Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez announced their decision to bow out of the International Soca Monarch 2012 last Friday with a post on their Facebook page. They confirmed the Facebook post by announcing to fans at Fire Fete that their focus lay elsewhere. Immediately social media users started searching for reasons why soca’s power couple would call it quits. One social media user made this guess: “No more $2 million so no more Fay Ann and Bunji boy. Well look at ting (thing).” This guess, I consider highly unlikely.

Both artistes have been entering the competition for several years and have six Soca Monarch titles between them, including Fay Ann’s double win of Groovy and Power Soca categories in 2009. Another online fan speculated that it may have had something to do with the “Machel incident” last year. Maybe it’s a ploy or maybe they are just fed up of the bacchanal that is Carnival. Well, at this point only they know the true reason, but if it is the latter, the phrase that applies best may be:

“Yuh cyah play mas if yuh ‘fraid powder”. One thing for sure they will be missed in this year’s line up, especially considering that in my personal opinion (feel free to disagree) this is the most “Bunji-like” I’ve seen Mr Garlin in years. It had previously been my opinion that Bunji had lost his “Bunji-ness” but this year I sense a difference in the releases. Maybe taking away the pressure of the Soca Monarch competition has resulted in a re-dedication to his craft.

Still no Power Soca
The other reason I’m sure they will be missed is the lack of Power (jump and wave) songs released so far. I was almost sure that Fay Ann would have demolished any crowd with Miss Behave. Ah well, C’est la vie. A few more Power tunes were released last week, namely Machel Montano’s Pump Yuh Flag; Kees Dieffenthaller’s Head Bad (On the Road), with former Imij & Company frontline vocalist Michelle Xavier; and, Kerwin Dubois’ Make Room. Destra Garcia and Rikki Jai also have a chutney soca single called Pania that should translate well on the road. However, it is no way a Power Soca. (Insert frustrated sigh here)

Good News: An industry insider, I won’t call any names (whispers Kees Dieffenthaller) assured the public via a popular radio station that there was no shortage of Power Soca. He said, in fact that the releases would come soon and quickly. Newcomer, and someone I would vote for in a Songwriter of the Year category, Erphaan Alves also admitted that he would be releasing a Power Soca song this week.
 

Rumours
Alves’ name has also been bandied about on social media and Web sites like islandmix.com as speculation suggested that he may have been making a move to Montano’s HD band. The other rumour suggested that soca singer Zan had been tossed out like spoilt leftovers, this has yet to be confirmed. Another rumour was that Bachannalist Kerwin Dubois would not be competing in the Groovy Monarch. That is ah damn lie. In a fete last weekend Dubois officially began the competition picong when he said that he wrote the winning Groovy tune last year and was prepared to be a Wotless Bachannalist this year on the Soca Monarch stage.

I can’t wait for the real cross-talk to start, but in the meantime, one of my favourite artistes, Rodney Le Blanc (Benjai), has released Funk When Me Drunk and I still love his release on the Coca Cola Riddim (rhythm) True Story. Until next time, here is a heads up: Veteran performer All Rounder has released his single Garlic Sauce and I can just imagine the performance for the Soca Monarch competition. These are some of the lyrics: “Tonight ah dressing she burger. Put my garlic sauce, spread it on she burger.” I’ll leave you to form your own opinion on this one. I quite like it.