SOCA MONARCH International Soca Monarch is an annual

SOCA MONARCH International Soca Monarch is an annual Soca Music competition/fete event, the finals of which are held on every Carnival Friday (aka Fantastic Friday) in Trinidad and Tobago. Contestants in the event vie for two separate crowns or titles, the International Soca Monarch (aka the Power Soca Monarch) for uptempo songs (135 bpm and above), and Groovy Soca Monarch[for slower-paced songs (134 bpm and below). Between 2016 and 2018 a change in format meant that contestants vied for only one award but this one category changed was reversed in 2019. In 2016 an additional award was added, called the People's Choice. The International Soca Monarch competition has become the mecca event for soca artists in Trinidad and Tobago where the event has been hosted since its inception; and also the rest of the Caribbean region, as many artists who have competed on its stage have moved on to successful soca careers. Dubbed the "Super Bowl of soca music" it is a highly anticipated and well-attended event that has been graced with internationally acclaimed recording artists such as Super Blue (Austin Lyons), Machel Montano, Fay-Ann Lyons, Kevin Lyttle, Rupee, and Bunji Garlin (Ian Antonio Alvarez).

History Soca musicians from around the region and the world are eligible to compete in the preliminary round of the competition and must attain the required number of points (in a preliminary judging) to advance into the semi-finals and subsequently the finals which is an action-packed event and has been televised and broadcast live (though not always) to viewers in Trinidad and Tobago and (via internet streaming to) the Caribbean and other regions of the world. The competition began in 1993 as a local competition for soca called the Soca Monarch (aka Trinidad & Tobago Soca Monarch), and the event quickly grew in popularity as it always featured the more popular artists singing their favoured songs for each Carnival season. It was redubbed The International Soca Monarch in 1996 when for the first time acts from around the world became eligible to compete for a place in the finals and a chance at the envied title of International Soca Monarch. At the inception of the competition, all soca artists (whether their song was uptempo or slower) competed for the same prize. In its current format, a distinction is recognised between faster-paced soca songs (135 bpm and above) and their slower counterparts (134 bpm and below) which can still become crowd favorites. Between 2005 and 2015 artists with these slower-paced songs had a chance to compete separately from the usually more hyped-up (and consequently more popular) Power soca songs/artists, and vie for a different title, the International Groovy Soca Monarch. Between 2016 and 2018 the Power and Groovy Soca categories were merged back into one category however in 2019 the growing distinction between both styles of Soca has been reinstated. Therein is official recognition of the evolution of Soca music into two distinctive subgenres.

Power Soca Monarch YEAR ARTISTE COMPOSITION 1993 Super Blue Bacchanal Time 1994 Super Blue Flag Party 1995 Ronnie Mc Intosh On De Road 1996 Super Blue Bounce 1997 Ronnie Mc Intosh Ent Super Blue Barbara 1998 Super Blue Ato Party 1999 Kurt Allen Stampede (Dus Dem) 2000 Super Blue Pump Up 2001 Shadow Stranger 2002 Bunji Garlin In de Ghetto Iwer George Gimme ah Bligh 2003 Iwer George Ah Home 2004 Bunji Garlin Warrior Cry 2005 Bunji Garlin Blaze it

Power Soca Monarch YEAR ARTISTE COMPOSITION 2006 Shurwayne Winchester Can’t Wait 2007 Iwer George Fete after Fete 2008 Bunji Garlin Fiery 2009 Fayann Lyons Alvarez Meet Super Blue 2010 Blaze and JW Palance 2011 Machel Montano Advantage 2012 Machel Montano Pump Your Flag 2013 Machel Montano / Austin “Super. Blue” Lyons Float / Fantastic Friday 2014 Machel Montano Ministry Of The Road 2015 Machel Montano Like Ah Boss 2016 Voice Cheers To Life 2017 Voice Far From Finished 2018 Voice Year For love 2019 Mr. Killa Run Wid It 2020 Iwer George (featuring Kes) Stage Gone Bad

Groovy Soca Monarch The Groovy Soca Monarch competition emerged in 2005, just as the groovy soca hybrid began to gain popularity. Since then, it has become as significant to Fantastic Friday as the International Soca Monarch itself is to Carnival. bmobile TSTT People's Choice 2006: Bunji Garlin 2007: Shurwayne Winchester 2008: Bunji Garlin 2009: Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez 2010: JW & Blaze 2011: Neil 'Iwer' George 2012: Machel Montano 2013: Superblue

