The 2009 Pic-o-de-Crop Semi-Finals - First Half

Sunflower Goes to the Pic-o-de-Crop Semi-Finals

(Picture taken during intermission. The grounds were packed. The event was well attended.)

Thanks to our roving (only) reporter Sunflower, the Bimshire Post has a first hand account of the action at last night's Pic-o-de-Crop semi-finals.

The Lyrical Master was in Teaching Mode - Many were caught with Failing Grades

It was a throw down. Red Plastic Bag mashed it up and bought it back. Then for good measure mashed it up again, leaving many reeling from the after effects. On the road to the Kensington Oval, a few big names were dropped off at the Gymnasium. This should not come as a shock after Friday night's performances. If you want to play with the big boys you have to bring your A-game, and then some.

But I am getting ahead of myself, here is my blow-by-blow of how it all unfolded. The judges were looking at lyrics (40 points), rendition (35 points) and melody (25 points). That is way too complicated for the Sunflower.

My scoring system is a basic 1 to 10. Here are my notes:

The First Half

1. Classic / Song: Deman(d)

• It is always tough to open a show.
• This was not Classic's best performance.
• I have seen him do better.

Score: 6 - First out the blocks. All others will be judged against him.

2. Ras Iley / Song: Don't Let Kaiso Die

• Mr. Energy came with the same stage performance from a decade ago.
• His hair was bundled in a huge tam.
• Nice song, decent lyrics.
• Better than Classic.

Score: 7 - What yuh got in the 2nd half?

3. Bumba / Song: The End Justifies the Means

• Very good diction.
• Nice melody.
• Back up singers’ attire was fierce.
• An overall solid performance by Bumba.
• One must always be wary of a former calypso king.

Score: 7.2 - Better than Ras Iley but not by much.

4. Sir Ruel / Song: Ready for the Monarchy

• Having left the Junior Monarch Competition as a king, Sir Ruel has his eyes set on the Pic-o-de-crop crown; and he is within reach.
• Sir R came out in a flashy silver outfit (the fans in the back had to see him clearly).
• He was extremely comfortable on the big stage and provided the crowd with their first toe-tapping, upbeat moment in the first half.
• After four acts, Sir Ruel is the man to beat.

Score: 7.5 - Better than the last 3 guys.

5. Mr. Impact / Song: A Father’s Plea

• Really strong message.
• Nice green suit.
• Beautiful voice.
• Difficult coming after an upbeat tune like Sir Ruel’s.

Score: 7 - Hmmm. Not first and not last. Somewhere in between.

6. Red Plastic Bag (RPB) / Song: Home Drums Beat First

• Appeared in a black suit with blue shirt. (Dangerous man in black?)
• Great melody.
• Sounded fast. Was it always this fast?
• Great chorus. You can sing along.
• The master was in lesson-teaching form.
• Was beating imaginary drums and real competitors. Others beware.

Score: 9 - It was really that good.

7. Ishiaka / Song: No Names

• Wore a white suit.
• Has improved much from previous years.
• Seemed to be shouting at times and was too loud.
• I tuned out in the middle.
• Don’t think he will be in the final 9 but the crowd liked his performance.

Score: 5.5 - Still has much to learn.

8. John King / Song: My Caribbean

• Usual John King attire.
• He has no hair on his head!!!! None.
• I have heard better from J.K.
• Great voice. Solid performance as usual.
• You can sing along, but is that enough.
• Not sure how this made it to the semifinals.
• Sir Ruel beat him in the first half.

Score: 6 - Theme not nothing new.

9. Smokey Burke / Song: My Party in Power Dey Say

• Another man wearing white.
• Back-up singers dressed nicely.
• Is he talking or singing? Some of both.
• Nice moves on stage.
• Someone gave him a sheet of paper during his performance. Was this supposed to happen? He seemed a little shocked.
• How did this make the semis?
• Oh…the sheet of paper was a list of the final 9 going to meet Adrian. Nice touch!!
• But how will this help him get to the finals?

Score: 4 - Needs work.

