Calypso competition
Ras Marcus gives VJ strong signal
By Neil Marks
Guyana Chronicle
February 15, 2004
RAS Marcus has sent a strong signal to the Mighty VJ to be prepared to relinquish the monarchy, as the judges of the Calypso competition may very well accept the latter’s `resignation.
Ras Marcus emerged as the outstanding favourite at the semi finals at the National Park Friday evening, and not surprisingly, he was picked among the nine finalists to compete against two time king Vivian Jordan.
At the end of the semi’s early Saturday morning, everyone was leaving the National Park tarmac uttering Marcus’ `Go fuh cup’. However, they are bracing themselves for a stiff final competition, given their love for the reigning monarch’s `I will resign’.
VJ appeared briefly on stage to encourage his fans to come out to Bartica for the finals, when he will face probably his stiffest competition yet to the monarchy.
Marcus’ calypso, by name teasing one into the like-sounding expletive, thrilled the audience, and that very night, they wanted to have him back, but it was not to be.
His song pushes into the ears of the listeners the reasons why some people decided to `Go fuh cup’ - joining the ruling party, the cup being its symbol – and the reasons why some people decided not to `Go fuh cup’.
But Marcus was not the only hot calypsonian Friday evening.
Indeed, Eddie Atkinson, with stage name Mighty Eddie A, also moved the audience to uncontrollable laughter with his theme song `Woe to El Dorado ’.
Like the reigning monarch, he is Amerindian and from the Barima/Waini administrative region. He stands an excellent chance of placing high in the finals, if not securing the sought after title.
Dressed in Amerindian attire, headdress and all, Mighty Eddie A, had everyone joining in singing the chorus line `Woe-o-e-woe’.
The Tempest, visually impaired Camille Basdeo, also landed in the finals. The judges must have taken heed to her plea `Don’t dis my ability’.
The Mighty Rebel, Geofrey Phillips, also placed, and his biggest line of the night was when he said he had heard about electricity bill and phone bill, but never “man-to-man bill”, referring to the controversial sexual orientation bill that is before Parliament.
With `A Woman is a woman’, preaching everything from Adam and Eve to Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton, Lord Canary (Malcolm Corrica), threw jabs at the women folk, but they loved him for it! He assured he meant no disrespect, and so reserved a place for himself in the finals.
Calypso Stella, Estella Simpson, said she was advised that singing politics was the way to secure the monarchy, but made it clear that that was not her thing and so she decided to sing her own way into the finals.
The others who made it into the finals were the Mighty Voter (Martin Byrne), Winfield James, and Young Bill Rogers (Roger Hinds).
Notable among the nine names left out of the last lap were Compton Hodges and Monica Wills (Sweet Monicx).