Looking beyond the monarchy

The festive evening saw 2012 Calypso Monarch Duane O’Connor launch his 2017 song, “Looking Beyond”, an event which prepares him for the prestigious National Calypso Monarch competition.

O’Connor said he started the concept back in 2015 and feels very confident that it has been working for him. “I think the Calypso Monarch competition is the best competition in the world, it started way back in 1939 and has added value to the Carnival agenda, it may have lost its shine along the way but it still valuable to the art form in Trinidad and Tobago.

Several young calypsonians were on hand to help O’Connor launch his song and they all performed before he sang it.

Josanne Rodriguez did “Alexander” and “Facebook Lovers”, Mark Eastmond sang “Trinbago Wake Up”, Nicholas Ashby did “Beautiful Trinbago”, Mr King performed his hits “O Laventille” and “”Borderline” before he delivered “Legacy Music” a song he said came to him from his father (King Austin) in a dream.

Mr King said his father told him he could do all that he (King Austin) did not do in calypso.

Also celebrating with O’Connor were Twiggy with “Recession Time”, Contender with “Who Will be Next” and Kyle Cowie with “Hail the Chief ”.

O’Connor’s song “Looking Beyond” was composed by master composer Gregory Ballantyne and arranged by Pelham Goddard.

Former minister of culture Joan Yullie-Willaims, former Mayor of Port-of-Spain Keron Valentine and several other calypsonians were in attendance.