Machel Challenges The Soca World: "Come Beat Me"

Soca Superstar Machel Montano has challenged his fellow soca artistes to rise to the occasion and take his place. Montano was responding to comments raised about his hat-trick win, referring to those who felt he did not deserve the triple crown.


 “I would advise them not to run from competition. Don’t hide away. Don’t shy away. Rise to the occasion because through that, we would find somebody who would be so triumphant, that they would be celebrated for beating Machel Montano.”
He said the majority of people who understand what success is would not have time to write articles and make comments that criticise excellence. “I will be there for a while, people who are talking bad about Machel are really saying, ‘Machel you have done it.’” He lamented that nobody complained when SuperBlue, Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons won the Soca Monarch competition multiple times. Nobody asked ‘why these people,’ he said, so how come they are asking ‘why Machel?’
He asked, “Why does everyone want Machel to step down after winning a triple crown? This was no easy challenge for me.” He insisted no one was going tell him to dial it down or be mediocre. Montano also indicated that he writes many of his songs despite popular belief that he is simply a “soca song singer.” He said, although he contributes a lot of writing to his songs, he is not aiming to be the best song writer.
He named Torro Torro, One more time, Water Flowing as songs he himself penned. “Every time Kernal brings a song, he and I would sit and finish it. I put in what should happen and how it should happen. I direct the whole symphony. I may not play the violins, but I direct how they should be playing.” Montano said he works with several young writers, not only to his personal benefit but for the upliftment of the young writers who will gain recognition as a result of their association with him.
The star attributed his success to hard work and acknowledges that he draws a lot of energy from people, which he says “is both a blessing and a curse.” Yet he urges artistes to challenge his position, stating: “In life, everything that is built up, breaks down. Every king loses his castle and everything that is born, dies. I don’t understand why they don’t see that if they put in the work, they can attain what I have achieved.”
He was proud of so many other artistes this year. “The quality of songs, the acts and props of the music has risen to a new level.” Kerwyn Du Bois, Nadia Batson with her own band and Kees—all did exceptionally well, he said. He said there is considerable talent that exists with him, but in the meantime, “I am not going anywhere. I am going to always do my best, and if they think it was best this year, next yet it will be even better.” [TrinidadGuardian]