Culture

The General and his army ready for Soca 4.0!

Forty years since his debut, and subsequent win, at Richard Stoute Teen Talent 1983, Edwin The General Yearwood has solidified his place within the pantheon of Barbadian music.

That’s why for 98.1 The One Soca 4.0 – on Sunday, August 6th, at the new Ampitheatre venue at National Botanical Gardens, The General will celebrate his journey from teen to titan on the eve of Kadooment Day.

“What keeps me going is my absolute love for soca. I’m just glad to be a part of it still as I continue my amazing journey,” the former Calypso and multi-Party Monarch said.

“I’m very happy to be a part of 98.1 The Soca 4.0, especially with what it represents: [celebrating] some very hard-working soca artists [and their work] over the years.”

Whether as the frontman of the legendary band Krosfyah or a solo act, one of Clapham’s favourite sons has been crooning his way into the hearts of soca fans across the globe. Pump Me Up, Wet Me, Yardie, Crank It, Climax, Sak Pasé, and French Kiss are just a small sample of hip-hypnotising hits led by his dulcet tones.

His accolades are equally extensive and umatched, too. Twelve years after his Teen Talent debut, he again won on his first entry into the Calypso and Party Monarchs with Obadele and Voice In My Head. He would also go on to win Tune of the Crop (a.k.a Road March) and complete the first hat-trick, which, to this date, has yet to be accomplished by another artistes.

Since then, he has filled his trophy cabinet with the Party Monarch and Tune of the Crop four more times, the Sweet Soca Monarch twice, Best Song at Trinidad Carnival All Aboard – Atlantik; (1997), World Soca Monarch (1998), Corner Stone Award (2006), Male Entertainer of the Year and Best Uptempo Soca Male (2007) and much more.

Even though his talents have led to him touring extensively throughout the Caribbean, North America, Europe and the Middle East, he still loves performing at home.

That’s why he is happy to be a part of Soca 4.0.

“Bajans can come out and celebrate with artistes who’ve been representing the nation for a very long time and on a very high level. It’s a proud moment for me to be even considered in the line-up!”, the “soca soldier” said.

Sharing the stage with The General that night will be an army of heavy-hitters, including Nikita, Tarique O’neal-Griffith, Marzville, Leadpipe and Saddis, Chief Diin, Fadda Fox, and Grateful Co.

“Choosing my team for Soca 4.0 had a lot to do with the talent. And every single one of the members of the team are passionate about soca music and bring something completely different to their performance with their personalities showing up in their music,” he explained.

Grateful Co., who has long been inspired by Yearwood, can’t wait to touch the National Botanical Gardens, saying: “To be honest, it’s really amazing to be a part of it. Not only be a part of it, but to be on Edwin’s team… someone that you look up to. Majority of everything that I [learned] was from Edwin.

“Singing for the ladies – that type of nice sweet music that the ladies can relate to. French Kiss, Sugar Cane. I always wanted to [do something similar], so that when I touch the soca arena I would bring that same type of flavour.”

As August 6th draws closer, and Team Edwin puts the final touches on their performance, The General shares the motivation behind his presentation to attendees.

“People can expect for the entire team to represent and bring their A+ game. We aren’t coming to compete and be the best team, or to be seen as the best team. Our objective is to leave patrons with beautiful memories of Crop Over. Bringing music from then til’ now, and showcasing the history of soca!” Edwin said. (PR)

Culture

BPS Crop Over Do-Flicky Costume Competition Winners Announced

Five winning teams have emerged from the recently held prize-giving ceremony of the inaugural ‘Barbados Postal Service (BPS) 2024 Crop Over Do-Flicky Costume Competition’.

The winners hail from the Post Offices of St. Joseph; St. George; Welches Road; St. Philip and the General Post Office in Cheapside.

The overall winner of the competition is the eight-member team of the General Post Office’s Accounts Section, who each received an Island Safari Tour. Second place went to the Welches Road Post Office, third was the St. Philip Post Office, fourth was the St. George Post Office and fifth place went to the St. Joseph Post Office.

Winning Teams (flanked by BPS management), of the inaugural ‘BPS Crop Over Do-Flicky Costume Competition’, from the GPO; Welches Road PO; St. Philip PO; St. George PO and the St. Joseph PO.

Postmaster General, Joann Busby, in her address to the winners, stated, “We look forward to many more events like this in the future, celebrating both our history and commitment to excellence.”

