Of the 30-plus calypsoes presented by the huge cast at Kaiso House on Thursday night, Allan Welch's Soil Technician got my top marks for its combination of originality, melody, lyrical content, rendition, and stage presentation.The song clearly embraces the Five Rules of Calypso suggested by Fearless (Mikey Hamit) in his 1966 composition of the same name.
Singing to an audience which included President Anthony Carmona, Minister of the Arts and Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas, Speaker Wade Mark, chairman of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) Allison Demas, and other invited guests, Welch, a former popular soca artiste, received well-deserved encores for the song, which tells how the many killings taking place in the nation have been contributing to his financial growth, working as a gravedigger.
The flagship tent of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation (Tuco), based in the Queen's Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, Kaiso House has several good calypsoes, many of which found favour with patrons, resulting in many callbacks that stretched a first half that showcased 21 singers and ended at minutes before midnight.Creating a mild stir for content was Black Sage's The Blaming Game; Shradah McIntyre's Dey Doh Know; Lani K's A Song of Hope; Rootsman's Respect The Icons; and Bunny B's Milk.
Gypsy was encored for Follow Your Dreams, as was Singing Sandra for Madiba and Brother Valentino for Stop the Abuse.Spicey had females in the audience in their glee with her offering of Man In That, a scathing comment on how males are becoming more like females every day. Tent favourite, full-bodied Lady Aeisha, did not disappoint with her Size 12, and Mista Shak won numerous encores for Bois.
Humorous calypsoes were in short supply, however. There was Brown Boy's valiant attempt with Toilet Paper Fiasco and, to a lesser extent, Bunny B's Milk, which, in reality, is social commentary with a humorous slant, and Brother Mudada's The Parliament Tent.Former monarch Karene Asche got a favourable response to her contribution Malice In Wonderland, while another former monarch, Duane O'Connor, has a nice uptempo patriotic number titled A Nation's Call.
The programme began promptly at 8 pm, and intermission was taken almost on midnight. So, after four hours of entertainment, it was a bit of a challenge to remain for the second half. I did not hear Soft Touch–Ah Love Thing, Calypso Kerr–My Business, Chucky–Way Yuh Think, Dee Dianond–Crime Doh Pay, Brother Musa–Trinbago Only Reaping What She Does Sow, Poser–Percy Water, Lasana–Carnival Jumbie, Nirkesha Logan–Shake It Down, Mr Famous–Play More, and Snakey–The Dhoti Song.
Musical accompaniment was provided by Cummings and the Wailers. Show host was Tommy Joseph, and the Kaiso House Jewels did backup chorus.