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The competition started at almost 22:00 hours, but the large audience seemed not to mind the delay since the Heatwave Band’s combination of Jackie Hanover, Tenecia De Frietas and Calvin Burnette ‘set the place on fire’ with some of the most reverberating soca hits of our time.
However it was the new batch of Heatwave Backup Dancers that plunged Linden into a soca frenzy. The audience gleefully welcomed the intense ‘rear end shaking’ body trembling, splits and somersaults, and gave the girls thunderous applause when they finally left the stage.
Most of the presentations from Calypsonians were very impressive but it was the new comer, Jermaine Mc Bean from Linden who actually evoked the best crowd response and was vowed the ‘best performer’ by the large excited crowd.
Competition begins…
First to hit the stage was Compton ‘Mysterious’ Boyce who sadly began his song, ‘We don’t Know’ out of key with the band. He certainly had diction problems and presented a poor performance. As many said in the audience:; “He remains a mystery that may never be solved on a Calypso stage.”
First runner-up in last year’s competition, Anthony ‘Chiney Man’ Abrams was a distinct favourite the moment he hit the stage. Taking into consideration that he hailed from Linden, his fans naturally screamed as he made his way on stage. His performance was good, but fans were expecting the choreography for himself and backup dancers to reflect his song titled, ‘Pose.’
That certainly did not happen, and instead he and his dancers seemed more interested in gyrating. However, this contender was very smart. Halfway into his song one of his dancers began to grind against him suggestively, and the crowd of course loved it.
But when a former winner of Linden’s ‘Bigga de Betta’ show weighing over 300 pounds hit the stage as a part of his act, the crowd literally went crazy. Dressed in a transparent spandex outfit, she (as part of her choreography) dragged away the petite dancer from Abrams and began to ‘wind on him’ like a thunderstorm, literally dragging him to the floor with the ‘rolling of her ‘incredulous curves’.
NCN’s camera man Quacy ‘Avalanche’ Coates had a good introduction and was full of energy when he appeared to sing, ‘Work It’.
He needed a little more creativity to move the ‘very harsh Linden crowd’, but made excellent use of the stage.
Orlando ‘Bonesman’ Johashen as usual exploded on stage with his customary ‘raunchy energy’. He instantly connected with his audience and in no time the ladies were grabbing at him, managing to take away the vey large rag he used for waving.
However, one could not hear certain parts of his song clearly. Nevertheless he made good use of the stage and used his natural manipulative qualities to ‘fire up the crowd’.
Something just went wrong when Kross Kolor’s Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts and Wilbur ‘B52’ Levans appeared on stage to execute ‘Tear de Roof’. While Roberts did all she could to keep the energy going, Levans was just not there, and failed to deliver anything substantial to fuel their presentation.
Ivelaw Maxwill performing ‘Soca Victim’ was certainly the victim of something else. He was obviously nervous and did not bring an ounce of energy to the stage. And it was very apparent he was having breathing difficulties.
While his song spoke of ‘shaking like an earthquake, and exploding like a volcano, I will have to agree that his volcano was dormant and his earthquake was not felt by anyone in the arena.
Kirk Brown’s entry ‘That is all I want’ was never judged since for some mysterious reason he failed to turn up for the competition.
Even three-time Soca Monarch, and two time Road March King, Adrian Dutchin found it a little difficult to move the ‘almost rigid’ Linden crowd which seemed more interested in supporting their own.
His popularity afforded him a loud welcome, and when they would have softened a bit, he used his excellent dancing skills, and his ‘energiser waist’ to fuel the desire of the female audience. With no intentions of allowing a slackening he displayed an onstage versatility that was so captivating, that the ‘hard to please’ crowd were forced to send him off with deafening applause.
Ernesta Nelson’s presentation of ‘Twirl’ was smooth and refreshing, and it was no surprise that she was shortlisted amongst the 17 persons going to semi-finals.
