Aloes, Denyse, and Chalkdust — favourites for monarch title

CALYPSO’S top favourites came through in the first of two rounds last night at the De Luxe Entertainment Centre where TUCO’s National Calypso King and Queen finals drew a large audience.
Reigning king and queen - Sugar Aloes, and Denyse Plummer - seemed set to retain their titles as they rendered two of their top tunes. Aloes sang about “My Only Wish”, while Denyse sang “Honour Thy Mother” with appropriate props. Aloes’ only wish is to get some good news one day, while Denyse sang of the pains a mother goes through in life.
The opening six contestants, including joint Young Kings holder, Skatie, all set the programme at a high level backed up by much good music.
 “The Same Side” sung by Explainer; “How Much” is Enough” by Kelvin “Duke” Pope; “Mr Indian” by Mystic Prowler; “Holding on to T&T” by Marvelous Marva, “Breaking the Deadlock” by Luta, and “One Man, One Man Alone” sung by Skatie, all drew lusty rounds of applause from the audience. but the funniest tune was sung by ‘Bomber’ with his “Once Upon a Time” who had the crowd in stitches of laughter. Another crowd pleaser was Macomere Fifi who sang on the “World Crisis”. From last evening’s show in which each of the 24 contestants sang two tunes nine finalists will be chosen to challenge the reigning monarch on Sunday night at the Dimanche Gras at the Queen’s Park Savannah.