tidings
Corey Connelly
ROSTON Simon won the $50,000 first prize in the Tobago Stars of Soca competition on Wednesday night at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex.
The event, hosted by Radio Tambrin and M&E TV’s Peter Lewis, was facilitated by the THA and Tobago Festivals Commission.
The formidable Simon, who goes by the sobriquet Culture B, gave an energetic performance of his selection, Strong Rum
The song, which had the audience in stitches, told the story of a man with a penchant for mixing at least two types of rum to get the best of him.
Simon told the crowd that several young women had approached him to be “summer girls” for his performance, but he declined their offer.
Instead, he chose to introduce elements of the Moriah Ole Time Wedding, with its unique brush dance, for the benefit of tourists in the audience who had come to Tobago for the island’s inaugural carnival.
Second place went to the duo of Michael Skeete (Mike-Tower) and Kwame Mc Clean (Too Real) with Firestorm. Their lively presentation featured smoke, fire breathers and dancers dressed in red.
Mc Clean told the audience: “I want you all to understand something about our fire. This fire is what we call inner fire. No amount of water could wash that away. If you bring Iwer George here – the God of Water – we will turn him into steam.
They received 30 thousand dollars.
In third place was Gerard “GMB” Balfour with Problems, a song about the difficulties blue-collar workers often experience in getting money from contractors and the government.
Dressed as a working man, Balfour, one of Tobago’s top panistas, spoke about the problems he was experiencing as a cash-strapped family man.
“I want it. I need it. Money, money, money,” he declared in the song’s hook.
“I just come from wuk. Ah wuk all the time, call the supervisor. The woman calls me, caresses to buy, the flour went up. Everything is very high, and now he tells me he has money.”
Balfour said he doesn’t want any help, but prefers to “work for what’s mine, 24-7 I’m in the fray.” He received $20,000.
The remaining contestants each received $5,000. Artists were praised for their music, performance, lyrics and crowd response.
At the start of the show, Radio Tambrin managing director George Leacock thanked the artists who participated in the preliminary round of the competition leading up to the final.
He said all the finalists displayed amazing attitudes.
“I haven’t seen a competition in Tobago recently with artists who support each other so much.”
The Tobago Stars of Soca competition was inspired by Radio Tambrin’s popular Touch De Road initiative.
THA Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transport Secretary Tashia Burris, Assistant Secretary Megan Morrison and Tobago Festivals Commission CEO John Arnold attended the event.
Tobago Stars of Soca Results:
1. Simon Roston
2. Michael Skeet and Kwame McClean
3. Gerard “GMB” Balfour
Undecided:
Raychards Kerr
Gideon King (Tears)
Heston Lopez (IV)
Caston Cupid
Nkem Scoti (Kaspa De Lyrical)
Odwin Thomas (Dance Mijah)
Omari Or (Travel)
Stephen Sampson (Shinez)
Jhevon Jackson (Royal)
Ronnie Bastaldo (Korn Dogg)
Marlaner Walker (Jah-Tifer)