Kwesi ‘Ace’ Edmondson’s song dubbed ‘Same Thing’ was different, and some said it was a warning bell for the Soca artistes to enter the competition with different and more positive topics. However, he presented the ‘same thing’ when he failed to execute any dance moves with lame excuses that ‘rasta man don’t wine’.
Jamal ‘G Money’ Gittens’s ‘Big Belly vs Bumpa’ was a softener to the senses. But if he needs to make a lasting impression, he will certainly have to bring his ‘A Game’ to the stage. Some persons were of the opinion that the song had too much of an abrupt end.
While newcomer, Yolanda Kerr did not make it to the semi-finals, one must agree that she is certainly not to be blamed. Maybe if her song, ‘Is we Festival’ was catchier, she would have raked in a spot with the others. Yes she gyrated well, but the song was so slow, that she could not even ‘jump and wave’ as it suggested. The message of the song was in keeping with Mashramani, but she should have maybe saved it for the calypso competition.
Atiola ‘Attie’ Peter certainly nailed the wood with his pelvic ministrations, but he certainly needed a little more creativity, and he certainly had diction problems. His song of course was called, ‘Nail de Wood’.
The MC, Kirk ‘Chow Pow’ Jardine introduced Shondel London as the female powerhouse, and she certainly delivered. But this performer being a lead singer in the Mingles Band, should know better than to focus all her energies into ‘wukking’, and paying minor emphasis on her singing. Her song too was too abruptly completed.
Dwayne ‘King Sheperd’ Semple was excellent last year with ‘Wuk up pon It’. This year he brought to the platter, ‘More wuk Up’, but we guess he never bargained for such a harsh Linden audience. His hype and execution was almost excellent, and he certainly used his musical experience to win a large section of the audience on his side eventually.
Jonathan ‘Lil Red’ King will certainly have to ‘upgrade’ his presentation if he wants to remain in the competition. While his act was good, he needs to connect more with his audience, and had just a little bit more energy to seal the deal.
Colbert ‘Maga Man’ Dublin execution of ‘Shakin It’ was acceptable, but he will certainly have to develop his shaking skills at little more.
Linden’s ‘Jermaine ‘Venom’ Mcbean is certainly the man to watch out for in this competition. And from the murmurs of the majority certainly has a good shot at the Road March title. As a new comer he signaled a warning to the seasoned faces when he brought to the forum, ‘Storm de Road’. The very reverberating song etched the tales of the entertainment run down in Linden, and the recent struggles of Lindeners against certain authorities, amongst other popular issues.
Waving a very large ‘Golden Arrowhead’ Mc Bean announced his arrival ‘Machael Montano style’ and immediately got the attention of the entire pavillion. Belting out his message with a mind gripping finesse, the singer accentuated his act with electric dance moves that sent clearly the message, ‘gyrations were not always the order of the day’ in a competition of that nature. He left the stage beaming as the screams and applause of the crowd continued to echo long after.
James ‘Boss Stevens’ Gordon is indeed a good contender who with a little polishing up can certainly hold his own amongst the others. His song was titled, ‘Soca Mascara’.
Representing r Berbice, Rawleston, and ‘King Murphy’ Warde made good work of his piece, ‘Invasion’. But to the stay in the competition he will certainly have to connect with his audience and raise his energy levels a notch higher.
Onassis ‘Ryan T’ Croker based in Barbados was no match for the others and presented a too luke warm rendition of his, ‘Unite Together’. There was certainly no life, or energy to his presentation. This singer maybe will do better at choral singing.
The final contestant, Roger Bowen was ‘Looking fuh Bumpa’, but certainly the judges will have to determine if he found it. Nevertheless, if he can creatively channel his energy and great gyration skills into one exciting package, then he can make a name for himself in the Soca field.
The contestants who will not advance to the semi-finals are Yolandah Kerr, Ivelaw Maxwell, Atiola ‘Attie’ Peters, and Onassis ‘Ryan T’ Croker.
