2012 Soca Monarch Competition: Semifinals

I have to say....Guyana sucks when it comes to news of the soca monarch competition.
The order of the winners would be Adrian, Jumo, Vanilla.

13 heading to Soca Finals
Written by Abigail Semple
Monday, 06 February 2012 20:01
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Thirteen contestants, including Adrian Dutchin, Jumo "Rubber Waist" Primo, Melissa "Vanilla" Roberts, Granny Ivelaw, and King Shepherd, will be competing for the coveted Soca Monarch crown, at the Finals slated for February 18 at the National Park.

The others are Beverly Little B Smith, George Abrams, Young Bill Rogers, Kendingo, King Shepherd, Wilburg B52 Levans , Roger Bowen and Jonathan “Lil Red.”

The ending of the semi finals, sponsored by Ansa Mc Al, held in the bauxite mining town of Linden Saturday night saw Michelle "Big Red" King's son Jonathan "Lil Red" making it into the finals by the hair of his skin; as a wild card.


The first contestants to hit the stage of the penultimate musical battle, which commenced at approximately 10:30pm, were the Mysterious and Tropical Guys. This duo entertained the large crowd, seated in the stands at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, with their song titled "Regardless". Though they did not manage to garner much crowd response, the two men succeeded, perhaps with their energy, to make it into the finals.
soca_vanilla
Melissa "Vanilla" Roberts


Next came first-timer Christine McKoy, who, equipped with her energetic backup dancers and colourful costumes, sang "Mashramani Time Again". She too did not appeal much to the crowd and as such was one of the five to be sent home.


Immediately following McKoy was three-time calypso monarch winner "Sweet Kendingo" Kennard, who entertained with "We going till morning". Unlike his first two rivals, Kendingo managed to capture a portion of the crowd's attention with his skillful foot movements. Though he managed to make it into the finals, his performance to the crowd was viewed as a bit lukewarm.


Next came "Attie" Attiola Peters, who came all the way from Berbice to perform his piece "Whole night ah searching". This contestant's song was catchy to say the least, and, responding to his lyrics of "Ah want you to wine and shake", a section of the audience yelled for him to follow his own instructions. He was given a good sendoff by the crowd, but unfortunately he was unable to win the judges' favor and was thus sent home.


After Peters' departure from the stage, Linden's own George Anthony Abrams, called "Chinee Bai" was a breath of fresh air and had the crowd in a cheerful uproar with his song "Thyme, Tomato, Celery, Seasoning Wine Up". With his high energy that was immediately transferred to the crowd, the first-timer, at the end of his song recalled one of his two exuberant dancers (whom he labelled "Celery"). She returned to the stage, ripped of the singer's T-shirt and showed him what she was made of. Abrams was a definite success in securing a place for the finals.


Wilburg B52 Levans, formerly known as the "Fireman", was next to come onstage with his "Highly Flammable" piece. Dressed in red and black and backed by his "Fire-starters" this contestant sent forth the message of burning "bad mind". He apparently succeeded as he was able to win the "good mind(s)" of the judges and copped a place among the thirteen finalists.


Vanilla's "Rage" was next in line and the renowned Soca queen entered the stage dressed in a skintight catsuit (literally)and proceeded to shake and tremble to the beat of the drums as she sang a song about her African roots.


Next came the long anticipated performance from Lil Red, who moved about the stage with a transferable energy singing "Hold me tight and don’t let go". He garnered a reasonable response from the crowd.


After that, the Mackenzie audience was thrilled at the appearance of the much loved Granny Ivelaw; a first-timer to the Soca stage. Doing it differently from his usual cross-dresser granny performance, Ivelaw sang "African Moods". In the lyrics of this catchy song, this contestant complained unendingly about the extent to which his "wife" was addicted to the popular moods. This song drew the crowd's attention and had them screaming in favor of both lyrics and performer.


Next came patriotic Adrian Dutchin with his song "Guyanese", and he sang of representing his country in all places at all times. He, at intervals, engaged the crowd
on who they are and if they are proud to be Guyanese and the audience sang along.

Young Bill Rogers followed with "Behind a band", and then stepping on stage was Roger Bowen, who sang "Fire truck/Water". The former appealed to the crowd somewhat, while the latter engaged crowd.


More energy was in the making and it soon had the crowd going as King Shepherd ran onstage with "Wuk up on it". The Berbician, who has been performing in other Caribbean islands, was, after his spectacular performance, lifted and carried offstage by his followers.


Bartician "Corn Daddy" was not a crowd favourite with his song titled "Soca Morning". The first-timer, whose costume entailed a sweat suit with Guyana flags and red, gold n green rags sewn on, did not win much support from the judges.


Abigail AJ James came on next with her "Breakfast" song, which dovetailed a double meaning. Though she won much crowd appeal and was vibrant in her performance, it was apparently not enough to earn her a place among the finalists.


Agricola "The Chemist" DaSilva largely failed in his bid to engage the audience with "Mash up the place".

The long awaited Rubber Waist Primo followed with his popular "One People One Nation". As he sang, Jumo had the crowd's undivided attention, especially when he paused to engage them and to showoff his ability to dance like all six of the Guyanese races.
"On d road again" followed Jumo's performance, in the likeness of Beverly Little B Smith, who had entered the competition before back in 2010. This last competitive performance appealed to both crowd and judges and thus earned the police woman a spot among the finalists.
As the judges tallied their scores and made their final decision, the ready-to-retire crowd was entertained by GT&T's Jingle competition winner Brandon Harding.
The performances were judged by Linden Unionist Charles Samson, writer/producer Michael James, Gadwick Edwards, Wanda Richmond, Vivian Boyd of "Throw it over yuh shoulder"fame, Robert Holden, radio announcer Malcolm Fereira, and Mash Coordinator and Chief Judge Lennox Canterbury.


Lyrics, Party appeal, stage performance, The requirements for winning the judges favor comprised body language and gestures to communicate the song, crowd response, use of the stage, among others.


Due to the very late start the final results were revealed after midnight, but it was worth the wait.

taken from:http://www.demerarawaves.com/index.php/201202073268/Latest/13-heading-to-soca-finals.html