OLIVIA OLIMIKE CARMICHAEL is the new queen of calypso of the second annual Barbados Port Authority In-House Fun Calypso Competition. Singing her self-penned All De Money Gone, Carmichael easily brushed aside her other eight competitors, including defending champion Errol De Phantom Hurley to take the coveted title. Speaking with WE after her crowning, Carmichael said she never expected to do as well as she did. “I am lost for words! I am overwhelmed! Words cannot described the feeling when I was announced the winner. This is my first time in competition and I just decided I would give it my best shot; and I am really happy I won,” she said.
The song, which was co-written by Carmichael and Lee Langdan, spoke of people living from pay cheque to pay cheque – where, in most cases, by the time they actually received their cheque, it was already spent. For her efforts Carmichael got $1 000 and a weekend for two at Coconut Court Hotel. The visually impaired Hurley, who was favoured to successfully defend his crown, was very well received with his I Can See That, in which he encourages society not to see him as disabled but differently able. In third position was Samantha Sammie Gee Weekes with Wuh Old Days. The song sought to compare life of yesteryear to that of today.
For his contribution Hurley received $750 and a weekend for two at the Coral Mist Beach Hotel, while Weekes received $500. Also taking part in the competition were Carlyn Blazing C Waithe, who finished fourth with De Youth; Tameisha Tammy C Clarke with Tourism Crumbs; Kelly-Ann Lady K Springer with A Junior’s Plea; Latoya Big Brown Eversley with Woman Strong; Movel Castle Girl Smith with Changes; and Raphael The Mighty Straw Hat Atkins, who had the crowd falling from their seats with his “recital” of Things Brown. Making guest appearances were Flexi who got the crowd rocking with his hit tune Lovable, Captain Sawyer, TeJay from Cave Shepherd All Stars and Martin Haynes.
Co-ordinator of the event, Meshell Rawlins, told WE that the calypso competition was done to bring staff of the Barbados Port Authority closer together. “The competitors are from various departments of the Port. The criteria were that all the songs had to be original, and for that reason most of them were written by the competitors themselves. In an effort to keep the momentum going, we are planning to stage an All-Bajan Day for the Port members as part of our Independence celebrations. “We will be looking to play games like hop scotch, rounders, [and foods like] bakes . . . fish cakes, sugar cakes to name a few. It will feature everything Bajan just like it was done back in time,” Rawlins said. by Clifton HENRY
