ADONIJAH, one of the veterans of the calypso stage, is making a comeback to competition after a six-year hiatus.
Referring to his return as a “blessed trinity”, the former Road March king has special reason to face the judges for the first time since 2005 as this is his 30th year in the art form and he turns 60 next week.
“I have spent half of my life on earth in calypso and I thought that I would top it off by returning to competition. I have two songs that I think are really saying a lot and I want all of Barbados to hear them.
“The biggest stage is the competition stage so I will be back sending down some serious Scud missiles,” he said.
The 1981 Road March champion says he is coming with a package that will be social commentary and uptempo.
“Nowadays uptempo seems to me bashment, but when you think of a song like Rocking Ethiopia, that was a song with a serious social commentary and that was an uptempo song.
“There have been songs that have had messages that were uptempo and I think that is one of the arts that we have lost.
“Robot was a beautiful song, a combination of social commentary and uptempo. I am really loking forward to the season. I am coming back with love and with a bang. I am going to be dangerous,” he said.
Adonijah says one of his numbers, Bajan Station, is a particularly strong selection.
“Its a call for an all-Bajan station and fans will enjoy it. As a matter of fact, I belong to an online group called Cultural Action Group that comprises Smokey Burke, Mighty Viper and Colin Spencer, and we have actually sent a letter to the Prime Minister making our case for an all-Bajan station,” he said.
Adonijah says he will drop his two bombs, Bajan Station and Barbados X 2, on June 12 when the Big Tent launches its opening gala night at the Plantation Restaurant.
On that opening night, he will kick off with Trinidadian stalwart Black Stallion, a long-time friend and mentor of Adonijah’s. (MK)
Adonijah’s best performance in the Pic-O-De-Crop finals was in 1985 when he delivered Woman and Robot and earned $5 000 for an impressive second to the Mighty Gabby, who rendered Culture and West Indian Politician and took home $7 500.
