Icons tent opens without Sparrow, Stalin

CALYPSO STARS Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) and Stalin (Leroy Calliste), were noticeably absent from the opening of the Icon Calypso Tent at the Ambassador Hotel on Friday night. However, other members of the cast kept the unfortunately small crowd fully entertained. Bomber (Clifton Ryan), Singing Francine (Francine Edwards) and head of the cast Cro Cro (Weston Rawlins) demonstrated why they are masters of the calypso art form. Bomber’s “In The Cockpit” features a clever use of double entendre compositions and he was encored three times. Francine’s “Send A Tune” and “Panday In Jail”, also had the audience calling for more.

But it was Cro Cro who brought the house down with “God Don’t Sleep”, a composition that is sure to generate considerable debate with its suggested reasons for some of the  recent murders in the country. Cro Cro also claims in this calypso that the African race is becoming extinct because it is being used by drug dealers. Cro Cro suggested that because of the killings, Trinidad will not have any African men and he appealed to the young ones to put down their guns. Cro Cro ended his performance with “They Love Me Now”, the song with which he won the Independence Monarch title last year. After that, the audience didn’t want him to leave the stage.

Eventually, close to midnight, Gary Cordner was brought on to close the show with “Trouble”. The tent opened with MC CG and the Icons Band dressed in national colours in support of the Soca Warriors. Special tribute was paid to the late Nap Hepburn who had been part of the tent’s cast last year. CG announced that this year the tent is being held in his honour. Squero opened with “You Ducking Meh,” followed by Lord Lester with “Man Boaster.” Dictator was next up with “Wanted Urgently,” followed by Disciple with “I Never Thought”. Lingo’s “Stereo Type” was well received, as was Princes “Clones”. Steve Sealy followed with “Blood”, a song he said he composed three years ago.

He made way for Marcia Miranda who did “Skin Deep,” then the “baby” of the tent, Michelle Henry. The young calypsonian was encored for her “Big Country Song,” setting the stage for Composer’s two selections, “Crime” and “Police Police.” Closing the first half of the programme was Icon’s road march contender Tempo who had the audience in stitches with his “Why We Ketching We Tail.” He was encored three times. Black Prince opened the second half with “Acupuncture,” followed by Nature with “True Life Stories.” Like Tempo, he too was encored three times for his humorous calypso. Cyclops kept the light mood with “Cyclops coming” before clearing the way for Cardinal and “The Thing,” a comical song about the blimp that was recently purchased by the Ministry of National Security. The contented audience chipped out of the venue at midnight.