EDWIN Yearwood added yet another calypso title under his already packed belt, singing his way for the second consecutive year into top spot at the Sweet Soca Competition at Bushy Park on Sunday night.
Performing before what is estimated to be the largest crowds at one of the most anticipated events on the Crop Over calendar, Yearwood defended his crown by crooning his way to the top with a melodic performance of Home Sweet Home, which spoke to the beauty of Barbados, the vibes of the people as he lured visitors to come and enjoy the country and the offerings of the Crop Over festival. He amassed 86 points and took home the keys to a Kia Cerato worth $81 000 among other prizes.
The competition, which was always expected to be close because of the fiercely competitive line-up, saw the sweet-singing Marvay placing 2nd with 78 points, a disappointment to many in the crowd who were vocal with their shock and disapproval.
Another favourite was Peter Ram who dominated the Party Monarch competition last year with All uh We. He once again brought the audience to life during his performance of Good Morning. His opening presentation was also a spectacle bringing elements of the Spiritual Baptist Church to the stage to the delight of his fans, finishing with all the cultural elements of the Crop Over Season.
There appeared to be some technical difficulty before Mr. Dale officially took to the stage, but the consummate performer dusted off that slight delay and performed another crowd favourite Nutten Sweeter to take the fourth spot.
The contestants took advantage of the later start of the competition, sending fireworks into the night sky to the delight of the massive crowd. They also used the jumbo screen for their multimedia presentations, using preambles and conveying messages from other local celebrities and also displaying the lyrics to their songs.
Nikita, the lone female in the competition brought the fire literally and figuratively to the stage. With bright orange hair, she delivered a solid performance of Bun It Up, yet for many, she incomprehensibly did not make the top four.
Newcomer Joaquin already known for his energetic stage presence and vocal ability went to the year 2030 with a futuristic presentation of This Place.
The large crowd had their fill of entertainment even before the competition started with a trip down memory lane with a tribute to the Monarchs of the Mas presentation. While Biggie Irie also failed to make it to the top four, at the end of the night, everyone agreed that the Sweet Soca competition was money well spent. (JH)
