Chalkdust wins 8th Calypso Monarch Crown and Mac Farlane takes King & Queen

[CF Moderator]

DIMANCHE GRAS 2009 RESULTS:   Chalkdust wins his 8th Calypso Monarch crown and Mac Farlane takes both King and Queen of the Bands


Monday, February 23, 2009 - Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - Dimanche Gras 2009  “Class is Class”, lived up to its theme with ease.  The National Carnival Commisson and the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs held a glitzy event of Las Vegas-quality cabaret theatrics and style.  The show got off to a late start due to inclement weather, but a little rain failed to dampen the spirits of the capacity crowd assembled at Queen’s Park Savannah.  Dedicated to the memory of Kelvin “The Might Duke” Pope, the evening was a glowing show of the best in Trinbagonian culture, with some of the most stunning mas seen in years.  Among the highlights was the presentation of “Fairy Dust” by queen competitor Tamara Alleyne Gittens.  In glistening black, purple and yellow, Gittens dazzled the crowd with both strength and elegance as she shook her mas effortlessly to the pulsating soca rhythm.  This year, several band presentations followed Asian themes, reflected in the use of lanterns, dragons and a Buddhist temple.

It was a great night for Brian Mac Farlane, winning both King and Queen of Carnival for his presentation; Africa - Her Place, Her Sorrow, Her Tears.   Between the mas presentations and the Calypso Monarch finals, Duke’s son, Wendell Ramsden performed “What is Calypso?” as a touching tribute to his father.  Two very young Trinidadian Calypsonians also took the stage to honour the deceased Calypso great. Reigning Junior Calypso Monarch, Meagan Waldron demonstrated a sophistication and fervour that the audience won’t soon forget.  Her performance of “Woman Doh Cry” was a sobering call for young women to educate themselves so as to avoid domestic violence.

The Calypsonians demonstrated competitive spirit using dancers, skits, and props to animate their performances.  More than one million dollars was up for grabs with $500,000 going to the 2009 Calypso Monarch, Hollis Liverpool. Topics ranged anywhere from police relations (Karen Ashe) to class bias (Kizzie Ruiz).   Defending champion, Sugar Aloes performed a tribute to Barack Obama in a black tuxedo, tails and all.  At the end of his piece, he was chauffeured off stage by what looked like the presidential motorcade, carrying a masked version of the US president himself. In spite of the flashy antics, the effort was not enough to ward off Dr. Hollis Liverpool (The Mighty Chalkdust).  He had the audience under his spell, for the very first refrain of “Ah Not In Dat.”

The results of Dimanche Gras 2009 are posted below:

Queen of Carnival 2009
Rank . Name . Portrayal - Band - Score
1 Kadasfi Romney - Manzandaba in Flight (Brian Mac Farlane) - 424
2 Tamara Alleyne Gittens - Fairy Dust (Kaotic) - 417
3 Pamela Gordon - First Lady of the Chinese Court - 397
4 Lisa Peters - Lady Shanghai (The Dream Team) - 396
5 Joan Mohammed - Madam Hypnotist (Fireworks Promotions) - 394 (TIE)
5 Gloria Dallsingh - Vision of D’Sea (Ivan Kalicharan) - 394 (TIE)
7 Leslie-Ann Boisselle - A Musical Ensemble – Pan & Brass - 380
8 Lenore Caterson - The Sacred Bird in the Kingdom of the Dragon - 374
9 Rennee Joseph - Mama Bois - 361

King of Carnival 2009
Rank . Name . Portrayal - Band - Score
1 Stephen Alexi - Ndlovu in Search (Brian Mac Farlane) - 436
2 Curtis Eustace - Apollo’s Lust (Evolution Carnival) - 428
3 Glen Turnbull - Flight of D’ Golden Sun Lord - 423
4 Wade Madray - The Way of Zen (Mark Antoine and Legacy) - 413
5 Roland St. George - Yucahu, Atiba’s Son (D’Krew) - 411
6 Aaron Kalicharan - Spirit of the Ocean - 407
7 Fareid Carvalho - Vegas Jumbie - 403
8 Lionel Jagessar Jr. - Torngasak, The Ultimate Drummer of the Woodlands - 397
9 Leroy Prieto - Onaga - 388
10 Theophilus Simmons - Legend of the Chinese Dragon (Mark Antoine and Legacy) - 386

Calypso Monarch 2009
Rank . Name . Sobriquet . Song . Score
1 Dr. Hollis Liverpool - (Chalkdust) Ah Not In Dat - 434
2. Joanne Rowley (Tigress) - Yuh Ent See Wajang Yet - 426
3 Winston Scarborough (The Original De Fosto) - Could We Rise Again - 425
4 Brian London - A Nation’s Son - 424
5 Kizzie Ruiz - Class Language - 414
6 Sandra Des Vignes-Millington (Singing Sandra) - Ghetto of Your Mind - 412
7 Michael Osouna (Sugar Aloes) - Obama The First - 409 (TIE)
7 Ann Marie Parks Kojo Twiggy) - One for Obama - 409 (TIE)
7 Winston Peters (Gypsy) - Supply and Demand - 409 (TIE)
10 Karen Asche - Babylon - 401
11 Dexter Parsons (Stinger) - Our Environmental Engineers - 400
12 Carlos James (Skatie) - On Solid Ground - 397
13 Anthony Hendrickson (All Rounder) - Help Your Children First - 396
14 Weston Rawlins (Cro Cro) - Ah Feeling Shame - 396
15 Mark John (Contender) - Yuh Cyar Buy One - 392
16 Errol Ballantyne (Bally) - Amigo - 386