PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC -BP Renegades Steel Orchestra won its 12th National Panorama when it won the competition on Saturday night with its tune “Black Man Feeling to Party,” a song that had been written and sung by the late Dr. Leroy Caliste, “Black Stalin.” The winner is expected to receive a one million dollar prize (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) while the second and third place will each receive TT$550,000 and TT$500,000, respectively.
Four of the 13 steel bands paid musical tribute to the late calypso icon, who died last December at 81.
Before a massive crowd at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Renegades defeated last year’s champion. Desperadoes Steel Orchestra and, in the process, tied with that band for the number of Panorama titles won. Renegades placed ninth.
Renegades, which topped the preliminaries and the semi-finals, received 283 points, edging out Republic Bank Exodus with 280 points for their rendition of the tune “Tourist Leggo,” which was sung by Antiguan calypsonian Sir MacLean Emanuel in 1976.
The third place went to another former Panaorma winner, Nutrien Silver Stars, playing the engine Room tune by the Trinidadian singer Olatunji. The ban scored 276 points.
Shell Invaders came fourth, while Massy Trinidad All Stars edged out Hadco Phase11Pan Groove for fifth place.
The “Mother of All Carnival” celebrations continue here on Sunday night with the winner of the National Diamond Jubilee Independence Calypso Monarch and this year’s Young King Calypso Monarch, Skatie (Carlos James), being among 11 singers who will challenge the reigning monarch, Terri Lyons, at the finals to be held at the Queen’s Park Savannah in the capital with a first prize of TT$800,000 (one TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) inclusive of a vehicle.
Last Saturday, they were selected from a field of 40 performers at the Calypso Fiesta held at Skinner Park in San Fernando, east of here.
The other calypsonians who have advanced to the finals include former monarchs Karene Asche (2011) and Chuck Gordon (2014 and 2015).
The finalists are
Terri Lyons — Defending Monarch
Skatie (Carlos James) — “De New Normal”
Ta’zyah O’Connor (Duane Ta’zyah O’Connor) — “Sing Hallelujah”
Ezekiel Yorke — “Being Human”
Snakey (Heaven Charles) — “What Yuh Need Again Trinbago”
Helon Francis — “Mighty”
Karene Asche — “Oasis”
Tiny (Kerine Williams Figaro) — “To You with Love”
Maria Bhola-Paul — “People Man”
Mark Eastman — “Pride”
Chuck Gordon (Roderick Gordon) — “Maths Eh Mathsing”
Tameika Darius — “Susheila’s Jahaji Bash”
and then 