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How To Make 'Terrific Thursday' Better | Trinidad and Tobago's National Calypso Competition

This year we had Terrific Thursday... some say it was a success while others cringed at the fact that the Dimanche Gras show was stripped of the Calypso competition. Should Sunday night resurrect the old model or should we remain with the new model as it relates to the calypso competition? In my view the new model is the way to move forward but both shows need some tweaking.

Calypso

Long live Calypso is the cry of the president of TUCO (Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organization) whenever he ends the TUCO hour on WACK radio. However, he always comes across as someone who wants to move the genre forward but the outcome never lives up to the hype. Tonight on WACK radio the president, Brother Resistance was on air with Morell Peters aka Luta, and the discussion was all about calypso. They discussed the recently concluded carnival season with emphasis on the calypso competition. Many ideas were aired and callers aired their grievances. 

The host of the show came in for some 'licks' for 'putting down' the views of some callers. Now having said that what happened and what was discussed to take the art form calypso competition forward? Morell Peters is a man  of vision while Brother Resistance wants to take it 'one step at a time'. One can say that Brother Resistance is a conservative thinker while King Luta is more Liberal with his views. In the end something has to be done and both parties will have to entertain ideas from both schools of thought to move forward. We will have to bear the pain while these guys sort things out!

Some have said the finals of the calypso competition was long and boring especially with the second song. The problem is that the finalist qualified for the show singing just one song. NO one heard most of the second songs before the finals and most, who listened, were disappointed with the second songs presented by some of the contestants. So how can this be fixed? Well Morell Peters (King Luta) had a very good suggestion. He said that the model used in Antigua should be used... what is that model? Well in the Preliminary round of the competition one song is sung and points are awarded. The people moving on to the semi final round must sing a second song (not the song from the prelims  and points are awarded. The points from the Preliminary round and the semifinal round (for those making it to the semi final round) are then added and the top eleven are selected to compete in the finals against the reigning Monarch. This model presents both songs to the judges and listening public with no surprises for the final night... that could work!

The other aspect that needs to be addressed is the presentation of the show. The time allotted for a performance on stage and the smooth running of the event is essential. That means a producer needs to coordinate the show and ensure that everything runs smoothly. 

Audio and Video is essential for this show. First off the audio coming from the musicians accompanying the singers needs to be properly done. A Sound Engineer needs to be hired to ensure that the vocal and musical marriage is excellent for the judges, listening audience and for media broadcast. HD streaming of the event is essential with proper stage lighting is essential. If these aspects of the show are addressed then we have a good start.

Finally, this one is essential and touchy at the same time. The songs sang should be quality songs. That means a proper system should be in place to reward people who craft their songs with excellence in mind. Slanderous material should be penalized. There was a time when 'double entendre' left one wondering what the calypsonian really meant. I would say it meant one thing while another person will say not it relates to something else. That is the mark of a very good take on masking the meaning but today the singers are brazen and uncouth totally lacking class.

Now we look forward to 2014 and it is my hope that the people responsible for the various shows and for this post the Calypso competition ensure that things are in place before wake up and the calender says it is 2014. This year, 2013, is the time to resolve the main issues. Plan the event and get the format right. When 2014 comes the format and venues should be in place, music bands sourced, audio and video issues resolved and ready to go with only the prize money element left to be resolved for 2014. No excuses, there is enough time to get it right...just do it!