Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
Winning Region 10 Calypso ‘Kaieteur News’ in the run for National Competition
The lyrics were completed within three hours of being conceptualised but were hard hitting enough to create a stir among the audience and the panel of judges. It secured the first place spot when the Regional School Calypso Competition got underway in Region Ten recently.
‘Kaieteur News is the best, better than all the rest’ was belted out in style by 10-year-old junior calypsonian, Daniel Fanfare, of the Coomacka Primary School. The lyrical piece, titled Kaieteur News, was cleverly assembled by head teacher of the school, Mr Alister Fraser.
Along with the teachers of his school, he has over the years developed a fondness for Kaieteur News, a daily publication which has premised its existence on bringing hard facts to the nation, regardless of the potential impact.
But creating calypsos of such an impacting nature is nothing new to Fraser, who revealed during an interview with this newspaper that he has composed several winning pieces in the past.
“Every year we would normally create costumes, dramatic poetries, calypsos and so on. And we were all sitting in the library trying to figure out what topic to write the calypso on this year. At the same time we were reading the Kaieteur newspaper. And the thought just came to me ‘why not write on this newspaper?’.
Three verses were composed at first then a fourth was added and then modified to suit the eight to 10 years old category in which Daniel was slated to participate. The entire process, according to Fraser, lasted about three hours and brought much satisfaction to him when it was reviewed.
The lyrics were put to music by Otis Harding of the Coomacka Assemblies of God Church. Daniel’s presentation of the piece was as entertaining and satisfying as Fraser had envisioned.
Daniel Fanfare strikes a winning pose for KN
The piece was an instant hit from the minute that the young Daniel stepped out onto the stage, demonstrating some alluring moves to the rhythm which accompanied the lyrics. The audience took a special liking to the chorus of the calypso – Kaieteur News is the best, they better than all the rest. Even if they tell a little lie, man is everybody got to buy! When they so clear and precise.
So catchy was the lyrics that the audience soon joined in, adding to the young calysonian’s backup singers.
“I was nervous at first…the audience was making a lot of noise and after I finished everyone started talking about me; how I sing good,” said a blushing Daniel yesterday.
His performance was among seven others but was the clear winner when the judges completed their analysis of the respective performances. Daniel is expected to perform the winning piece next week at the Schools’ National Calypso Competition slated for the National Park.
Both student and teacher are optimistic that the calypso will make an impact at the national level as well.
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