Young calypsonian Duane O’Connor took the 2012 Calypso crown last night to capture the TT$1 million prize following the threat of a boycott over prize monies.
A last-minute agreement to raise the top prize from $500 000 to $1 million emerged around midday Sunday after the finalists in this Trinidad and Tobago 2012 Carnival calypso competition had argued about being left out while other competitions, including Panorama and International Soca Monarch, had benefitted from increases.
President of the Trinidad Unified Calypsonians Organisation Lutalo “Brother Resistance” Malimba had dubbed the $500 000 “disrespectful” and yesterday called for a further hike next year as well as a calysponians’ broadcast licence fee to give kaiso more exposure.
O’Connor, who also won the Young Kings contest earlier this season, was crowned at the end of the Dimanche Gras show, after humbling 11 other calypsonians including last year’s queen Karene Asche and veterans Chalkdust, Sugar Aloes and Cro-Cro at the Queen’s Park Savannah, in Port of Spain.
O’Connor rendered The Hunt is On” and Long Live Calypso and was particularly impactful in the first half, which he ended with the appearance of two “unformed” police officers, including a popular TV talk show host known for his criticism of crime in the twin island. His second song, Long Live Calypso, was a solid tribute to the art form and a noteworthy comment on those who reject kaiso for other trendy musical forms in their youth but lament the potential demise of calypso when they reach their 40s.
“I want to get people to love and understand the art form. But before we could get the music out there, we have to get our own people to understand and love our music,” said the 26-year-old O’Connor who has been competing from age nine.
The second position was tied between Kurt Allen and Karene Asche. Allen offered a powerful double-entendre on the country’s crime situation with It Is Alleged, which laments the slow process of justice when officials put urgent cases on “a ledge”.
