Meh Rum...Rules the Party

Gorg, the 2014 Party Monarch of Barbados during his winning routine...HAAAAAAA!!!
photo credit barbadostoday.bb

Aftermath...
Making my way out of  Bushy Park about half hour after the thrilling conclusion of Soca Royale, I run into Gorg the man who emerges the biggest winner along with Biggie Irie-against such competition this is no lean feat...lol-winning the Party Monarch with apparent ease after years of struggling to even reach the final. My posse and I gave my heartiest congratulations to the new king with much conch shell blowing and loud repeated chants of Aye..Aye etc. Gorg while seemingly thankful for the impromptu coronation...didn't seem fazed...at all.

Action...
It was this same relaxed easy going approach with which, Gorg dressed in what his grandmother approved as ' half decent'-jacket,straw hat, flip flops and baggies included - took the Party Monarch competition and turned it on its head. It was a short skit,no more than 2 minutes, Just four or five dancers, DJ Hardware and a bicycle?That was all it took for the laid back, self proclaimed Mr.Sexy to endear himself to the judges and the audience on hand at Bushy Park.

Build up...
Fact of the matter is that, from the time the song hit the airwaves early in the season it grew and grew until it became apart of the collective consciousness of Barbadians appealing to persons from all age ranges and all walks of life, ignoring the existence of any such myths as the  generation gap or a gender divide . This rum shop anthem with its simple lyrics and catchy sing along melody had already endeared itself to the nation. All Gorgy Worgy was left to do was render the song and that he did in a no frills to the point performance.

Wasn't My Winner...
I'll admit this, he wasn't my winner. The song, at just a shade over 130bpms-a requirement for Party Monarch these days-featured no:

• big brass licks,except for 'the horn section/but not really the horn section, '
• jump and wave, no extensive list of instructions to move the crowd, 
• seemingly steroid enhanced gyration routine by the performer, 
• elaborate choreography executed by an army of dancers camouflaged in a kaleidoscope of colour
• onslaught of confetti, assault of fireworks or other pyrotechnics,
• superhero movie inspired outfit, not even a pair of now necessary for soca artistes-even at night-pair of huge sunglasses....

 So How did he win?
I was most impressed by the now expected high energy performances of defending champions Soka Kartel with Turn Around, Mikey's hype but familiar feeling No Shame,Ian Webster and Khiomal's thriller of a presentation with Terror, Kirk Brown's pulsating  Energy and big props to first timer in Party Monarch but former -beating Apollo into second place- 2012 UWI Calypso Monarch Shaquille who's Release looked and sounded the part...fireworks and all.

Another Crown? 
But still Gorg won.When myself said Yow...who would have won if not Gorg, self had no answer to give. How did he do it? The song did. It connected with Barbadians better than any other song in the competition and the laid back but straight forward Gorg realized a solid performance, for which he must be credited, was all that was needed to explode the hills of Bushy Park into a national chorus...'Oh, ohh/oh, ohh/I got my Rum.' 
As this tune approaches folk song status Meh Rum could also rule the Road...Time will tell!