Independent senator and seasoned calypsonian Helon Francis has been crowned the 2025 Calypso Monarch. He secured his second title with a stirring performance of his song To Whom It May Be. The keenly contested final took place in the early hours of this morning, with Francis emerging victorious over a field of formidable competitors.
Francis, who first won the prestigious title in 2018 with his nation-building anthem Change, delivered a performance that captivated both the judges and the audience. His victory comes with a grand prize of TT$1 million (£118,000), comprising TT$700,000 (£82,600) in cash and a TT$300,000 (£35,400) vehicle.
The competition saw a strong showing from veteran and emerging calypsonians alike. Placing second was Kurt Allen, known as The Last Badjohn of Calypso, with his song Your Turn Now, earning him a prize of TT$500,000 (£59,000). Rising star Yung Bredda (Akhenaton Lewis) secured third place with his socially conscious composition We Rise, walking away with TT$350,000 (£41,300).
Among the other competitors was last year’s winner Machel Montano, who had to settle for fifth place this time around with his song Bet Meh. He was outperformed by Karene Ashe, who took fourth place with A Leader.
The night was about vocal ability and theatrical performances, with contestants incorporating elaborate props and choreography to enhance their presentations. One of the evening’s most dramatic moments came from Squeezy, who staged a mock funeral to bring his song Justice to life. Both Montano and Allen introduced game show themes to their performances, while the newly crowned Chutney Soca Monarch added an extra layer of spectacle by levitating on stage with the help of cables. However, the demanding carnival season appeared to take a toll on his vocals, which may have impacted his placement in the final rankings.
FULL RESULTS
1st Helon Francis – To Whom It May Be
2nd Kurt Allen – Your Turn Now
3rd Yung Bredda (Akhenaton Lewis) – We Rise
4th Karene Asche – A Leader
5th Machel Montano – Bet Meh
6th Roderick “Chucky” Gordon – Look Tuh Press
7th Ta’zyah O’Connor – Kaiso To D World
8th Terri Lyons – Ask Yuh Man
9th Rikki Jai – Kaiso Chutney
10th Squeezy Rankin – Justice
11th Roslyn – Sing It In Kaiso
12th Twiggy – 65 And Still Relevant
