Every February, Trinidad & Tobago has it's annual festival called 'Carnival' where the natives spend months preparing costumes, parties, and music for it's biggest event of the year. Not only is this a massive street party where you find beautiful people parading in colorful costumes dancing to Soca tunes. Here you will also find an event where music literally takes center stage in a competition which started in 1993 called the International Soca Monarch.
Each year, winners are chosen in two categories, the Power Soca Monarch for uptempo Soca songs, and the Groovy Soca Monarch for slower songs. Before 2001, there was only a single competition for both slower & fast paced songs where one winner was chosen. Contestants compete for thousands of dollars in cash and other prizes and the chance to win the crown for best Soca songs.
Veteran Soca singer Faye Ann Lyons-Alvarez made history in 2009 for being the first woman to win the competition, as well as winning in a single year for both categories with her songs "Bumper" & "Meet Superblue". The only other person to win in both categories in a single year(2006)is Shurwayne Winchester for his tunes "Ah Can't Wait" & "Don't Stop".
The 2010 Power Soca Monarch crown went to JW & Blaze for their single "Palance", which debuted at #8 on the Caribbean music charts. On 'Fantastic Friday' the duo won in a blow-out number of votes. Defending champion Faye Ann came in second place with her hit "True Lies".
SocaMonarch.net
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