Pam creates history
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- Parent Category: Aug 2011
- Category: Week ending Aug 13th, 2011
- Published on Sunday, 14 August 2011 18:21
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History was created at the National Calypso Competition on Dimanche Gras Night last Sunday when a female performer, taking part in the competition for the first time, won the 2011 Calypso Monarch crown.
Pamela Courtney who goes under the singing name of "Pam" took the crown away from the defending Monarch, Biko Lewis who had to settle for the fifth spot with 746 points. Pam, with her selections, "Agents of Change," and "Vagrancy" scored 781 points to defeat another former Monarch, Raymond "Beast" Matthew by one point for the coveted title.
Pam who also won the 2011 National Independence Monarch Title is now the third woman to have won the National Calypso Monarch Title in the 30th year of Spicemas celebration in the month of August. She follows in the footsteps of Lady Cinty in 1983 and Akima Paul in 2001. Immediately after being crowned, the excited Female Calypso Monarch told reporters that she intends to promote Grenada's culture through the youth. She spoke of her commitment to offer a sense of direction to the youth with regards to the local culture.
"They seem to be leaning towards foreign culture, and it's my belief that we should stick local, so I'm going to work with the youth in terms of calypso development, that's where I'm heading," she said. Pam who told The New Today Newspaper in an earlier interview last week that although she was not pressured into coming into the competition, she has now found herself under pressure as she has two crowns to defend. But she was quick in pointing out, that her children has now grown up to be adults and she has "some free time now" to be able to continue singing at national competitions.
"It is my belief that if you're doing anything you must have time for it, so (when) my children were young I didn't have time, now they're grown I have time, I can sing now," she said. In a clear message to those other artiste who would be seeking to dethrone her, she quipped: "Pam is not a one-shot, never". She said that before taking the stage to perform she was very nervous. She indicated this to Beast who helped in calming her nerves.
Both Pam and Beast belong to the same calypso tent, Kaiso Bards in the big parish of St. Andrew's. Pam is a career civil servant by profession and works in the Ministry of Education as Curriculum Development Officer For Home Economics. Beast, a former calypso monarch who scored 780 points, showed how Grenadians can unite themselves through the National Dish, "Oil Down" rather than allow the colours of the major political parties to divide them.
The much-anticipated return of former calypso monarch, Black Wizard after a three-year absence, was somewhat disappointing and he placed third with 776 points. Shortpree who entered calypso competition for the first year placed fourth with 762 points. Randy Isaac who won the Groovy Competition came in sixth with 746 points and was followed by Sour Serpent with his two songs, "Poor Purse," and "Shatta Ricky for Apawa" in 7th place with 730 points.
In eight position was the other female competitor, Lady Fearless (729 points) who made it for the first time to the calypso final, with "Ah Fraid," and "Survival". The singing deacon, Croqueta (Raphael Johnson) placed ninth with 726 points, and in the tenth position was Teacher Eddie with 699 points. Prior to the start of the competition, the show was affected by a protest by at least one of the calypsonian to a member of the judging panel.
THE NEW TODAY was told that the artiste felt that the judge from St. John who allegedly never adjudicated in a calypso show before should not be included in the list due to lack of experience. The parade of the Queen and King of the bands also formed part of the Dimanche Gras show at the Grenada National Stadium. Six bands paraded before an average crowd on Sunday night.
RKD and Associates took both the Queen and King titles. In the female category, the fancy mas band had a presentation of "A peek at Bollywood." The Indian-modeled costume was presented by Arlene Archibald who scored 264 points. The King of the Band presentation of "Peacock in the sunset" was presented by Reynold Patrick who scored 251 points.
In second place in the Queen of the Band category was Tracey Lewis as the Champaigne Lalial with 251 points. Her presentation came from the band that was presented by Helen Marie and Associates who are into their 15th year. The third place that came from Andre Garvey and Associates' "Lead us into Temptation" was presented by Kerry Williams who scored 238 points.
Denisha Frank with a presentation of "A vision beneath the sea," from Lime Commancheros and Associates placed fourth with 216 points. In the King of the Band category, the second place was taken by Andre Garvey and Associates, "The Temptation" by Nigel Ferguson with 248 points. In third position was GBN's news reporter, Kishawn Thomas with a presentation of "Royalty" from the band, Helen Marie and Associates. He scored 246 points. The fourth spot was occupied by Dilion Coxell who depicted "Guardian of the deep" from the band Lime Commancheros with 230 points.
The other two mas bands from Justin Edwards and Associates, and Lazarus Antoine and Associates failed to make it in the top four in each of the categories. Patrons were treated with a presentation coming from a group of Indians from the Province of Goa in India. Goa is said to have a unique cultural heritage and celebrates carnival as well as a pre-Lenten activity.
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