Bad Manners Soca 'Queen' set to take over when calypso monarch 'resigns'
Stabroek News
February 7, 2004
Two months ago she was crowned "Queen" of the bad manners soca competition, now she has set her sights on the Calypso Monarchy.
Monica "Sweet Monix" Wills feels it is time to take over from reigning "Monarch" Vivian "VJ" Jordan as he is now singing "I will resign".
"Silent killer" is "Monix's" piece this year in which she narrates the story of an HIV/AIDS victim and denounces the stigma and discrimination identified with the disease.
Many know the calypsonian as the younger sister of "Lady Explainer" who took up the art form to rival her sibling. Today she is one of the highly regarded females on the local calypso scene.
Over the years "Sweet Monix" has earned the respect deserving of a serious calypsonian, an accomplishment, she said, that comes after struggling to win acclaim in a male-dominated art form.
In a recent interview with Stabroek News, "Sweet Monix" said her years in the Guyana National Service (GNS) sparked an interest in calypso since she was often called upon to give commentary about various aspects of the training.
A chance meeting with the "Mighty Intruder" a few years later then marked her entrance on the local scene. "Monix" recalls that "Intruder" fervently believed in her vocal skills and felt she had a natural gift for social commentary. With his prompting and the thrill of sibling calypso rivalry, "Monix" started her career in 1984.
Her early years were plagued with disappointments as she failed to win recognition as a calypsonian. Then in 1999 "Monix" became the new face when she stormed into the calypso finals with a piece titled "They give away de monarchy" and placed fourth.
The song was in reaction to a decision taken the previous year by the judges in the local competition to crown "Lady Nema" Calypso Monarch.
"Monix" went on to delight Guyanese audiences with songs like, "Play my music", "Cricket" and "Miss it". Then came "Guns" in 2002 which won the calypsonian local acclaim.
"Guns" recaptured in detail "Monix's' experience of being shot while on duty at her workplace during a bandit attack.
The incident had occurred at Citizens Bank where "Monix" is employed as a security guard. Although the tune was a pre-contest favourite, it did not place in the finals.
The Mash calypso contest kicks off tonight in Rose Hall, Berbice.