Marshie wins SVGCA’s first ever ‘Most Humorous Calypso Competition’

Calypsonian Junior ‘Marshie’ Marshall is the winner of the first ever St Vincent and the Grenadines Calypso Association’s (SVGCA) Most Humorous Calypso Competition, and the singer is ready to defend his crown.{{more}}

Marshall won the competition with his song ‘Donkey for Car’, a song which he says is based on a true story, where a man in Layou exchanged a car for a donkey because of the price of gas.

Speaking during the competition’s prize-giving ceremony, which was held at the conference room of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) at Victoria Park on Wednesday, August 31, Marshall described his win as “historic,” as he noted that 2016 is the first year the competition was held and he won.

He said that while he did not make it into the calypso finals this year, he is hoping to do so next year.

“I am ready for next year, and next year I must be able to come 1st, 2nd or 3rd. I’m talking with confidence,” stressed Marshall, whose humorous 2015 song, “Professional Bowlers,” almost saw him become embroiled in legal issues.

“As a calypsonian, I always walk with pen and paper,” said Marshall, who revealed that he decided to write ‘Donkey for Car’ after he was driving in the Leeward area one day and almost ran into a donkey in Wallilabou.

“…after that I remembered an incident where a guy exchanged a car his father died and left for him for a donkey. He did not like the gas idea, so he had a grass station,” said Marshall laughing.

He noted also that he is hoping to launch a video, which will be even more humorous than the song itself. Marshall added that the song has gained popularity in Antigua and Tortola and urged local singers to take the art seriously, as at times, the songs are frowned upon locally, but are loved by persons overseas.

He said that a judge had told him that he did not like ‘Donkey for Car,’ as he was from the community of Layou and it was putting Layou in a bad light.

Marshall is a member of the On Tour Calypso Tent.

The other singers who went up against Marshall were William ‘Kojah’ Anthony with “Behind closed doors” from the On Tour Calypso Tent; Fitzroy ‘Brother Ebony’ Joseph with “Love in the Kaiso” from the Upstage Calypso Tent; and Ronald ‘Chico B’ Veira with “Rum Pipe” from the On Tour Calypso Tent.

Marshall was rewarded EC$500 for winning. The money was handed over by Glenroy ‘Homey’ Delpesche of the SVGCA.

Delpesche said that the songs went down well with the fans.