DYNAMIC NIGHT

In their first competition since the onset of the pandemic three years ago, Vincentian calypsonians in New York Saturday night put in very spirited performances in the preliminary judging in Vincy Mas 2023, the national carnival.

Nine calypsonians from the Dynamite Calypso Tent – the lone Vincentian calypso tent in North America, backed up by the Brooklyn-based, Vincentian-owned Solid Band – competed before four judges, who trekked from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, during nearly 2 ½ hours of non-stop competition at Palace Hall on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn.

The competitors included two former Calypso Monarchs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Carlos “Rejector” Providence and Leroy “D Man Age” Rose.

The others were: Persono, Hamlet, Jose Juan, Oscar James, Delahanty Isles, Dennis Bowman and Jakie.

Bob MC was also scheduled to compete but did not appear.

Persono sang that, despite all that “Sarah” did to him, he still loved her.

“Sarah, I really love you; Sarah, you get me going crazy,” he sang. “You treat me with woman, you treat me with man.

“Sarah, you don’t know what you did to me,” he added. “Everybody know what you did to me.”

Hamlet, a song writer, who writes calypsos for Vincentian calypsonian “Man Sick,” said he competed for the first time in singing calypsos.

The former music teacher at the Questelles Government School and erstwhile band leader for the National Youth Band — both in St. Vincent and the Grenadines — urged calypso lovers to “Take a Stand.”

“Protect the planet, we stand/for if you do not take as stand/the US dollar will not be as strong for long,” predicted the newest member of the Dynamite Calypso Tent. “For if you don’t take a stand/you will not be around for long.

“For if you don’t take a stand/you will not be around for long,” he stressed. “For if you don’t take a stand/you will not be around for long. Prove me wrong.”

D Man Age: “Come On Nuh Man.” Photo by Nelson A. King 

With good rhythm and evoking loud applause at the end from the enthusiastic crowd, veteran calypsonian Jose Juan said he “Wanna Be” in “St. Vincent Carnival,” telling patrons to “bring the costumes to show the Caribbean” about Vincy Mas.

On the other hand, Oscar James wants to “Play Ah Pan” for the festival, stating that “we are living in serous times.”

Three-time Calypso Monarch D Man Age, clearly, took a dig at Vincentian Prime Minister Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, singing under the caption “Come On Nah Man.”

“Imagine you calling yourself ‘World Boss,’” sang D Man Age, alluding to a characterization that is popularly reserved for the Vincentian leader by his most ardent supporters.

As if they were signing from almost identical script, Delahanty Isles, the lone female competitor, followed-up D Man Age’s presentation, appealing to nationals to “Fight Back.”

“What we fighting for in St. Vincent and the Grenadines?” she asked, singing bare-footedly. “St. Vincent and the Grenadines, I love you. We are the majority; stand up!”

Rejector, president of the Dynamite Calypso Tent, urged his compatriots to “Use The Anthem”, stating that “we’re descending into a state of crime somehow.

“We embracing negatives/increasing despair,” he sang, dressed mostly in white, with the national colors – white, gold (yellow) and blue – inserted. “Seems no one or nothing’s left to turn to/to uplift Hairouna (St. Vincent and the Grenadines). But I say we have the perfect panacea.

Hamlet “Take a Stand.”Photo by Nelson A. King 

“I suggest, use the anthem/there’s no other song more inspiring/play the anthem more/for a people in need of uplifting,” added Rejector in the chorus. “Use the Anthem/it’s designed to help us through anguishing. Hope’s steadily fading/everything’s failing. My country, the time is due/to try something new/and our faith will see us through.”

Immediately afterwards, co-Master of Ceremonies Bennett Straker remarked: “We cannot reject the Rejector tonight.

“We may have to have a GoFundMe, because a lot of them going down (to compete in the semi-final round in the National Calypso Competition in Vincy Mas),” added Straker, also a calypsonian and comedian, and former elementary school teacher in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who shared the Master of Ceremonies with Hercules, a Grenadian calypsonian and comedian as well.

But veteran calypsonian Dennis Bowman urged nationals to be more industrious and “Get Up”.

“Get up and start moving/get up and do something,” he sang. “Go and learn a trade/get up and do something/get with the program. You have to get up and get.”

Regarded as the “Best Dressed” calypsonian, Jakie brought the house down with “Captain.”

Dressed in a beige/white suit, white shoes and a large gold chain, Jakie initially asked the “Captain” whether the ship was “floating” or “sailing.”

Then, he urged the “Captain” to “let the ship sail.”

“Sail, sail, sail, captain,” he sang.

Before the preliminary judging, a moment of silence was observed in memory of two former presidents of the Dynamite Calypson Tent, Vincent “Groovie D” Kennedy and Franklin “Supa Dex” Richards, as well as for veteran calypsonians Leon “Mighty Slider” McKenzie and Winston “Chief” Davis.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consul General to the United States Rony “Luta” McIntosh, a soca artiste, renowned for his hit, “Tight Spot”, also briefly addressed the ceremony.

Post-competition, calypso aficionados partied to guest artistes from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and St. Lucia.

They comprised Vincentians Man Kemmy, the 2022 Road March King in Vincy Mas; Abena, a back-up singer with the Solid Band; and veteran calypsonian Cyril “Scorcher” Thomas, a retired public school teacher in Brooklyn and former Deputy Consul General at the Vincentian Consulate General in New York.

Others were: Grenadians Hercules, Muscles and Inspector; and St. Lucian Fireman Mitch.

“We now look forward to the results and prepare to step up our performances, if need be,” Rejector told Caribbean Life in a post-show interview.

“We thank all who came out to the preliminary judging, and those who have helped and continue to help us in our endeavor to uplift and preserve our art form, community, ourselves and our country as a whole,” he added.