the musical composition
played most often at the "judging points" along
the parade route during
Carnival. The Road March title is among the
most prestigious titles in Trinidad Carnival.
The most Road march titles have gone to the
Mighty Sparrow and
Super Blue with 8 each and the late
Lord Kitchener with 10. Originating as part
of
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, the term has
been applied to other
Caribbean Carnivals.
Musical competitions make up
a large part of Carnival and to win a
competition is highly coveted. For example, to
be named Calypso Monarch is one of the island's
greatest honors, and the competition is aired on
television. Along with the honor comes an
enormous trophy, a car, TT $500,000 (approx. US
$78,600) and possible endorsements and other
contracts. Other prestigious titles are Soca
Monarch, Road March and Panorama Champions - for
which the 2007 prize is TT $1. million (US
$157,230.).
Carnival
in
Trinidad and Tobago is the event of the
year. It is said that if the islanders are not
celebrating it then they are preparing for it
while reminiscing about the past year's
festival. The heart of the musical celebration
is the
calypso. Recently,
Soca has replaced Calypso as the a
mainstream type of music.
Road March
Song of the Year for Carnival 2007 belongs to Machel Montano and
Kernel Roberts with the runaway hit Jumbie who took the prize with the
widest margin in the history of the the Carnival
Jumbie
earned an overall 388 plays while Shurwayne Winchester’s Open The Gate
came in a distant second with 34 plays, only one play above third placed
Patrice Roberts with Sugar Boy, who shared fourth place with Montano
with Light it Up.
The slower
paced Cold Sweat by Edwin “Crazy” Ayoung rounded off fifth place with 17
plays.
Kernel
Roberts, son of the late Lord Kitchener was credited by Montana for the
inspiration for it and he had the melody. "He came to me with it,”
said Montano, who credited other members of the HD family including soca
artiste Zan for their input on the hit.
Last year,
another collaboration, Band of the Year, sung by Montano and former Road
March queen Patrice Roberts but penned by Kernel, was played 334 times
compared to Winchester’s second place Ah Can’t Wait at 98.competition.
Brian MacFarlane repeated as the declared winner in the Large Band
category for 2007. In 2005, he was triumphant when he designed and led
his first full presentation The Washing ByFireByWater and took home the
medium band title. [more]
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Defenders
Wendy Fitzwilliam,
getting ready for the 2008 Carnival after being frequently photographed
as above in the 2007 Carnival came to the defense of the bikini mas
aesthetic recently challenged by the rise of Brian McFarlane band to the
top position in the 2007 Carnival.
The former
Ms Universe is an avid masquerader with Harts Carnival Band, which
is proud of being known as a band frequented by beautiful women seeking
their stunning creations featuring little beyond beads, glitter
and bikinis stereotype, however begs to differ.
"Carnival is the fabric of Trinidad and Tobago. In a real
tangible way it affects all aspects of our life." [more]
Sexy TrinidadCarnival2007
Trinidad Carnival 2007
trini girl wine traditional pan, pretty mas,true spirit of
Carnival....Trinidad 2007 Carnival 2k7 sexy girls
Damn carnival was off the chain for 2007 ... and I will be
playing mas again for "2008"... I eh really seeing Trini
Revellers... but we were good.... Plus I find the costumes from
many bands like "island people" and "tribe" was great too... So
in the words of Shurwayne Winchester.... "I Can't Wait!!!!!"
till my plane touch down in Trini for carnival 2008....
The band's choreographed production
India: The story of Boyie nudged last year's winner,
Trini Revellers' La Revolution Francaise into second
spot.
"It (India: The story of Boyie) was the first ever
portrayal of an entirely East Indian large band. (And)
there were many skeptics around me who thought that we
were destroying any chances of success with this
presentation. There were many people who thought that it
(our presentation) would offend, and (that it) was
disrespectful," an elated MacFarlane said yesterday.
"But I am really happy that Trinidadians, and
masqueraders on the whole, have appreciated our
intricate detail of the costumes and their choreographed
place in the band."
For MacFarlane, it was the first time that his band had
won in the large band category. It was his second year
as a designer/bandleader in the large band category and
his third year overall as a bandleader. He also took the
Lil Hart award in the large band category.
In 2004, MacFarlane was also triumphant in the medium
band category when he designed and led his first full
presentation The Washing -By Fire, By Water.
Yesterday, he said: "I am very excited and more so for
the masqueraders, they wanted to win. But I kept telling
them that I did it for the art. The exotic images of
India, rich in colour and ornamentation have always
fascinated me. And I plan to continue this Carnival
tradition of hand-crafting costumes for 'the theatre of
the streets' in my presentation next year, to capture
that traditional sense of Carnival."