Groovy Soca Monarch YEAR ARTISTE COMPOSITION 2005 Michelle Sylvester Sleeping in my Bed 2006 Shurwayne Winchester Don’t Stop 2007 Biggie Irie Nah Going Home 2008 Shurwayne Winchester Please Stay 2009 Fayann Lyons Alvarez Heavy T Bumper 2010 Shurwayne Winchester Murdah 2011 Kes Dieffenthaller Wotless 2012 Machel Montano Mr. Fete 2013 Machel Montano Fog 2014 Kerwin Du Bois Too Real 2015 Olatunji Ola 2016 Voice Cheers To Life 2017 Voice Far From Finished 2018 Voice Year For love 2019 Swappi Party Start 2020 College Boy Jesse Happy Song

TRIVIA Who was the first Soca Artist to win the Soca Monarch title? and How many titles did he/she win?

Austin Lyons a. k. a Superblue, Super Blue or Blueboy Fantastic Friday – Click to play

• Austin Lyons, born 25 May 1956, better known as Superblue, Super Blue and Blueboy, is Trinidadian calypsonian, soca musician, and lyricist. Early life He was born on 25 May 1956 in Point Fortin. His mother is a Grenadian and his father is Trinidadian. • Career Lyons became famous from his first entry into the calypso tent world in 1980 with "Soca Baptist, " a song he penned in 1979. "Soca Baptist" won him his first Carnival Road March Monarch award in 1980. He won the annual T&T Carnival Road March title ten (10) times (in 1980, 1981 and 1983 he won under the moniker Blue Boy, and as Superblue in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2013 and 2018). He won the Trinidad & Tobago Soca Monarch (now the International Soca Monarch) title seven (7) times. • Superblue is famous for wearing blue costumes and dancing on top of speaker boxes. He developed a reputation for performing daring antics while on stage for the Soca Monarch competitions.

• His daughters, Terri Lyons and Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez are in the entertainment industry. Fay-Ann Lyons' calypsonian mother is Lady Gypsy, a soca musician (composer and performer), who won three Road March Monarch titles (2003, 2008 and 2009). Superblue recorded the song "Clear de Road" with Fay. Ann. • They performed it together for the International Soca Monarch competition in 2004, placing out of the top ten. • Since his Soca Monarch win in 2000, Superblue remained out of the winners' circle until 2011 when he received the SAO Hall of Fame Award for his body of work. • He continues to record music and his earlier songs are considered classic soca compositions, used in Panorama competitions. • He made a return to the Soca Monarch stage in 2013 with his song "Fantastic Friday, " and captured the International Soca Monarch title in a tie with the defending champion, Machel Montano. Super. Blue is hailed as the originator of the "jump and wave" style of soca songs and is credited by the benefactor of the International Soca Monarch, William Munro with a major role in the success of that competition. • His song "Barbara" was played as background music in the movie Side Streets (1998). • Super. Blue sealed his return to the soca scene in 2013 by winning the Road March Title and tying for first place in the International Soca Monarch with Machel Montano. • His winning song "Fantastic Friday" was played over 500 times on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, beating Montano (who had fewer than 60 plays), by over 400 plays. • In 2018, Montano and Superblue jointly released "Soca Kingdom" for Carnival. They dominated the Road March competition, winning with over twice as many plays as the second place song.

Machel Montano Born November 24, 1974 in Port of Spain Trinidad, Machel Montano was destined to be great. Through his ever-evolving musical offerings, Machel works on his mission of depositing soca into the domain of mainstream music. Machel’s career began in 1982 at age seven; at age nine he formed his band, Pranasonic Express. Montano’s debut album “Too Young To Soca”, released in 1985, was an instant hit which earned rave reviews and standing ovations at live performances. In April of 1986, the young performer appeared on the popular television show, Star Search, bringing soca music to US national television. The next year, Machel took 2 nd place in the Trinidad & Tobago National Song Writer’s Festival with his song, “Dream Girl. ” In 1987, at the age of 12, he was the winner of the Caribbean Song Festival held in Barbados. He was the first Trinidadian and youngest to ever win this prestigious contest. One of Machel’s earliest and greatest achievements was his May, 1984 appearance at Madison Square Garden in the The Felt Forum in New York City at the age of 9. He was billed as a support act for the Mighty Sparrow and other top calypsonians. In 2009, Machel released his album, “Heavenly Drum. ” The album had a fresh sound and included songs like “Mesmerize”, “Fly Away”, “Pray” and many more. Some of the more popular songs were premiered at the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival which included the rollicking rhythms of “Push Bumpers”, “Block to Block” and “Won’t Stop was featured in the June/July issues of Vibe Magazine (page 94).

