The cohort of Soca Goes Gold 5 – Calypso Kings Edition gets a full score of 10.
The massive crowd endorsed that mark as they swayed and danced with abandon, some from their seats, others on their feet in the spacious hall of the Wyndham Grand Barbados, Sam Lord’s Castle Resort and Spa, St Philip, Wednesday night.
Nine local calypso kings – some more prolific than others in winning the monarchy – commanded the stage from 8 p.m. to past midnight accompanied by live band and backup singers into the first hour yesterday of Barbados 57th year of Independence.
The show presented by the Eden Lodge Youth Charitable Trust was held under the patronage of Minister Responsible for Culture in the Prime Minister’s Office Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight.
Classic, Mr Blood, Adrian Clarke (AC) John King (now Senator) iWeb and Serenader along with Edwin, Gabby and RPB did not disappoint. They cherished every moment. Some of them also jokingly referred to signposts along the road of father time as they peeled back the memories with a number of standout calypsos and those which launched their calypso careers.
A sample of the songs was Classic’s performance of In Bed Together, Conscience, Tell Dem Calypsonians; Mr Blood’s Sport Billy, Mistakes and Speak My Mind; AC’s Nice Time and Soca You; John King’s I’m Back, I’m Calypso, Family Ties and Sexellent; iWeb’s Brain and Salesman; Serenader was in a militant mood with Soca Coup, Steel In Dey, Breakdown and Juck Fuh Juck; Edwin was challenging the youth with Oba and Voice In My Head; Gabby was philosophical with Culture and Calypso and RPB was a crowd pleaser with a medley of Mr Harding, Bim, De Country Ain’t Well, Ragga Ragga and Boat Ride.
All the acts connected with the patrons by telling the stories behind their songs and some even ventured from the stage to be at the level of the crowd.
AC was smooth on stage, with a transcending tone and was impeccably dressed; a trend of all the performers for the evening.
King, who has been off the singing mic for sometime, seems ready to say he is back and maybe to take another calypso monarch title if parliamentary protocol allows such.
Gabby and RPB have already written their “names on history’s page” and deservedly so – underscored by the response of their supporters.
But a bit about Edwin, the 1995 triple-crown winner of Party Monarch, Pic O De Crop and Tune Of The Crop titles. His performance was epic. He had his fandom at his command as he invited them closer to the stage.
One can forgive Edwin for teasing his fans when he said goodnight after only two songs. Emcee Mac Fingall, known for his theatrics, seemed not to be in on the joke when he expressed surprise that Edwin was leaving and called him back out.
Edwin’s performance then transformed the ambience of the hall into soca gold with hits like Pump Me Up, Home Sweet Home, Voice In My Head, Something Greater and Oba. His treatment of Sak Pase was worth the entrance fee.
Known as “The General” to his yardies, now it’s time for the authorities to confer a title on him that is in order with his contribution to entertainment. (JS)