10. Sheldon Hope / Song: The Last Days

• Another man in black. (What is with all the black?)
• Strong in voice but boring in song.
• Weird melody.
• How did this make the semis? (What the heck? How many times am I thinking this?)
• Almost fell asleep.
• Song has no obvious flaws except not being catchy but that is not a flaw.

Score: 5 - Will probably make the final 9.

11. Sammi Jane / Song: Where is the Love

• Props on stage – table, chair and a young lady dressed in red.
• Singer comes on stage with valise (suitcase) and hands girl an envelope.
• Oh, I am told girl is supposed to be immigration. Did not get that.
• Singer seems to be shouting. Sounds shrill. Hit a few bad notes.
• Good lyrics, if only she was not shouting.
• “A” for outfit – hat, sunglasses, tropical print skirt. Cute.
• Needs to take some lessons from T.C. on how to perform at the semis.
• Lost diction.
• Back to drawing board for Sammi Jane.

Score: 4 - She is a rising star but should note that shouting and singing loudly are not the same thing.

12. Blood / Song: The Long Haul

• Here is a bit of advice – enough with the “shoo bee doo”.
• A bit on the boring side.
• Usual Blood stage antics.
• Sir Ruel beat a lot of people in this first half.

Score: 6 - Have seen better from him and from others tonight.

13. TC / Song: Gimme a Ruler

• No points for the bad red riding hood meets Dracula meets bride of Frankenstein outfit. Zero.
• Could trip and fall in that red hot mess.
• Good control of voice – Sammi Jane should take lessons.
• Should have sung her party song.
• What is this song about anyway?
• May not make the final cut.

Score: 5 - Sorry TC. I have been a fan for 15 years and this was not worthy.

14. Romeo / Song: This One is for You

• It is 8:50 pm
• Back-up singers were dressed like stewardesses. That is some bad hat ladies.
• Romeo was dressed to the nines as usual.
• Strong voice but lost a few words.
• Good ole-time kaiso done right.

Score: 7 - Many are singing at the same level. Not sure where you will be placed.

15. Tassa / Song: De New Tassa

• What happened to the old Tassa? Just asking.
• Nice dresses on the back-up singers.
• Came out dancing and singing.
• Lost the first few lines of the song. Mic problems?
• Judges asked for a do-over.
• You go girl!! Shake it off and start again.
• Sang it better the second time.
• Nice first song. Hopefully she will make the finals.

Score: 7 - Same as for Romeo.

16. Colin Spencer / Song: Inclusion In Reverse

• Wore red. Why? Red is associated with The Bag.
• Good voice.
• Sounds slow after Tassa’s fast tune.
• Strange melody. I don’t quite get it. Not catchy.
• Overall good performance, but not the best for the first half.

Score: 6 - Hmmm. Not sure if he will make it.

17. Hee Haw - Song: Black Man Struggle

• Real nuff back-up singers – 5 women and 1 man
• 2 thumbs up for nice tune and nice rendition.
• Much improved from last year.
• Please do not say “hee haw” in the middle of the song. PLEASE!!!! Ah beggin’.
• I see a bit of Gabberts.
• Stage antics are strange. Is he struggling or constipated? Or both?

Score: 7.5 - Wow. If Hee Haw puts down a solid second half performance he will make the finals.

18. Kid Site / Song: Reverse

• Canary yellow suit with blue inside shirt. Wow.
• Great crowd response.
• Knows how to use the stage.
• Oops, failed attempt at ex tempo in final verse. Punch line did not hit the mark.
• How to score Site? In the middle of the pack.

Score: 7 - Or perhaps 6.5. Not sure where he stands after this first half.

The Standing after the First Half - According to Sunflower

So at the end of round 1, the people looking strong were:

1. RPB
   
2. Sir Ruel
   
3. Hee Haw
   
4. Bumba
   
5. Ras Iley
   
6. Mr. Impact
   
7. Romeo
   
8. Tassa
   
9. Kid Site
   

And, the people looking iffy were:

1. Classic
   
2. John King
   
3. Blood
   
4. Colin Spencer
   
5. Ishiaka
   
6. Sheldon
   
7. TC
   
8. Smokey Burke
   
9. Sammi Jane

For my report on the second half click here ----> Second Half

To see how I matched up against the judges click here ----> The Judges Decision