The Soca Monarch Competition is the most popular singing competition that takes place in Trinidad and Tobago during the celebration of Carnival. The show occurs on Fantastic Friday (the Friday before Carnival takes to the streets). The format was based on two competitions that night.
That evening, the Groovy Soca and Power Soca Monarchs received their crowns. However, since 2016, only one Soca Monarch has held the crown! The two subgenre competitions ceased to exist.
It is challenging to understand how a groovy soca song can compete against a power soca song, considering that the power soca song generates so much energy during the actual performance by the artist.
What is your opinion? In my view, merging the two competitions into one may dilute the unique qualities of each sub-genre. While both styles have their merits, the distinct energy and vibe they bring to the stage make Soca music so captivating, and it would be unfortunate to lose that diversity in the pursuit of a single champion.
We have prepared this listing from our Soca Music Post as a quick reference guide to the Soca Monarch winners from 1993 to the present.
Trinidad/International Soca Monarch1993—Superblue - Bacchanal Time
1994—SuperBlue—Flag Party
1995—Ronnie McIntosh - On The Road
1996—Superblue—Bounce
1997—Ronnie McIntosh - Ent (Tie)
1997—Superblue - Barbara (Tie)
1998—Super Blue - Ato Party
1999—Kurt Allen - Stampede (Dus Dem)
2000—Super Blue - Pump Up
2001—Shadow - Stranger
2002—Bunji Garlin—We From de Ghetto
Iwer George - Gimme Ah Bligh (Tie)
2003—Iwer George—Ah, Home
2004—Bunji Garlin—Warrior Cry
2005—Bunji Garlin - Blaze de Fire (Power Soca Monarch)
2005—Michelle Sylvester—Sleeping In Your Bed (Groovy Soca Monarch)
2006—Shurwayne Winchester—Ah Can't-Wait (Power Soca Monarch)
2006—Shurwayne Winchester—Ah Can't-Wait (Power Soca Monarch)
2006—Shurwayne Winchester—Don't Stop (Groovy Soca Monarch)
2007—Iwer George—Fete After Fete (Power Soca Monarch)
2007—Iwer George—Fete After Fete (Power Soca Monarch)
2007—Biggie Irie—Nah Goin' Home (Groovy Soca Monarch)
2008—Bunji Garlin—Fiery (Power Soca Monarch)
2008—Bunji Garlin—Fiery (Power Soca Monarch)
2008—Shurwayne Winchester—Carnival Please Stay (Groovy Soca Monarch)
2009—Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez—Meet Superblue (First female winner—Power Soca Monarch)
2009—Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez—Meet Superblue (First female winner—Power Soca Monarch)
2009—Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez—Heavy T Bumper (Groovy Soca Monarch)
2010—JW & Blaze—Palance (Power Soca Monarch)
2010—JW & Blaze—Palance (Power Soca Monarch)
2010—Shurwayne Winchester—Murdah (Groovy Soca Monarch)
2011—Machel Montano - Advantage (Power Soca Monarch)
2011—Machel Montano - Advantage (Power Soca Monarch)
2011—Kes Dieffenthaller—Wotless (Groovy Soca Monarch)
via http://www.socamonarch.net/new/ (1993-2011)
2012—Machel Montano—Pump Yuh Flag (Power Soca Monarch)
via http://www.socamonarch.net/new/ (1993-2011)
2012—Machel Montano—Pump Yuh Flag (Power Soca Monarch)
2012—Machel Montano—Mr. Fete (Groovy Soca Monarch)
2013—Tie, Machel Montano—Float | Austin "Super Blue" Lyons—Fantastic Friday
2013—Tie, Machel Montano—Float | Austin "Super Blue" Lyons—Fantastic Friday
2013—Machel Montano—The Fog (Groovy Soca Monarch)
2014—Machel Montano—Ministry of Road (Power Soca Monarch)
2014—Machel Montano—Ministry of Road (Power Soca Monarch)
2014—Kerwin Du Bois—Too Real (Groovy Soca Monarch)
2015—Machel Montano aka Monk Monte - Like Ah Boss (this was MM last year of competition!)
2015—Machel Montano aka Monk Monte - Like Ah Boss (this was MM last year of competition!)
