There was no dust to settle at the New Town Savannah on Saturday night, not because the competition was lacking, but because the persistent rain had turned all dust into mud.
Yet, calypso fans stood their ground, perhaps some got stuck in the mud, to hear what the 2018 calypso semifinalists had to offer in their quest for a place in the final.
And then when the battle was over, the Emcees announced that according to the judges, those who had earned their favour were Tasha P, Chris B, Scrunter, Haxey, Stephan, Jay Dee, De Bobb, Sye and Dice.
Stephan, in just his second year of competition, has once again made it through to the final.
So on the night of February 10, 2018, in order to hold on to his crown, reigning monarch Caressa, will have to stave off what one expects will be a serious challenge from 8-times monarch, Dice and the other eight calypsonians.
Below are photos of the nine finalists courtesy Zaimis Olmos Visual Arts.
Scrunter has absolutely no right to have even made finals. Checko or Observer should have gotten his spot!!
dice will be the 2018 king!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dominicans will continue to put foreigners first,this guy Stephan deserve no place,not even in the semis,total carnage and disrespect to our own talent,this guy would not even make it out the first round in Trinidad,but news for him and the promoters here in the tri state are,do not bring him here to sing his song,i have given up on the calypso association and the despicable judges they choose yearl.stop selling out our own talent.all this guy song was a repeat of last years song with a few words changed,i support ozzie’s remarks after the show,dominica needs more of another wake up call.
if it was the reverse and it was a Dominican in Trinidad you would be well proud. The guy might as well be a Dominican. He lives here with his family and runs a business contributing to the economy. #bepositive.
Another fool that will sell your country for $1 this guy deserve no place in any of these competition,dont care what damn business he owns and will tell him in his face,look in the mirror and you will see the crab fool,this is why Dominica continue to be devastated,you all are a bunch of hypocrities,he will not be king in dominica.His song is a copy of last year with same tempo and just a few words changed,yeah i guess he bought his passport on the black market also.
It is amazing how ignorant so of us continue to be – even in this time.
Jihan – you like crabs in a bucket, you are suffering very badly from that syndrome.
the ignorance of a dominican. Dominicans can go all over the world and do, but the moment someone else come dominica and does, people like you show your ugly heads. I think Stefan will MAKE local calypsonians step their game up. you want him out? sing a better song next year Jihan. Until then just remain a fool with your opinion in your little corner.
Just your opinion
In the final nine there should be cheko, Observer and Jamma B. Tasha P, Stephan, and Chris B should not be on the list.
It’s 40 years now since I’ve been trying to understand that Calypso competition as a prelude to our traditional carnival, which really is a showcase and display of our culture and I just don’t see where calyso fits. To me our culture is Cadace lypso / zook/ boyoun and not calypso. To me each of the Caribbean islands adopted their style of music for example, Trini/Antigua- calypso, Jamaica- reggae, Barbados -spooge, Dominica/ Guada – Cadace. I believe a Cadace competition would not only better fit our culture but based on our geographic location, a cadace completion would greatly boose up our economy, as more people from our neighboring islands would be able to join us. I believe if we had a cadace completion people like Stephan would not even participate because that’s not his culture. Though nothing against the brother but I thing with his Calypso background it’s easier for him to compete here and do better than our local boys like Observer, Cheko, Trendsetter & others.
but you dont know they “invented” something new called cadancelypso? Which to me is absolute nonsense because it really IS JUST CALYPSO and hardly any cadance. Just another opportunity to sing more calypso. Those old people and follow fashion young people have too much time on their hands. COUNTRY NEED TO FIX!!
NCCU sponsors the Cadencelypso competition every Independence. It is very well attended.
Thats is definitely a fact about NCCU. That Mr. Ducrey like wi. his little calypso vibes twice a year. But it is just calypso. no cadence.
How in the world could Observer not in the final 9? Really? Where did he go wrong? I mean out of the 21 contestants Observer was the only one with a true message that deals with the effects of Maria and he is the only one that provides true hope to everyone, regardless of their religion, party, race or creed. Many Dominicans are out there without hope under their tarpolin or wherever they may be recovering from Maria and he is the one not placed? What did Stephan do better? I mean because he keeps singing about Dominica sweet as a half Trini/Venezuelan? This is nonsense Stephan should not be placed and Observer should have. It’s easy for Stephan to sing Dominica sweet because so far over 40 murders in Trini and maybe worse in Venezuela………….
I cannot understand Dominicans. They always have a problem with other people living in Dominica, but you have more Dominicans living in other people country, including Trinidad, than you have living in Dominica.
I concur with your comments
well said my friend,i will be booing him where ever he performs,the song sucks.
No Observer and no Cheko? Awa they were cheated out. Observer to me looked and sounded like the 2018 king and all you did not even give him a chance in the final 9? I like both Tasha P and Stephan but Observer and Cheko should have replaced them in my opinion.
You are entitled to your opinion
Good thing you are not a judge
Definitely Observer should have been selected .