78 F
Cruz Bay
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesMorris 'King Generic' Benjamin Takes Calypso Monarch Crown

Morris 'King Generic' Benjamin Takes Calypso Monarch Crown

April 25, 2008 — The performances were high caliber through two rounds of competition, and song topics ranged from a declining education system to government corruption, but in the end Morris "King Generic" Benjamin took home the Calypso Monarch title.
Benjamin unseated three-time Calypso Monarch Cedric "King Spade" Brookes, who earned a standing ovation Thursday night from the packed crowd at Lionel Roberts Stadium with the songs "Ask Otis" and "My Pledge." They helped Brookes clench the second runner-up spot and the award for Best Social Commentary.
Jacqueline "Singing Jackie" Leader was named first runner-up, and opened up her first round with a song called "Practice Tough Love." The song was dedicated to all parents and guardians who do not spend enough time with or pay attention to their children. Leader urged parents to become more involved, including "becoming a mentor in your child's school." Leader also took the award for Best Political Commentary.
Most Improved this year went to Michael "Incredible Shark" Thomas, who opened up with a song that paid tribute to the Martin Luther King and presidential candidate Barack Obama.
"Dr. King, he had a dream, and his dream is here today in Sen. Barack Obama," Thomas told the crowd.
Generic's lyrics held the most sway with the crowd, however. In his first song of the evening, "The Young People and Dem," Benjamin sang that some government officials have behaved like little children, and that's why residents are blaming all the territory's problems on the "young people and dem."
"Education gone to the dogs … superintendent behaving like a bullfrog," Generic sang. "WAPA blinking electricity … problems with the PSC (Public Services Commission). It's the young people and dem."
Generic also poked fun at the local police department — saying officers have been involved in drive-by shootings — and the prosecutors in the kickback and bribery case against former commissioners Dean Plaskett and Marc Biggs.
Other singers, such as Deborah "Sugar Dee" Nurse, kept her song positive, encouraging the territory's youth to get an education.
"Please don't be illiterate, learn how to read and write," she sang. "Stay in school and get your education certificate, and enjoy life to your heart's delight."
Also participating this year were Samuel "Mighty Pat" Ferdinand, Julien Gary "Sarrow" George, Myrel "Super T" Tonge, Collister "Reflector" Fahie, Nekisha "Lady Nekisha" Isaac and Marsha Pinney, making her Monarch debut.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.