Several veterans to take part in 2014 calypso eliminations

Observever is starting from scratch at the calypso eliminations after several years
Observever is starting from scratch at the calypso eliminations after several years

As Christmas carols are quickly fading away indicating the end of the Christmas season, Dominicans are welcoming the upcoming Carnival season as calypsonians get ready to begin competing in the biggest event for carnival, the calypso competition.

The calypso eliminations is set for Saturday 4th January and at the end of this carnival calypso kick-off, twelve calypsonians will move on to the quarter final round.

50 calypsonians have registered to take part in the eliminations which is scheduled to be held at the Krazy Kokonuts from 8pm.

Calypsonians will sing two verses and two choruses and will be judged on lyrics and melody.

Patrons can look forward to an entertaining line-up which will include veterans such as two-time King, Observer, Peter Prosper, Val “Young Bull” Cuffy, Chris B, Trendsetter, Man Him Self”, and Haxey at Saturday’s show.

President of the Dominica Calypso Association, Derrick “De Hunter” St Rose, told Dominica News Online that the eliminations will be held on Saturday only since the decision to hold it in two parts has been reconsidered.

“Last year we had over 70 persons registered and it was a very long show and so we didn’t want that to repeat itself and so we decided that if we had over sixty persons we would do it in two parts but this year that wasn’t the case so we are just going to do one night.”

Calypso lovers are expected to pay $10 entrance fee.

The Quarter Finals is expected to take place on February 1st while the semi finals is set for 15th February. The calypso finals will be on 1st March.

In the meantime, St Rose revealed that this year the Dominica Calypso Association will be hosting a new event dubbed “the Heineken Calypso lime.”

“We will host that on the roof of the calypso association where we hope to invite the people of DBS to come to do their calypso night show live on the roof. We will have artists performing live.”

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23 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    January 6, 2014

    Reports from St. Vincent & The Grenadines indicates Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves is considering the legalization of medical marijuana. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxU97stIZ2k&list=PL5vASGTaCzxzFZq7ajMRqPFx9i96L9ZSX&index=2

  2. Anonymous
    January 5, 2014

    @ Pedro .. valid points and I do remember the fiasco with the show starting at what time in the morning!!!, but that was an era when the pool of especially horn players was limited. The fact is besides guitar and keyboard licks contemporary Kaiso is usually accompanied by brilliant horn melodies. The challenge has always been that unlike other musical instruments which most local musicians have learnt to play by air (with some now reading scores!!), during the mid to late 80’s leading up to the early part of 2000 there where few musicians who could actually play horn instruments and who could read scores. Those that could were usually found playing in the Music Lovers band… the core of Swingin stars horn section!!!!

    Now from that same Music Lovers (GOVT Band)we have a growing number of young men and women stepping up to the times. So the idea is to (1) from that core of brass players create 3-4 Kaiso combos with other local musicians which could be used to do ELIMINATION ROUND. (2) consider having a mandatory deadline for registration for eliminations so you know what numbers you are dealing with, there are pros and cons!!(3) assign kaisonians to the various combos for song rehearsal and/or score writting. In this way 60+ contestants as was the case this year, could be accommodated by at least 3 bands (20+ kaisonians per band), consequently we do not need these LONG show hours, we could do ELIMINATIONS ROUND over a week end period.. friday-Sunday!!!!

    In this way the work load on SS would be easier or we could use a different combination of musicians, and we would get a better quality 1ST ROUND show, because the basic musical scores with accompanying horn lines would have already been written for the 25 kaisonians competing for the 12 quarter finals spots!!!. So the idea is not of switching around musicians and having to increase waiting/turn over time but to have more musicians available to play certain segments of the competition. The discussion is still open..

  3. Doc. Love
    January 4, 2014

    I have been a supporter of Intruder, since the night he sang Pull String. The man is graced with such a beautiful calypso voice but has let me down over the years. This year my boy has come out swinging with the song,” they ban my song.” Welcome back my boy, 2014 is your year.

  4. Anonymous
    January 4, 2014

    way papa

  5. January 4, 2014

    Dominca calypsonians need to step ip their game to fit in the arena
    Listen to Marshall..he don’t sing about Government issues to win a crown,he invite the people to partake in the celebration, enjoy themselves and make money, mad money all over the the world with his songs (Carnival). Ok, you keep making a song on a Politician, Red, Blue or Yellow
    You win the road march or the crown..what is the next move for you for the rest of the year? Nada!! because your song was only for political party supporters to enjoy and continue stirring hatred and division amongst your own people..where next can you take this song to market yourself..not in the US like Marshall does, no one will show up but your same Dominicans and the sponsor cannot pay you because not enough money made
    Dominica calypsonians Step Up your games. Too much mediocre and below average lyrics in your songs.. stop catering yourselves too only a petty few. These Politicians you singing about have a solid profession and Visas (need not apply) they can leave Dominica and go anywhere in the world and get a fulltime job and leave your sorry behinds on the Island still gwayaying.

    • Reader
      January 4, 2014

      While I get your point of delivering to an international market, get real. Marshall is NOT a calypsonian so no comparison. I listen to tons of trini calypso every year … even watched the finals online. Most of the songs were based on what is happen in Trinidad. Afterall, that is what calyspo is … a social commentary. If you want jump and wave, talk to the soca and bouyon artists.

