by KATRINA BEND

FOUR for the Pic-O-De-Crop semi-finals and one for the Party Monarch finals.

This is how it looks after the TriMart Hit Parade Calypso tent put its case before the judges at Tim's On De Hiway on Thursday night.

Mr Impact, in the Pic-O-De-Crop category, leads the way with Where Is My Country, a song which calls for an end to the heavy economic influence of Trinidad and Tobago over Barbados. The song was penned by Wendell Callender and arranged by Roger Gittens.

In Impact's second number, Destructive People, he expresses frustration with certain developments that are creating problems for the human race and lashes out at things like possible nuclear warfare.

Dionne was also good as she made her case for women to be given a shot at the Monarchy, 20 years after Rita Forrester won it. Dionne's piece was penned by Sir Don and arranged by Mark Husbands. Her next offering Keep On Pushing is a motivational song about overcoming challenges.

Colin Spencer threw down the gauntlet with Show Them We Are In Charge which speaks to the weeding out of certain Government officials with ties to the opposition.

He presented his case from a podium with a poster of Prime Minister David Thompson from the election campaign on the front. His other song, Promises, refers to many people in the public's eye who failed to keep their word.

Musikal hopes to end his 25-year career in calypso – hoping to get to the semis – with Everyt'ing Gone Up, including a calypsonian who found himself on the wrong side of the law. This brought lots of laughter from the full house. It was self-penned and was arranged by Andy Williams. His Free should be able to stand the test of time.

Others facing the judges were Suneeta with Core Values, written by Sir Don and arranged by Pernell Farley, and Nobody Ain't Frighten No More, penned by Smokey Burke and arranged by Ricky Brathwaite, and Fowl Cock Party by Julie.

The Party Monarch's strongest vibe came from Keisha Christian with Festival Time.

Suneeta and Julie both had infectious beats So Into You and My Name Is Ragga Soca respectively. However, they did not give off the energy needed for a party piece. Dionne's Because Of You showed a different side of her.

Panta had the audience in stitches with Connect where he poked fun at himself for obviously not "being connected" with the modern way party songs are done.

Others offered were Burning Up by Rusty, and Rihanna by Bongo.

Smokey Burke and Malik did not face the judges. The former has another chance to do so in another tent.

Guest performers were reigning junior monarch Co Co; junior monarch contestant Babydoll, comedian Fudd Straker and Barbados Workers' Union calypso monarch Bongo.