Stars of chutney soca in battle tomorrow Friday, February 18 2011
TRINIDAD NEWSDAY - By SEETA PERSAD - Skinner Park, San Fernando is abuzz with activity as preparations are taking place for the NLCB 2011 Chutney Soca Monarch finals which take place tomorrow at 8 pm. This much anticipated Carnival competition will pit TT's queen of chutney Drupatie Ramgoonai Persad, previous monarch Rikki Jai (Samraj Jaimungal), Guyana's top recording artiste Terry Gajraj and defending monarch Ravi B among a line-up of 15 artistes in a battle to be the first Carnival 2011 winner to be awarded the top prize of $2 million.
Other artistes vying for the money and the title are Sally Sagram, Artie Butkoon, O’Neil Bhajman, Anil Bheem, Adesh Samaroo, Neeshan “Hitman” Prabhu, KI Persad, Kenneth Supersad, Rick Ramoutar, Lalchan “Hunter” Babwah and bmobile wild card Soca Elvis (Michael Salloum).
Guyana’s Terry Gajraj, who in the semifinals professed his true love for “Sumatie” will lead off the field of contestants. Next up will be defending monarch Ravi B with his 2011 hit “Ah Kya Come.”
Drupatee’s “Meh Lover” has been heating up the airwaves, while Rikki Jai has chosen to do “White Oak and Water.” Adesh Samaroo’s “Much Much Much” has a sweet melody, while Radio announcer Anil Beem has chosen the melody of the Bollywood tune “Gata Rahey Mera Dil” to do “Doh Go No Wey.”
No stranger to the grand final stage is Rick Ramoutar who is lamenting that “Ah Shouda Never Marry.” Hunter will bring humour to the stage with his “Tanty Man” which tells the trials of a man who does all the cooking and washing while the woman goes out to fete.
KI Persad has “gone against” rum with “No More Rum Again,” and so too bmobile wild card entrant Soca Elvis, who is making his third trip to Chutney big stage with “Ah Love Yuh More Than Rum.” Artie Butkoon, who is making her second trip to the big stage, will perform “River Lime.” Sally Sagram has chosen to deal with men who are only after a one night stand with “Go So Nah.” New Comer O'Neil Bhajman will encourage fans to “Wine on a Stranger,” and comedian Kenneth Supersad will be doing “The Big Mako from San Fernando.” The finals will also feature what promoters promise to be full concert performances by soca super star Machel Montano HD, the big band Karma and 3Veni.
Montano, who is one of the top crossover acts in TT, has a huge following wherever soca music is known and his “Real Unity” collaboration with Drupatee has been popular for many years
Montano and his band are noted for high energy, fast-paced, and often unpredictable on-stage performances.
During his career, which spans over 25 years, he has recorded several songs alongside many of Caribbean music's most popular acts, such as Admiral T, Alison Hinds, Beenie Man, Calypso Rose, Burning Flames, Drupatee, Wyclef Jean, Canibus, Red Rat, Shaggy, Sparrow, Denise Belfon, Ken Marlon Charles (KMC), Destra, Walker Hornung, Vybz Kartel, G-Unit, Black Stalin, David Rudder, Buju Banton, Mr Vegas, Doug E Fresh, Pitbull and many others.
Chutney Soca Monarch promoter, George Singh said he expects a large crowd at the finals of this show. He has also revealed that there will be three events running simultaneously in Miami, New York and Toronto where patrons in these cities will be entertained by live artistes and bands while they and view the Chutney Soca Monarch finals “live” on large screens.
"These people will also be able to vote for their choice of winner via text messaging," he stated.
Southex has employed Skype online video phone system so that the people in Miami, New York, Toronto and those here in Trinidad will be able to see each other enjoying the event. The promotion company is also seeking to have at least 100,000 text votes cast for the contest.
"In the coming three years we are seeking to have a pay per view audience of at least 50,000 viewers," Singh said.
