Competition is almost synonymous with Calypso. Despite its negative
effects, it seems to be the fuel which keeps this artform burning.
Throughout the years, there has always been competition for some coveted
prize or title. The main one here is the Calypso Monarchy (formerly Calypso
King).
The inception of the first organised Calypso tent (led by Lord Melody) in the
late 1950S greatly facilitated the holding of the Calypso King contest.
Eliminations were held at the Tent and seven Calypsonians were chosen for the
finals.
Until recently, the Calypso King contest did not evoke much National
attention. This was due to the fact that, unlike now, the media, especially the
radio, was not playing any effective role in promoting it. People from the
rural Parishes rarely knew the name of the Calypso King or his winning
selections.
All this has changed and the Dimanche Gras show (in which the calypso contest
is the main attraction) is now the biggest National event.
Its evolution to this level started in the 1970s when the first Dimanche Gras
show was held. Calypsonians like Scaramouche, (1970 King), Dictator, Unlucky,
Flory, Melody, Slim and Pappittete were foremost exponents of the artform at
the time. By then, singers were making use of the facilities of Radio Grenada,
thereby whipping up public interest.
With the inception of the Roving Calypso Tent (1970), tents started to
journey to different parts of the Island. By the late 1970's, they were being
established in the rural Parishes.
In 1979, there came the Revolution, the overthrow of the Gairy Government
and a cultural reawakening among the masses, especially the the youth. By
1981, when Carnival was officially changed from just before Ash Wednesday to
the second week in August, after being celebrated in May for a couple of
years), The Calypso Monarch competition took a great leap to become the
keen, fever pitched, National event that it now is, attracting thousands of
people Islandwide.
There are now Road March Monarch, Junior Monarch, and Calypso Queen
competitions on the National, Parish, Village Club and School levels.
The history of competition in Claypso in Grenada runs parallel to the artform
itself. As late as 1951, there was no National competition among the
Calypsonians. There were contests between singing and string bands. Each had
a Chantwell or lead singer, and it is he who has emerged as the modern
Calypsonian . Competitions are held in different Parishes, for example
St.George's, St.David's, and St.Andrew's. There were great Chantwells as
Chandler of Mt. Moritz, Papa Edmund, Invader, Banana and Evergreen of
St.Andrew's.
The songs in those days were more of a Social nature, dealing with villages
happenings. However, a dominant feature was Picong. Bands would challenge,
threaten and deride each other.
With Grenadians becoming more attuned to the development of the artform in
Trinidad through migration and radio. Emphasis shifted in the mid-fifties
from the singing bands to the artistes as such the Calypsonians
The National Calypso King contest consequently came into being. There was no
female singer in it, and hence the reason for the title. The name remained
until 1983 when the first female Calypsonian, Lasy Success, made it into the
finals of the competition. Today, ''Calypso Monarch'' is the formal title
for the event.
Only General Elections generate as much interest, debate and speculation as
the annual Calypso Monarch contest. With great exponents as Ajamu, Wizard,
Manthis, Eggies and Inspector performing well year after year, the
competition has been kept alive and dynamic.
Incentives to Calypsonians competing nowadays are far more attractive than
those offered in earlier times. In 1957, the winning singing band received
$50.00. In 1958, when Melody was first crowned King, he received $75.00 as
his prize. In 1994, the winner received $16,000.00, the first runner up
$12.000.00, the second runner up $9,000.00.
Calypso is judged on Lyrics, Melody, Originality, Rendition and Presentation.
In 1993, a new system of judging was introduced. Five Judges were used , the
highest and the lowest scores for each contestant were eliminated and the
remaining three were added to get a grand total for each.
The Calypso competition has been plagued by controversy from its inception.
It is often fueled by Calypsonians and their fans alike. It would not be
incorrect to say that the adjudicators are the ones who always get the dirty
end of the stick. But sometimes they deserve it.