From the word go, the semis delivered. Despite my fear that after King Dice’s sterling performance, things could become anti-climatic, all calypsonians delivered. Alas, the judges would have some thinking to do. But there would be no thinking about Soul Puss. Regal, and smooth, he can almost be considered Dice’s foil.
Two giants with two distinct styles! Dice guaranteed us with confident energy that he can be our emissary, so yes, we will send you. Soul Puss showed us that he is our prophet, and now, we are no longer afraid. After having the best song of the entire 2010 calypso season, and probably the best of the three Haiti songs last year he is being recognized and vindicated. Again, Soul Puss, we are not afraid.
Many suffered agonizing pain, fingers clenched, in the hope that neither Lugas nor Prosper would forget their lines. After every successful verse, we breathed a little and sang some more. Yet, as nervous as we were for them, those nerves could not match the unexpected tenseness of the Matador on stage. Unfortunately, regardless of his entertaining presentation or the worthy popularity of this song, the patrons at the finals will not hear this simple master-piece with the universal message that in life, we will tolerate anything from those we like, and nothing from those we don’t.
That seems to be exactly the case with Observer. We either like him or we don’t. Many feel that his songs sound repetitive. Perhaps! He did give a valiant effort, but sadly, the judges didn’t seem to want it anymore. But, let’s not blame the judges for Bob. Singing a verse twice is a sure sign that one will himself have to go back to the drawing board until next year.
Exposer, a new recruit, was a bit aggressive on the mike. I am just assuming that he was passionately expressing his frustration over the double-standards of women. Still, in determining who the women really are, Tasha came roaring back, vanquishing him while proving to be the conquering adversary to two of her own fair sex. Powerful is the only word to describe her I am not yet sure if this song is superior to Hunter’s Cream of the Crop when he introduced himself to calypso, but Let the Children be Children is a beauty. Her voice makes it majestic.
Leandra would remain the only lady left standing beside her. The song Pray for Me really comes across as a depressing dirge but there is no mistaking the profoundness of the lyrics. Left in the dust are Lady Stharre, faithful in her emulation of her mentor Man Himself—provocative words weaved around a stagnant performance, and Sugar S, one of two failed Price is Right contestants. Beno, the other one, I was tempted to say the other female, was fun to look at in his beautiful make-over as a woman, but he was not stirring or riveting enough to listen to.
Who we could listen to was Third Eye. Dominicans are a strange people. Although we are proud of our local patois we don’t seem to really like it. We enjoyed Aker’s Bubbles but protested the creole. Third Eye suffered the same fate. A brilliant song! What a great thing that the King Ency has thrown his hat back into the writing ring. I lament over Third Eye’s dismissal but I am grateful to him for reminding us that Ency still lives.
Checker deserves a meritorious service award for a persistence that often seems to pay off. The King Maker may not make him King but he handled himself impressively as always. But no tailor could help Boople get dressed for Hollywood. We swayed along and appreciated his effort. Luckily, there could be next year. Trendsetter should be proud of himself. His genuinely well made jacket went as far as it could go. Who will go far however is Sye. Every year, he just gets better. Authoritative and convincing Sye has our attention. With his addition to the finals it promises to be a great show. As we wade through the unveiling of the second songs, it truly is too early to call.
Permit me to dare say that Franklyn Moses gets my thumbs up for ultimate Entertainer. Mr Moses kept us entertained right through with a mixed bag of tricks that appealed to all types in the audience. We are so glad to have you back in Dominica.
In the mean time, in the words of Scrunty, “see you at the finals!”
Well Written Nadine!!! you made me eager to read more.
Magnificent piece Miss Rivierre kudos
@Domnichen do you really know what u talking about? What is wrong with singing about politics?
go back to the drawing board….. check the true definition of calypso.
Judges decision is final
Adult ED you too sort…. You embrace the American Lyrics and sing them all the way to the church in Dominica. What is a Hot Dog? ..a piece of food. You and your filthy mind will take a hot dog to mean something else. Accept what is yours.
Ms. Riviere this is a beautiful piece of journalistic work. You really gave a very good account of the calypso semi finals. I support all your sentiments. What a review. Thumbs up, great work from a great lecturer
Leandra fought hard, so I understand her making it, but the song was poorly arranged.
NO MATTER HOW WE DRESS IT UP, DOMINICA CALYPSO WILL NEVER REACH THE STANDARDS OF THEIR CARIBBEAN COUNTERPARTS, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT LIKE IT BUT IT’S THE TRUTH AND SOMEBOBY HAS TO SAY IT.
TOO MUCH POLITICS. THEIR ARE OTHER ISSUES OTHER THAN POLITICS TO SING ABOUT.
EVERY YEAR THEY COME UP WITH THOSE SAME LYRICS AND SENSELESS CALYPSO THAT HAVE NO RYTHM.. THE CALYPSO ASSOCIATION NEED TO HAVE TRAINING CAMP FOR THESE PEOPLE AND IF THEY DON’T ATTEND, THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE.
YEAR AFTER YEAR THE STANDARD OF CALYPSO IS SLOWLY GOING DOWN THE DRAIN.
Actually Domnichen, our calypso standard is much higher that that of most of the other Caribbean islands! Have you ever been to a calypso finals in Antigua, St. Lucia etc… Most of the songs would not even pass our Eliminations round!
Antigua’s calypso sucks for sure. I love the calypso’s this year, stop the comparison.
was dice crowned king for 2011?? oh! ok. well, DNO, LIME, enthusiasts, wait for the finals. there may be surprises because there are very good calypsoes this year and right now, nobody edges out anybody. on the nite of the finals, performers will perform; lyrics,melody,diction,clarity will come out. on that nite, and NOT before, let the best man win, or the best woman if she deserves it. you never know, you never know.
