Eager to deliver at Dimache Gras, Yorke sings ‘Being Human’

By Lara Pickford-Gordon

snrwriter.camsel@catholictt.org

Ezekiel Yorke will have many prayers and supporters behind him as a finalist in the 2023 Calypso Monarch competition at the Dimanche Gras Sunday, February 19 at the Queen’s Park Savannah (QPS), Port of Spain.

He will be performing ‘Being Human’; It is his third time making the semi-finals at Skinner Park, San Fernando.

Ten competitors out of 40, including past monarchs Karene Ashe (2011) and Rodrick Gordon (2014), Helon Francis (2018) and National Women’s Action Committee 2023 Queen, Tameika Darius, were selected from the semi-finals at Skinner Park, San Fernando on Saturday, February 11. They will be vying to dethrone reigning monarch Terri Lyons.

Yorke, a parishioner at the Church of the Nativity, Crystal Stream, Diego Martin, is a regular at the 7 a.m. Sunday Mass operating the computer for the overhead projector which display prayers, hymns, and parish announcements. Choir mistress Janice Lucy Hepburn shared the good news at the end of the liturgy February 12 and congregants approached Yorke afterwards to congratulate him and pledge their prayerful support.

Yorke is a teaching assistant of Mechanical Engineering at The University of the West Indies, St Augustine. He is working on his PhD in Manufacturing Engineering.

Though it was his first time making the finals of the Calypso Monarch, the 29-year-old is no novice. He debuted at the ‘big yard’, QPS stage, 25 years ago in the Junior Calypso Monarch competition and graduated to the seniors.

In an interview, Yorke said he and writer Arnold George look at events happening locally and around the world to come up with ideas for songs.

“One of the things I love singing on is social commentary, events, nation building Calypsoes. I also love to integrate an aspect of God into it”, he said.

The opening lines of ‘Being Human’ are:

“We are all created in God’s likeness and image

We are all created by God’s hand

We are blessed to have life; it is not a privilege and we will all return to the sand…”

‘Being Human’ was penned between October and December last year by George and Yorke, with input from his parents, sister, and lyricist Brian London who wrote ‘Introspection’ for him.

“It was a lot of persons offering their insights, making little improvements here and there, every time I sang at a show…at a competition, to improve it gradually.”

He described the lyrics as phrased in a “crafty way”. The song’s double meaning discusses what is it to be “human”, showing humanity and living the values with which people are blessed, as opposed to a “human being” detached from these.

The skit prior to his semi-final performance tries to illustrate this, showing a woman being robbed and a bystander talking on his cell phone who instead of rendering assistance, thinks about filming the incident.

Yoke felt confident going into the finals especially as the semi-finals had very good songs. “This is my first time having the opportunity to compete on the big stage. I did qualify as a reserve a few years ago when I sang the song ‘Equality’. A reserve competes if someone doesn’t show up or cannot sing.”

He is thankful to everyone who helped put on a memorable show at Skinner Park. The south crowd is known for showing their displeasure waving toilet paper or placards for songs they consider not up to mark.

Yorke was however, not nervous because of his past experience. He takes criticism in stride because it helped going forward. “Not just the writing or lyrics, also on the delivery and how you connect with that song … I went on that stage in Skinner Park welcoming any kind of reaction, any kind of critiques both during and before.” The response was very positive.

After a two-year hiatus at the Skinner Park venue during Covid-19, his intent was having fun on stage. It was a “grand opportunity” for him to share a message and he hoped to continue in this vein at the QPS stage.

Going into the finals he said, “I can’t wait to deliver.”