Cro Cro out of Calypso Fiesta

By Terry Joseph

Article

Terry Joseph – Trinidad Express

Wednesday, February 15th 2006

Three-time National Calypso Monarch Cro Cro is adamant that 'some kind of conspiracy' has resulted in his being eliminated from the 30 singers selected for Saturday's Calypso Fiesta, the semi-final round of competition for this year's crown.

'What they are saying by that list of calypsonians selected is that my songs for this year do not even qualify me to be a reserve,' Cro Cro fumed. 'It couldn't be that I am singing a song that won another competition last year for Independence because I called the president of TUCO to clear the air on that and was given the okay and, in fact, two other calypsonians picked for the semi-final are also singing songs they did at that same competition.

'I therefore have to conclude that it is the other song 'God Don't Sleep' that they do not want in their show, so they eliminate Cro Cro at this level to make sure there is no chance of hearing that song in the Dimanche Gras show. I don't know why I am always in trouble with judges but I believe is because I try to stick to the calypso tradition of singing about social or political issues with a little humour on the side.

'I love to compete. I don't ask any favours because my songs are constructed to elicit conversation. I didn't plan to make any confusion but a lot of people have been calling me to express concern that the songs for which I have been getting so many genuine encores in the tent wasn't good enough for the semi-final,' Cro Cro said.

After hearing hundreds of hopefuls nationwide, the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) yesterday announced the names of 30 semi-finalists and two reserves for Saturday's Calypso Fiesta, the semi-final round of the National Calypso Monarch Competition.

The Fiesta, one of the major events in any Carnival season, again takes place at Skinner Park, San Fernando and is scheduled to get underway from noon.

A number of guest artistes are also on the evening's playbill for a show TUCO president Michael 'Protector' Leggerton promises will be 'as informative as it is entertaining.'

Selected calypsonians are asked to contact TUCO's office for rehearsal details but should appear at NCC-TV tomorrow at 9.30 a.m. to draw for performance positions at Saturday's Fiesta.

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Article courtesy of TUCO (Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organization).

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