VETERAN CALYPSONIAN Serenader has defended competitions, saying they are the key to keeping the art form alive.
Serenader, who took the Pic-O-De-Crop title in 1990, singing Jogging and Tug-O-War and in 1993 with Steel In Dey and Breakdown, will be going before the judges this year in the annual contest under the banner of De Big Show tent.
He traced the longevity of the art from to the days when calypso enthusiasts hung around after tent night and debated the chances of their favourite calypsonian going forward to the next stage of the competition.
“If you remove competition, you are not going to get the [interest] among the people. The competition is good for the supporters; they like to know that who they are backing will do well. (JS)