Miss Universe
(18 April 1922 – 11 February 2000)
| Name of Calypsonian | Lord Kitchener |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Aldwyn Roberts |
| Album Title | Melody of the 21st Century |
| Release Year | 1978 |
| Record Label | Calypso Kitch |
Music video of Miss Universe by Lord Kitchener.
Calypso Lyrics
| Lord Kitchener |
| It was twelve o’ clock the hour, a night in July When a TTT announcer brought tears to meh eye He said, “Would you keep calm while I interrupt this programme? You ought to know it first Our Penny is the Queen of the Universe.” |
| Penny, lovely Penny Girl, you really made it look easy You look so sweet, you dress so neat There was really nothing there to beat |
| This year ’78, well we going to celebrate Dr. Williams and the President will participate Everybody know you would come first And capture the crown of Miss Universe |
| When I saw the film it really brought joy to meh heart I was quite convinced that Penny had won from the start Her figure looked so cute in her lovely bathsuit Then she went along to beat them bad with her evening gown |
| Penny, lovely Penny Girl, you really made it look easy You look so sweet, you dress so neat There was really nothing there to beat |
| This year ’78, well we going to celebrate Dr. Williams and the President will participate Everybody know you would come first And capture the crown of Miss Universe |
| Dr. Williams at Piarco he couldn’t resist As Miss Universe say “Hello”, he tief ah quick kiss Then he point to the aircraft, and said to the whole staff, “[…] I name her after Miss Commissiong” |
| Penny, lovely Penny Girl, you really made it look easy You look so sweet, you dress so neat There was really nothing there to beat |
| This year ’78, well we going to celebrate Dr. Williams and the President will participate Everybody know you would come first And capture the crown of Miss Universe |
| Lord Kitchener |
| It was twelve o’ clock the hour, a night in July When a TTT announcer brought tears to my eyes He said, “Would you keep calm while I interrupt this programme? You ought to know it first Our Penny is the Queen of the Universe.” |
| Penny, lovely Penny Girl, you really made it look easy You looked so sweet, you dressed so neat There was really nothing there to beat |
| This year ’78, well we are going to celebrate Dr. Williams and the President will participate Everyone knew that you would come first And capture the crown of Miss Universe |
| When I saw the film it really brought joy to my heart I was quite convinced that Penny had won from the start Her figure looked so cute in her lovely bathsuit Then she went along to beat them bad with her evening gown |
| Penny, lovely Penny Girl, you really made it look easy You looked so sweet, you dressed so neat There was really nothing there to beat |
| This year ’78, well we are going to celebrate Dr. Williams and the President will participate Everyone knew that you would come first And capture the crown of Miss Universe |
| Dr. Williams at Piarco he couldn’t resist As Miss Universe said “Hello”, he stole a quick kiss Then he pointed to the aircraft, and said to the whole staff, “[…] I name her after Miss Commissiong” |
| Penny, lovely Penny Girl, you really made it look easy You looked so sweet, you dressed so neat There was really nothing there to beat |
| This year ’78, well we are going to celebrate Dr. Williams and the President will participate Everyone knew that you would come first And capture the crown of Miss Universe |
About The Calypso
“Miss Universe” was inspired by the success of Janelle “Penny” Commissiong, who in 1977 became the first woman from Trinidad and Tobago to win the Miss Universe title and the first Black woman to hold the crown. The calypso served as a musical tribute to one of the country’s proudest international accomplishments. The calypso also reflects the joy and pride many citizens felt as a Trinidadian woman gained worldwide recognition.
Calypsonians have often commemorated important events, public figures, and historic milestones. In “Miss Universe,” Kitchener used calypso to document and celebrate a positive moment in the nation’s history.
Throughout his career, Lord Kitchener was known for creating calypsos about current events and memorable personalities. “Miss Universe” is a classic example of how he transformed a headline-making event into a catchy and enduring calypso.
The calypso emphasizes the significance of a small Caribbean country gaining international attention through one of the world’s best-known beauty competitions. Commissiong’s success brought positive publicity to Trinidad and Tobago far beyond the region.
Trivia
One of Lord Kitchener’s trademarks was his ability to quickly transform major news stories into memorable calypsos. “Miss Universe” is an example of how he could capture a national mood and preserve it in music.
Many classic calypsos focus on politics, social issues, or rivalry. “Miss Universe” stands out as a celebratory calypso, centred on achievement, recognition, and national pride.
“Miss Universe” is more than just a calypso about a beauty pageant. It is a celebration of a moment when Trinidad and Tobago captured the attention of the world and gave its people a reason to feel proud on the international stage.
References
The image of Lord Kitchener was taken from the BestOfTrinidad website [1].
