by Curlan Campbell
- Gordon “Innocent” Joseph, dedicated his victory to his grandmother Agatha Joseph, who passed away last August
- Innocent entertained the audience with his songs “The Party is Mine,” and “Pan in Glory”
- Thanked Mr X and Ajamu as instrumental in his songs
The new Calypso Monarch, Gordon “Innocent” Joseph, dedicated his victory to his late grandmother, Agatha Joseph, who passed away last August at 96 years. An emotional Innocent addressed the media following his win and was at a loss for words for the first time in his career, despite being a popular morning talk show host.
“I wish my grandma was here. Mom gave me the name “Innocent” when I left the church and sang calypso. I wish she was here, but she passed away last year,” Joseph said. “I want to thank my colleagues and everyone who supported me throughout this journey. Mr X was instrumental in the first song, and Ajamu was instrumental in the second song. I am just elated.”
Innocent’s captivating performance at the Dimanche Gras 2024 Finals, renowned for its satirical elements and political commentary, made a lasting impact on both the audience and the judges. His exceptional delivery and ability to weave words secured him the top position in the highly regarded competition, dethroning Kelly “Rootsman Kelly” Clyne.
In the opening round, Innocent entertained the audience with his song “The Party Is Mine,” satirically poking fun at Dr Keith Mitchell, leader of the New National Party, and the party’s inability to decide on a successor. Though Innocent had microphone issues while delivering his 3rd verse, he quickly bounced back. In the second round of competition, his love for sweet steel pan music was expressed with his song entitled “Pan in Glory.”
Innocent entered the entertainment industry as a master of ceremonies (MC) in 1990 and then transitioned to singing calypso for fun. After gaining recognition for his singing talent, he decided to participate in the Calypso Monarch competition.
On reaching the finals for the 4th time and capturing the crown for the first time in his career, he said, “I initially started as an MC, travelling to various places. Some individuals noticed potential in me that I hadn’t seen in myself. They suggested that I should sing due to my good voice. Over the years, I made occasional trips to Trinidad to record a song with producers, such as Leston Paul or Kenny Phillips, for the season. However, it’s only this year that I’ve genuinely taken the competition seriously, despite having reached the finals a few times before.”
Finley “Scholar” Jeffrey’s crowd-pleasing performance secured him the position of first runner-up with songs “Mash it Up” — addressing the issues surrounding The NNP party’s succession planning, — and “Still Young” which paid homage to Grenada’s 50th-anniversary jubilee.
Nashanda “Shanda” Charles, from the sister isle of Carriacou, placed 3rd in the competition after showcasing her lyrical prowess and skillful mastery of picong. She delivered a powerful performance of “Clamp it Down,” where she criticised the police for prioritising vehicle clamping instead of addressing the significant crime problems that the country is facing. Her second song “That’s why ah forget” made fun of her mishap last year when she forgot the lyrics to her song.
Shanda, who already holds the title of Calypso Monarch of Carriacou, has been performing in a competition in Grenada since 2013, and this is her 3rd time making finals. Speaking with media, she emphasised the value of learning from mistakes and transforming them into growth opportunities. She shared her personal journey, detailing both accomplishments and setbacks, and expressed enthusiasm for her future prospects. “I must say thank you to my writer, Neil Ferguson. He has been writing for me since 2013. I must express my gratitude, and most of the time, we use whatever happened the year before and just continue to work on our craft.”
Last year’s Dimanche Gras king, Kelly “Rootsman Kelly” Clyne, believes that this year’s competition was of a very high standard. He performed “Keep singing,” in which he portrayed himself as Jesus Christ on stage, and “Bawling,” where he critiqued the government’s transformation agenda.
“This year’s calypso competition was very intense, with many high-quality performances. Although I didn’t win the title of Calypso Monarch, I am pleased that the competition was fair and well-run. I am never satisfied with any position other than the number one spot, but I accept the judge’s decision. I will use this experience to reflect and improve for the next year’s competition in 2025,” he said.
Results of the Dimanche Gras 2024 Finals
- 1st: Gordon “Innocent” Joseph, 877 points
- 2nd: Finley “Scholar” Jeffrey, 870 points
- 3rd: Nashanda “Shanda” Charles, 850 points
- 4th: Sean “Sour Serpent” Niles, 841 points
- 5th: Kelly “Rootsman” Clyne, 819 points
- 6th: Valene Nedd, 818 points
- 7th: Randolph “Randy Isaac” Isaac, 812 points
- 8th: Jason “Big J” Joseph, 804 points
- 9th: Micah “Baraka” Joseph, 800 points
- 10th: Jerry “Papa Jerry” Baptiste, 799 points
- 11th: Jermaine “Super Star” Simon, 793 points
