Voice, 2017 International Soca Monarch Champion with his song "Far from finished". Photo courtesy Soca News

International Soca Monarch 2017

The International Soca Monarch 2017 celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, marking an important milestone for Caribbean music culture and Trinidad and Tobago Carnival traditions. Held on Friday, February 25, 2017, the landmark event brought together global performers representing Antigua, Jamaica, New York, St Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Aaron “Voice” St Louis captured the prestigious championship title for the second consecutive year with his hit song Far From Finished, cementing his status among contemporary soca elite. The comprehensive competition framework distributed substantial cash prizes, including US$500,000 for the winner, US$250,000 for second place, and US$250,000 across multiple placement tiers down to twenty-second position, alongside specialised honours like the Carib Breakout Artiste award.

This retrospective coverage details the complete list of finalists, scoring distributions, and the cultural significance of Fantastic Friday as an official gateway to the vibrant weekend festivities of Carnival.

Key Takeaways

Aaron “Voice” St Louis won the 2017 International Soca Monarch title with Far From Finished.
The twenty-fifth installment took place at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on February 25, 2017.
Competitors from multiple international territories competed for a top prize of US$500,000.
Orlando Octave secured second place and Devon Matthews finished third in the official standings.
The Friday before Carnival, dubbed Fantastic Friday, is the date of the annual International Soca Monarch (ISM) finals. It is viewed also as the unofficial start of the festive Carnival weekend. International Soca Monarch has become a staple of the Carnival season with performers from around the world vying for the crown. This edition of the International Soca Monarch finals saw participants from Antigua, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, New York, St Lucia and Barbados.

Friday February 25, 2017 marked 25th installment of this event, which was held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. It was aired live both locally and internationally. The winner receives $500,000; the second place prize is $250,000, while the third place prize is $150,000. Those who place fourth to 22nd receive $50,000. There is also the Carib Breakout artiste who receives $50,000.

Here are the top four positions of International Soca Monarch 2017:

1st. Aaron “Voice” St Louis (Repeat International Soca Monarch /Winner) – Far from finished

2nd. Orlando Octave – Single

3rd. Devon Matthews – D Journey

4th. Iwer George – Take Ah Bathe