I don’t get it. How can the Soca Monarch automatically be the Power Soca winner? That is pure nonsense. I was genuinely excited to see the competition return with two categories—Groovy and Power Soca. Smart move. Applause. But to then crown the Power Soca winner as the overall Soca Monarch is a foolish decision by Fay‑Ann.
And it gets worse: the Power Soca winner receives double the prize money—TT$1,000,000 vs. TT$500,000 for Groovy. That is an insult. All the major hits dominating Carnival 2019—Farmer Nappy’s Hookin' Meh and Nadia Batson’s So Long—came from the Groovy category. The charts, the radio rotation, the public love… all belong to Groovy. Yet the organizers are betting on Power Soca over Groovy? Somebody is making decisions that don’t align with reality.
One would hope ththe choiceasn’t a unilateral decision, because if it was, that spells trouble for the long haul. The single-category format already damaged the show for years, even though the talent was strong enough for Voice to secure a hat-trick. And let’s be honest: Power Soca songs arrive late every season. Even Machel hadn’t released his Power track yet, despite dropping more than 18 songs for Carnival 2019.
And for those who believe the future is Power Soca—it isn’t. After Carnival ends, what happens? Power Soca dies. Groovy lives on. We’re not talking about the ridiculous “Soca Switch” radio stations flip after Carnival; we’re talking about longevity. Groovy travels. Groovy charts. Groovy has international potential. Power Soca does not.
So what should have been done?
Two categories: Groovy and Power. Judge each separately. Reward each equally. Crown two Monarchs. And if you absolutely must name one overall Soca Monarch, then choose the artist with the highest score across both categories.
Yes, people love the pump and excitement of Power Soca—but let’s be honest, there is way too much shouting taking place. How can you reward a category of music that has no international footprint over one that is consistently making inroads globally?
What are your thoughts?
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