UPDATE: ‘The people gave me some licks’- 2015 Calypso Monarch Sistah Joyce
‘Pure Licks’ spoke of the convincing win by the National Democratic Party (NDP) at the June 8, 2015 elections, which Sistah Joyce said came as a surprise amid the allegations of corruption and people complaining that all was not well.
The song was high tempo and further spiced up with Sistah Joyce’s usual strong stage performance.
In the song she likened the NDP win to a physical beating (‘pure licks’) shared on its opponents including on the likes of Elford W. Parsons by Hon Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull in the Second District and on Elton L. Sprauve in the Ninth District by Dr The Hon Hubert O'Neal and on At Large People’s Empowerment Party Candidate J. Alvin Christopher. She also noted the “pure licks” received by Shaina M. Smith in the First District from Hon Andrew A. Fahie and said Kevin ‘OJ’ Smith would have shared some ‘licks’ in the Third District too had it not been for a “boatload” that arrived from overseas.
NDP girl
Considering herself an “NDP girl”, Sistah Joyce said she sang against the party last year so they could pull "up their socks" but it seems the people gave her some “licks” too because the NDP won 11-2. “I have to ask how bad is the country? So I had to go with the masses and come with a victory song.”
Her first round song was titled ‘Misery loves Company’ in which she spoke about others envying her for her accomplishments and trying to wrest her crown away from her but that they would have to come good to do so.
The judges awarded her Best Performance and Best Lyrics.
At the end of the competition, Sistah Joyce admitted that winning a third crown was not easy as there were some excellent calypso pieces this year. She also said it was very special that the top three places went to Virgin Gorda. “But we are still one people,” she reminded.
Sistah Joyce (born Joycelyn Searles) is now looking forward to the Regional Calypso Competition in Anguilla next month where she will be performing ‘Victim’ and ‘Misery loves Company’.
YungBlood on the block!
Newcomer to calypso, Marcus 'YungBlood' Marks immediately made an impression with his strong voice and well-arranged music to capture First Runner Up and the prize for Best Arrangement.
Queen Shereen ensured a Virgin Gorda clean sweep of the top three spots by taking Second Runner Up.
“It feels pretty good because I put my best foot forward,” commented Marks. He said he enjoyed competing and the opportunity to express himself and noted that he will be back next year.
His first round song ‘Privilege of freedom’ encouraged persons to enjoy their freedom because their ancestors did not have that opportunity. “We can’t just be working hard all the time. We need to take some time and enjoy ourselves because our ancestors would have done so if they had a chance,” Marks said in relation to the message of his song.
His second round song ‘This melting pot’ called on VIslanders to more appreciate their Caribbean brothers and sisters “as we are one” and that they have played a major role in helping to make the VI the “gem” that it is.
Marks said he was elated that Virgin Gorda ran away with the top spots and said it was no surprise since he has worked with Sistah Joyce and Queen Shereen in the music industry and have recognised them to be very good at what they do. “It’s really nice that they put their best foot forward and made the competition very tight," he said.
Queen Shereen sang ‘Too black to own it’ in which she said Virgin Islanders were not against development, and neither is she pushing race, but the people’s sense of belonging must not be erased. She spoke out against investors and private citizens allegedly blocking access to beaches and fishing grounds.
Her first round song was ‘Respect due’, a tribute to Hon Ralph T. O’Neal OBE.
The other contestants were Mighty Cloud, Ojinga, Mighty Rocky, King Paido, and birthday boy Falco.
Contestants were judged on lyrics (40 points), arrangement (30 points) and performance (30 points).
Sistah Joyce ended with 870 points, YungBlood 847 points and Queen Shereen 803 points to round out the top spots.
See previous article published July 30, 2015
Sistah Joyce takes third Calypso Monarch
- Newcomer Marcus 'YungBlood' Marks is First Runner-up
Virgin Gorda calypso sensation Sistah Joyce (born Joycelyn Searles) put in two solid performances to seal a third successive Emancipation Festival calypso crown at the Patsy Lake Festiville in Road Town, Tortola.
Sistah Joyce was crowned the 2015 Calypso Monarch sometime around 1:00am on Thursday July 30, 2015.
She also won Best Performance and Best Lyrics with her songs Misery Loves Company and Pure Licks.
Newcomer to calypso, Marcus 'YungBlood' Marks captured First Runner Up and the prize for Best Arrangement.
Queen Shereen ensured a Virgin Gorda clean sweep of the top three spots by taking Second Runner Up.
More details to follow.
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30 Responses to “UPDATE: ‘The people gave me some licks’- 2015 Calypso Monarch Sistah Joyce”
Respect Joyce, Blood and Shereen.
To Blood: Please compete again, and refine it like wine. You have alot to offer to this genre.
But it was a very tight competition. Congrats to all the participants.