International Soca Monarch
The International Soca Monarch competition is an annual dual-contest event which occurs on every Carnival Friday (aka Fantastic Friday) in Trinidad and Tobago. Contestants in the event may vie for two separate crowns or titles, the International Soca Monarch (aka the Power category) for uptempo songs, and Groovy Soca Monarch (aka the Groovy category) for slower-paced songs. Recently an additional award has been added, called the People's Choice, where bmobile subscribers can vote via mobile text message for their favorite artist and the artist to receive the most votes is given an additional cash prize.
The International Soca Monarch competition has become the mecca of soca artists in Trinidad where the event has been hosted since its inception and the region, for many artists who have competed on its stage move on to successful careers. Dubbed the "Superbowl of soca music" it is also a highly-antipicated and well-attended event, that has been graced with such internationally-acclaimed recording artists as Machel Montano, Maxi Priest, Alison Hinds, Destra Garcia and Superblue to name a few.
Soca musicians from around the region and the world are eligible to compete in the preliminary round of the competition and must attain the required number of points to advance into the semi-finals and subsequently the finals which is an action-packed event that is televised and broadcast live to viewers in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and other regions of the world.
Evolution
editBegun as a local competition for soca artists in Trinidad and Tobago, called the Soca Monarch (aka Trinidad Soca Monarch), the event quickly grew in popularity as it always featured the more popular artists and favored songs for each Carnival season. It was redubbed The International Soca Monarch in the year 2004 when for the first time acts from around the world became eligible to compete for a place in the finals and a chance at the envied title of Soca Monarch.
At the inception, all soca artists (whether their song was uptempo or slower) competed for the same prize. In its current format, a distinction has been made between faster-paced soca songs and their slower counterparts, which can still become crowd favorites. Therefore artists with these slower-paced songs now have a chance to compete separately from the usually more hyped-up (and consequently more popular) Power soca songs/artists, and vie for a different title, named the Groovy Soca Monarch. Therein is a sign of the evolution of soca music into two sub-genres.
History
editThe Soca Monarch competition was founded by Caribbean Prestige Foundation. The first soca artist to win the Soca Monarch title was Superblue. He went on to win the title a record five more times. This record is as yet unbeaten, although several artists are closing in on that number.
Winners
editTrinidad/International Soca Monarch
1993 - SuperBlue - Bacchanaal Time
1994 - SuperBlue - Flag Party
1995 - Ronnie McIntosh - On The Road
1996 - Superblue - Bounce
1997 - Ronnie McIntosh - Ent & Superblue - Barbara (tie)
1998 - Super Blue - Ato Party
1999 - Kurt Allen - Dus Dem
2000 - Super Blue - Pump It 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
2006 - Shurwayne Winchester - Ah Cyar Wait
2007 - Iwer George - Fete After Fete
2008 - Bunji Garlin - Fiery
2009 - Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez - Meet Superblue (first female winner)
Groovy Soca Monarch
2005 - Michelle Sylvester - Sleeping In Your Bed
2006 - Shurwayne Winchester - Don't Cry
2007 - Biggie Irie - Nah Goin' Home
2008 - Shurwayne Winchester - Carnival Please Stay
2009 - Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez - Heavy T Bumper
TSTT People's Choice
2006: Bunji Garlin
2007: Shurwayne Winchester
2008: Bunji Garlin
2009: Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez