Calypso Monarch 2025: Helon Francis Wins Second Crown

Competition Results

Helon Francis won his second crown on March 2, 2025, at Dimanche Gras at Queen’s Park Savannah, defeating a field of twelve, including seven previous kings.

According to the results announced by the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organization (TUCO), the top six finalists were: Helon Francis (268 points), Kurt Allen (267 points), Akhenaton “Yung Bredda” Lewis (260 points), Karene Asche (259 points), Machel Montano (256 points), and Roderick “Chuck” Gordon (256 points). Gordon and Montano had the same score, but it wasn’t declared a draw.

Final Results

Francis’s song “To Whom It May Be” beat Kurt Allen’s “Your Turn” by one point. Akhenaton “Yung Bredda” Lewis came in third with his anthem-like song “We Rise”.

Machel Montano, the defending champion, finished sixth with his song “Bet Yah”, which carried on his momentum from the previous year and blurred the distinction between Soca and calypso.

Roderick “Chuck” Gordon finished sixth, Duane Ta’zyah O’Connor came in seventh, Terri Lyons came in eighth, Samraj “Rikki Jai” Jaimungal came in ninth, Young King champion Anthony “Squeezy Rankin” La Fleur came in tenth, Rosalyn Reid Haynes came in eleventh, and Ann Marie “Twiggy” Parks-Kojo came in twelfth.

Interview with Helon Francis

Shortly after the crown was placed on his head, Francis told reporters about his journey, including his calm, stoic delivery of a nonpartisan and nonjudgmental story about how he wrote a letter to Prime Minister-select Stuart Young, offering quiet words of advice like “keeping your ear to the ground”.

Francis praised Yung Bredda, who had already captured hearts with his song “Greatest Bend Over”, which earned him second place in the Ultimate Soca Championship.

Francis remarked, “This feels surreal,” in reference to his first triumph as a monarch seven years prior.

“I am always confident because I write my music, and I always frame it for the people,” he said. Francis stated that he constantly seeks to provide the public with information on T&T that they might have overlooked. When asked if he anticipated having to overthrow Montano, he responded, “For you to win, you have to dethrone someone, so obviously I thought that was a possibility. Yes.”

“So, I understand the ground well,” he told reporters, adding that this was his sixth time attending the finals. Francis stated, “So, I understand the ground well. I have perfected my own style of writing and my own style of music. I went in with the same intentions I usually have, and this time, I was victorious.”

On His Victory

Francis was asked if his victory was a victory for calypso. He grinned and said, “That is a good one. I like that one.”

He continued, “I think traditional calypso is in an evolution phase. I think what we knew as traditional calypso is evolving. And many versions can come out now.”

According to him, the public’s acceptance will determine the calypso’s destiny.

Conclusion

Helon Francis’s victory in the Calypso Monarch competition is a testament to his skill and dedication to his craft. His unique style and message have resonated with the public, and he is a worthy champion of the competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What was the result of the Calypso Monarch 2025 competition?
A: Helon Francis won his second crown with 268 points, followed by Kurt Allen with 267 points, and Akhenaton “Yung Bredda” Lewis with 260 points.

Q: Who finished in the top six of the competition?
A: The top six finalists were Helon Francis, Kurt Allen, Akhenaton “Yung Bredda” Lewis, Karene Asche, Machel Montano, and Roderick “Chuck” Gordon.

Q: What was the prize for the winner of the competition?
A: The winner, Helon Francis, received $700,000 and a more than $300,000 SUV, while the runner-up, Kurt Allen, received $500,000, and Yung Bredda received $350,000.