Veterans Showdown at Calypso Monarch

The Wadadli Beer Calypso Competition, scheduled for Sunday, is set to regain its former glory when two titans, among the international standard bearers for calypso, engage in what is being called a vintage showdown on the same stage.

The man who has 15 calypso monarch crowns to his name, Sir McClean “King Short Shirt” Emmanuel, will battle fellow calypso royalty, Sir Rupert “Swallow”, a winner of four titles.

The veterans, who are retired from competition but not the stage, will engage in a four-song tune-for-tune face-off.

According to Calypso Sub-Committee Chair Dion Simmons, the legends will select four songs each from their repertoire – two social commentaries and two-spirit-of carnival pieces. One man will sing and the other will rebut. He adds that the calypso giants will draw to see who goes first.

Simmons believes the Sunday night feature will add energy and excitement to the overall competition and allow the public to see two of the greatest calypsonians in the world go toe-to-toe, reminiscent of yesteryear.

The initiative is the brainchild of the Calypso Sub-committee and the Management of Kennedy’s Club Limited, official distributors of Wadadli Beer.