Some have said that the original Soca music created by Lord Shorty was indeed the beginning of today's Chutney Soca music. Of course, we are referring to Indrani. The release of Indrani sparked significant controversy and confusion. However, thanks to Lord Shorty and the innovations of the Indian community, we now have this addition to Soca music. The chutney soca music industry is booming today!
In 1987, Drupatee Ramgoonai named her first album "Chatnee Soca" and gave birth to a genre of music known today as "Chutney Soca." Her 1988 smash hit, "Roll up de Tassa," literally spawned a market for this new musical genre. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined that chutney soca would evolve into what it is today, complete with its own monarch competition.
This competition has grown and become a major show that is now moving to "The Savannah" in Port-of-Spain for Carnival 2012. This competition features talent and winners from Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad, and Tobago, and soon we anticipate talent from Canada and the US. The growth of this show will soon rival the traditional Power and Groovy Soca Monarch Competitions.
The Wikipedia article stated the following: In Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname, chutney-soca music is a crossover style incorporating soca elements, Hindi-English lyrics, chutney music, and Indian instruments like the dholak and dhantal.
The term "chutney soca" was first coined by Drupatee Ramgoonai of Trinidad and Tobago in 1987 on her first album, Chutney Soca, featuring both English and Hindi versions of the songs. At that time, there was no established spelling style for the term, so she spelled it as "Chatnee Soca." The following year, her mega-hit "Roll Up de Tassa" was instrumental in creating a commercial market for this type of music internationally.
Drupatee has spoken about the blending of Afro and Indo melodies and rhythms in songs like "Chatnee Soca" and "Hotter than ah Chulha." Chutney is a melody, while soca is a beat. Drupatee employed an ancient Indian melody called a "lawnee" with a soca beat in her rendition of "O Tassawalley" and has released a legacy of Chutney Soca music. via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Chutney Soca Monarch Winners
The following list is a look at the past winners of Drupatee's "Chatnee Soca," better known today as "Chutney Soca"!
1996—Sonny Mann—Song #1 Lotay La | Song #2 Roll Bhowjie
1997—Heeralal Rampartap—Song #1 Basmatie | Song #2 Nacho Ray
1998—Rikki Jai—Song #1 Dulahin | Song #2 Jara Lage La
1999—Rikki Jai—Song #1 Rosie Balena | Song #2 Galeekay Morah Godinaa
2000—Rooplal Girdharie—Song #1 Goriya Ray | Song #2 Sweet Dulahin
2001—Rikki Jai—Song #1 Kanhija | Song #2 Ah Coh Show You
2002—Rikki Jai—Song #1 She Leave Meh and Gone Away | Song #2 Rock-a-by Baby
2003 (Tie) Rikki Jai & Heeralal Rampartap
- Rikki Jai - Song #1 River Lime | Song #2 I’m a Trini
- Heeralal Rampartap—Song #1 Mai Pyar Ho Gaya... | Song #2 Raat aur Din Mey Tarsat Rahelay
2005—Heeralal Rampartap—Song #1 Kay-Paharie | Song #2 Run For Meh Life
2006—Rooplal Girdharie—Song #1 Dholak Bhajayai | Song #2 The Last Jump Up
2007—Rooplal Girdharie—Song #1 Oh Mere Piya | Song #2 Here Now
2008—Rooplal Girdharie—Song #1 Aaye Sajanee Peeya Moray | Song #2 Crazy For You
2009 - Kenneth Salick - Song - Radica
2010 - Ravi B - Song - Ah Drinka
2011 - Rikki Jai - Song - White Oak and Water
2012—Kris Veeshal “KI” Persad—Song—Single Forever
2013—Raymond "Showstoppa" Ramnarine—Song—I Ain't Marridin' No More
2014—Kris Vishal "KI" Persad—Song—Runaway
2015—Ravi B & Rikki Jai—Song—CSM20
2016—KI (Kris Veeshal Persad)—Song—Same Gyal Twice
2017 (Tie) Ravi B & Omardath Maraj
- Ravi B—Song entitled: Budget
- Omardath Maraj—Song entitled: Ramsingh
2020—Imran "GI" Beharry—Song—Anna