Lady Mac performs "Burning Thoughts" during Friday night's Calypso Monarch on St. Croix. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM
Ten calypsonians took the stage on Friday night, each vying for the title of Monarch for St. Croix's 2024-2025 festival season. The high-energy event showcased two performances from each contestant, but by the end of the night, it was Lady Mac — last year’s reigning champion — who once again claimed the crown as Calypso Queen for 2024-2025.
Blackness was the first performer, her introductory song – Thank God For Making me Black – celebrating aspects of her heritage and culture, as is common in her music. “We are the gems of the Caribbean,” she sang. “We are the image of God that you see.”
Next was Mr. 340, with his first song “Mr. Governor.” The piece took aim at Governor Albert Bryan Jr., accusing him of being out of touch with the citizenry and packing statutory boards with friends. “Do you think you’re doing great…Did you look out for the less fortunate,” Mr. 340 sang.
Lady Jinger was the third performer of the evening. Her first song, titled “Keep Going,” was an exhortation to listeners to not give up despite the difficulties they may be facing along life’s journey. “Tribulations will come, but ride out the storm,” she encouraged.
Fourth on the program was King Generic, singing “Empty Promises,” aimed at unnamed politicians who rely on hollow assurances to win votes. He painted a familiar caricature of the campaign season. “Election time, they buzz – they like bees. Asking for a vote, some even begging please!”
Generic was followed by John D, who first performed “Bad Situations”, a calypso about the negative aspects of life in the Virgin Islands. “While people dancing, I will mention what’s happening,” he promised, listing leaking school roofs and homeowners still living under tarpaulins. He mentioned the ongoing failure of government to ensure retirees receive long-overdue backpay, and the tired promises of politicians claiming to focus on child welfare.
Mighty Pat was the sixth performer of the evening. His first song, “Shallow Minded People Evil,” took aim at what has become known as the “woodpile scandal.” While aiming barbs at the alleged greed and corruption of accused fraudster Davidson Charlemagne, Mighty Pat argued that systemic failures allowed the alleged fraud to take place. For that, “the governor and all them senators, all of them should be going to jail,” Mighty Pat insisted.
The Pilot followed with “Culture Calypso” as his first song of the night. In it, he pleaded with authorities to add education about the artform to the classroom curriculum. “The school is our second home, so teach me what we should know about the Calypso – history is Calypso,” Pilot sang.
King Paul’s first song was Calypso Jail, where he addressed his concerns about censorship in the artform. The powerful piece took a swipe at authorities for what he argues are too many restrictions on the topics covered in the music, and King Paul listed his grievances with perceived corruption and poor governance in the territory, all while declaring that he could be sent back to “Calypso Jail” if he continued.
Newcomer Melokotung, the penultimate performer on the lineup, sang “Hooray to Melokotung”, in which he declared himself the people’s champion, fighting for the poor man through his calypso advocacy.
Lady Mac was the final performer in the first round, with a song called “Burning Thoughts.” The piece was another critique of Virgin Islands society, in which she lamented the barriers to progress in the territory, both systemic and caused by individuals. “When we complain, nothing changed, Sweet Mary in my head, telling me to bun dung de place,” she sang.
The sparse crowd waited patiently for the second round of performances, which occurred in the same order as the first round. Blackness began with “Money Tree,” which counselled listeners about the long and hard road to success. Next, Mr. 340’s second song “Signal the Plane” was a light-hearted song with an underlying message about the conditions of the territory’s roads. Lady Jinger came out with “It’s You,” asking people to take responsibility for the ills of society. “See, it’s you endorsing corruption. It’s you, and, you, and you, and you,” she pointed out.
King Generic’s second song was an homage to King Derby, who he called a “VI icon.” “Don’t wait before it’s too late to say that Derby was great,” exhorting the powers that be to bestow honors on the veteran calypsonian while he is still alive. In the middle of his performance, he took matters into his own hands, presenting Derby with a plaque in appreciation. John D followed with “Woman,” his second song. As the name implies, the calypso was an homage to women – their strengths and their struggles. “I wrote this song because I love my mother to death, and she’s the strongest woman I know,” he explained.
King Mighty’s song was also named in a straightforward manner. “Don’t Rape Women or Children” focused on the issue of consent, and advocated for harsh penalties for those who violate that consent. “People like you, a judge should have no mercy. Lock you in jail, and cut off the key,” Mighty sang. Pilot followed with “Young Man’s Point of View,” a calypso pointing out the oftentimes self-serving nature of people in authority. “As far as I can see, they have bad choice in priority,” he complained. “I just want you to stop talking and do,” he urged policymakers.
King Paul’s second song, “Home for the Carnival,” spoke to the joy of Virgin Islanders in the diaspora who make it back to the territory in time to participate in Carnival celebrations. Melokotung followed with “Send Love”, in which he pleaded with God to remind His children of their purpose on earth. “Father show we the light from above,” he sang. Finally, Lady Mac closed out the performances with “To Hell,” in which she criticized the re-election of Donald Trump to the White House, despite his “non-stop lies and his lack of conduct.” For this transgression, Lady Mac argued, the country was “going to hell in a handbasket.”
After the judges had tallied up their individual scores, Mighty Pat had earned the title for Most Humorous, while, in a tie for Best Social Commentary, the award went to Mighty Pat and Lady Mac.
Overall, Mighty Pat ended in third place, while second place went to Blackness. At the end of the evening, Lady Mac was crowned the St. Croix Calypso Monarch for 2024-2024.
