch competition held in Trinidad on Friday! No video of the performances yet but at least listen to the songs in the vids below:
Power Soca Monarch results
4. Tallpree
3. Shal and Screws
2. Fay Ann Lyons
1. JW and Blaze
Groovy Soca Monarch results
4.Patrice Roberts
3.Rikki Jai
2. Fay Ann Lyons
1. Shurwayne Winchester
Well Fantastic Friday has come and gone. Big respect to Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez, daughter of legendary soca artist Super Blue and wife to fellow competitor Bunji Garlin (Ian Alvarez), who won both the Groovy and Power categories!
Groovy Soca Category
4th - Zoelah - (St Vincent)
3rd - Benjai
2nd - Shurwayne Winchester (last years winner)
1st - Faye-Ann Lyons
People's Choice - Faye-Ann Lyons
Power Soca Monarch
4th - Blaxx
3rd - Neil Iwer George
2nd - Bunji Garlin (last year's winner)
1st - Faye-Ann Lyons
Saturday 14th February, 2009 at the Hasely Crawford National Stadium. Lights! Camera! Action! The Alternative Concept 7, dubbed Heavenly Drums. However, immediately following a stellar performance by Shurwayne Winchester, Prestan, Mastamind, Maxi Priest & Y.O.U., I was witness to some not-so-heavenly behaviour by Mr. HD himself in the backstage area. "De boy" re-affirmed on Saturday why he could never get my respect as a man and oh how I wish I had a phone on me to capture some of the audio of what went down that night so that people can get a true taste of their "king of soca".
So let's start at the beginning. It was shaping up to be quite a fantastic night with performances from Ravi B, Nisha B & Karma, followed by Ventures featuring appearances by Tizzy and Richard Trumpet, Benjai, Skarface & Gailann. Next up, Shurwayne Winchester & Y.O.U. They were having a fantastic set in my opinion and I couldn't see anything that went wrong. During the performance Mr. HD was spotted having a time before his appearance on stage and all was well until one point in the set where the band started to play this popular dance/techno track. I can't remember the name now, but anyways. I stood observing as "de boy" stormed to the stage demanding that the performance be stopped. At this point I was like, "Ok then! More bacchanal."
So after the abrupt end to the Y.O.U. performance, I made my way to the backstage area to grab some refreshments and that's where the real show started. Mr. HD himself came storming demanding to see Mr. Winchester shouting, (and I quote) "Where Mr. Shurwayne Winchester? Where dat disrespectful p***y-hole?" He continued to hurl obscenities down the corridor until he finally caught up with the Y.O.U. head man. At that point he proceeded to verbally abuse his fellow bMobile endorser (and I quote again) "Dat is what yuh go do? Yuh go copy my f***in' ideas and do it before me? On my f***in' show? Yuh f***in' disrespectful! Yuh is ah disrespectful p***y-hole! Dat is what yuh go do? After I give yuh ah f***in' shot?!" He carried on with this for quite a couple minutes, yelling and cursing to Mr. Winchester's face, while the bigger man motioned to his band members to back off and leave Machel alone. Mr. Montano ended his rant saying "F***in' God will deal with allyuh!" One thing though, throughout his entire juvenile tantrum, he was smart enough to not lay a finger on his fellow artiste with his whole band standing there. Mr. Winchester showing true class, let him have his word until he was satisfied and simply gathered his troops and made his exit.
As I said, I wish I could give people more of a taste of their "king of soca" so that they can see the individual for what "it" truly is. The whole display was one that bothers me to this minute and will continue to bother me for some time. All of this cussing, carrying on, ranting and raving, for an idea that you claimed was stolen. A song that isn't even yours to begin with! While it may not have been pretty, I'm glad I was there. I've heard stories but it was quite enlightening to have experienced it first-hand. He called God's name in his rant (although it immediately followed an expletive) and I do truly hope that God blesses him to learn the error of his ways. He also needs to remember "What ain't meet yuh, ain't pass yuh." Carry on Mr. HD, carry on.
Soca swine
Here are the finalists in the 2009 International Soca Monarch Competition which will be taking place in Trinidad on Fantastic Friday, Feb. 20th 2009!!!!!
Bunji Garlin 2008 Power Soca Monarch Champion
Shurwayne Winchester 2008 Groovy Monarch ChampionCreole Festival 2007 is gonna be hot! hot! hot!....Shurwayne Winchester, Beenie Man, Kassav, Destra, WCK, Triple Kay, Beres...allu go to de site for de whole list......I will be one real sour puss if I doh end up there boy!