    • January 4, 2014

      @Castrol Smart One January 4, 2014

      Yours is a smart comment, your name spells your understanding.

      In Dominica, and the world for that matter, we human beings refuse to take heed that we should not worship men like ourselves; for we do not receive the blessings from fellow human beings; our blessing come from God alone, by the Power of His Holy Spirit–regardless of through whom He gives us those blessings.

      Besides that, God is displease with us for that attitude and conduct in us, He wants the glory which belongs to Him alone and not to no man or woman in this world.

      As human beings we need to focus on doing the work that is fruitful, hence we should desire to be one among the good trees–as Jesus tells us, we will know a tree according to its fruit.

      Also we are told in Psalm 146: 3-4 “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. For when his spirit departs from his body, he returns to his form of dust; in that very day his plans perish”.

      A politician is a man, just like the rest of us–most of the time they are not even called to do the work which they claim to be doing–that is the reason for their failure–one way or the other; whoever they are

      I am saying now, that it is foolish the way Dominicans are ignorantly worshiping these men and women–whoever they are–for that worship of theirs is as empty as your sentiment describes it –concerning the Calypsonians in Dominica–no matter what the theme of their songs are, about politics. Blessings

  6. Symes
    January 4, 2014

    Is it 12 or 20??

  7. MARIECHERIE
    January 4, 2014

    I’LL BE WAITING!! TO HEAR SOME SWEET CALYPSO THIS YEAR!!! LOVE MY CULTURE….

  8. January 4, 2014

    Perhaps it is just me, but why does it say;
    “Elimination?”

    If 12 Calipsonians among the number, which will enter the audition process are to be chosen, then are we not looking for a group will qualify for the competition? So that is what’s important here isn’t it?

    So why not the “term” nomination–which is positive than the word “elimination” which is negative, because at the end of the audition it does not matter anymore who was “eliminated”–even if some of us will still contend against that judgment. For “elimination” means no more–like dead or destroyed.

    O dear!

  9. Love I
    January 3, 2014

    I agree with the writer to choose 25 out of fifty….make the quarter finals more exciting

  10. 2cute
    January 3, 2014

    Allu didnt forget to put price but forgot to put wheRE the show is held..

    • 2cute
      January 4, 2014

      thanks :)

  11. Anonymous
    January 3, 2014

    I believe that the time has come for us to change the current elimination format leading up to the Kaiso finals. Last year over 70 elimination participants, this year 50 kaisonians. The selection of just 12 spots at the elimination round does not do justice to the art form. Lots of potentially great songs are lost in a fight for 12 positions.

    Considerations: (1) increase elimination positions from 12 to 25!!! (2) Create a new “first round” segment followed by quarter finals.(25 competitors fighting for 12 spots seems more balanced), (3) Get a band like fanatik or Pat Aaron’s All Stars to do first round segment to lessen to work load on Swingin Stars, (4) Start discussions on how we can create a NATIONAL COMBO of musicians who will back up Kaisonians at competition level.. not to discredit SS but this could potentially increase the number of PARTICIPANTS at any one stage of the competition because you would have a bigger pool of musicians at any given time to back up the Kaisonians. That has always been an issue especially for horn players. After 30 songs a man must tired blow!!!

    This brings with it a lot more activity in the form of a new show (1st round), more musicals scores to be written, more recording to be done and more music to be played which translates into more work during carnival for ALL musicians, more local music during carnival, etc, etc!!

    • Matriculation
      January 3, 2014

      “..After 30 songs a man must tired blow!!!..” :lol: :lol: :lol:

      u sure got dat one right.

    • January 4, 2014

      agree with you 100%

    • Pedro
      January 4, 2014

      Great points….Just one thing to consider though is the logistics of switching around musicians and having to increase waiting/turn over time. Also since swinging stars remain the band of choice for the semis and the finals it makes all the issues about switching bands/musicians a bit more complicated. At the end of the day, the musicians, performers and audience must be reasonably happy and accommodated. I am not sure if you remember but one year when swinging stars was taken out of the backing up there were huge problems..At the end of the day I don’t think a long show may discredit an artist on the count of the band being tired though..

    • south east voice/MJ
      January 4, 2014

      well said,,,that is such a great idea, nice one ,,i love that Idea

  12. kaiso
    January 3, 2014

    This year is blows on the crooks. Largais lang nous. Well we know Hunter, Ghost and Scrunter lang yo mawais. Largais lang Hunter

    • Anonymous
      January 4, 2014

      So because someone choose not to oppose Government their lang mawais?? So how about when you only give Government blows….what you call that?

      • Kaiso
        January 5, 2014

        You are so naive I wonder whether you misplace your pacifier.

      • Josh
        January 5, 2014

        Anonymous person the question is why their lang Mawais since Labor Party in government and prior to that their tongue was never tied and their calypso reflected that. you remember the song ” ma vlais pyes minister bogar” ask ghost about that song. Prior to Labor Party Ghost sang against government year after Year after year; Ask Hunter about Karl they joking; I wash my hand ; anything for a dollar etc;

  13. Pedro
    January 3, 2014

    “Several veterans to take part in 2013 calypso eliminations”. Admin, I assume you meant 2014?

    Admin: Thanks corrected.

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