The curtain has been drawn around the  2K9 Crop Over festivities, however the juks, stabs and wuk ups are still very remnant in the minds of party goers! The recently included Sweet Soca competition is still a hot topic also.  BoomTribe.com caught up with a few influential people in the music industry to get their input on the combination of two competitions as well as contestants participating in both competitions with the same song.   We also asked persons who attended their view on the overall packaging of the show. 

Andrew Payne, Director of Radio Services, ALT Entertainment had this to say about the venue change for the Party Monarch and Sweet Soca Competition:

“Based on what I have heard the change in venue is due to land slippage on the east coast, and IF this is entirely the reason then I guess then they had no choice but to look for another venue.  I have been going to the event from inception and won't be attending this year because of the new choice of venue. It will be an entirely new atmosphere which currently is not appealing  to me, however this may change in  a couple years. Changing to Farley Hill reduced the different markets which this event once appealed to and furthermore Farley Hill is way to small based on the 'potential' of the  event to be hosted.  If the east coast was no longer an option they should have moved it to the National stadium/Kensington Oval as a night event in a similar vain to Pic-O-De- Crop finals.”  Andrew went on to express his view on competitors competing in the two shows with the same song:  “The problem is that it appears to be two competitions happening at the same time with semi-conflicting agendas... Either they should have made it into two separate and distinct events, or worked together 'earlier' and change the party monarch into "Power Party Monarch" for the up-tempo party tracks,  and let the Sweet Soca Monarch be the mid-tempo ragga soca tracks.  I believe it will evolve into that in a few years, however it’s the first time around with different entities having separate agendas 'trying a ting'.. I would suggest that the Sweet Soca Monarch competition be first to warm up the crowd, and place those artists that have one song competing in both competitions be place at the tail end of the first group and proceed smoothly  into the Party Monarch competition. This may not be the only way to do it, but it will prevent artist from performing the same song twice and provide a better   flow and experience for the persons paying good money for tickets, because at the end of the day its about the fans of soca.. Events of this magnitude that represent our culture at a national level need to place more emphasis on the standard of the Product as oppose to who is profiting, because the profits will come once the Product is strong!” 

Phil Philips, Music Industry Pioneer shared similar sentiments, 

“The Venue change was a necessary consideration based on "reduced numbers" at Party Monarch particularly over the last 3 to 4 years. Of course the other option would have been to come up with something more creative and appealing to the younger members of the public.   Phil went on to say,   I am not a believer in the proliferation of soca competitions since they only reinforce the myth that the music is seasonal. More importantly, competitions often stifle the creative process since artistes just try to create something that they believe will meet and appeal to the judging criteria. We have to think in innovative and independent ways if we want to take this music to the globe. We no longer have the luxury of thinking that this music only belongs to West Indians. It has to be shared in a more strategic way with music lovers worldwide for our economic survival.    

Dian Thomas an annual party monarch and party attendee told BoomTribe.com, that she did not attend this year. 

“It lost its appeal, and the fact that VIP was so expensive, and premium drinks were to be purchased, that was really not my cup of tea.  Usually, when I go, I go with a group and we have a tent and the atmosphere is just so great, but with Farley Hill, it’s just too squeezed up, and the trees are obstructing a good view of the stage.” Dale Thomas another avid party goer who enjoys crop over to the fullest shared his opinion. “I had an okay time this year, not as good as previous years in my opinion.  I didn’t like the fact that people were in two separate competitions with the same song that defeats the purpose of claiming that “Sweet Soca” is different to the Party songs, because if you saying, that sweet soca is more tempo etc, then how can a song fit in both genres?” 

 Paula Palmer another Calypso lover also had similar sentiments: 

What say you BoomTribers? Do you think it was a strategically pleasing move to Farley Hill, how feasible is it for a competitor to take place in two competitions on the same day, does it take away from the show, by having a “samey samey” effect or is it a chance for them to perfect themselves where they may have previously performed.  You as a patron, how do you feel about seeing entertainers singing the same song?  Get at us, we are eager to hear from you! 

By Samantha Hazlewood