The concept of transition is well executed as Spin Pooch Ink hit the stage representing the new Guard. It is an interesting form, if you look at it Spin Pooch Ink do an act in which physical expression is central to the performance.

  The Guard performs along a similar vein though somebody in the crowd exclaims mischievously that ‘Stabby can't wuk up at all!' His act culminates with him bending some poor young lady over infront of her ‘date' and knocking them both down with a violent stab of his hips. It looks painful, maybe that is the point.

  We are transitioning now to the more frenetic beat that is contemporary party music. The three gentle men presented a lot of sound and fury.

  What can any one say? Grynner seems to transcend time. As he performs one can't help thinking that nobody told him he was not a spring chicken any more. Grynner belts out Leggo I han' with as much conviction as he did all those years ago. The atmosphere is electric.

  Calypso Monarch Adrian Clarke sings his winning piece Put That In Yuh Song like RPB he seems to let loose now that he is not competing. His performance is even more compelling than last time.

  Maybe it is the freedom from the pressure of competing, or it is the familiarity of an old favourite, what ever it is RPB is spot on with his Ragga Ragga. Watching him tonight is like watching the Bag of old in full flight!

  Biggie Irie, maybe as a reflection of the idea of transition, with his Calypso Dance hall type fusion is able to entice the audience into a sing along with him as he croons Nah Going Home. His performance is a pleasant reminder of the many facets of the crop over experience.

Gabby, looking and sounding a little worse for wear, sang his old classic Gimme Soca. Though he delivered his usual high standard he was a little flat, it has been a long season and this veteran has as usual been working hard.

Still warming up, seven acts into the show and there is still a steady flow of people into the Oval. Nard has been working the crowd with his unique mix of song and physical humour. Right now Fingall is winding the crowd up for the appearance of The Mighty Gabby.

Adrian Clarke is the Cable & Wireless/First Caribbean International Bank Calypso Monarch. When you're on you're on even in accepting the crown Adrian Clarke delights his audience with some witty extempo about his victory. Congrats King Adrian Clarke!

 

1. Adrian Clarke 421.5

2. Red Plastic Bag 415.5

3. Classic 402

4. Blood 397.5

5. De Announcer 394

6. Mr. Impact 386.5

7. John King 380.5

8.  Sheldon Hope 369

9.   Romeo 341

10.  Enobong 336

Blood was stronger in his performance of Duckworth And Lewis but still he did not reach his customary magnificence. One wonders if this year Blood is not stretched a little thin.

  The aptly named Classic boldly brings the fight to... every body; his fellow calypsonians the judges, everybody. So far the most fiery performer Classic and his sharp wit take no prisoners and he even declares in his song Dey Done See that he is King and we shall see if the judges ‘done see'. Nothing can be said but ‘Classic!'

 

Romeo proves himself to be a consummate performer. Blow Me Own Horn is a wonderfully defiant piece in which the veteran performer does just that. It is not a self indulgent piece however as the underlying message seems to be that we all should be bold enough to blow our own horns.

What is particularly impressive about this performance is how Romeo turns his limited mobility to his advantage; he plants himself like a tree centre stage turning a disadvantage into a power position.

  One problem with the presentations has been that the screens are not large enough. The thrust of Mr. Impact's presentation was a weakened by the fact that the text on the screens was very difficult to read. Destructive People, Mr Impact's second half calypso was good but neither as strong nor as well received as his first song. The audience has cooled a little, may be they are a little tired.

 

ALONG WITH A brand new 2008 Toyota Corolla valued at BDS$70 000 tonight's Cable & Wireless/First Caribbean International Bank Pic-O-De Crop winner will get BDS$10 500 and a  trophy. The second runner up will get $15 750 and the second runner up will get BDS$11 025.

Other special prizes include the best nation building song, the song that best promotes Barbados as a tourist destination and best song writers of the festival and best HIV/AIDS awareness song.    

Enobong also comes with a more aggressive message, her song seems to entreat us to Stand Firm in the face of all the hardships of life it has an undertone of hopefulness. Enobong performs well again but this performance doesn't seem as strong as her first half offering.

  Sheldon Hope In This Thing, this song is very different from the first if he was pleading in the first half he is aggressive and demands the audiences' attention this time around. The song may not be as well know as his first offering but it is well received.

  Guest Artiste and only ever Bajan Calypso Queen Rita opens the second half with a wonderful blast from the past Woman Respect Yourself. It is all going well despite the break no momentum has been lost. Rita has set us going again and the race is back on.

We get a preview of the Kings and Queens of bands. Suffice it to say that the high standard set by the competing calypsonians is kept. If are not here now be sure to be present on Kadooment Day to see the costumes.

 

Rounding out the line up is John king with Hard Song. His presentation relies heavily on the screens provided on stage and draws an amusing parallel between himself and the Prime Minister.

The first half of the Cable and Wireless, First Caribbean International Bank Pic-of-De Crop Finals is over; it has been a keenly contested first half, no quarter has been given.

Adrian Clarke (another crowd favourite) starts with a slightly confusing dramatic presentation. Despite this once he gets going he is formidable; his song I Am A Bajan which explores the idea ‘what is a Bajan?' is a powerful piece. Again, tonight is not an easy night to be a judge.

  Red Plastic Bag is clearly on of the crowd favourites; the oval transforms into a sea of rea at the mention of his name. It is a sight to behold.

RPB delivers his The Government change is celebratory and rendered with all the style that is Bag. His Witty extempo at the end of the song throws the oval into ecstatic peals of laughter and cheer.

It is shaping up to be an excellent final  

  It is clear that we are now in the up-tempo mode. The calypso De Biggest Loser is both well written and performed. It is an amusing song about the recently concluded general election (no prizes for guessing who the biggest loser is). It is very well received.

  If And When was a conversation between Sir Don and Blood; an interesting idea but the presentation, having the character sitting on the stage talking through  the calypso was a little distracting. Blood's performance was competent but not as sharp as we have grown to expect.