Machel Montano – Winner’s Circle Awards • 7 th Annual Copyright Organization of Trinidad & Tobago (COTT) Awards: Song Writer of the Year 2004/2005 Song of the Year 2004/2005 for “Madder Than That” • 2005 - 3 rd ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL SOCA AWARDS: Male Soca Performer of the Year Soca Song Writer of the Year Overall Male Soca Performer of the Year Soca Artiste Album/CD of the Year for “The Xtatik Experience” Overall Soca Band of the Year Soca Video of the Year for “You” • 2007 – International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) at the Apollo Theatre New York Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer Most Outstanding Stage Personality • 2007 - 1 st Annual BET J Virtual Awards Best Caribbean Artiste of the Year • 2008 - Other awards were bestowed upon Machel at the Soca News Awards in the UK and recipient of the Bob Marley Award Entertainer of the Year

Machel Montano Solo Albums Too Young to Soca? (1985) Heavenly Drum (2009) Soca Earthquake (1987) Album 34 (2010) Dr. Carnival (1988) The Return (2011) Katch Ya! (1989) Double M (2012) Breakin Out! (1990) Going for Gold (2012)- Machel Montano and Friends One Step Ahead! (1991) Machelements (Volume 1) (2013) 2000 Young To Soca (2000 Re-Edition) Happiest Man Alive (2014) The Xtatik Experience (2005) Monk Monte (2015) BODY (2006) Monk Evolution (2016) The Book of Angels (2007) G. O. A. T (2019) Flame on, released as Wining Season in the United States (2008)

Machel Montano Xtatik albums X Amount Ah Sweetnesss (1992) Charge (1998) Soca Style Hot (1993) Any Minute Now (1999) By All Means (1994) Here Comes the Band (2000) Loose Yuh Waist (1995) Same High (2001) Men at Work (1996) On the Cusp (2002) Heavy Duty (1997) The Xtatik Circus (2003– as "Xtatik Band 5. 0") Xtatik Live (1997) The Xtatik Parade (2004)

Machel Montano Guest Appearances "Floor On Fire" by Lil' Jon featuring Pitbull and Machel Montano (2009) "Alright" by Pitbull featuring Machel Montano (from the album Planet Pit) (2010) "Can't Let Go" by Boyz II Men featuring Machel Montano (from the album Collide) (2014) "Taxi (Carnival Remix)" by Pitbull, Lil' Jon and Machel Montano (2016) "Issa Vibe/Pick Your Position" by Motto featuring Skinny Fabulous and Machel Montano (2019)

TRIVIA Can you name the only three performers to simultaneously capture both titles of Power Soca Monarch & Groovy Soca Monarch?

Winner’s Circle 2006 - Shurwayne Winchester 2009 - Fay-Ann Lyons 2012 & 2013 - Machel Montano

TRIVIA Who was the first female winner of the: (i) International Soca Monarch in the Power category, (ii) won both titles simultaneously, (iii) three (3) time Carnival Road March champion in 2003, 2008, 2009, (iv) won the 2009 People's Choice award and (v) was the first artist to make a clean sweep of all the prizes at the 2009 International Soca Monarch competition?

Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez Power Soca Monarch 2009 Winning Performance Live “Meet Super Blue” Click to Play

Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez Born November 5, 1980, is a Trinidadian soca recording artist and songwriter. She is also known by the stage names Lyon Empress, Mane the Matriarch, and the Silver Surfer, a nickname which she claimed during her performance at the 2008 International Soca Monarch. Early life and career Fay-Ann was born in Point Fortin, Trinidad to parents Austin Lyons (sobriquet Superblue/Super. Blue, formerly known as Blueboy) and Lynette Steele (sobriquet Lady Gypsy), who is also a sister to Winston "Gypsy" Peters, hence the gypsy part of her stage name. Fay-Ann is the youngest solo artist (male or female), still actively recording, with multiple wins of the Carnival Road March crown.

Chutney Soca In Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname , Chutney Soca music is a crossover style of music incorporating soca and calypso elements and English, Hindustani and Hinglish lyrics, chutney music, with Western instruments such as the guitar, piano, drum set, and Indian instruments such as the dholak, harmonium, tabla and dhantal. The term chutney soca was first coined by Drupatee Ramgoonai of Trinidad and Tobago in 1987 in her first album entitled Chutney Soca, with a mix of Trinidadian English and Trinidadian Hindustani versions of the songs. The current style of spelling of the term was not established then and she spelt it as "Chatnee Soca". The following year her mega-hit "Roll up de Tassa" was instrumental in creating a commercial market for this type of music internationally. Drupatee has spoken about the blending of Afro and Indo melodies and rhythms in songs such as "Chatnee Soca" and "Hotter than ah Chulha". Chutney is a melody and soca is a beat. Drupatee used an ancient Indian melody called a lawnee with the soca beat in her rendition of "O Tassawalley" and has released a legacy of chutney soca music.

