WIR Ch #9 'Barbados 2009 Cropover' - RPB/Edwin Yearwood Winners

Crop Over News- RPB & Edwin Yearwood are the winners

BAG ON CLOUD 9

RPB, the 2009 calypso king with his winner’s trophy this morning. (Picture by Rawle Culbard.)

Nation news: 8/1/2009

by WADE GIBBONS

IT'S CLOUD NINE for Red Plastic Bag (RPB)

The pride of St Philip produced two spectacular performances with- Home Drums and Something Happening to capture the LIME/Banks Pic-O-De-Crop calypso monarchy at Kensington Oval early this morning.

The large crowd on the grounds and in the stands roared its approval about 1:30 a.m. when the result was announced, giving De Big Show's RPB a record ninth title and the first prize of $10 500 and a fully loaded Toyota Corolla saloon car. He tallied 434 points.

RPB was elated at the results and later expressed his pleasure at the manner the public had responded to his songs, especially Something Happening.

"It is a wonderful feeling to see how people responded to the song. When the level of expectation is as it was, it was tough to come here and produce. It is amazing how people have taken to the song," he said.

His tentmate John King gained 405.5 points and captured second position for his Heaven and My Caribbean. He earned $15 750. Third position went to Headliners' Blood who gave two commanding performances with The Long Haul and We Looking At It to tally 404.5 points. He took home $11 025.

The 2008 junior monarch Sir Ruel showed he could hold his own with the veterans, finishing a commendable fourth position with his Ready For The Monarchy and What Is A Calypsonian. He scored 398 points to win $7 875.

TC, a favourite for many at the Oval, dropped Stop Domestic Violence which she had sang at the semi-finals and delivered Hot Sun and Riddum, with which she won the Sweet Soca and Party Monarch titles on Sunday. The move did not pay off. Together with Gimme A Ruler, it was only good enough for ninth place. She tallied 382.5 points and earned $4 200.

Headliners' Colin Spencer's last place finish caused a great murmur in the crowd, many of whom had been impressed with his Inclusion In Reverse and Where Do We Go From here. He scored 377 points and also won $4 200.

Adrian Clarke, last year's monarch, finished in sixth position with 395 1/2 points. Also competing were Sheldon Hope (5th), Bumba (7th) and HeeHaw (8th).

EDWIN IS THE PEOPLE'S MAN

In de middle of de fans: Edwin Yearwood surrounded by fans yesterday after he won the People's Monarch contest. (Picture by Cherie Pitt)

Edwin is the new Starcom Network People's Monarch with In The Middle Of The Road.

The song amassed 82 per cent of votes by texts against Mikey's I In Dat, which copped 18 per cent.

In a touching gesture of humility and selflessness, Edwin offered $10 000 of his $25 000 winnings to Mikey whom he believed "worked hard and passionately from the moment he entered the scene".

In The Middle Of The Road, a Peter Coppin/Monstapiece-produced track, was a favourite from the moment it hit the airwaves.

Edwin said of his competitor in the final vote-off: "If you check Mikey's history for the short time he's been in there, he loves what he does and he's serious about it. I think he's going to have a bright future."

Of local music, he said: "Some of the sweetest and most beautiful melodies in soca have [been] coming out of Barbados for a very long time. Unfortunately it has not paid the dividends, but that is also our fault."

Here, Edwin is flanked by supporters at Starcom's River Road office performing the winning tune. Edwin also won a Blackberry Storm compliments of Digicel, and Magnum products. (Picture by Cherie Pitt.) (MS)