MacFarlane, who started his costume-designing career as
an unpaid proletariat with renowned mas-maker Raoul
Garib, gained the most number of points in the large
band category, more than 45 points ahead of David
Cameron's Trini Revellers. It was in 1994 that
Brian won his first King of Carnival and the best
designer with the portrayal, 'The Conquest' by Anthony
Paul. This costume went on that same year to be crowned
'Carnival King of the World', at the first ever,
International King and Queen of Carnival Competition in
Trinidad and Tobago which hosted entrants from some
thirty-eight countries.
In
2000 Brian designed for Roslyn Gabriel's junior Queen of
Carnival entitled 'Exodus the Power and the Glory'. This
spectacular creation gave the appearance of an entirely
different design when the individual moved in different
directions and broke all records for Carnival, winning
the seventeen competitions in which it was entered.
In 2005 Mr. McFarlane designed and led
his first full presentation, 'The Washing by fire by
water', which copped band of the year medium category
title and created great hope for mas in Trinidad &
Tobago. In 2006, his creation 'Threads of Joy'; won
several accolades: Band of the Year Downtown, on the
Greens, at the Renegade competition and 2nd place
at
the Savannah.
For his 2008
presentation, Earth – Cries of Despair, Wings of Hope
the defending champion intends to once again bring
stunningly designed, hand crafted Mac Farlane Carnival
costumes like those shone here and at his website
macfarlanecarnival.net
Rupee-
What Happens In The Party
Festival
is our time
To get on and unwind
And do the things that we
Would not do normally
People wid drinks in hand
Some winin fine like sand
Make sure you understand
That you can tell no one
What
happens in de party
Stays in de party
What happens in de party
Stays in dis party
So if you see Sharon wine with Stevie
It stays in de party
Even though she married
Even in de party
We
reach de stage, we warming up
Through your hands dem in de air (ah want to see yuh mash it up)
We going and cross, we gearing up
To take band of d year
We reach de stage, we warming up
All we posse done prepare
Now we going and cross, every man jack line up
Leh we storm and take de band of de year
Machel
Montano -- What Is Soca Music?
Turn it up, turn it up
Start de jumpin' by de truck
We go jump up for de festival (hand in de air, rag in de air)
Turn it up, turn it up
We go jump and mash it up
Jump around and make ah bacchanal
No stalling, no stalling now (doh stall on meh)
You know we depend on you
Make it some how, make it some how (we got to make it through)
We gotta get through it
Don't give up today (say never give up, no way)
Chippin all the way (is so we chip every day)
Don't give up before we start ah little
Jumpin' (start de jumping up)
And wavin' (start de waving up)
And winin' (start de wining up)
With yuh hands up in de air
George Bailey Award (Large Band of the Year)
1. Macfarlane Carnival - 'India - The Story of Boyie'
(1304)
2. Trini Revellers - 'The French Revolution' (1258)
3. Legacy - Hiawatha (1240)
Harold Saldenah Award (Large Band of the Year)
1. Trini Revellers - 'The French Revolution' (423)
2. Legacy - Hiawatha (406)
3. Pulse 8 - 'Cocktails, You Shake We Stir' (366)
Lil Hart Award (Large Band of the Year)
1. Macfarlane Carnival - 'India - The Story of Boyie'
(466)
2. Island People Mas - 'Sahara' (417)
3. Trini Revellers - 'The French Revolution' (414)
Downtown Band of the Year
1. Macfarlane Carnival - 'India - The Story of Boyie'
Calypso Monarch
1. Cro Cro - 'Nobody Eh Go Know' (428)
2. De Fosto - 'Police Money' (423)
3. Devon Seales - 'One Song' (420)
4. Maria Bhola - 'I Love You' (418)
5. Chalkdust - 'Soca Warriors'
6. Duane O'Conner - 'Satorial Elegance' (412)
7. Sean Daniel - 'No Ring, No Ting' (410)
8. Skatie - 'Eat Yuh Cake and Have It' (402)
9. Heather McIntosh - 'Check I' (394)
10. Shadow - 'Ah Coulda' (392)
11. Singing Sandra - 'Sundan' (385)
12. Mr Caesar - Carry Me' (382)
13. (Tie) Crazy - 'Paradise' / Brother Valentino
'Pioneers' (379)
15. Black Sage - 'Send for Somebody' (367)
King of the Bands
1. Curtis Eustace - "D'Wrath of Tutankumhan" (424)
2. Geraldo Veira Sr. - "Vision of the Snow Warriors"
(422)
3. Lionel Jagessar Jr. - "Wa Chink Sapa, Native
Healer" (400)
4. Earl Thompson - Scorpion King (394)
5. Jason Mohammed - "The Spirit of the Shaman" (393)
6. Wade Madray - "Native Warrior" (388)
7. Roland St. George - "Les Bijoux" (384)
8. Dave Larkhan - "Lord of the Jungle" (383)
9. Ronald Mayers - "Predators of the Night" (363)
10. Kenwyn Millington - "The Mask of Pierrot, that
Mocking Pretender" (349)
