Calypso in the 2000s

The calypso world lost an icon on February 11, 2000, when Aldwyn Roberts, Lord Kitchener died at the age of 77. The first Carnival season of the new millennium produced controversy when Superblue was declared the Road March 2000 champion by the closest of margins over Iwer George the day after Carnival. However, after months of protest from Iwer George that eventually led to a court battle, both Superblue and Iwer George were declared joint winners by the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) on July 11, 2000. After 49 years of the modern Road March contest, it was the first time that co-champions were declared.

The calypso world lost another icon when Garfield Blackman, Ras Shorty I (aka Lord Shorty) passed away on July 12, 2000, at the age of 59. The popularity of calypso tents continued to grow in the new millennium with the addition of comedians. As a result, the number of tents operating during Carnival season increased as audiences flocked to the tents to be treated to humor, in addition to calypso. The following is a listing of the tents that were functioning in 2001:

• Calypso Revue, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain (featuring Cro Cro, Crazy, Mighty Bomber, Sugar Aloes, Denyse Plummer, The Original De Fosto Himself, Baron, and Pink Panther)
• Calypso Spektakula, Port-of-Spain (featuring Mighty Chalkdust and Luta)
• Kaiso House, Deluxe Cinema, Port-of-Spain (featuring Mighty Shadow, Black Stalin, Singing Sandra, and Mystic Prowler
• Klassic Ruso, Port-of-Spain (featuring Mighty Duke and Brigo)
• Kaiso Showkase, Palms Club, San Fernando
• Maljo Kaiso Comedy Tent, Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain
• Yangatang, Port-of-Spain

By 2007, the number of calypsonians had grown tremendously, and many of the home venues of the tents had changed:

• Kaiso House, Strand Cinema, Port-of-Spain (featuring Mighty Shadow, Singing Sandra, Lord Nelson, Explainer, Valentino, Protector, Mudada, Poser, Rikki Jai, Count Robin, Brown Boy, Rootsman, Twiggy, Mighty Trini, Brother Resistance, Bunny B, Lasana, Hindu Prince, Brother J, Soft Touch, Kerr, D Diamond, Lioness, Caesar B, Squibby, Young Destroyer, and Sharlan Bailey).
• Calypso Revue, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain (featuring Mighty Chalkdust, Denyse Plummer, Baron, and Skatie). Sugar Aloes was not expected to perform since he was recuperating from surgery in 2006.
• Klassic Ruso, Henry Street, Port-of-Spain (featuring Mighty Duke, All Rounder, Contender, Ebony, Versatile, Lady Wonder, Shirlane Hendrickson, Hamidullah, Black Prince, Sexy Suzy, Dr. Will B, Typher, Doc Spicy, Sheereen Caesar, Dr. Rhythm, Almanac, and Manchild).
• Kaiso Karavan, La Joya Auditorium, St. Joseph (featuring Stinger, Scrunter, Johnny King, Karega Mandela, Power, Lady Paula, Eunice Peters, Sheldon Nugget, and Lil Jean).
• Vintage Kaiso, Strand Cinema, Port-of-Spain (featuring Lord Superior, Valentino, Black Stalin, Mighty Bomber, Mudada, Luta, Funny, Trinidad Rio, and Brigo).
• Kaiso Showkase, Palms Club, San Fernando (featuring Ras Kommanda, Joseph Adams, Brian London, Heeralal Rampartap, El Drago, Lady Adanna, Nikko, and Shortpants).
• Divas Calypso Cabaret, Mas Camp Pub, Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain (featuring Abbi Blackman, Karen Eccles, Stacy Sobers, Sista Ava, Delia, Sweet Jean, and Angela Ramoutar).

In 2007, the number of calypsoes required to be sung for the Calypso Crown competition was reduced from two to one. In addition to competition winners listed below, other calypsonians who gained notoriety during this decade included Karene Asche, who copped third place in 2008 Calypso Crown contest with "The Recipe." The following are the results of both the Road March and Calypso Crown competition during this decade.

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