Some may say that this competition is long overdue but then again, as with everything that this new government does, people are already saying that it is simply a propaganda tool for the present administration. People who love Calypso don't really care about the politics involved. They simply want to listen to good calypsos. This year, 2012, has been a good year for calypso in Trinidad. It is expected that the competition will bring out the best from those competing for the grand prize. Many Production houses are actively engaged with Calypsonians to get songs ready for this competition. It is appropriate, at this time, to take a listen to the 1962 song that won the crown for Lord Brynner (Born 1937 | Died 1980).
After fifty years of Independence there will be a Calypso competition to celebrate not only Brynner's anniversary of the very first competition but fifty years as an Independent nation. This competition is a joint venture of TUCO (Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation) and the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism. The name of the competition is "The Lord Brynner's 50Th. Anniversary National Independence Calypso Competition" and it will be produced by Southex. Southex is the production house for the annual Chutney Soca Monarch competition.
The competition has a total prize value of $1.2 million dollars. The winner get $500,000.00 with the second and third places getting $250,000.00 and $150,000.00 each. The rest of the contestants reaching the finals will each receive $50,000.00. Brynner, when he won the competition in 1962 received a grand first prize of $1,000.00. Times surely have changed in favor of he Calypsonian!
The preliminary stages of the competition are over with the final stage completed last night (07/16/2012). The singers are anxiously awaiting the final listing for the next round. The twenty five singers who made it to the next round of competition will be announced later today.
Here are the 1962 results with the winning song for your listening pleasure.
1st Place - Lord Brynner (Winner)
Name of Song: Trinidad and Tobago Independence
2nd place - Mighty Sparrow
Name of Song: Model Nation
3rd place - Nap Hepburn
Name of Song: Independence