Gosein to enter Calypso Monarch

UPDATED:

A day after registering as a contender in the Chutney Soca Monarch competition, Nermal “Massive” Gosein said yesterday he intends to participate in the Trinbago Unified Calypsonian Organisation’s (TUCO) Calypso Monarch competition and is hoping to reach the big stage, Dimanche Gras.

Gosein, whose song “Rowlee Mudda Count” has been criticised for its controversial lyrics, registered on Thursday for the Chutney Soca Monarch competition, paid the $200 fee and was given a receipt.

George Singh, CEO of Southex Event Management Co Ltd, the promoter of the competition, said Gosein’s song will go before a screening committee to be selected. Meanwhile, prominent arranger Leston Paul defended his right to arrange songs for entertainers.

“It is in my line of duty to arrange any type of song for anyone no matter what race, class, political affiliation, religion or gender they belong. We provide a service,” Paul said in a statement. “That does not mean that I agree or disagree with the lyrical content of every song that I arrange.” Paul issued the release in response to claims in some quarters that he had approved the song.

He said he was not to blame or can be held responsible for any artiste singing a song with double-entendre or “cancerous” lyrics. “I arrange songs for Kitchener and Swallow over the years (and they) refused to sing the lyrics during the recording process, in fear of someone stealing their ideas, only to find out what they are singing about during their final vocal take,” Paul said in the statement.

“So, I don’t need the lyrics to be inspired to arrange or produce a song. This I wanna get clear to those who talk about my stamp of approval.” Paul said he had no comment on Gosein’s song, “because I will have to comment on a lot of songs of that nature.”