Queen of the Bands
1. Peola Marchan - "The Incadescence of Beatrice
Love Has Bought" (409)
2. Susan Low - "Eve - The Garden of Eden" (400)
3. Lenore Caterson - "Shakti, Goddess of D'Forest"
(398)
4. (TIE) Gloria Dallsingh - "D'Lady of Glamour and
Glitter" / Anra Bobb - "Ohina, Lady of D'Morning"
(388)
5. Leslie-Ann Boisselle - "Fusion, The Spirit of
Togetherness" (377)
6. Pamela Gordon - "D'Ritual" (374)
7. Annemarie Quammie - "A Manzanilla Sling at the La
Boucan" (372)
8. Inez Gould - "Light Up The Ball (368)
9. Rosemarie Kuru Jagessar - "Soyala, Winter Queen"
(350)
TUCO
Political Commentary
1. Maria Bola - 'I Love You'
2. Anthony Hendrickson (All Rounder) - 'Calypsonians Tongue
Ties'
3. Hollis Liverpool (Chalkdust) - 'We and Them'
4. Carlos James (Skatie)
5. Patrick Lewis (Revealer)
TUCO
Social Commentary
1. Wendy Thomas Garrick - 'Another Cepep Gang'
2. Leslie Ann Ellis - 'Little Girls'
3. Karen Eccles - 'A Mother's Response'
2007
NATIONAL JUNIOR CALYPSO MONARCH
1. Tenisha Weekes (Melville Memorial Girls) - Schoolbag Dilemme
2. Dariem Charles (Sangre Grande Edu. Inst.) - Teach Our Kaiso
History
3. Ezekiel Yorke (St. Mary's College) - From the Cradle to the
Grave
2007
NACW NATIONAL CALYPSO QUEEN
1. Maria Bola - 'I Love You'
2. Terry Lyons - 'Ah Feel It'
3. Monique Hector - 'Why We Lost'
2007
YOUNG KING
1. Roger Mohammed (Bodyguard) - 'Ungrateful Pastor'
2. Marvin Lewis (Mr King) - 'Borderline'
3. Roderick Gordon (Mr Chucky) - 'Street Justice'
Juliet
de la Bastide, Band owner for Legacy Mas Band while expressing
her appreciation for the traditional mas of Peter Minshall,
Brian Mc Farlane and others, refuted the claims made by a
spectator that most of the Big Band costumes lack creativity.
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"It is unfair to deem designers of costumes with bikini and beads
uncreative. These designers are usually the ones who challenge
themselves ultimately as they strive to capture a theme with
limited material. Furthermore, perception underpins creativity.
What you see in a costume is the designer's interpretation of a
theme.
"Like in art, in mas, themes can be expressed
in different forms and fashions," she alleged. Legacy's theme
for 2008 Carnival is Passages; a theme which De Lasbastide
claimed illustrates a journey through Africa. Hence the use of
feathers, beads and by and large bikinis are used to depict
belly dancers, snake charmers, wildlife and other dimensions of
Africa. Creativity to the fullest Juliet de la Bastide stated.
Wendy Fitzwilliam believes pretty mas while
essentially being about the fun of dressing up is also a
metaphor for clean balanced living when you put the extra effort
into it.
"Fundamentally, all types of mas contribute to
the essence of Trini Carnival. The traditional mas is fun mas
where bandleaders really live outside the box, using theatre to
bring characters to life. While the bikini and beads mas is
pretty, light and fun as well," she declared. Fitzwillaim
further suggested that other Carnival traditions such as the
family mascamp atmosphere should also be maintained in Carnival.
"I believe in having everything in moderation and I consider
balance an important element in all aspects of life. For me,
Harts gives me that balance. Harts' presentation is clean,
classic and consistent. The band also maintains the family
mascamp tradition where families gather to design costumes
taking a drink or two letting the creative juices flow," the
former Miss Universe and one of Carnivals most celebrated
ambassadors concluded. [adopted from
an article by Lorraine Waldropt for
Trinidad Express]
Mike Antoine and Juliet De La
Bastide's Legacy presentation, Hiawatha, copped the
third place position for the 2007 Large Band of the Year
competition.
![INSOMNIA 2007 [Trinidad Carnival]](2007/whatever45.jpg)
![MACHEL MONTANO mash up Girl Power 2007, [Trinidad Carnival]](2007/whatever2.jpg)
![MACHEL MONTANO tears up Girl Power 2007, [Trinidad Carnival]](2007/whatever3.jpg)
In 2004, MacFarlane was also triumphant in the medium
band category when he designed and led his first full
presentation The Washing -By Fire, By Water.
In 2005 Mr. McFarlane designed and led
his first full presentation, 'The Washing by fire by
water', which copped band of the year medium category
title and created great hope for mas in Trinidad &
Tobago. In 2006, his creation 'Threads of Joy'; won
several accolades: Band of the Year Downtown, on the
Greens, at the Renegade competition and 2nd place
at
the Savannah.
Mike Antoine and Juliet De La
Bastide's Legacy presentation, Hiawatha, copped the
third place position for the 2007 Large Band of the Year
competition.