History Chutney soca is a prime example of how Indo-Trinidadians have established roots in Trinidad and have created an original, syncretic artform. Though this fusion was originally pioneered by Lord Shorty in the 1960 s and 1970 s, its branding resulted from the intervention of Indo-Trinidadians into Soca music in the 1980 s, the addition of chutney soca to the island's musical life signified a consolidation of the East Indian influence on Trinidadian culture and politics, particularly during the 1990 s. It was during the 1980 s & 1990's that Trinidadian musicians, performing in the popular style of calypso and its offshoot, soca, began to incorporate Indian themes into their lyrics. A significant example of this is the song “Sundar Popo”, by Black Stalin. This song, whose whimsical lyrics concern a veteran Indian singer, won Black Stalin the coveted Calypso Monarch Prize in February 1995. Although it was neither in chutney style nor in Hindustani, "Sundar Popo" was labelled chutney-soca because of its theme. Similar efforts followed in the wake of 30 May 1995, which marked the anniversary of the first arrival of "indenturees" in Trinidad and was designated by the island's government as Indian Arrival Day.

Chutney Soca Hall of Fame Chutney Soca Titles 7 5 Composer Rikki Jai Rooplal Girdharrie Year Tune #1 Tune #2 1998 Indian Feeling to Party Sweet Chutney Soca Man 1999 Rosie Balena Galeekay Morah Godinaa 2001 Kanhija Ah Coh Show You 2002 She Leave Meh and Gone Away Rock-a-by Baby 2003 River Lime Mai Pyar Ho Gaya. . . 2011 White Oak and Water No second tune 2015 Chale Awoh Rani No second tune 2000 Goriya Ray Sweet Dulahin 2004 Dulhanya Nobody eh going Home 2006 Dholak Bhajayai The Last Jump Up 2007 Meeray Peeya/Mera Peeya (My Beloved) Sweet Music 2008 Crazy for You No second tune

Chutney Soca Hall of Fame Chutney Soca Titles Composer Year Tune #1 Tune #2 2010 You Know Ah Was ah Drinker No second tune 2014 Runaway No second tune 2016 Same Gyal Twice No second tune 1997 Basmatie Nacho Ray 2003 I’m a Trini Raat aur Din Mey Tarsat Rahelay 2005 Kay-Paharie Run For Meh Life 2010 Single Forever No second tune 2015 Chale Awoh Rani No second tune 2017 Budget No second tune 2018 Masala No second tune 2019 Fyah No second tune Sonny Mann 1996 Lotay La Roll Bhowjie Kenneth Salick 2009 Radica No second tune Raymond Ramnarine 2013 I Ain’t Marriding No More No second tune Omadath Maharaj 4 2017 Ramsingh Sharma No second tune Imran 'GI' Beharry 2020 Anna No second tune KI Persad 3 Heeralal Rampartap Ravi B 2 1 Nishard 'Nishard M' Mayrhoo & Neval Chaitlal

Groovey Chutney Soca Monarchs Hall of Fame Groovey Chutney Soca Monarch was a new competition in 2008 besides the regular Chutney Soca Monarch. Rooplal Girdharie is the first ever Groovy Chutney Soca Monarch Winner. No Groovy Chutney Soca competition from 2009 through 2019. Groovy Chutney Soca Titles Calypsonian Year Tune 1 Rooplal Girdharie 2008 Aye Sajanee Peeya

Traditional Chutney Soca Monarchs Hall of Fame Groovy Chutney Soca Titles Calypsonian Year Tune Rooplal Girdharie 2016 Woman Like You Chris Garcia 2017 Chutney Bachannal 1 No traditional Chutney-Soca in 2018 and 2019.

TRIVIA Who has won the most “Chutney Soca Monarch Titles” to date?

