6 Times Crowned St. Maarten Monarch – Fish Da Mega Boss
Fish Da Mega Boss clinched his sixth Senior Calypso Monarch title in 2024, dazzling both spectators and judges with his stellar performances. His impressive display earned him a total of 485 points, securing the coveted top spot and a prize of $10,000.
The competition, held at Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village, showcased eight calypsonians, each delivering performances that ranged from sharp political commentary to clever wordplay. Last year’s champion, Isidore York, aka “Mighty Dow” claimed the 1st runner-up position with 468 points, earning $5,000, while Miss Walters earned the 2nd runner-up title with $3,500 in prize money.
Arrindell’s first song, “4 Tires,” captivated the audience, but it was his second performance, “You Should Leave My Name,” that stole the spotlight. With witty lyrics aimed at a controversial figure O. Arrindell, Fish Da Mega Boss had the crowd in stitches from start to finish, culminating in a standing ovation.
Interview
What is your real name?
My real name is Alberto Arrindell
How did you come up with your very unique calypso name?
It started out as a school thing. Back in the days when nicknames were cool, I was first called ‘Fish Poison’ by my classmates when I started high school. The name Fish was destined to stick because my mother was a fish lover while pregnant with me. The fisherman who supplied her fish needs said to her, “If it’s a boy name him Fish.” Then when I started singing I said let me choose a unique name and I came up with ‘Fish The Boss’ and a few years later the people added ‘Da Mega Boss’ to the name because they say I am the boss of bosses.
Fish singing at the 2024 Competition – First stop the Medley Audio playing at the top
Where were you born?
I was born on the island of Aruba to a St. Maarten mother and an Arubian father with roots tied to St. Maarten. All my grandparents were St. Maarteners.
How were you introduced to calypso?
I was introduced to music by my father who was the great calypsonian called The Mighty Fernando, who was also the founding member of the band the San Fernando Boys. He was also calypso king of St. Maarten in 1979. We are the only father and son team to have won the senior calypso crown on the island. My grandfather and all my uncles were musicians also.
The Mighty Fernando
Who inspired you in the art form?
My inspiration to sing calypso came after seeing my father in a coma for three days in 2000. I lifted my eyes unto the heavens and asked God to show me my reason for being here and that same night, I had the urge to sing calypso. I was mostly influenced by the music of my father, the Mighty Sparrow who I have known since I was a child, Chalkdust, Ellie Matt, and Short Shirt just to name a few.
Do you or your family play any instrument?
Yes, I play an instrument. I play the trumpet and both my brothers are also musically inclined. One brother play the bass guitar and the other play the piano. As I mentioned before my father and uncles including my grandfather all played music and various instruments. Interview continues below
Song plays at intro of medley in website header
When did you first enter the calypso arena?
I entered the arena in 2001 for the first time with my two renditions one entitled “Ah want to know” and the other one entitled “Tyrant”.
How many years have you been singing calypso?
I have been singing calypso in the competition for more than 20 years.
Did you sing in the Junior Calypso Competition also?
No I never competed in the juniors.
How many times have you been crowned? List your achievements
- First runner up in my second year, 2002.
- Crowned calypso monarch in 2003
- First runner up in 2004
- First runner up in 2007
- Second runner up in 2008
- First runner up in 2010
- Crowned calypso monarch for the 2nd time in 2012
- Retained my crown for the 3rd time in 2013
- First runner up in 2014
- Regained my crown in 2015 for the 4th
- Regained my crown in 2017 for the 5th time
- Regained my crown in 2024 for the 6th time
What other non-calypso events have you performed for?
I also did soca music. Three soca songs were highlighted on Tempo. One called “Bringing down D-roof”, another one called “In yuh in” and one called “R-Rated party”. I’ve performed on Tempo twice. I also do performances yearly for the Lions Club Senior Citizens Party free of charge. It’s my contribution to them. I have made guest appearances at different venues for different occasions also on both French and the Dutch side.
Have you ever performed outside of St. Maarten?
Yes I have performed in Atlanta, Aruba, St. Kitts, Saba, Statia, Anguilla and New York.
Is there any difference with how calypso competition or the calypso arena was years ago compared to now?
Yes there is a major difference. The arena years ago was ruled by the greats that wrote and sang their own brand of calypsos. Now it’s mostly calypso singers singing what is written for them by specific writers. We are seeing that in Trinidad where you have a competition with calypso singers sometimes as much as four of them competing against each other with songs from the same writer. It was more competitive when the writers were the singers themselves and they all competed against each other, and those that used writers used writers that were dedicated to them mainly. Now the whole thing has changed where my type has become a dying breed and the art form suffers somewhat from this part of the art not being taught or learned by the calypsonian.
Journey Down Memory Lane
What were the songs you sang for the 2015 Calypso Competition?
In the 2015 senior calypso finals I sang two songs which is customary in all competitions held so far. In the first round I sang one called “In reverse” and in the second round I sang one called “Focus Up”.
Give us a breakdown on the content of these songs.
“In reverse” was based on government contemplating raising the pension age from 60 years to 62 and in that one I told them this is being done in reverse it’s not the age that has to raise but the pension itself. So I told the people the country is not cursed. Government just like doing things ‘in reverse’, then hear them telling us board the bus while they driving the bus in reverse. Whereas in reality no matter where we sit on the bus we remain at the back of the bus.
Now “Focus Up” is what we call a cute song double entendre. We have a political party that was accused of buying votes during a previous election the name of that party is the United People Political Party but it is abbreviated as the U.P Party, this same party now is joined by other parties to form a coalition government where in the meanwhile during this last election they won six out of the 15 seats and the rest seats split between 3 other parties: 2 D.P; 2 U.S.P; and 5 N.A. Now the one with 2 the U.S.P, 1 member jumped ship and joined with the U.P. Then 1 member from the second party with 2 seats jumped also which was the D.P Party leaving its party leader out in the cold.
So the U.S.P, D.P and N.A had signed an agreement to govern. Then deals started being cut left right and center and the Dutch government stepped in when time came to screen ministers for ministerial positions in the coalition formed with the U.P Party. That’s when I put the song together and say they leave their own party to join UP chasing gold looking vanity but they thought “all of we was .” and none of us woulda see how they Focus UP.
What advice do you have for young people who see you as a role model?
My advice to the young people is stay in school and always be positive and lead do not follow. Gangsters don’t go far and then you become a menace to your society so become something that you can always look back on life and say ‘I made a difference by being positive and staying on the right track.’
I was straying at the age of fifteen following the wrong friends and wanted to drop out of school. I saw my mother cry in front of me and she told me, ‘If I have to drag you every morning to the school bus by your hair, mind you nuh.” She did not say drag me by my shirt she said hair and with the tears that was enough for me to know she was serious. From then on, school was my savior. I never looked back and to think today had I gone down that road of dropping out, the world would have never heard of Fish Da Mega Boss. When you have a mother cherish her. You only have one and I thank God for mine.
What can the people expect from you for the rest of the year?
Well I am planning to revive calypso big time on the island because I think it has been neglected for too long due to the influences from outside shows. We need to now hold calypso up high. Some political figures don’t see it as such because even the priest know the only person a politician fear is a calypsonian and as calypso king I intend to keep the art form going.