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“[…] It is totally unfair to all semi-finalists that a calypsonian who won a competition in Tobago months before, under completely different circumstances in a completely different environment and possibly judged by a different panel of judges, can be automatically ushered into the Calypso Monarch Final on Carnival Sunday night.
“[…] I hope that this injustice meted out by TUCO will never be repeated as the only rite of passage to De Big Yard is Skinner Park! […]”
The following Letter to the Editor on TUCO’s decision to give the reigning Tobago Calypso Monarch an automatic spot at the 2024 Calypso Monarch final was submitted to Wired868 by calypsonian Roger “Bodyguard” Mohammed of Oropune:
Photo: TT Event Photography
Could you imagine a calypsonian qualifying for the Calypso Monarch Final on Dimanche Gras night without performing at Skinner Park in the Calypso Fiesta? Dr Hollis Liverpool aka ‘Chalkdust’ immortalised in song the experience of competing in ‘De Park’ for the semi-final as ‘De Acid Test’.
Chalkie sang the refrain: “When Skinner Park say yuh good, yuh good!”
An ace musical arranger once told me that, sometime in the 1980s, a semi-finalist who was preparing to go on stage to perform at the Calypso Fiesta, jumped into his car and drove straight out of Skinner Park just before he was introduced by the MC.
By the time Sprangalang was introducing the calypsonian, he was already on the north-bound lane of the Solomon Hochoy Highway, never to return to Skinner Park. That is how intimidating the experience was for him!
Photo: TT Event Photography
You have to be made of a certain kind of stuff to face that Skinner Park crowd, and many calypsonians would have faced their wrath if they didn’t find favour with any competitor.
So, it is totally unfair to all semi-finalists that a calypsonian who won a competition in Tobago months before, under completely different circumstances in a completely different environment and possibly judged by a different panel of judges, can be automatically ushered into the Calypso Monarch Final on Carnival Sunday night.
It is my understanding that this decision was made by the General Council of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) and was not ratified by the general membership.
I hope that this injustice meted out by TUCO will never be repeated as the only rite of passage to De Big Yard is Skinner Park! No Calypso Monarch finalist, with the exception of the defending monarch should be given an easy ride to the Queen’s Park Savannah on Dimanche Gras night.
All finalists must first face De Acid Test—because when Skinner Park say yuh good, yuh good!
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Generally, the contestants for the calypso monarch were all vvery good. And the Dimanche Gras show was well put together. The results? A different story. The results of the calypso monarch is questionable. Again Kurt Allen has been wrongfully judged. There seems to be a bias against this man. Aside from that: The judges got it wrong again by placing Machel Montano over Karene Ashe. What was that really based on? Is it that Machel “must win” to pull the crowd to an event that normally has lack lustre support? If we are having a true competition let us be fair. Ms. Ashe song was absolutely stronger. DNA 4th as also questionable. Additionally, what is the bias with Gypsy? No way that nonsense deserved anything but 12th place.
Does it follow, Bodyguard, that yuh NOT good unless and until Skinner Park say so?
I should add that I too don’t agree with the move to give the Tobago monarch special status but my reason is different. Where do you draw the line? Why not also give the Young King, the Calypso Queen, the Junior Calypso Monarch, the San Fernando Monarch, the category winners from the previous year, anybody who has ever won a major title, etc., etc., etc a free pass?
The overarching point the writer is making is that all finalists should have the same Skinner Park experience before advancing to the Calypso Monarch Finals.