Mighty Rebel through to calypso quarterfinal By Michael DaSilva Stabroek News January 20, 2001 Former calypso monarch and soca king Mighty Rebel made it through to the quarter-final round of the 2001 Mashramani Calypso Competition, when Region Three (West Demerara) held its audition at the regional democratic council boardroom on Wednesday. Godfrey Phillips (Rebel) who was crowned calypso monarch in 1997 and soca king in 1999, registered 127 from a possible 180 points at Wednesday's audition. Rebel's 2001 tune is entitled "Ask the President". The region's other representative at this year's competition, which carries a first prize of $400,000 and a trophy, is Boss Stevens whose song is entitled "De Remedy". Stevens secured 124 points at the audition. The two calypsonians along with Region Six's 1999 soca king Kendingo, Calypso Stella and Tony Torch, will join seven artistes from Region Four, including the reigning monarch and two each from regions One, Two, Five, Seven, Nine and Ten in the quarter final round which is slated for the Blairmont Community Centre ground on February 10. The reigning monarch is Joseph Thomas (Lil Joe) who won with "Pagalee Man" last year. The semi-final stage is billed for the Mackenzie Sports Club ground on February 17, while the finals will be held at the National Park on February 21. At the Region Six (New Amsterdam/Corentyne) audition on Thursday, Kendingo, who placed second in the calypso competition last year, scored 154 points with his song "Election Time is Big Manoeuvring". Stella returned 152 points with "Afraid" and Tony Torch registered 151 points with "Is Time". The others who have already qualified for the quarter-final stage are Region Four's Camile Goliah (Tempest), Martin Byrne, Ingrid Peters (Fine Things), Gregory London (Blazing Fire), Llewelyn Atwell (Black Hat) and Compton Hodge (Singing Coocoo). Vivian Jordan (VJ) from Region One, Mantango Cameron from Region Seven, Shurland Lyken (Mighty Eagle) and Mark Rodrigues (Mighty Sappa) from Region Nine and Region Ten's Tiny Duggan and Super Tex. Tempest's song is entitled "Cocaine", while Blazing Fire's test piece is "My Guyana". Byrne's piece is "Mark Get Set Vote". Black Hat's piece is "Fly Me to the Moon", Fine Things' piece is "Youth is de Key" and Singing Coocoo's piece is "In this Land". Lyken will sing "Dem tek way de Gold". Rodrigues' test piece is titled "Don't stop de Celebration", VJ's song is titled "We want we Land", Tiny Duggan's is "A Salute to Women" while Super Tex's is "Mini Bus Safety". Stabroek News was unable to get the name of Lil Joe's test piece, but from reports received, it is thought- provoking. The so-called big names in the calypso circle in Region Four failed to impress the judges and were struck out of the competition. Among them were; 1999 Monarch Winfield James, Ayambo, Intruder, Bright Colours, Singing Lurlene, Young Bill Rogers, Lennie Lancaster, Sweet Monix and Lady Explainer. The calypsonians were judged on their lyrics, melody and rendition with each of the three categories divided into two. The lyrics were judged on appeal and construction, the melody was judged on originality and construction and the rendition on diction and intonation. Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today