THE CLARKE and Gittens siblings ruled the Scotiabank Junior Monarch Competition at the National Stadium last Saturday night, forever etching their names in the calypso annals of Barbados in the process.For the first time in the history of the junior competition siblings walked away with the two top spots in both the eight to 12 and 13 to 18 categories.Myles Z added another title to his name by beating his little brother Jazz-Z into second in the younger category, while former eight to 12 monarch Lil AZ lifted the trophy away from Small One, who was in her first year in the adult category.Tension started to build, nervous grins covered entire faces, tears started to flow, and it was as if fellow contestant De Professor had put a temporary freeze on the siblings when Lil T and AC were announced as third in the eight to 12 and 13 to 18 categories respectively.The Gittens brothers were separated and they turned and looked at each other in disbelief, while Small One immediately leapt into Lil AZ’s arms and they clung to each other even after the announcement that would put one above the other was made. The tear-jerking moments continued when Lil Az shared her big moment with Small One by allowing her to sing a bit of her winning song after the announcement was made.Neither Myles Z nor Lil Az felt it would come down to a decision between their younger sibling for the title.“It was totally unexpected,” a calm and composed Myles Z said, adding that he thought his toughest competition was Lil T.The still overwhelmed Lil Az could not identify a single person, but spoke of those final moments.“It was hard seeing my sister and I together. I just started to cry, because it was never like this before,” she said.Jazz-Z was a bit surprised that it came down to him and Myles Z, but he is anxiously looking forward to next year, when his brother graduates to the older category so he can beat every one “with ease” and keeping the trophy in his bedroom.Had inklingSmall One, who upped her game for the big night, said she had an inkling: “I guess it could’ve been a one, two and it did happen.”There is further excitement in the Gittens camp. The boys’ father musician/teacher Roger Gittens wrote and arranged both songs, as well as The Old Girls for fourth-placed Candy Princess.Celebration started for the Clarke sisters long before the announcement was made, they had already captured four of the five special prizes awarded in their division.Small One was awarded the prize for best lyrics in a HIV/AIDS song for the Gabby-penned Stop De Stigma, while the Dale Rudder composition titled The Briefcase earned Lil Az prizes for Best Rendition and Best Performance. she was also awarded the Best Dress prize.Young G took the Best Dress Male in the 13 to 18 category. Special prizes in the eight to 12 category were won by Nik and Confetti. Nik won Best Self-penned for Open Your Eyes And See and Confetti’s Who Do You Want To Trick, which was written by Gabby, was awarded Best Lyrics for an HIV/AIDS song. It would be remiss if mention were not made of Lil T, who would have been in the shadow of the Gittens brothers and other favourites Adonis and De Professor. Very quietly she improved on every appearance and gave a solid rendition and performance of Who Was It, which has a very memorable melody.The tragedy in that category was De Professor. He was doing well, freezing in the appropriate places and all, until the famed, and oftentimes ill-fated last verse.Final positions in descending order in both categories are:Eight to 12 – Myles Z (I Want You To Ban), Jazz-Z (Snacks), Lil T (Who Was It), Candy Princess (The Old Girls), Nik (Open Your Eyes And See), Confetti (Who Do You Want To Trick), De Professor (Freeze) and Adonis (The Little Rastaman).13 to 18 – Lil Az (The Briefcase, Small One (Stop The Stigma), AC (Poverty Is Just A State Of Mind), Latifa (Abuse Is Abuse), Leah (Old Days), Young G (Poverty Still Here), Barbie (Melody Of The Band) and Jahailer (Letter To The Government).
