Taking on government corruption, sexual abuse and rampant gun violence, competitors in this year’s Junior Calypso Competition rocked the crowd at Lionel Roberts Stadium Tuesday night — long after most of them were supposed to be in bed.

The competition stretched until after 11 p.m., but time seemed to fly as the contestants dominated the stage with high-energy performances. Some of the more memorable acts included the appearance of a bright and shiny fire truck during Ajahni Philips’ "Fiery" song, while returning competitor Jalen "King Yellow Man" Fredericks ended the night with a bang of confetti and bunches of balloons that soared over the audience.

Winning big in the secondary division this year was Alliyah "Princess Shorty" Dessout, a ninth grader at Charlotte Amalie High School who cautioned parents and their children to beware of child molesters. With April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Dessout’s was a timely act — one that the articulate 14-year-old Charlotte Amalie High School student said she was very passionate about.

"I felt it was a very powerful topic," she said after the show. "There are young children out there getting raped and molested everyday and it’s not right. It has to stop."

In her opening line, Dessout said she was "scared to be a child in these Virgin Isles" because "child molesters are out there running wild."

"Find out who lives in your neighborhood, because even the nicest one could steal your children’s childhood," she sang to the parents. First runner-up in the division this year was Emil D’Andre "Little Trooper" Aska, while Deja’Nique "Princess Deja" Navarro came in third.

No stranger to the Junior Calypso Competition, Na’Kaya "Princess KeKe" Esdaille cleaned up for the second year in a row in the intermediate division with a song entitled "Journey on Barack." Dressed in patriotic red, white and blue, Esdaille said U.S. President Barack Obama had taught people to "believe" and "achieve," even in the face of his own struggles in office.

"So journey on Barack, don’t ever look back," Esdaille sang. "Let your motto be no surrender and no retreat."

For the first time, there was a tie in the primary division, as both contestants competing Tuesday took first place.

A first timer, eight-year-old M’Kayla "Princess Kayla" Eustache was also the first on stage Tuesday, crooning a piece entitled "Corruption in the V.I."

"There’s too much fighting, too much killing, too much stealing, too much corruption in the V.I.," she sang. Directing her attention to the territory’s leaders, she made a plea for them to "bring back our paradise."

"Our future depends on you," she sang.

Playing on a similar theme, eight-year-old Ny’kel "Prince Short Shirt" Emanuel set the stage with a radio news report from Lee Carle, which, broadcast over the stadium’s loudspeakers, told about two murders and a confrontation between a parent and teacher that ended violently. Emanuel brought out backup singers and dancers into his routine as, dressed crisply in white button-down shirt, vest and slacks, he gave voice to his "Future."

"We don’t need no violence, just put some common sense, where it ought to be," Emanuel sang, tapping his hand on his head during the last line. "Don’t play with my future."

Emanuel’s face broke into a huge smile when it was announced that he and Eustache had tied for first.

"I feel very good, and powerful," the All Saints Cathedral School student said afterward. "I feel powerful because this fuels a lot of passion in me. I want everyone to stop the killing."