1996 is a pivotal year, for many reasons, for Calypso in Grenada. It will be the last ever Calypso Competition at the venue known as Queen’s Park, it will be the first Calypso title for Scholar and the full effects of the Soca Monarch competition manifested itself more so in 1996 than previous years.
The introduction of a National Soca Monarch Competition in 1994 began a change that some believe has led to the demise of the calypso competition. Elwin ‘Black Wizard’ McQuilkin won the Calypso title in 1994 with ‘Massa’ and ‘Soca Instruction’, he also won the inaugural soca monarch competition with ‘Soca Instruction’.
The trend of one ‘lyrical’, slow-tempo song in the first round and an up-tempo song in the second started to evolve as Calypsonians (Mr. X, Beast and Scholar) with an affinity for the hard-hitting political and social commentaries utilized both rounds to ‘deal with the politicians’. The other calypsonians quickly adapted this new tendency, especially with the outlet of Soca Monarch for the party or up-tempo songs.
The vindication of this new direction came in 1996 with Findley ‘Scholar’ Jeffrey winning his first calypso title with the offerings of ‘Heroes’ and ‘Dotishness’.
This was the full line up for the final Calypso Finals at the Queen’s Park:
- Ajamu – defending his 1995 title.
- Scholar – dethroning Ajamu to win his first title.
- Beast – returning to competition after sitting out the 1995 season.
- Foopy – deemed controversial for his very direct lyrical content.
- Squeezy – delivered two of his timeless pieces on that night. Party Girls (Miss Mary) aragga soca classic and Childhood Days.
- Black Wizard – both 1995 and 1996 were tough years for Wizard as he tried to repeat the double of 1994.
- Bubbler – he was becoming a formidable and prominent fixture at Calypso finals.
- Randy Isaac – riding on the success of his monster hit tune ‘six for nine’, this was one of Randy’s better years to include a controversial win of the Soca Monarch title.
- Mr. X – another perennial finalist who appeared to have a calypso title well within his creative reach.
- Smokey – by now a veteran of the calypso finals, his contribution to the clashes at Queen’s Park forms a major part of the story of Calypso in Queen’s Park and Grenada.
The songs in 1996 were particularly tough on the politicians, the Carnival committee, and other significant social figures.
Beast opened his song ‘Who Vex, Vex’, like this:
‘In ’94 I sang ‘bout the family,
And ah upset a lot ah people here in this country,
Ah dirty mouth politician say they should jail me,
‘cause I took the anthem and made ah mockery,
So in ’95 I stayed off Dimanche Gras stage,
Grenadians got on bad oh how they misbehave,
Stopping me in ’96 is outta context,
ah saying what dey on me mind and who vex well vex’.
The emergence of the Soca Monarch as another major national show meant that the Calypsonians opted to delve into social and political issues on Dimanche Gras and leave the fun and frolic songs for the night set aside for Soca.
That line of thinking changed the complexion of Dimanche Gras both from the approach of the Calypsonians and the perception of the audience. Calypsonians were even more hard-hitting and raw in their delivery using words and phrases that would elicit rapturous applause, laughter and cheering on one side and sneers of derision on the other side of the social and or political divide.
There was the argument that two rounds of political and social commentary made Dimanche Gras boring and the elements of partying that was taken away by the Soca Monarch competition made the show unappealing to a younger audience.
One thing that is not up for debate is the change brought about by the end of Queen’s Park as a venue The intimate setting with its historic pavilion and rickety bleachers created a connection between audience and performer that would never be replicated.
Obviously, that venue was not going to exist forever, and the entire area has since progressed into the National Cricket Stadium and the Kirani James Athletics Stadium.
The 1997 Calypso finals were held at the Tanteen Playing Field with a stage erected in the middle of the playing field, completed surrounded by the audience. Scholar successfully defended his title there with, ‘Amnesty’ and ‘Detector Test’.
An era of Grenadian performing and cultural excellence had come to an end with the best rivalries, songs and calypso showmanship ever witnessed by Grenadians taking place at the Queen’s Park.
The complete line up (songs included) for the ultimate calypso competition at the famous Queen’s Park was as follows:
Scholar – Dotishness, Heroes
Beast – Who Vex Vex, Die For My Country
Foopy – The Letter, Be Friends With A Minister
Squeezy – Party Girls, Childhood Days
Smokey – For Competition, Take Them Back
Black Wizard – GBCTV, Ah Want To See
Bubbler – Reconciliation, Blowing The Issues
Randy Isaac – Six for Nine, Freedom
Mr. X – Last Kaiso I Sing, Ah Miss De Revolution
Ajamu – Neighbor, Let’s Get Serious
The strength of the competitions at Queen’s Park was not based solely on those who captured the crown on Carnival Sunday night. The ‘Supporting Cast’ was essential to the success of Queen’s Park Dimanche Gras.
The Praying Mantis – arguably the best Grenada Calypsonian to not win a crown.
Eggies – Melodies and creative writing unlike any other.
Bubbler – A crafty composer with a knack for writing on very topical issues.
Reggie Charles – A former Junior Calypso Monarch whose talents transcended to the big stage.
Darkie – A transgenerational veteran who held his own even as the artform evolved.
Randy Isaac – the Voice, who could be counted on to deliver masterful performances.
Peter Humphrey – his immense musical talents were reflected in his compositions and deliveries.
Squeezy – Probably the most versatile Calypsonian of that era, smoothly transitioning between Calypso, Soca and Ragga Soca.
Skylark – Brought prominence to the talents of the Sister Isle, Carriacou and contributed some of the greatest classics in Grenada’s Calypso history.
Other components were also crucial to the success of the Queen’s Park shows.
The musical bands, the Royal Grenada Police Force Band (splendor and regalia best describes their onstage attire) Moss International and TR7 Plus.
The backup Singers, the Actors and others who took part in the presentations, the Service Providers and the Corporate Citizens.
The Masters of Ceremonies must get a very special mention. Troy Garvey, Senator and Harold Paysadee carried the shows in a way only true masters can. Each performer was introduced with the same vigor and energy, a mark of true professionalism and the suspense during the eventual announcements of winners was always just enough to create an explosion of celebration to cap a night of excellence.
The audience was always appreciative of the performers and the performances and exemplary efforts were greeted with tremendous cheers, applause and appreciation.
Gentle Ben TV must be highly commended for documenting this very critical part of Grenada’s history. The Queen’s Park calypso era goes beyond just the competition, performances and results. It became a significant part of Grenada’s social landscape. It was the people’s parliament, where issues of national importance were ventilated. It was the people’s court where those who did wrong were held to account through the power of lyrics and music. It was the people’s dancehall where patrons got to ‘leggo’ to the best party tunes of a particular season. The Calypso Finals at Queen’s Park was all of that and more and Gentle Ben TV has chronicled it for all eternity. For appreciation, for research and most of all for appreciation.
For those who witnessed that era, please continue to share the experiences, for those who did not please allow yourselves to indulge.
But for now it is Good Night Queen’s Park.
A Made In Grenada Publication ©
