Who de cat like he lick! Scene 1.

'Mavis say/ this year she expect to see/ Crop Over without Controversy/ well that is like this band without de brass/I does gotta laff '-Mr.Dale, Therapy c. 2005

If your name isn't called in 3 tries they have  no idea!

Controversy...
To all those who are complaining that those of us still complaining about Crop Over and its myriad competitions aint gonna change anything guess what...that is part of the festival due to the nature of competitions and frankly debate, discussion is healthy and confession is good for the soul. That said in my next few posts I will explain a few of my key concepts regarding Calypso in Barbados and elsewhere...remember these are my interpretations feel free to agree or agree to disagree. Some are research  and analysis based and some are my own hypotheses based upon observation and hearsay. Tonite being a funny day I TACKLE THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL....

SHAREHOLDERISM...
The term shareholder with reference to someone other than an actual individual owning or 'holding' shares in a company is not a concept I claim to have created and is certainly not unique to Barbados far less calypso competitions...thus why I have opted to coin the term shareholderism-and a few others-to refer specifically to the perceived favour bestowed upon some calypsonians -and bandleaders- when they enter National competitions in Barbados.

No Sport...
To draw a reference from the sporting arena...a shareholder may be an outstanding and often longstanding athlete in their chosen discipline. As a result their selection in a team though not merited on then current performance is to be expected and tolerated none the less, regardless of the existence of brighter talent or better options. They are also expected to enjoy extended lenience and often benefit-sometimes to inexplicable proportions-from refereeing/umpiring decisions or matters which require arbitration from the sports governing body or senior officials, often at the expense of less favoured teams or players. This leads to an air of invincibility around these athletes which is often endorsed by a gullible, unsuspecting or not interested enough public. Anyone, usually opponents or those with the gift of objectivity who 'blows the whistle on any preferential treatment given to the 'shareholders' are labelled as envious, bad minded, jealous and or bitter. In truth these persons may experience some of the aforementioned feelings and often refrain from comment on shareholderism for fear of public ridicule whether or not they have made a fair observation or not.The results of this silence can be extremely dangerous as refusing to call a spade just that, can be used against that whistle blower if  later a similar claim is made. As a result the whistle blower can be denied is due when it is deserved or the shareholder may receive unwarranted acclaim

Pic-who-ya -want...
In Barbados Calypso competitions are invariably shrouded in controversy...of course everyone has their favourites and disagreements are to be expected especially when attempting to objectively judge the very subjective that is performance art...but it seems more often than not, someone is included and someone is left out which seems to defy all logic...When this occurs shareholderism can be the cause.The calypsonian in question need not be a shareholder themselves but maybe a member of a shareholderised 'big tent'-more on this later-akin to being a new member of Manchester United FC benefiting from the Club's shareholderism and thereby undergoing temporary shareholerisation themselves. In Bajan calypso this is a common occurrence at the semi-finals...

Pic-wha-ya-feel
Another example of this might be the selection of a person or persons performing material seemingly outside of the genre of calypso and having no penalty affixed despite non shareholderified performers having attempted similar stunts prior but without similar success.These songs often make it all the way to the finals of the competition especially if the performers is sufficiently popular to create a spectacle-and sell tickets even if the song is not calypso-could be a soca sounding sweet or a poor attempt at calypso...but that is why the competition which makes no explicit reference to calypso can be pejoratively-some argue accurately-referred to as Pick-who-ya-like...