Let Me Not Be the Judge

Submitted by carib on Sat, 07/11/2009 - 11:33

What a night it turned out to be.  I do not know what is was.  Maybe it was just the excitment of having a new setting that raised a sense of euphoria and belief in themselves among the calypsonians.  Whatever it was I was grateful for it because the calypsonians put on a masterful display for the patrons who turned up at the Phoenix Night Club for the 2009 Calypso Semi Finals.

In the beginning it seemed that the decision to move the show to Vieux Fort on a Friday night was an ill-fated one.

The sight of so many empty white chairs must have been heart stopping for the CDF.  That did not stop them from having a prompt 8:30 start as promised, however.  Kudos.....I was frankly getting tired of the illogical impulse to wait for patrons to come before starting the show.  From the first sound of the drums, the first round promised to be good and it ended up being great.  There was an energy among the calypsonians which I felt palpating through me in the fourth row where I sat to take in the activity.  The rest of the seats had filled up and the MCs had to keep telling the standing spectators to avoid blocking the judges.

Lucky for me I could see the calypsonians as they each made their way off the stage.  Most were obviously impressed with themselves. punching the air, sharing high fives and graciously accepting congratulations from their closest supporters.  The first round ended on a high.  There were a few hiccups, chief among them being Ashanti making a mockery out of his new song and Duval forgeting the lines of a new verse 'just like that'.

But of course too much a good thing can never be a factor at any of these shows.  The intermission went on a tad too long adding to the fatigue that caused my enthusiasm to fade towards the 1:30 a.m. mark.  It did not help that people were sleeping all around me.   To fight the urge to join my slumbering friends, I emailed myself my predictions for the finalists.

Walleigh
Take Over Tent

Lady Spice
Take Over Tent

Minelle
South Calypso Tent

Nintus
South Calypso Tent

Ginger
Ambassadors

Morgie
Ambassadors

Bingo
Ambassadors

TC Brown
Ambassadors

Educator
Ambassadors

Should it be so predictable.  Surely I could not have it right.  Turns out it is indeed that easy.  Except that I forgot Pep...But then again that would make it ten not nine.  Let me not be the judge.  Ten finalists will join Herb Black in a quest for gold on Saturday July 18, 2009 at the Mindoo Phillip Park.  See you there.