Faith ‘Lil Canary’ Corrica successfully defended her Calypso Monarchy at the National Stadium two Fridays nights ago with her song “Give The Youths A Chance”, with Quincy ‘Ego’ Lacon in second place and Ivelaw ‘Granny Ivy’ Campbell finishing third.
The granddaughter of late Calypsonian Malcolm ‘Lord Canary’ Corrica, Lil Canary dished out an unbeatable performance in her second year in the competition. At the beginning of her performance she showed a snippet of an interview of her saying that she was criticised following her win last year. However, her song resounded for the youths to be given a chance to equally share in opportunities and for people to be supportive even when they’re winning.
Lil Canary also pleaded with the current administration to provide more opportunities in the local music industry as it will boost tourism and the economy.
The show, which began about two hours later than scheduled, opened with the Junior Calypso and Soca Monarch competitions. Vinel Hinds emerged as the winner of the Junior Calypso Monarchy and also took third place in the Junior Soca contest. Osei ‘O.K.C.’ Clarke won the title of Junior Soca Monarch 2022 and came second place in the Junior Calypso contest.
Meanwhile, 2019 Junior Calypso Monarch Omaiah Hall, a crowd favourite, was awarded third place in the Junior Calypso, while second place for the Junior Soca went to Relon Summer who had also copped second place last year for the same competition.
Initially, the senior competition had 12 competitors, but the first contestant was a no-show. Linden ‘Sniper’ Thomas made an appeal to Guyanese in the diaspora to return with his song “Come Back Home”. He sang, “No suffering anymore// Everything is magnificent under the government…”
He added that foreign nationals who once thought of Ghana when they heard about Guyana and those from countries who disliked Guyanese were now interested because of the country’s oil find. “We never had it so nice// Oil money is on the rise// Come home to this paradise// Yuh know Snipey don’t tell ah lie…,” he sang.
Ego’s song was “World Boxing Match”. Decked in headgear and boxing gloves, the singer compared the world’s battle against COVID-19 to a boxing match and listed various protocols undertaken to combat the virus.
During his performance, he showed off his boxing techniques, drawing the crowd in. At the end of his song, the singer released blue smoke from a small container in tribute to those who succumbed to COVID.
Performing next was a police sergeant with the stage name RG. Though he has been writing his own compositions for 27 years, this was his first year in the competition.
RG, who was escorted onstage, shared that he had lost his sight. His song was “I Want To See”. He sang that it was not fair or right that he could not see the audience before him.
Local comedian and singer Granny Ivy appeared onstage wearing his matching red and white get-up, consisting of a red hat, red stockings, a red waistband, a red scarf, a red hand band and a white ruffled dress complemented by white shoes.
Granny Ivy’s song “Red Flag” mocked persons in prominent positions pointing to some of their actions being a “red flag”. A contagious piece, the song, saw the crowd and host Malcolm Ferreira singing along.
Roger ‘Young Bill Rogers’ Hinds came next with his song “We Ain’t Giving Up” in reference to Venezuela claiming Essequibo as well as other foreign nationals leaving with the oil money. A regular in the competition, Young Bill Rogers entertained his fans in the sparse audience, outfitted in camouflage, as if ready to go to war for Guyana.
Mark Ferdinand’s song “The Mace” related December’s parliamentary chaos over opposition member of parliament Annette Ferguson’s attempt to take the Speaker of the House’s mace.
“The Mace” had garnered many fans owing to it being played on social media and the audience sang and danced during his performance. It was not enough to persuade the judges.
Mark was certain he was not selected for the Calypso Monarch final last year because his hit song “Claudette Swing ‘’ spoke of Guyana’s 2020 General Elections. He made it into the final this year, but that was as close as he got.
A former Junior Calypso Monarch Jamal Stuart sang “Respect Yuhself”, advising adults to respect themselves and be a good example for the youths. He also called on Guyanese leaders to be good role models while maintaining their dignity and pride.
Mighty Believer, a former Junior and Senior Calypso Monarch took the stage next with his song “Stop Killing De Women”. While he sang, background performers held placards protesting against men killing their partners. The song beseeched men to protect women.
During his performance a television screen showed women who were victims of domestic violence as well as the perpetrators who meted out the abuse.
Newcomer Akeem Alexander’s “Spiritual Healing”, referred to people taking advantage of those who are vulnerable and even those who are well off and worked hard for what they have. Such people, he sang, need spiritual healing to stop their waywardness.
Wilbur ‘B52’ Levans’ song “Run”, admonished men to not get into relationships with “red woman”. B52 opened his performance as a vagrant on the street who was recognized by comedian Chow Pow. When questioned by the comedian why he was in that state, the singer blamed it on the “red woman” who devoured his savings.
