Victory for Tarique at Baje to the World

Tarique O’neal-Griffith has been crowned the winner of Baje to the World Season 2.

After months of extensive battles on the stage and several developmental workshops, he emerged victorious after Saturday’s finals held in Golden Square. After two hotly contested  performances during the night, an emotional O’neal-Griffith was announced as the last person standing, much to the joy of many of his supporters within the audience.

During the first half of the event, his rendition of Sam Smith’s Writing on the Wall gained one of the few standing ovations that night, thanks to his powerful vocals and melodic control over the internationally known love ballad. Though his second half’s rendition of Don Trent’s When Tomorrow Comes fell generally flat with the crowd, points he accumulated over the weeks leading into finals night still easily powered him over the finish line.

With that win, he has earned $20 000 in cash and several other prizes, including being given the opportunity to perform internationally with world-renowned Soca artistes Fay-Ann Lyons and Bunji Garlin.

Shontae Alleyne-Clarke secured the 2nd place slot with her original piece Stop De Violence and Soca medley, while Dianne Jemmott placed 3rd with a powerful interpretation of Tina Turner’s Proud Mary, and Kes’ Wotless.

Judges for the finals included head judge Senator John King, Mikey Hulsmeier of the Red Boyz, Allison Hinds, Dawn-Lisa Callender-Smith and Philip Forrester.