It's that time of the year and on Saturday 5th July , all eyes will be on Victoria Park for the 2014 edition of SVG's Soca Monarch. In the Power Soca category, Gamal 'Skinny Fabulous ' Doyle will seek to defend his crown against 14 artistes as he seeks to make it 4 in a row. Can Skinny do it again? Take a listen to the competition and hear our predictions.
1. Hance - Wild and Crazy
We love the songs that Hance bring but this song has not garnered the type of popularity to make it to the crown. We however expect nothing but a great performance.
2. Shaunelle - Soca Goddess
With a catchy beat and a good voice, Shaunelle brings her divinity to the stage with the Soca Goddess but will it be enough for the crown. We predict a top 5 place but not the crown this year!
3. Tamisha - Doh Mash It Up
Tamisha has made another great effort for 2014 and with the response from H20 Soca this year, we know she is gonna bring a great performance to the stage. This song we predict will be in the top 5 this year!
4. Fya Empress - Slap Way
Fya Empress will try again this year for the Power Soca crown which has eluded her. While the song is catchy and appeals to the 'Rum Posse' we need an extraordinary performance and half of the park drunk to see this song taking the crown. Our prediction is that this will be a top three hit but not the crown!
5. Fireman - Unruly
This year Fireman has come out with a vengeance to win the crown. We see flashes of the past Fireman who won the Power Soca crowns in past competitions and we know that the whole of North Leeward will be in Victoria Park. The question is , will he bring such stiff competition that he can give Skinny a run for the crown?
6. Problem Child - No Discipline
A crowd favourite every year, Problem Child always brings great songs to the Soca scene but his performance always kills the songs. We have seen flickers of change this year with his performance at Black Rave so we expect him to being one of hs best performances in recent memory to the stage in Victoria Park.
7. Syxx Krazii - It's Carnival
The winner of the 2014 New Song contest, Syxx brings a new vibe to the usual jump and wave. This is a great song with appeal but with it's popularity lacking, we don't know if it has enough power to make it into the top 5.
8. Jamesy P - Bang Dem
Another contender for the 2014 crown is veteran Jamesy P. While he is known for hits such as 'Nookie' and 2014 hit 'Wet", we don't see this track having the power to break into the top five. Let's hope it's an entertaining performance.
9. Keith Currency - Trouble
Another one of the popular tracks for 2014, Keith Currency is sure to have a great run in the Power Soca category with this hit. If he can pull off a crowd moving performance we see this song making a top five place and maybe even making the top three!
10. Fresh Kydd - Ride It
A great tune by a young up and coming artiste, we like the beat and the use of brass. We look forward to a good performance but don't see the crown going to this 'kydd'.
11. Shaney Hypez - You feel you bad
This song's popularity would be due to this artiste being a disc jockey on SVG's most popular radio station. With a catch tune and simple lyrics, we see this a crowd moving hit but not in line for the crown. (However we see this one giving Skinny a run for Road March.)
12. Royal - Youngest & Baddest
Another young artiste, this song has been popular at rural carnivals. We however don't see the power behind it to take the crown.
13. Madskull - Family
Another young artiste, this song has been making the rounds on the airwaves. With a catchy rhythm and simple lyrics, we see the crowd moving to this song. We however do not expect an electrifying performance and don't see this one in the top three but maybe a top five place.
14. Maddzart - Hole in the Road
Another veteran in the Soca business, Maddzart bring another 'road' tune but we don't really feel the power behind this one so we don't think the park will either.
Reigning Monarch - Skinny Fabulous
Following on the success of Behaving the Worst, his writing for artistes such as Machel Montano and collaborations with international artistes such as Major Lazer, Skinny is poised to have another fantastic run in the Power Soca Category. We predict a 65% chance of winning the crown with his stiffest competition coming from his bitter rival.
While it is said he will perform 'Red Button' (which is actually called Made for This), a few persons have been calling for the other big Power Soca hit 'Mental Home'. While we await Skinny's choice, we anticipate Victoria Park will go crazy over this performance.
My predictions for Power Soca Monarch 2014
The top five in no particular order: Skinny Fbulous, Fireman, Keith Currency, Problem Child and Shaunelle.
(We'll see if I can do good predictions.)
