The rain has held, the sun has shone and the competition has thus far been intriguing as Soca Royale has unfolded before a moderate crowd at Bushy Park.
The legendary racing circuit, the third venue now for the revamped party contest, is used to seeing competition of a very different kind but the general vibe from patrons has been one of cautious approval. The tents which people had become used to in years gone by at the original East Coast venue, returned, dotting the hills surrounding the clubhouse.
In the opening skirmishes of the contest, Sweet Soca Monarch TC defended her crown with the vengeance of a woman who had finally tasted victory and has become hooked on the the taste of it. Her song ‘Down the Road’ was not neccesarily the most popular song going in, but she performed it for all she was worth and got the crowd moving.
Mikey had a much easier time of it, coming in with a popular tune in ‘My Party’ that prompted spontaneous waving and wining from the audience. Mikey is a dynamic performer and he gave the song the performance it deserved. He has to be counted as a definite contender for the Sweet Soca crown.
Khiomal’s witty and event-appropriate presentation where he and a crew of gyrating, sword-wielding knights rescued damsels in distress, also got a good response from the crowd and it is a melodically sweet tune that he rendered well. Mr. Dale, who opened the contest, also has a genuinely sweet song and he rendered it well, though the big stage is not his most natural forte.
Newcomers Bret Linton and Kirk Browne acquitted themselves reasonably, though Browne’s voice strained noticeably at some points as he attempted to battle the band and sound system in volume while veterans Hypa Dawg and Blood seemed to be saving their real energy for the Party Monarch contest. (AL-F)
