King Carnival is roaring into Sunday with champions left right and center and I am pleased to note that a song that I believe will become very popular over time has won the Groovy Soca Monarch title for one really smooth operator, Mr. Shurwayne Winchester. Shurwayne sang “Carnival, Please Stay”, a song that will be etched in the minds of Groovy Soca music lovers. Last year Biggie Irie, out of Barbados, deservedly won the title but placed fourth this year with his rendition of ‘Band on Fire’. In second place was Patrice Roberts who sang ‘More Wuk’ followed by Farmer Nappy with ‘Chippin’. I really liked Chippin but Shurwayne’s smooth silky voice and presentation on stage was too much for the Farmer to reap a bountiful harvest. Everyone was pleased that the title was restored to the home where it rightly belongs; a Trini was crowned champion and deservedly so.
In the Power Soca category Arima’s favorite son, Bunji Garlin took the title away from the Boss, Iwer George. Iwer won the title last a year that Bunji chose not to compete. The massive crowd of over 10,000 were unhappy that Faye Anne, Bunji’s wife placed third at International Power Soca Monarch competition at the Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain. Faye Ann had this to say about the results: “No matter if my song is as high as the Berlin Wall I am not going to enter, as I felt I was cheated by the judges, who obviously view women as second best to men.
“At the end of competition, I had no glitches, no malfunctions. My melody was good. So, too, were the lyrics, and I am trying to figure out on what basis I placed third.” Newsday headlined that “They Cheated Fay-Anne” as quoted from a loving husband, Bunji Garlin who believed that his wife should have won the title. She was disappointed to have placed third just as the crowd was especially the female patrons that attended the show. Bunji sang a cover version of the late Maestro's classic "Fiery" that really went down well with the crowd. Bunji was powerful and energetic on stage as he whipped the crowd into frenzy. The late great Kitchener must be smiling in his grave as another resident of Arima has risen to the top – just the way it should be.
Congratulations to the winners Shurwayane Winchester, the Groovy Soca Monarch and Bunji Garlin, the International Power Soca Monarch for Carnival 2008. The Merry Monarch is heading towards its grand climax on Sunday night for the King and Queen of Carnival and Calypso Monarch competitions followed by the parade of the bands on Monday and Tuesday for the selection of Band of the Year.
Here are the official results:
Groovy Soca
1st Shurwayne Winchester "Carnival please stay"
2nd Patrice Roberts "More Wuk"
3rd Shal Marshall & Kerwin Dubois "Gal Farm"
4th Farmer Nappy "Own Woman"
Power Soca
1st Bunji Garlin "Fiery"
2nd Neil 'The Boss' George "Over yuh head"
3rd Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez "Get On"
4th Nadia Batson "My Posse"
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