Powerful Skinny ends Fireman’s reign

In a year in which many agree that the Soca Monarch competition did not live up to the pre-show hype, Gamal ‘Skinny Fabulous’ Doyle nevertheless once again demonstrated that he is a forced to be reckoned with.

The international recording artiste did the double on Saturday, July 4, at Victoria Park,{{more}} when he was crowned both Ragga and Power Soca Monarch – a feat first achieved in 2014 by his long-time rival, Delroy ‘Fireman’ Hooper, who this year took the runner-up position in the Power Soca category.

Skinny, who confesses to weighing 135 pounds, performed “This Island Is Mine,” featuring Rodney Small on pan and “Mash Up International” in the Ragga and Power Soca competitions respectively.

Appearing at position number 13 in the Power Soca competition, Skinny, clad in an illuminated suit and face mask, used a zip line strung between the top of the double decker stand at the Victoria Park and the stage to make a smooth arial entry over the heads of thousands gathered at the park. As his fans went wild, Skinny, as did other artistes in both competitions, used pyrotechnics to add another dimension to his performance.

During his performance, Skinny told the audience that another zip line, which had been installed at the Victoria Park was to be used by one of his competitors and that yet another competitor, who appeared earlier in the show wore the same illuminated suit as he did. Saying that he knows that imitation is the best form of flattery, Skinny, however, asked the crowd to put their hands in the air if they believe in creativity and originality.

As he performed his song while standing high above the stage on a wooden platform which projected over a large globe, Skinny was joined on stage by groups of dancers clad in attire representing different cultures around the world.

Notwithstanding a great performance in the Power Soca segment, the international soca superstar and cultural ambassador’s best work on the night was done during his performance of ‘This Island Is Mine’ during the Ragga Soca competition.

Clad in all white except for a scarf of national colours, Skinny included in his on-stage presentation a girl reciting the national pledge, a steel pan side, a choir and the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force band. The crowd also participated in the presentation by waving from side to side small SVG flags which had been distributed among the audience.

During his performance, Skinny bestowed honours on two of SVG’s ‘living legends’ and fellow cultural ambassadors, Kenneth ‘Vibrating Scakes’ Alleyne and Alston ‘Becket’ Cyrus.

“I feel very blessed about the double win, particularly with the Ragga, which featured Rodney Small. It was an opportunity to forget the competitiveness and focus on national pride,” Skinny told SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday.

Giving Skinny a run for his money in the Ragga Soca competition was international recording artiste, James ‘Jamesy P’ Morgan, with his popular hit, ‘Chronic Disorder’, as known as ‘Puff, Puff and Pass’.

Morgan, who proclaimed in his song that he is a ganja consumer, had the park buzzing from beginning to end with his fiery performance. He placed second, while last year’s winner, Delroy ‘Fireman’ Hooper had to settle for third with his song ‘Drunk Again’.

In the Power Soca competition, last year’s fourth place winner and rising star Lancelot ‘Madskull’ Gloster bettered his position by taking third with his hit ‘Alyo Know Me’.

The crowd motivator and member of the Lime Soca Dans, Rondy ‘Luta’ McIntosh, showed that he still has what it takes to compete after a 10-year hiatus from the competition. His on point performance landed him in the fourth spot.

The other competitors in the Ragga Soca competition were: Madzart, Shaunelle McKenzie, Hance and Hypa 4000.

Other performers in the Power Soca category were: Syxx Krazi, All-G, Problem Child, Wizskid, Hance, Shaunelle McKenzie, Hypa 4000, Madzart, Mr P, Keith Currency and Royall.

Saturday’s win in the Power Soca category was the sixth one for Skinny, he having won it in previously in 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2008. This year was the first time Skinny has competed in the Ragga Soca competition. Fireman has won the Power Soca Monarch title on eight occasions and the Ragga Soca monarchy once.