Rikki Jai Born Samraj Jaimungal, Friendship Village, Penal-Debe, Trinidad and Tobago. Career Jai's 1988 debut single Sumintra told the tale of an Indo-Trinidadian woman from Debe who informed her boyfriend of her preference for soca over the music of Indian artist Lata Mangeshkar. Jai returned the following year with Pumping, then Bolo and Show Me Yuh Motion. His 1993 song Wine on a Bumsee signaled Jai's exit from the soca world, opting for the chutney soca arena, in which he continues to perform. Jai released Chutney Vibrations, a compilation with soca chutney rhythms and his re-reading of the Juma. His most commercially successful release is Mor Tor featuring fellow Trinidadian soca star Machel Montano. In 2007 he released songs such as Aj Bhi Jeen and Bodi ke Dal, followed by Barman. Jai has won Chutney Soca Monarch a recordbreaking six times. In 2011, he won his 6 th title with the song White Oak and Water. In 2001, he tied for first place (with Bunji Garlin) for the "Young King" title and placed second in 2010's "Chutney Soca Monarch”. He was crowned champion at the 2011 Chutney Soca Monarch, and walked away with TT$2 million in prize money.

Rapso is a form of Trinidadian music that grew out of the social unrest of the 1970 s. Black Power and unions grew in the 1970 s, and rapso grew along with them. The first recording was Blow Away by Lancelot Layne in 1970. Six years later, Cheryl Byron (founder of the New York City based Something Positive Dance Company) was scorned when she sang Rapso at a Calypso tent; she is now called the "Mother of Rapso". It has been described as "de power of de word in the riddim of de word". Though often described as a fusion of native soca and calypso with American hip hop, Rapso is uniquely Trinidadian.

History • Rapso music is itself an evolution of the chantwell or griot tradition of African music in the diaspora. It is called "the poetry of Calypso" and "the Power of the Word in the rhythm of the Word". Rapso is the poetic "rap" form of Trinbagonian music— the next evolutionary step of Calypso and Soca Music. It also has origins in the oral tradition elements of the performances of traditional masquerade characters in Trinidad Carnival. • Traditional masquerade characters such as the Midnight Robber, Pierrot Grenade, and the Wild Indians, each have particular forms of poetic and musical speeches that echoed ancient African masking and poetic traditions. Rapso borrowed many of the rhythmic and performance elements of these forms. • The first wave of rapso music occurred in the late 1960 s with the invention of rapso by its pioneer Lancelot Layne. The second wave occurred in the late 1970 s with Cheryl Byron who was the first woman to perform this brand of music in calypso tents, and mushroomed in the early '80 s with the work of Brother Resistance and the Network Rhythm Band, alongside other artists such as Brother Cetewayo and Brother Book. This wave mainstreamed rapso music in Trinidad and Tobago and World Music. • The third wave of rapso occurred with the advent of young groups including Kindred, Homefront and Boyz 'N The Road in the early 1990 s. They were part of a musical movement entitled the "Kiskadee Karavan" that was led by millionaire Robert Amar, who invested his money in the unleashing of the young musical genius of Trinidad and Tobago. The Karavan revolutionized Trinidad’s music by taking "traditional" forms such as the rapso and giving it modern production and promotional methods to take the music to stadiums in the native Trinidad and Tobago. This opportunity uncovered many talents on the ground, and created a series of anthemic musical singles. The song "This Trini Could Flow" by super-group Kindred took Rapso into the 21 st century and firmly entrenched the music as a form comparable to hip-hop and dancehall. • Modern Rapso music can be described today as the Trinbagonian equivalent of what is known as American rap music as groups like Boyz 'N The Road and Khay (from Boyz 'N The Road) produce and chant to beats and rhythms more heavily influenced by the modern American hip-hop music culture fused with R&B and Jazz, as opposed to the traditional or "Roots" rapso (with calypso and soca music). Nonetheless, traditional rapso continues to live on as super-group Kindred and 3 Canal maintain the balance with the calypso and soca music influences.

Terminology The term rapso was not invented until 1980, when the revolutionary Network Riddim Band with its two chantwells Brother Resistance and Brother Shortman released Busting Out. Initially dominated by the children of the Black Power movement, changes came in the 1990 s with the younger artistes adopting the art form, most significantly the bands Kindred, Homefront, 3 Canal and Ataklan. Calypso Influence on Rap The basic elements of hip-hop—boasting raps, rival posses, uptown throwdowns, and political commentary—were all present in Trinidadian music as long ago as the 1800 s, though they did not reach the form of commercial recordings until the 1920 s and 1930 s. Calypso—like other forms of music—continued to evolve through the 1950 s and 1960 s. When rock steady and reggae bands looked to make their music a form of national and even international black resistance, they took calypso's example. Calypso itself, like Jamaican music, moved back and forth between the predominance of boasting and toasting songs adopted a more topical, political, 'conscious' style.