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Cro Cro out of Calypso Fiesta
By Terry Joseph
February 15, 2006
Three-time National Calypso Monarch Cro Cro is adamant that "some kind of conspiracy" has resulted in his being eliminated from the 30 singers selected for Saturday's Calypso Fiesta, the semi-final round of competition for this year's crown.
"What they are saying by that list of calypsonians selected is that my songs for this year do not even qualify me to be a reserve," Cro Cro fumed. "It couldn't be that I am singing a song that won another competition last year for Independence because I called the president of TUCO to clear the air on that and was given the okay and, in fact, two other calypsonians picked for the semi-final are also singing songs they did at that same competition.
"I therefore have to conclude that it is the other song 'God Don't Sleep' that they do not want in their show, so they eliminate Cro Cro at this level to make sure there is no chance of hearing that song in the Dimanche Gras show. I don't know why I am always in trouble with judges but I believe is because I try to stick to the calypso tradition of singing about social or political issues with a little humour on the side.
"I love to compete. I don't ask any favours because my songs are constructed to elicit conversation. I didn't plan to make any confusion but a lot of people have been calling me to express concern that the songs for which I have been getting so many genuine encores in the tent wasn't good enough for the semi-final," Cro Cro said.
After hearing hundreds of hopefuls nationwide, the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) yesterday announced the names of 30 semi-finalists and two reserves for Saturday's Calypso Fiesta, the semi-final round of the National Calypso Monarch Competition.
The Fiesta, one of the major events in any Carnival season, again takes place at Skinner Park, San Fernando and is scheduled to get underway from noon.
A number of guest artistes are also on the evening's playbill for a show TUCO president Michael "Protector" Leggerton promises will be "as informative as it is entertaining".
Selected calypsonians are asked to contact TUCO's office for rehearsal details but should appear at NCC-TV tomorrow at 9.30 a.m. to draw for performance positions at Saturday's Fiesta.
The semi-finalists are as follows:
No / Singer / Tent
1. BRIAN LONDON/KAISO SHOWKASE
2. SKATIE /CALYPSO REVUE
3. LUTA/UNATTACHED
4. EXPLAINER/KAISO HOUSE
5. SINGING SANDRA/KAISO HOUSE
6. STINGER/KAISO KARAVAN
7. CRAZY/KAISO HOUSE
8. HEATHER MAC INTOSH/UNATTACHED
9. BROTHER MUDADA/KAISO HOUSE
10. PROTECTOR/KAISO HOUSE
11. THE ORIGINAL DE FOSTO HIMSELF/ICONS
12. RODERICK GORDON/UNATTACHED
13. JOANNE FOSTER/KAISO SHOWKASE
14. GREGORY "GB" BALLANTYNE /KAISO HOUSE
15. BROTHER VALENTINO/KAISO HOUSE
16. BALLY/CALYPSO REVUE
17. ALL ROUNDER/KLASSIC RUSO
18. SUGAR ALOES/CALYPSO REVUE
19. KARENE ASCHE/UNATTACHED
20. JOSEPH ADAMS/KAISO SHOWKASE
21. REVEALER/KLASSIC RUSO
22. DUANE O CONNOR/GENERATION NEXT
23. KIZZY RUIZ /UNATTACHED
24. TIGRESS/UNATTACHED
25. ANTHONY JOHNSON/UNATTACHED
26. RONDELL DONAWA/UNATTACHED
27. MANCHILD/KLASSIC RUSO
28. LADY ADANNA/KAISO SHOWKASE
29. ROOTSMAN/KAISO HOUSE
30. VERSATILE /KLASSIC RUSO
RESERVES
R1. LESLEY ANN ELLIS/GLOW CALYPSO TENT
R2. STEVE SEALY/ICONS
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