by Curlan Campbell
- Dash’s performance of “The Tape” earned him 443 points
- 1st runner-up Jarvis “Muddy” Cuffie; Jalon ‘Boyzie’ Olive in third position
- Dash told media that 2025 is already in the works “I have a song in my head”
Shondell “Dash” Amada is already thinking months in advance about defending his Soca Monarch title next year. However, for now, he is celebrating his big win of dethroning defending monarch Shem “Terra D Governor” Bernard. Despite the inclement weather, his performance of “The Tape” did not dampen audience jubilations, and a sea of umbrellas waved in the air.
Dash’s performance began with a video portraying him as wanted by police for causing chaos at parties and a bounty on his head, escaping into the ocean following a police chase, like something out of an action movie. Dash’s emergence on stage accompanied by One Unit dancers, encouraged the crowd to wave their flags, and his performance earned 443 points, a 3-point lead over 1st runner-up Jarvis “Muddy” Cuffie. Jalon ‘Boyzie’ Olive, with 436 points, earned the third position.
“I’ve been fighting for this for a long time, and I will have a message for them. When a shark smells blood, it hunts. 2025 is already in the works. As we speak, and as I am talking to you now, I have a song in my head,” Dash told the media after his victory was announced.
The weather did not stop Muddy’s performance of “The Moment”, emerging from a golden egg as a flaming phoenix dressed in a golden suit.“I feel awesome. I feel like my team executed the plan that we had. And it was awesome,” he said. With each performance, Muddy said he understands more and more what it takes to capture the crown and is determined to attain it. “We get in there when it comes to knowing what it takes to win the ground. So hopefully, next time, we can capitalise on more of that, but a lot of work was done… I feel like since the beginning of the season, I have also enjoyed the whole season. The consistency was there with the songs of a different variety. And I just felt like the love was just there amongst the people. And the happiness was just there inside.”
Boyzie, who has experienced numerous victories in the past, performed “Chaotic,” but despite a stadium-shaking performance, he had to settle for third place. He emerged from below stage wearing a gas mask, spiked goggles, and holding a chainsaw, dressed like a character from a Mad Max movie. Backed by his crew Bad Squad he riled up the crowd with his trademark calls “Coo Coo” and the frenzied audience waved flags, rags, and aerosol cans, and filled the air with confetti. He recognised his team for the hard work that went into his stage performance and congratulated Dash on his victory. “Dash went hard because he has been wanting the crown, and congratulations to him,” he said.
Defending Monarch Shem ‘Terra D Governor’ Bernard, though among the top contenders in the competition with his song “Tremor (Reign),” ended with 434 points and 4th place.
Power Soca Monarch Results
- 13th: 335 points, Young Madd
- 12th: 336 points, Shamack
- 11th: 350 points, Happy Boy
- 10th: 359 points, Walkie Dan
- 9th: 360 points, Super Flying Flint
- 7th: 363 points, Cryave and Hitz
- 6th: 391 points, Lil Kerry
- 5th: 395 points, Shequan
