Can Fireman do it again?

When the most anticipated show in the Carnival calendar comes around, the country’s best soca artistes will be ‘hot’ on the trail of Delroy ‘Fireman’ Hooper.

And if last Sunday’s semifinals in the soca monarch competition are any indication of what soca fans can expect on July 5th, the event will be the most competitive and exciting to date.{{more}}

With 35 artistes battling for the seventeen final positions, competition was at its highest level even without the aid of props and dancers.

Most performers used up the majority of or more than their allotted eight minutes to ensure that the fans and judges got the message; that they were there to be in the finals.

At the end of it all, the most experienced and popular singer and songs made it through.

Tomorrow’s finals will see Fireman Hooper defending his six time monarchy against the likes of 2007 Road March Champion Problem Child, Former Soca Kings Maddzart and Bomani, 2008 Ragga Soca Queen Dani O, past Ragga Soca and Road March winner Skarpyon, New Song Soca Winner Zoelah and former Calypso and Road March king Poorsah.

Also joining the fray are seasoned contenders Icon, Skinny Fabulous, Coyaba, Lively, Alla G and Danielle Veira, with Fire Empress, Demus, KGB and Homey rounding out the finalists.

Tomorrow’s winner will gain automatic entry to the International Soca Monarch Competition to be held in Trinidad in February 2009.