(Trinidad Guardian) The deadline for artistes to submit their entries for the 2012 National Chutney Soca Monarch, which was originally set for the December 23, has been extended to January 6. This will be the final deadline. The deadline was extended to accommodate a number of artistes that are still in studio finishing their music for the upcoming season.
On January 4, Southex and The Chutney Soca Organisation of T&T will host the launch of ONE Chutney Soca Monarch 2012, at the Jade, Ruby & Sapphire Rooms, of Hyatt Regency, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain. The preliminary stage of the competition has been eliminated, and all entries will face a screening committee made up of the best “heads” in the industry. This committee will be empowered to select a maximum of 40 names of artistes that will move directly to the semifinal stage scheduled for January 21, at Rienzi Complex, Couva.
Fifteen artistes will be selected, inclusive of three from Guyana ,for the grand final on February 11 in Port-of-Spain. The Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain has been confirmed as the venue for the finals. The production being planned for this show will be the biggest, most extravagant, and most expensive ever in the 16 year history of the event. Major changes have also been implemented at the 2012 Chutney Soca Monarch.
New rules and regulations, exciting new elements, and a new theme in 2012, will all make up what is carded to be the biggest ever Chutney Soca Monarch in the history of the competition. The Chutney Soca Monarch is the most important and largest Indo Caribbean event in the world. Held annually, it has also become one of the “Big Four” events in our Carnival every year, the others being the International Soca Monarch, the Dimanche Gras and the Panorama Finals.
The event is being re-branded and will have a new look in 2012.
Theme
The Chutney Soca Monarch remains one of the most colourful productions in Carnival, and 2012 will be no different as the theme of the event reflects an embracing of the Caribbean spirit, Caribbean music and Caribbean people—ONE—One Caribbean, One music, One People—the theme for 2012.
New rules and regulations
Two new rules will be introduced to the competition in 2012. Artistes will not be allowed to use film mellitus in their songs, which have plagued the competition over the last few years. Only songs that have 100 per cent original melodies and lyrics will be allowed to compete, and there will also be a screening of the music to ensure that Iyrics and topics are positive
Guyana to be included
In 2012, a number of new features will be added to the event. Three artistes from Guyana will be taken directly to the Grand Final of Chutney Soca Monarch through a special screening process that will see eliminations gradually come down to the three selected Guyanese artistes. Two judges from Guyana will also sit on the judging panel for the grand final should in case the technologies fail on the night.
The finals of the show will be broadcast live via satellite to Guyana and featured on a major TV network in Guyana. Finally, the event, which is judged by 100 per cent text votes, will also give the Guyana public the opportunity to participate at this level, as arrangements are also being put in place for the people of Guyana to be able to vote via text voting through a local network.
By 2013, it is expected that a “Guyana Leg” of the Chutney Soca Monarch competition will take place in Georgetown.
Other voting
In 2012, apart from Guyana nationals being allowed to vote through a local network, online voting will take place as the event will be streamed over the internet to a “live” viewing public. Text voting will also take place as in years gone by in the USA, Canada and of course T&T. Southex is projecting that 2012 will be the biggest and most exciting year in the history of the Chutney Soca Monarch. Moving the grand final to Port-of-Spain is a positive one, and one that will position the event where it should be.
Many other countries will be added to the 2013 event, as the Chutney Soca Monarch starts to spread throughout the Caribbean.
