Trinidad Carnival Roundup 2009 - Pt. 1

Groovy Soca Monarch:
Even with her very preggers self, Faye-ann Lyons had the crowds eating out of her hands, going on to win the Groovy Soca Monarch title with her Heavy-T Bumper tune. Her perfomance was actually very simple (she in white Baptist garb, backup dancers in Martiniquan-like dresses), but the combo of a sweet tune and performing preggers had everyone mesmerized. This is really her year.

Power Soca Monarch:
Reigning champ Bungi Garlin (Ian Alvarez) had to step down a position, as wifey Faye-Ann Lyons stormed into the winning spot in Fantastic Friday's International Soca Monarch competition. Copping the Power Soca Monarch title with a rousing performance of her runaway hit Meet Super Blue, she pulled out all the stops, and looked fantastic singing the ode to her legend of a father .

Panorama:
Only a point separated the reigning champs Phase 2 Pan Grove from the 2009 winners the Silver Stars, but it should have been more. Silver Stars' rendition of First in the Line - written by their arranger Edwin Pouchet - was magic; I didn't even know what tune they were playing, but it sounded sweet, nonetheless. Phase 2 tried hard, even employing Machel Montano to play flag-man on the night as they played his Boy-Boy and the Magic Drum, but it was not to be...

Dimanche Gras:
Well, well, well. No surprise here - Hollis Liverpool, a.k.a. Chalkdust won. I can't tell you what he sang, and I don't really want to know. Don't get me wrong - I have nothing but love for the Calypso legend & Carnival historian. But it's about time that more younger folks step up to the plate, take an interest in preserving our culture and start singing in the Calypso tradition, because it's dying. Judges and industry folk, take note. You guys are getting old, and your greediness and covetousness is also ensuring the death of Calypso; it's time to pass on the torch. No old talk about how there's no one to pass it to - just look harder. And really, how many damn times Chalkdust go win de ting?!

J'ouvert:
The madness before the Morn... Oh how I love J'ouvert! The baseness of it, the wallowing nastiness, the mud, the oil, the dancing through the blackest night, and into the coolest morning. This year's winners came out strong, reminding us that carnival must never lose its social commentary aspect. Trevor Thomas, who portrayed “Foreign Used Human Body Parts Bailout Sale” and Helen Foullard with “Ah Tighten Meh Belt and Look What Happen to Meh” were crowned the King & Queen of J'ouvert respectively, with their comical takes on current affairs.

King of Carnival:
Brian McFarlane did it again, retaining his King of Carnival title this year with Stephen Alexis portraying Ndlovu In Search from the band Africa: Her People, Her Glory, her Tears. Honestly, I was not impressed. Last year I tried to see McFarlane as his own creative entity, but this year the overt similarities to the Carnival God Peter Minshall were too, too blatant. Whilst the winning Carnival King costume was not in the Minshall tradition, everything else about this presentation was. From the theatrics showcased on the roads, to the usage of the colours & cloth, it was a copy of one too many Minshall-esque elements. Unacceptable, really, because I'm expecting McFarlane to do something new, to improve upon Minshall (if that is even posible!), not to come and rip off the guy's creative genius...

Queen of Carnival:
Brian McFarlane, once again, this time with Kadaffi Romney portraying Manzandaba In Flight from the Africa band...

Road March Contenders: The road music this year has followed in the recent tradition, where the whole lot of songs are a waste of time. The forerunners thus far seem to be Faye Ann Lyons with Meet Super Blue; the song is a sweet tune, but I still feel as if it should be her hubby, Bungi who finally cops the Road March title instead. His Clear the Road is melodic, peppy, and just fit for jamming down the the place, but that's just my opinion. The masses were also feeling Blaxx's Tusty, which - if it wins - will be a more than fitting Road March tune. Bringing up the rear were Destra's Bacchanal (a whole heap of nonsense), and Machel Montano's Red Ants song (you are clearly losing your touch).

So look out for more facts, bacchanal, results and post-Carnival reflections tomorrow!

L.M.N. Harris.