2015—Olatunji Yearwood—Ola (Groovy Soca Monarch)
2016—Aaron St. Louis, a.k.a. Voice - Cheers To Life (Year of One Soca Monarch)
International Groovy Soca Monarch
2005—Michelle Sylvester—Sleeping In Your Bed
2006—Shurwayne Winchester—Don't Stop
2007—Biggie Irie—Nah Goin' Home
2008—Shurwayne Winchester—Carnival Please Stay
2009—Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez—Heavy T Bumper
2010—Shurwayne Winchester—Murdah
2011—Kes Dieffenthaller—Wotless
via http://www.socamonarch.net/new/ (2005-2011)
2012—Machel Montano—Mr. Fete
2013—Machel Montano—The Fog
2014—Kerwin Du Bois—Too Real
2015—Olatunji Yearwood—Ola
2016—2018—No Groovy Soca Monarch Competition
2019—Groovy Soca Monarch: Marvin Davis aka Swappi (Trinidad)—Party Start
2020—College Boy Jesse - Happy Song
2016—Aaron St. Louis, a.k.a. Voice - Cheers To Life (Year of One Soca Monarch)
2016—No Groovy Soca Monarch Competition
2017—Aaron St. Louis, a.k.a. Voice - Far From Finished (Year of One Soca Monarch)
2017—No Groovy Soca Monarch Competition
2017—No Groovy Soca Monarch Competition
2018—Aaron St. Louis, a.k.a. Voice - Year For Love (Year of One Soca Monarch)
2018—No Groovy Soca Monarch Competition
2018—No Groovy Soca Monarch Competition
2019—Power Soca Monarch: Hollis Mapp aka Mr. Killa (Grenada) - Run Wid It
2019—Marvin Davis aka Swappi (Trinidad)—Party Start (Groovy Soca Monarch)
2020—Stage Gone Bad - Iwer George (ft. Kees Dieffenthaller of KES the Band) (Power Soca Monarch)
2020—Stage Gone Bad - Iwer George (ft. Kees Dieffenthaller of KES the Band) (Power Soca Monarch)
2020—College Boy Jesse - Happy Song (Groovy Soca Monarch)
2021—No Carnival/No Competition (Covid-19 Pandemic)
2022—No Carnival/No Competition (Covid-19 Pandemic)
2023—No Funding/Competition Cancelled
2024—No Funding/Competition Cancelled
International Groovy Soca Monarch
2005—Michelle Sylvester—Sleeping In Your Bed
2006—Shurwayne Winchester—Don't Stop
2007—Biggie Irie—Nah Goin' Home
2008—Shurwayne Winchester—Carnival Please Stay
2009—Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez—Heavy T Bumper
2010—Shurwayne Winchester—Murdah
2011—Kes Dieffenthaller—Wotless
via http://www.socamonarch.net/new/ (2005-2011)
2012—Machel Montano—Mr. Fete
2013—Machel Montano—The Fog
2014—Kerwin Du Bois—Too Real
2015—Olatunji Yearwood—Ola
2016—2018—No Groovy Soca Monarch Competition
2019—Groovy Soca Monarch: Marvin Davis aka Swappi (Trinidad)—Party Start
2020—College Boy Jesse - Happy Song
2021—No Carnival/No Competition due to the World Covid-19 Pandemic
2022—No Carnival/No Competition due to the World Covid-19 Pandemic
2023—No Funding/Competition Cancelled
2024—No Funding/Competition Cancelled
bmobile TSTT People's Choice
2006—Bunji Garlin
2007—Shurwayne Winchester
2008—Bunji Garlin
2009—Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez
via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Ragga Soca
1999—Iwer George—Iwer And Ah Half
2000—Bunji Garlin—Chant Down Babylon
2001—Bunji Garlin—Licks
via http://www.tntisland.com/
bmobile TSTT People's Choice
2006—Bunji Garlin
2007—Shurwayne Winchester
2008—Bunji Garlin
2009—Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez
via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
There was also the Tenth Ragga Soca competition, which started in 1999 according to tntisland.com. However, because of sponsorship issues, the competition never took hold. Ragga-Soca music with an emphasis on Jamaican-style lyrical delivery is still going strong with Bunji Garlin leading the charge.
1999—Iwer George—Iwer And Ah Half
2000—Bunji Garlin—Chant Down Babylon
2001—Bunji Garlin—Licks
via http://www.tntisland.com/