Beautifully written commentary. This is definitely one of the BEST commentaries I have read on DNO ….such Vivid descriptions, I def. did not want the article to end!!
THUMBS UP!!!
This is indeed a well put together commentary. Imagine one is literally compelled to read through the entire piece. Cheers and for making the show so so so alive like its happening now, here is ya award: 100% Nuff Respect in all Aspects Madam! Proud of Ya! Keep them coming Pal.
A well placed article
Agreed, a very well written article. But I did not notice any mention of the “Explosion” with his very classic rendition. He too has shown much improvement. Congrats! Can’t help though but to say to Soul Puss, ” Your grace, charm, humility, melodious voice and ease of performance, as well as the ability to make the songs your own are very simply “a winning combination.”
Nadine after reading the article, I had to look for the author’s name, great piece my dear!!
Have to agree with other commentators. Wonderfully written and insightful review. Heightens my greater interest in this year’s final showdown.
Thank you!
Wow! Wonderful impressive writing. Love it. I agree with everything Except about the part of Dice’s performance. Persons think so because so many say it. It’s like the emperor’s new clothes. Someone has to be honest about it for the rest to wake up. Enough of that. Splendid writing. Just wanted to say it in another way.
Excellent commentary!! I likeeeee
Agree with most of our article. All the calypsonians performed great except those who had minor hiccups and eliminated their self. However I disagree on considering Tasha P song as being superior. It is a song that is more suited for a junior monarch competition more than anything else.
To the obvious Dice haters learn to appreciate a good performance and performer. LIME has already taken notice and invested in the young man! Time to give a Dominican like yourself an opportunity to do bigger and better things it will help open doors for all.
Apart from your article I believe that writers and calypsonians are being cheated from a possibility to win a road match crown when even non-competitors are allow to make and sing any kind of trash and because it is catchy it is promoted in the media more than the authentic calypsos and given consideration for road match. Some of these catchy phrases are very much inappropriate and outright offensive (Ex Hot Dog in Mouth). There need to be some criterion established to prevent such from happening. Calypso Association you have that moral responsibility.
Great review Miss Riviere!! A well-balanced calypso commentary that would maybe be useful for Ossie and the others to read.
“Beno, the other one, I was tempted to say the other female, was fun to look at in his beautiful make-over as a woman, but he was not stirring or riveting enough to listen to.” ????
It’s your opinion right? Because that’s one of the island’s best male voices.
Great job on the well written article Nadine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Much enjoyed. Ms. Reviere, you are a superb writer!!
The Prophet,
Great piece!!!!!!
You just reminded me of my exact calypso sentiments in 2010 and now 2011. Soul Puss is the smooth operator seen coming from a far. Last year with a little more effort in a stage presentation and Soul Puss could have gone much further. I hope he is prepared this year since the audience appreciates a little backup presentation to enhance the message.
The calypsonians are very good this year and makes the competition very interesting, but Soul Puss grab my attention more so than others. Soul Puss possesses a highly rated vocal clarity and diction, rendition (the man tells a story like a prophet and happens to catch the audience attention, even with the seriousness of his lyrics, such that everyone is signing along with goose bumps.) The subtle command of the stage is a plus; the guy knows how to take it easy and spill out all syllables of every word and to emphasize where it’s important.
I think Soul Puss should be considered more than just Dice foil…although considering him as such may be intended as a compliment…it may reduce his value if he is seen as only a monkey wrench thrown in the making of something or someone else.
Kudos to all the performers. The show was at an elevated level this year.
I look forward to the finals.
This was a really cleverly written piece. I commend the writer
Forget verse or not, Bobb had nowhere going with that song in a tight competition!!!
And, as for that sterling performance from Dice, well, as i always say, for most Dice fanatics even if he sings and no words come out from his mouth, he is still regarded as having given a ‘sterling performance’. just hope that the judges are more objective than most.
Anyway, a well-put together commentary. Thumbs up!! i’ll rate it a 4.5 out of 5 (the 0.5 taken away is for the Dice sterling performance comment).
I beg to differ….We all will agree that Dice was not at his best at the Semi’s. I think this could be attributed to his anxiousness over being the first performer right after having the system sound checked several times, because the judges were indicating that they could not hear clearly. He was also a bit casual, perhaps a sign of his confidence that he would make it through.
In spite of all this, even delivering at 80% of his potential, the Dice was still a force to be reckoned with, surpassing the vast majority of his rivals who were all delivering at overdrive…So can you imagine what patrons will be blessed with at the finals when he gives it his all??/!!
great commentary really good; although you over did it on Dice’s performance. calypso ‘moving’.
aye aye…that person writing well eh.
See you at the finals
Congrats to the author on a well-written commentary.
i enjoyed it to the max..the comedy show was also nice..big up moses…
i felt the matador should have gone through…oh well see u at the finals
thumps up, great piece
Splendid commentary. Hoping to see more of it. Keep up the good work.
I agree with your piece. It reads well. However, I do not agree that Dice gave a sterling performance on Saturday night.
Looking forward to the Finals.
loved that commentary, couldnt have said some of the same things any better… i am just wondering who would have had to have been dropped if Bobb had performed his song without the error of singing one verse twice…
i guess we will never know
Calypso lover
Leandra.
Peter Pros
GREAT PIECE
Great Semis! Soul puss exceeded all expectations” I am a Dice fan but will admit that this year he has some competition. Franklyn congrats, you were in top form. Can’t wait for the finals!