Adrian AC Clarke Contemplates Skipping 2025 Calypso Monarch Defense Amid Major Business Ventures

Newly crowned 2024 Calypso Monarch Adrian AC Clarke has revealed he may not defend his title next year, citing major plans that could conflict with the competition.

Clarke, who secured his third Pic-O-De-Crop title last Saturday at the National Botanical Gardens with his self-penned Going Fuh Crown, told Barbados TODAY: “I ain’t sure. I got so many plans for next year as far as Adrian Clarke and my business endeavours [are concerned], I am not a hundred per cent that I will be, and it isn’t because I want to create a headline for the papers, but that’s just how it is.”

The veteran calypsonian, who last won the crown 16 years ago, hinted at significant projects scheduled for May and July 2025. When pressed, Clarke disclosed: “Party Monarch 2025 will be … the biggest-ever…biggest as far as event, biggest as far as prizes; and I am totally excited about it.”

The kaiso king who reported that this year has been going “quite well” for him, said he is “definitely looking forward to 2025”.

Clarke, who will produce next year’s Party Monarch event dubbed Soca Rumble, also announced plans to stage Fire Fete next May, following its successful debut at Ilaro Court.

“We did that at Ilaro Court and that was well received. So, we are going to do it again. I am looking to make that for sure, as an annual thing. It went down great, so why not do it again.”

Despite his uncertainty about competing, Clarke refused to rule it out entirely, recalling a last-minute entry in 2010 that saw him place second. “I would never say, I am finished. So, you would never hear me say ‘oh, I aint singing any, I am finished, or I am not competing.’” he said.

Reflecting on his victory, Clarke described it as a “feeling of relief” after years of near misses. “I came here to win and not to be another also ran. It’s been happening for quite a while,” he said, addressing perceptions that he doesn’t take the competition seriously.

“ I really don’t after doing it for so long… because, when you get the disappointment of not winning, I shut it off for the next day and move on with life,” he underscored.

“Last year,” the kaiso king explained, “was the same thing. It got away from me. Done wid that. This year, if it had happened again, it would be the same thing. But I feel good… number three [winning], but I could count the number of times that I lost and that I was very close. I can go back as far as 2010. The funny thing about it, is that those were years that I wasn’t going to be competing; 2010 I wasn’t competing; last year I wasn’t competing, and this year I wasn’t competing either. But somehow, last minute, I managed to write songs and entered. So, I know what I can do. I know what I am capable of doing. But sometimes I need to be a little more focused and get a little more hungry.”

AC revealed that on the night of the finals, he was hungry, while quipping “partially starve out. Sixteen years of starvation. So, coming at number two, number two, number two so often, I know I am capable of winning…but just that I am being beaten by really good competitors. So, I really don’t take it to heart”.

Clarke triumphed over 17 other contestants, including last year’s monarch Ian iWeb Webster, in the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the Crop Over festival’s Courtesy Garage Pic-O-De-Crop Finals. He outscored his nearest rival, Chad Sir Ruel Bowen, by 28 points.

For his win, Clarke has the option of a $100 000 cash prize or a new Nissan E-Power X-Trail valued at $136 000, with additional perks. He confirmed to Barbados TODAY that he will opt for the vehicle: “I definitely will be taking the vehicle. It’s a lovely vehicle. I have actually driven one before. I am a Nissan man, so I can’t go wrong there.”

The event, held before a massive crowd in the Richard Stoute Amphitheatre, also featured performances from calypso legends including The Mighty Destroyer, The Most Honourable Anthony Gabby Carter, The Most Honourable Stedson Red Plastic Bag Wiltshire, and Edwin The General Yearwood.

AC’s nearest rival, Sir Ruel received $40 000 cash for his second place with the song, A Single Bullet; earning 97 points that put her in third spot, Chrystal Cummins-Beckles-Holder, walked away with $20 000 for her rendition of De Proposal, while Billboard Murrell’s treatment of the selection War gained him 91 points and $15 000 cash for his fourth position.

Eighteen contestants participated in the calypso final.

(EJ)