Defending Monarch Machel Montano will sing in position number 12 in the Digicel International Groovy Soca competition and number 11 in the Power category in the Play Whe International Soca Monarch competition on Friday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain.
The joint champion in the Power category, SuperBlue (Austin Lyons), will sing in position number five in the finals.
The artistes drew for places at the Hyatt Regency, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, yesterday. The much- anticipated event on the Carnival calendar is dubbed Fantastic Friday.
Among those at the launch were Caribbean Prestige Foundation (CPF) chairman Peter Scoon, celebrity guest /actor Damien Dante-Wayans, committee member Gregory Fernandes and presenter Adrian Don Mora.
Scoon said: “You all are soca ambassadors. You have all excelled in a fantastic way. It has been a labour of love and I know you all can pull it off. We are anticipating a tremendous show. We are hoping all the contestants will excel and put on a great show.”
Still basking in the aftermath of an “epic” Machel Monday concert, Montano said: “I will be fantastic. The Machel Monday has a different energy. The Soca Monarch is a light war. A light rivalry. It is a battle for who could win on Fantastic Friday.”
However, Montano said: “I am not underestimating any of the competitors. I remember the year when Prophet Benjamin (in free verse style) mashed up with “a throw wine on she. And she throw wine on me.” I stood there in awe. That was real talent.”
As Montano prepares for the battle royale, he invited his fans to join him in spreading the “Ministry of the Road” (title of one of his songs) to ensure he was the “Happiest Man Alive” (another of his songs)
Finalist in the Power category Grenada sensation Mr Kill@ (Hollice Mapp), who pulled position ten, said he was looking forward to a “Fantastic Friday”.
Fellow Grenadian Tallpree (Cecil Wilt Cambridge), a finalist in the Groovy category, pulled position eight. On Tuesday, Tallpree’s mother, Rev Ann Plenty, had flown in to lend support to her son.
Meanwhile, Tallpree was still deciding whether he should fly the Grenada flag, with a green and gold outfit. He said: “I have to rush off to the designer. I have to perform here later.”
Wearing the trademark dhoti he’s worn for the season’s performances of “The Dhoti Song”, Snakey (Heaven Charles), who drew position two in the Power category, said: “I plan to put on a heavenly and fantastic performance.”
Groovy Soca category
1. Ravi B
2. Mr Famous (Junior Noel)
3. Erphaan Alves
4. Skinny Fabulous (Gamal Doyle)
5. Denise Belfon
6. Biggie Irie (Carlton Cordle)
7. Destra Garcia
8. Wilt “Talpree” Cambridge
9. Farmer Nappy (Darryl Henry)
10. Cassie (Cassiano Sylvester)
11. Kerwin Du Bois
12. Machel Montano
Power Soca category
1. Ann-G (Angela Giustini)
2. Snakey (Heaven Charles)
3. Nadia Batson
4. Patrice Roberts
5. SuperBlue (Austin Lyons)
6. Iwer (Neil George)
7. Lyrical (Devon Martin)
8. Devon Matthews
9. Destra Garcia
10. Mr Kill@ (Hollice Mapp)
11. Machel Montano