The Challengers gave a fairly good account of themselves but in the end the Finalists won the team category, with one of their own also being adjudged the overall winner.
In Saturday night’s “Challenging the Best” competition at the Newtown Savannah, former Dominica calypso king Caressa was named the overall winner, with non-finalist Black Diamond, the youngest calypsonian, placing second.
Caressa sang Comforter’s Glory, while Black Diamond wooed the crowd with Checko’s AM/PM.
The competition was about five non-finalists (challengers) and five finalists in the 2012 national calypso competition singing each other’s songs in this summer offering of calypso.
The challengers performed first, followed by the finalists.
Lugars belted out Web’s “Wey Dey Gone”, while Web retaliated by doing Lugars “Singing in Tongues”.
Challenger Beno, attired in wedding dress, did justice to Tasha P’s “I Aint Leaving”, while the former calypso Monarch took on Beno’s Gangsta King.
After Black Diamond spiritedly gave life to Checko’s AM/PM, Checko took on the young calypsonian’s “Pit Toilet”, adding a controversial line of his own which some felt could get him into trouble. Black Diamond’s black and white outfit representing night and day and his red shirt underneath which he flashed every time he reached the line “we love de PM” was easily one of the best on-stage presentations of the night.
Hunter then stamped his mark on Explosion’s “Pasta Wine”, but Explosion had difficulty bringing to life Hunter’s “Is De Asphalt”, many dubbing it the worst performance of the night.
Dressed up as a woman, challenger Comforter sang Caressa’s “Rose Giving Me Blows”, while Caress stole the night with Comforter’s “Glory”.
The large crowd had earlier been taken down memory lane as tributes were paid to some of the former road march greats.
Pickie performed a medley of Spider songs: Give Me De Rum Fast, Play Mas and Sankey. The medley retired calypsonian Spencer sang included Pointe Michel Girls and Mona. Sye had the crowd roaring as he focused on road march tunes from Katera and Robin, while Observer sang Shakey and Checker – Ency.
A fantastic night, is how spokesman for the organisers and one of the two MCs of the night, Alvin Knight, described the show that also featured former Trinidad and Tobago soca monarch Iwer George and Dominica’s own Daddy Chess.
The event was a fund raiser organised by the Catholic Church’s Engaged Encounter and Marriage Encounter group.
Hearts off to the organizers of the show. This is my second year attending the show and I must say I enjoyed myself. Karessah really deserved his win. I think Lugas and Webb did a good representation of each other. Explosion although he forgot the words to Hunter’s song did a good impersonation of hunter. The “tribute to past road march” section was great. Overall the show was well organized and I had a lot of fun. It is just a pity that there were not a lot more calypsonians. But i guess the saying little is much when God is in it holds true. Once again kudos to Alvin Knight and the ME and EE team. Looking forward to next year’s show
Karessah, Caressa, or Caressah….which is it?
Its Karessa! Read it out loud, you will get it!
Some of you all too smart for your own good!
De Webb & Logars were exceptional!! They nailed each other’s songs. Congrats Karessa, you are a great impersonator. Hearts off to all the calypsonians for ensuring that they gave us a great show. Looking forward to next year
De Webb & Lugars were great! They nailed each others’ songs. Hearts off to all the calypsonians for ensuring that we had a great show.
Looking forward to next year. 
I heard that one of the prize for Caressa is to do the next engagement encounter. Congrat
I’m lost. I wish you explained! Sorry I’m not smart nor!
Caressa this is 3 out of 5 wins. This mean that you can use any reasonable material and win any competition. Congratulations
great show. well organised. cant wait for next year
Thumbs up to the organizer…great great great show…really enjoyed it…My favourites were the first two (Lugars/Webb) and the last (Confortor/Carresa) nut really all the guys were great even explosion..ahahhahah
ONE MORE FOR YOU CARESSA, YOU WERE ALWAYS THE GREATEST
sounds like a blast
What a show! Joey was the worse by far but it was fun all the same. Not easy to be like Hunter I guess..Webb, Logus, Diamond, Caressa rocked! ANd the performances before……Doh talk about that!
I LISTENED TO THE SHOW ON DBS I REALLY ENJOYED IT
BUT THE BEST WAS THE OLD SONGS.
I listened to Aussie and Co, boy it was like i was in Newtown. I enjoyed the show. Great work people. Well Caressa take it live…. Mr Impersonator. ! He probably would have beaten Dice too!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hunter was vintage and in his wine element but alas Explosion you have a memory problem. Your mistake was genuine not pretending to be Hunter. Black Diamond beat you left right and centre.
Tasha and Beno did credit to each other though they would have been at a disadvantage because of the gender switch. They both have great voices and talent.
Comforter it was two of allyou on stage! you have a twin brother?
Marriage Encounter , Deacon Alvin and Breaks great work. Congratulations. Royalty or not it was good. Next year will be better. Calypso won!
i really enjoyed the show but i bleve the organizers should hav given the prizes on a different level. seein that it was the challengers verses the finalist, they should hav looked at givin the prizes or at least a prize to the best team(challenger n finalist) which was clearly lugars n web. they did much justice to each others song
this is a true fact
whoosh my baby karessah I love you so much. well deserved. i just knew you would bring it home to me. karessah the greatest calysposian ever in dominica.oh wonderful job.
Karessah you did justice to this song well done good show while the odds thought it would be impossible this year, then think again
Karessa warmed my heart. Black Diamond was great and i loved Hunters version of Explosion also
black diamond was awesome.. i will be joining u next year buddy see u there
Caressa congratulation to our son Marigotian are very proud of you for your talents are outstanding.
Boy….Look some more blows on dee Pastor lastnite.
I am happy that the show went on well, without one person thinking that they own calypso in dca. I am glad the at the organizers showed them that calypso is not about them.
yes wi…like those potatoes and christophenes
Good job organizers, very creative ideas; wish you all the best in the future and with your objective of helping to build strong Christian families.
Raising funds for a good cause while promoting and helping to develop the art form. Do not allow the critics to distract you. Don’t matter how good your efforts and intentions, there will also be someone to step in the way.
BUILDING STRONG CHRISTIAN FAMILIES??? CALYPSO ORGANIZERS????? ARE U FOR REAL??? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE WHEN SOME CANNOT EVEN KEEP THEIR FAMILY IN SHAPE?
and they blasting religious leaders so much!!!!! smmfh
Dno can you please send us a video of the event. thank you.
Black Diamond is the best! a true role model to the youths and one day, a great calypsonian.
and thats the type we need to crown as calypso king!
Black Diamon is already a great calypsonian!
great show, keep it up me and ee. it was worth my staying up. congrat to lugus, boy i thought it was web singing his own song and webb did the same. caressa had me cracking, he really deserve it. Congratulations to the organizers and participants.
Man this caressah is no easy man…I really saw comforter singing his own song. This man is the greatest calypsonian on this island. Congratulation! Big up to the organizers.. We did not miss nothing