UPDATE: Sistah Joyce is 4 time Calypso Monarch!
Sistah Joyce rocked the comfortable crowd in two rounds with her upbeat songs: ‘Don’t hang your hat, where your hands can’t reach’, which speaks to persons who live outside their means and ‘Wa you bawling fa?’, a highly politicised song, telling the people who want her to sing of the troubles that the territory currently faces to leave her alone and “take it and shut your mouth.”
Sistah Joyce is the first to win the Virgin Islands Calypso Monarch for the 4th consecutive year. Luther B. (Luther Butler) had won the title for three (3) consecutive years when his string of wins was ended in 2013 by Sistah Joyce.
Queen Shereen (Shereen Flax) came in the First Runner-up spot with her two songs: ‘Strength of a woman’, which addressed domestic violence and treating women better and ‘Living beyond we means’, a strikingly similar number to that of Sistah Joyce’s ‘Don’t hang your hat, where your hands can’t reach’.
Queen Shereen had warned her male counterparts in the Calypso Competition that herself and reigning Calypso Queen Sistah Joyce (Joycelyn Searles), who both hail from Virgin Gorda, would have been coming strong and so they should be on their A game on stage.
Meanwhile, Mighty Rocky took the Second Runner-up position with his two songs: ‘Modern day slavery’, which says it all and ‘I will never shut me mouth’, vowing to always address issues affecting the people.
The dynamic King Paido swept in the Third Runner-up place with: ‘Too many murders’, speaking about murders happening in the Virgin Islands and it is “not nice,” and ‘Potential killer on the road’. This song spoke to the vehicles being a hazard, if not used properly such as texting while driving, overtaking recklessly or driving too quickly.
There were a total of seven competitors, including Falco, with’ Singing for my country’ and ‘Modern technology’; Mighty Mako, with his renditions ‘Gambling’ and ‘Changes’; King Henry, with ‘Helping hand’ and ‘Crime don’t pay’.
Not surprised
Speaking to members of the media moments after being crowned, Sistah Joyce said it was a special achievement for her, but she was not at all surprised.
“No surprise, no surprise. I write my own songs, music as well, so it is easier for me than some other calypsonians who don’t write at all. I do it from scratch, music, lyrics, so I think that is an edge that I have on the other calypsonians,” she said. “Who Jah bless no man curse!”
She admitted that the competition was tough and contrary to popular belief, it was not an easy win.
“This year had some really, really strong calypso, only the fittest of the fittest.”
See previous story published July 27, 2016
Female calypsonians plan to 'take the lead' tonight!
- Queen Shereen & Sistah Joyce among 7 for Calypso Monarch @ Rita Francis Festiville
Queen Shereen (Shereen Flax) has warned her male counterparts in tonight’s, July 27, 2016 Calypso Competition that herself and reigning Calypso Queen Sistah Joyce (Joycelyn Searles) will be coming strong and so they should be on their A game on stage.
The Virgin Islands Calypso Monarch will be held from 8:00 P.M. at Rita Francis Festiville in Road Town.
Sistah Joyce and Queen Shereen will be coming up against Falco, King Henry, Mighty Mako, King Paido and Mighty Rocky.
“There are two women in the competition and we are two strong women so guys watch yourself because we coming for yal, Sistah Joyce and I,” Queen Shereen said on the Morning Ride Show with host Paul ‘Gadiethz’ Peart on July 25, 2016.
“We as women have to be strong in this community and we have to take the lead and we are going to take the lead on Wednesday night as well. So I am putting that challenge out there to the men,” she added.
Calypsonians the ‘voice of the people’
Queen Shereen had also said that calypsonians are the voice of the people, who tell the politicians what is really happening in a country.
“There are lots of people who want to say things but may not have the courage to say it. And that is what calypsonians are here for. It is not just about the competition. As a calypsonian you have to have that integrity and passion to get the message of the people across to the people who make decisions for the country.”
The calypsonian from Virgin Gorda said one of her songs for tonight, Strength of a Woman, speaks out against domestic violence.
“Everyone is online and seeing what is happening in our community. Every day there is an issue with domestic violence, sexual harassment, molestation of children, both boys and girls, and we do have our share of violence against men as well. So my message is women have to be strong, women are the foundation of society and we have to take the lead and be strong to make sure we get rid of this scourge of violence in our country.
Her other song for tonight, Living beyond your Means, is for both ordinary persons as well as politicians.
“You have children going to school hungry, teachers buying lunch for some of these hungry children. It happens on a daily basis while the mothers are getting their toenails done, they putting on tattoos that cost hundreds of dollars. Where are the priorities?”
Questioning the priorities of Government, Queen Shereen said there are many public offices and schools “that don’t have paper. Where is the priority?...Roads in disrepair, the clinic in Virgin Gorda is at a standstill.”
Meanwhile, the host for tonight’s show will be ‘Ragga’.
Small Axe Band will be providing entertainment after the competition.
23 Responses to “UPDATE: Sistah Joyce is 4 time Calypso Monarch!”
instead I go beg I will stay home....