The ET&T Carnival Wrap-Up

The “Greatest show on Earth” has finally come to an end and amidst all the body aches and sore bones we can conclude that it was a great one! Apart from Carnival Monday and Tuesday on the road, the competitions that led up to the two days were very popular and widely discussed.
This year was the year of firsts and the Soca Monarch competition definitely had plenty of these. From the two million dollar cash prize, to Machel Montano’s first time winning, not to mention the scores of people who showed up at the National Stadium on Fantastic Friday, it was a great show. Then on Carnival Saturday, the Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars walked away with the 2011 National Panorama title, making it their sixth win since the band has been competing. With their rendition of Anslem Douglas’ ‘Showtime’, they blew away the judges, winning with 278 points, two points more than Sagicor Exodus who garnered 276 points.
Two-time Junior Calypso Monarch Champion Karene Asche, took home the coveted two million dollar cash prize in the National Calypso Monarch Competition beating veterans Sugar Aloes (Michael Osuna) and Chalkdust (Dr. Hollis Liverpool) who placed 2nd and 3rd respectively. Last year’s winner Kurt Allen had to settle for sixth place and Cro Cro (Western Rawlins) did not seem to woo the judges with his performances and had to settle for spot number 11. Though Benjai placed last in the competition, we must give kudos to him for first making it to the final round of the competition, then competing against some of the big guns in a competition where lyrical content is vital. Wade Madray and Peola Marchan are the new Carnival King and Carnival Queen of 2011 with Wade portraying Legacy’s Pacific Tsunami and Marchan portraying D Jewelled Chandelier from the band We People International.
One thing comes to mind on Carnival Monday and Tuesday and that’s the stage; rather the return of the stage. Masqueraders flocked to the stage eager to follow Machel’s instructions to ‘Ramfle’ and ‘Trample’ the bigger, wider elevated platform known as the Savannah stage. Though Tuesday is the day for the colours, Monday is truly the fun day. Persons jumped, waved, smiled and wined for the cameras while reliving that wonderful moment they had three years ago. “Advantage” was the eventual Road March winner with Benjai’s “Trini” following for a cool second. Though Machel’s Advantage was THE song for the stage, Iwer’s ‘Come to meh”, was a sure warm-up before the stage and was used to maintain momentum while chipping through the streets. The song was even heard as early as J’ouvert morning as most of the J’ouvert bands such as Chocolate City, Red Ants and Yellow Devils played the popular hit for their masqueraders.
The spectators came out in their numbers mostly on Tuesday to see the parade of the bands and they were surely treated to an eyeful. Popular bands such as Island People, Tribe, Harts, Legacy and newcomer YUMA portrayed the band’s theme in all its splendor and multiple Band of the Year winner Brian Macfarlane’s offering of Humanity Circle of Life received a standing ovation as they crossed the judging point on South Quay downtown, Port-of-Spain. Popular soca artistes Machel Montano and Iwer George took to the trucks of their respective bands, Island People and Yuma and sang their Road March contributions to thousands of their adoring fans while crossing the stage. Although the festivities were spoiled by an early morning stabbing and shooting on Carnival Monday morning and late-evening robberies on Ariapita Avenue on Carnival Tuesday, the two-day spree was enjoyed by many and was deemed safe for the most part.