IT’S BEEN just over a year since Adrian AC Clarke had surgery to correct a pinched nerve in his C4/C5 vertebrae. And now he is looking forward to “living his life”.
“I still consider myself lucky and am thanking God that I was able to take part in Crop Over 2015 after having undergone surgery,” he said.
“There were moments when I worried that I would never be able to sing again considering the procedure was done through my throat, but there came a point when it had to be done.
“Crop Over 2015 was a try-out, especially in the party arena. Anyone who knows me knows I have not done any party music for a while. Not because I didn’t want to, but mainly because I realised if I did it, I couldn’t perform it.
“So I enjoyed it, what little I did, both in Party Monarch and Sweet Soca semi-finals. As for Pic-O-De-Crop, I have been in the finals for 19 times so if I do make it this year that would be 20, which I am also looking forward too,” he said, smiling broadly.
As for his “feud” with Ronnie De Announcer Clarke, which reached a high during last year’s festival, he said that was merely picong.
“There is nothing going on between me and Ronnie. Nothing personal as far as I know.
“We talk and message each other whenever we need to. What has happened in the past has happened, and I am not saying it won’t happen again, but on top of all that I don’t think there would be any of that happening this year unless someone pulls my tail.
“That is calypso and there would always be battles. That is the nature of extempo. It’s just that some guys don’t know how to keep it clean. They can’t rhyme unless they use something derogatory or expletive.
“I am far from that and I think I am much craftier than that. I can use words and leave people wondering, ‘Was he being dirty?’” he said with a sly look on his face.
Clarke’s daughter, singer Azizi Clarke, who was present at the interview, said that she too was looking forward to Crop Over this year.
“I feel pretty great and as long as dad writes my songs, it will be better,” she said, glancing at Clarke.
“I already have a few songs, but it’s just to familiarise myself with them and decide which ones I use for this year.”
Laughing heartily after his daughter’s comment, Clarke added: “Azizi is definitely looking forward to it, and hopefully we can do a song together, if she would allow me.
“I just know 2016 is going to be a fun year. People say it’s a year of party, but I will say it’s a year of song.
“It started great and I just want it to continue the way it has been going so far. I don’t want the ‘party dun’!” (RA)
