VAT, otherwise known as “de pressure”, the culture of poverty in Sophia, foreign loans, and a wisecracking doctor are among the barrel of social commentary that rolls into the city next weekend when the adult calypso competition kicks off at the National Park.
And judging from the rehearsals, it is shaping up to be an interesting show of literary and lyrical prowess.
Rebel, the consistent performer who entertains, injures articulately and is currently holding the monarchy has been forewarned: come armed and come strong.
The Scene spoke with six of the 12 contenders this week. Black Hat, who had bowed out of competition a year ago, is back with a piece he considers solid enough to take the crown. Lady Karen feels it is her time for the monarchy. The Sniper is taking a snipe at foreign loans. Young Bill Rogers, the Mighty Duke and the Mighty Eagle are thinking positively and Mighty Roots has taken up medicine.
Notably absent from competition this year are Tempest, who has been away for two consecutive years now, and the Mighty Voter — calypsonians who between them have built an impressive collection of songs over the last decade, and who have defied the odds in spite of their differently-abled statuses.
The Scene caught up with several of the calypsonians earlier this week at rehearsals and got a taste of what they have planned.
Llewellyn ‘Black Hat’ Atwell:
His signature black hat is a symbol of a performer who has embraced the art form for over half of a century but competes infrequently, which, perhaps, is the reason he has not ever won the monarchy. Though he feels the judges have slighted him in the past. This year he is taking on the Valued Added Tax (VAT) in a piece called, ‘Vat pressure’. Black Hat says the people are crying out everyday because of VAT, which makes it the number one pressure Guyanese are facing. Black Hat’s best showing in the competition was a third place finish in 2003 when he did, “Contract Killings”- a serious yet witty song about men who are hired for contract killings. This year he is hoping to pressure the judges and the public into crowning him calypso king. He sings:
“Comrade President we can’t take anymore
Comrade President please see what you can do
If ya take off de VAT Pressure
It would be three cheers from the people of Guyana”.
Lassell ‘Mighty Duke’ Duke:
Forget the pundits who say they know how to turn things around in Guyana beginning with the crime, because the Mighty Duke has the solution. The usually calm calypsonian is working out a solution for the country in his song, “Let’s Find the Right Solution”. Known better for his years touring with the Yoruba Singers than for his calypso success, Duke is hoping to turn that around too. He says the message in his song is relevant and comes at a time when the country needs it. Last year he was absent from the competition after opting to do the Carib Soca Monarch competition but he is back where he belongs, according to him. His song goes like this:
“When we took religion out of school that was a silly mistake
Most elements of good conduct started to disintegrate
School teachers keep telling me it is the worst time in history
Children are rude and abusive and don’t regard authority”.
Karen ‘Lady Karen’ Bennett:
After a chance encounter with a young Sophia lad while she was visiting the area last year caused her to do some self-evaluation, Lady Karen decided to bring out the plight of the community in a calypso. She said Sophia is rife with problems and no one seems to care except for a few who are there and fighting to have their voices heard. Her song “Issues” also touches on what she referred to as the sickening minibus overcrowding culture and her plea for the monarchy. Lady Karen got her start with the Yoruba Signers and broke into the calypso field in 1994. She is best known for a shanto piece titled, “Free Africa”, which won her the Shanto crown in 2005. She sings:
“De bus done full already yet him asking you
To make more space inside fuh he
If yuh refuse and yuh make a fuss
That is when the conductor boy start fuh cuss
If yuh hear de expletives coming from he mouth
Stop de bus in a halt and tell yuh get out”.
Robert ‘Mighty Roots’ Campbell:
No calypsonian this year has aroused more interest than him and persons are already predicting that he might be the one to watch. His song, “She can’t Handle de Needle” has been creating quite the ruckus at rehearsals and after going over some of the lyrics, we understood why. Mighty Roots said he is coming as a doctor and his song looks at a doctor/patient scenario but in every verse, a pun is intended. The young calypsonian who has been singing for some six years now feels he has a good shot at the monarchy with the piece. He has not been consistent in his performances, but had a strong showing at the competition last year. Roots said he is fired up and ready to go. The doctor sings:
“Don’t fight up take it cool
Don’t fight up take it cool
There is no need in making yourself the fool
I’m begging you don’t start to shake
This needle that I have is quick to break”.
Linden ‘Sniper’ Thomas:
He has a problem with Guyana looking to the IMF and IDB for assistance and decided to write a song about it. His piece “Deh Begging”, captures what he described as the street urchin behaviour of the country. Sniper said if we need money for a bridge we begging and according to him, Guyana has too much wealth to be in such a position. In the calypso he refers to the IMF as one Inshan Deo Balchan and the IDB as Isaiah Martin Francis, two men he meets on a trip to Miami.
“If deh building bridge deh begging
Medical deh begging
So much resources they having
And around de world dem going with a bowl
All deh doing deh begging for a loan”.
Young Bill Rogers:
He is knocking everyone and everything this year but is declaring that Guyana is still a paradise. The Shanto king and regular calypso competitor is hoping this is the year he gets the breakthrough he has been after ever since he stormed onto the scene over two decades ago. Rogers whose song is called, “We’re Still a Paradise”, said he is working on an autobiography of his late father, Bill Rogers Snr, but has taken time away to compete.
“The crime rate raising in de country
People getting gun down innocently
But we are still a paradise
Ah hear a minister perform like wild west to town
He nearly kill one and shoot up with a gun
But we’re still a paradise”.
(ianaseales@yahoo.com)
