Rowley sings political kaiso at Savannah

Among them was Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley who also tried his hand at singing, much to the audience’s delight, as he had them chanting along with him, “Take their money and vote them out.”

It was evident that an election date had been called and that political parties were drumming up support for their party. The atmosphere in the Savannah was a mixture of a major Carnival event crossed with a large political rally. Jack Warner, the People’s Partnership, political misgivings, political alliances and past friendships were the subject of many of the calypsos sung by Cro Cro, DeLamo, Skatie, Impulse, Mr Shak and reigning Calypso Monarch, Chucky among others.

Many of the performances endorsed a Dr Keith Rowley-led People’s National Movement (PNM) as their choice for the country’s next government. Also at the event were Arouca/Maloney candidate Camille Robinson-Regis, Laventille West candidate Fitzgerald Hinds, Sangre Grande candidate Glenda Jennings-Smith and Point Fortin candidate Edmund Dillon.

The YMG productions event began, promptly, at its scheduled 5 pm start. The first half which saw performances by King Nefta, Brother Musa, Rondell Donawa, DeLamo, Mudada, Skatie and Cardinal was marred by sound problems. Patrons, who spent up to $400 for tickets, loudly complained of the sound being muffled. Many jeered and shouted as MC Sprangalang asked the crowd to be patient as the problem was being worked on. Some loudly shouted “no”.

Although the sound was muffled, the audience stood and danced, some waving red flags with the PNM’s insignia, as DeLamo (a PNM councillor) sang “We go follow Keith Rowley” and “Take dey money and put them out.” Many in the audience sang verbatim with him. DeLamo was recalled, twice, by the audience.

Skatie followed, asking the audience to stand for the National Anthem of the PNM and he began to sing “We rolling with Dr Rowley and the PNM”. He then offered a second rendition on Chaguanas West MP, Jack Warner. During Cardinal’s performance, the audience’s constant complaint of being unable to hear well, resulted in an impromptu intermission. Although Cardinal was scheduled to sing two songs, he was only able to get one done.

With the problem addressed at the start of the second half, Black Sage and Lingo sang on the recent headline of an alleged ganja find at the Prime Minister’s residence, as well as other topical issues like the election date and Black Sage’s foray into politics. Although the sound system, again stopped the show twice during the second half, it did not distract from the heavy political picong that characterised it. Ronnie McIntosh and Mr Nixon the cleaner did a re-make of McIntosh’s 1998 hit “How it go Look”, changing the hook to “How yuh go vote?” and calling on the present administration “to go.” Devon Seales “My Plea” had the audience swaying and dancing. He was encored three times, as the audience sang loudly, “Go. Now. Please.” Mr Shak also brought the audience to its feet with “Kaiso Hit Man, Bois” and his own version of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”. Shak had the audience singing, “Bring election Come.” Shak said to Rowley that he stood for no side and was committed to truth and that he would, “shoot (lyrically) all snakes in the balisier if he had to.” Pink Panther and Chucky also delivered biting performances in the second half.

Cro Cro closed the show. Doing a remake of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”, saying the Partnership faced the final curtain. He also took jabs at calypsonian Sugar Aloes and ended with his own versions of Gypsy’s “Sinking Ship” and Black Stalin’s “Bun Dem”.