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Macomere Fifi is 2008 Calypso Monarch for Caribana Joins chorus for Obama from the "streets of Chicago"

The winner of the competition, Macomere Fifi (Tara Eulith Woods) of Tobago, combined the national anthems of Canada and the United States with original lyrics in "Barack Obama," which says, "When you walk the streets of Chicago/You left Clinton with she mouth open." The lead-up to the 2008 finals began over a month before with the following schedule De Great Iron Pot, 55 Nugget Avenue, Scarborough | Calypso City, 25 Cecil Street, Toronto Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from June 13 - July 13, 2008; 8:00 p.m. - Midnight Kulture Calypso Cutty's Hideaway, 538 Danforth Avenue (at Pape), Toronto Fridays - June 13, June 20, June 27, July 4, July 11; 8:00 p.m. Featuring: Calypso Cowboy, Smokey, Black I, Timer, Lady Lydz The Professionals Steel Workers Union Hall, 25 Cecil Street, Toronto Saturdays - June 14, June 28, July 5, July 12; 8:00 p.m. Sunday - June 22; 5:00 p.m. Featuring: Jayson, Macomere Fifi, Beginner, Dick Lochan, Panman Pat, Drew Gonsalves, Naki, Valentino, Pensioner Kaiso Forum Sunday, June 15 - De Great Iron Pot, 55 Nugget Ave. (Sheppard & McCowan), Scar. Sunday, June 22 - Scarlet Ibis Restaurant, 1800 O'Connor Drive (at Victoria Park) Saturday, June 28 - Sidney's Island Restaurant & Lounge, 5120 Dixie Rd, Mississauga Saturday, July 5 - De Great Iron Pot, 55 Nugget Ave. (Sheppard & McCowan), Scar. Sunday, July 13 - Northern Tropics, 880 Ellesmere Rd. (at Kennedy), Scarborough Featuring: Sailor, Scorpio, Sparkle, Susan G, Spivey, Structure, Connector, King Cosmos, Dynasty, Red Man, Web, Laura, Yellows, De Carra, Love Man Kent "The whole world is campaigning with Barack Obama whether they are for or against," Fifi told DAVE HOEKSTRA of the Chicago Sun-Times  after her performance. "This song was just my little corner of the story. I chose to focus on a prophetic topic of peace, what if Barack Obama became president? I had to mention Chicago in the lyrics. Calypso is storytelling, letting the people know what is going on whether it is social or humorous." Naki (Nzunaki Tuitt) of Ottawa and Trinidad sang the calypso "Yes We Can" in front of a black-and-white Obama portrait. The audience of more than 500 Caribbean-Canadians cheered in approval. "Everybody is singing about Barack, so maybe we should move on to something else," chuckled Toronto DJ and calypso historian King Cosmos (Henry Gomez) during intermission. Not since the '50s, has a Chicago politician charmed audiences with calypso songs. In that case it was the calypsonian himself when the Charmer [Louis Farrakhan] and his Calypso Rhythm Boys released an album with tunes including "Fire Down There" and "Don't Touch Me Nylon."

Mighty Sparrow toasts "Barack the Magnificent"

The legendary New York based calypsonian, the Mighty Sparrow who just turned 73, teamed up with Byron Lee to host 3 days of Lake Ontario boat cruises at Caribana 2008. He has been enjoying considerable attention as the singer/songwriter for one of the most pleasing of many songs recorded about the Presidential candidate Barack Obama. released "Barack the Magnificent" earlier this campaign year of 2008. He is working on a full album about Obama. Always topical, in the calypso tradition. Sparrow held a press conference in Brooklyn with the senator at which he presented him with a copy of his latest single, "Barack the Magnificent." Mighty Sparrow's lilting tune is undoubtedly the catchiest ditty to ever include the phrases "the Foreign Relations Committee can attest to his tenacity" or "in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal."  Sparrow, who calls Obama a man "of resplendent vision."is  also known by his real name Slinger Francisco, and is  a naturalized American citizen and a registered Democrat.)

Survey of Obama music by .salon.com/