Concept Creator of the competition, BPS Marketing Officer Neiai Hall said, “This competition aims to showcase the creativity and cultural expression of our staff, through costume design and performance. The theme of the competition is rooted in our rich heritage and the vibrant spirit of Crop Over.

On left – ‘BPS Crop Over Do-Flicky Costume Competition’ 2nd Place Winning Costume, On right – ‘BPS Crop Over Do-FFlicky Costume Competition’ 3rd Place Winning Costume.

“We have encouraged participants to design costumes that not only display their creativity but also incorporate elements that represent the services offered by the BPS”.

The judging criteria consisted of Sustainability; Creativity; Depiction of a BPS Service; Originality; Portrayal; Video Creativity and Originality; Practicality and Inclusivity and Descriptive Write-Up.

Plaques were presented to each of the winning teams and the St. Joseph Post Office also received the Postmaster General’s special award for Outstanding Advertising Video in the competition. (PR/GIS)

Culture

LAST LAP WEEKEND – Ended with Pic-o-de-Crop Finals, Foreday Jump and Kadooment

AN INCIDENT FREE FESTIVAL By David Harris

After two months of activities that included early morning breakfast fetes and late-night parties, the golden anniversary of the Crop Over Festival ended with the Grand Kadooment on Monday.

Over 10.000 revellers in 18 bands danced on the new route which began at the Helipad in Bridgetown and ended in front of Kensington Oval. The street parade was changed its 9 a.m. start to 10 a.m. by the National Cultural Foundation after the Barbados Meteorological Service placed the island under a severe thunderstorm watch.

Eventually, the Blue Box Cart band got the parade moving at 10.07 and the masqueraders began wining and chipping on the streets of Bridgetown.

Only 13 of the 18 bands on parade judged, among the revellers were Barbadian superstar and National Hero, the Right Excellent Robin Rihanna Fenty and former West Indies captain Brian Lara.

Some bands were still heading towards the Mighty Grynner Highway just before at minutes to 9 o’clock. Aura was the last band to reach the highway before the police ended the parade.

The Grand Kadooment ended an action-packed weekend that included the Pic O De Crop Finals at the National Botanical Gardens in Waterford on Friday night, the Foreday Morning Jam which began in Bridgetown in the wee hours of morning and the Grand Kadooment on Monday.

Fans were primed for thrilling contest between the defending monarch IWeb (Ian Webster) and Adrian “AC” Clarke who placed second in last year’s Pic O De Crop competition; but it was AC who captured the crown for the third time after IWeb who appeared to have forgotten the lyrics of the De Village Ram in the second half of the competition.

Clarke performed at number 16 (immediately behind IWeb) and stamped his authority on the competition with an impressive performance of the self-penned Going Fuh Crown, the judges awarded him 133 points, 28 more than Sir Ruel who came second.

Adrian Clarke the 2024 Calypso Monarch

His impressive performance won the first prize of $100,000 or a Nissan E Powe X- Trail valued at $136,000; Clarke told journalists after the competition he had opted to take the vehicle instead of the prize money. Clarke, 52, first won the crown in 2001 and in 2008.

Sir Ruel was the most outstanding performer in the first half with A Single Bullet, he wrote the calypso in memory of his brother Dario Jon-Luc Holder-Branch who was shot to death in February this year. The former Junior Monarch amassed 105 points and won a cash prize of $40,000.

*Sir Ruel, Pic of de Crop, 2nd place winner*

Perennial finalist Chrystal Cummins-Beckles placed third with De Proposal, the multi-talented musician, arranger and composer was awarded 97 points and the $20,000 prize.

Billboard placed fourth for the second consecutive his calypso earned him a cash prize of $15,000; and first timer Tae, the youngest competitor in the final took the fifth position and $10,000 with A Big Cirus.

Calypsonians placing from the sixth to tenth position received $8,000 each, those coming 11 th to 18 th got $6000.

The competition started 51 minutes after the scheduled 8 p.m. due to technical hitches with video presentations, and one contestant (Kid Site) had to start over his song because of problems with the audio. The second half started just after midnight and ended at 2.10 a.m.

In commemoration of the 50 th anniversary of the Crop Festival there were performances by former monarchs the Mighty Destroyer. Red Plastic, the Mighty Gabby and Edwin Yearwood.