Veterans ruled the finals in last Sunday’s Barbados Soca Royale as Lil Rick romped home with his sixth Party Monarch delivering his lively piece ‘Energy’, and Red Plastic Bag brought waves to the Bush Park crowd to take the Soca Monarch for the second time with ‘Boat Ride’.
The sixth victory for Hypa Dawg Lil Rick created a record as the first performer in this Crop Over competition to earn six victories. Entering the competition he was tied with Edwin Yearwood on five victories each.
Judging in for both competitions for the 2017 Soca Royale was free of controversy as the estimated 15,000 strong crowd roared in unanimous approval when the winners were announced early Monday morning.
Lil Rick said, “I feel good. The competition was hyped and good. I respect everyone in the competition. I didn’t underestimate anyone. I just put on my best game.
“I enjoyed myself… I always try to make myself happy with the people and do my thing.”
Bag told one media house, “winning in a competition is something else. It is at another level people tend to see it. I love when people enjoy my songs to me that is the victory.”
There is more sweet Crop Over music to come with the Pic-O-De-Crop finals at Kensington Oval Saturday night where reigning Queen Aziza will defend her title against 10 other finalists Edwin Yearwood, Chrystal Cummins-Beckles, A.C., Observer, Sir Ruel, Donella, Classic, Colin, Smokey Burke, and iWeb.
This will set the scene for the massive street party of Grand Kadooment Monday.