Victoria Park is the place to be on Saturday 5th July for the biggest show for Vincy Mas 2014. Can Skinny do it again? We'll just have to see!
Vincy Mas 2K14 is about to climax this weekend and one of the most anticipated shows will be the Soca Monarch competition. Again this year the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) has combined both the Ragga (also known as Groovy Soca) and the Power Soca segments into one show. (I'm not a big fan of this!)
This year nine artistes will come up against reigning Ragga Soca Monarch Lornette 'Fya Empress' Nedd. Here's a look at the competitors and what they will bring (along with a few predictions),
1. Skarpyon - Raw Curry
The reigning Calypso Monarch bring a chutney flair to this year's Ragga Soca Monarch. On the heels of the success of 'Hammer & Conch' from 2013 and the bitter sting of being relegated to second place, we can expect a performance like no other by Skarpyon as he goes for the crown again this year!
2. Johnny Rebel - Thunder
No one can deny Johnny Rebel loves the Soca arena. His presentation this year is actually a great fusion of old school with new beats. This tune is actually quite catchy and takes you back to a time when you were young and innocent to Soca messages. While we know this tune will be a hit with an older crowd, We aren't too sure if the performance at Victoria Park will be able to move the crowd.
3. Fireman - Rum Meeting
This year Fireman presents his best chance for taking home the crown in the Soca arena for years. This song has not only a captivating beat but also resonates with the entire cross section of Soca listeners from young to old. While we await the presentation on stage Saturday night, we know the crowd will be moving from beginning to end. We shouldn't be surprised if Saturday night, the rum meeting takes home the crown.
4. Vincy Marshall - Faith
This song has been making its lyrics felt for this Carnival season. While still relatively unknown, Vincy Marshall is having waist lines moving for this Carnival season. We anticipate that this song will have an impact in Victoria Park on Saturday night but will that be enough to secure a top three spot? We are not too sure!
5. Demus - No Problem
Another of this year's anthem, we know this song will have Victoria Park moving. This is one of the songs with the best airplay for this season and its catch beat and lyrics have endeared Soca lovers of all ages. We hope Demus can however brig a great performance to help propel him up the ranks this year. One thing we can say however is that we have 'No Problem' with this song!
6. Wiz Skid - Fettologist
It is hard to deny that this song has been one of the most popular for Vincy Mas 2014. With the new catch phrase for this year's Carnival, 'Fettologist' resonates with any party animal who can identify with the lyrics. We know that patrons at Victoria Park will be dancing to this tune but will the performance be one to wow the judges? Let's hope it's not as disappointing and stiff as the music video.
7. Shaunelle - Champion
A veteran to the Carnival business, Shaunelle enters her 21st year with 2 good songs. While we know that she can perform, her music has not been beating the airwaves as much as we think it should and this may make the crowd not as involved as it would normally would. We expect nothing but a stellar performance from Shaunelle but will it be enough to take her to the top three? We'll just have to see!
8. Hance - Wasted
One of SVG's up and coming Soca artistes, we enjoyed his 2013 presentation. This year Hance brings another great track to the table with 'Wasted'. With a great beat and cool lyrics, this is actually one of the best Raga Soca tracks for 2014 in my opinion. Hance always brings a great performance to the stage but is his son popular enough to get the crowd moving? We're not too sure but still Saturday may just surprise a lot of people!
9. Piece ah This - Keith Currency
This year Keith Currency brings another catchy hit to the stage with 'Piece ah This.' This song has been garnering airplay and is another of the favourites for Vincy Mas 2014. With major improvements in his craft, we look forward to a great performance by Keith on the stage and maybe a break into the top three for this year's competition.
Fya Empress - Drink Ah Juice
This year, Fya Empress brings another crowd moving hit which we expect to rock Victoria Park. She will bring her 'A' game to the stage to defend the crown and it may be hard to beat her. This song has the beat, the lyrics and essence of Ragga Soca. We look forward to what the Empress brings to the stage on Saturday night.
So my prediction: My top three in no particular order are Fya Empress, Fireman and Keith Currency.
We'll see what happens on Saturday 5th July at Victoria Park but one thing we know is that the Ragga Soca segment this year is filled with hits that will have you on your feet from start to finish. It's the Battle of the the Groovy!
